5th Wheel Pin Weight on 2500HD Chevy HELP!!!

[dpark]

I am not looking for the weight police to chime in, I am looking for answers from people with the above truck or a legitimate answer. I am going to pull the trigger on a 2500HD this week (truck is already picked out with deal made) but didn't do it due to just needing to make sure I am within specs.

The truck is a 2014 2500LTZ 4x4 crew cab with a Duramax/Allison combination. GVWR 10000lbs. The truck specs are 2706# payload, 6200# rear axle, 5200# front axle 15800# fifth wheel towing, 24500# GCVWR

My fifth wheel that I currently own and will be pulling with it is a 2014 Keystone Cougar High Country 315RES. Specs are 8563 empty with 2437 carrying capacity...leading to 11000# Gross rating. I know this is fine, but the pin weight is listed at 1600# and when I weighted it on our truck scales it was closer to 1800# loaded.

Is anyone towing something similar to this and do you feel I am within specs to be legal?

[NC_Hauler]

dpark wrote:
I am not looking for the weight police to chime in, I am looking for answers from people with the above truck or a legitimate answer. I am going to pull the trigger on a 2500HD this week (truck is already picked out with deal made) but didn't do it due to just needing to make sure I am within specs.

The truck is a 2014 2500LTZ 4x4 crew cab with a Duramax/Allison combination. GVWR 10000lbs. The truck specs are 2706# payload, 6200# rear axle, 5200# front axle 15800# fifth wheel towing, 24500# GCVWR

My fifth wheel that I currently own and will be pulling with it is a 2014 Keystone Cougar High Country 315RES. Specs are 8563 empty with 2437 carrying capacity...leading to 11000# Gross rating. I know this is fine, but the pin weight is listed at 1600# and when I weighted it on our truck scales it was closer to 1800# loaded.

Is anyone towing something similar to this and do you feel I am within specs to be legal?

Sorry, I got to chime in and a lot of people have labeled me a "weight police", but I really don't see an issue here...."within specs to be legal?"....don't think that should even be a worry....I surely wouldn't worry about that one.

The 2500's of the Big 3 have come a long way since I owned one. It was an 03 Chevy D/A 2500 and it's GVW was 9200#, can't remember GCWR, BUT, all that aside, I REALLY don't see a problem with your combo..(forget empty weight, it's a joke), BUT, you did state a GVW of 11,000#...I purchased a 5er that had a GVW of 14,000# and towed it all through the mountains of SC, NC, VA and TN....then I weighed and was 900# over the trucks GVW, so I purchased a 1 ton dually...but that was then, this is now....and I don't see any issues at all with towing an 11,000# GVW 5er with your new truck.. heck, I'd towed an 11,000# 5er "back then" with that 2500, and again, I'm a badge carrying "Weight Police":)

That's a light pin weight, I would say, more realistic pin weight will be 2,000-2200#, but again, most don't use their trucks GVWR any more, they use their rear axle weight rating..You may or may not go over your GVWR, but don't see you getting near your trucks RAWR

Only thing I "might consider", as some have, is "IF" you think about going bigger, you might want to look at a 3500 SRW truck, not that much more, BUT, I ONLY say that because if I had followed my own advice, I'd went to a 3500 SRW instead of the 2500...I too had no plans in upgrading for years, but ended up wanting a bigger 5er anyway when a great deal came up. I'd saved some money, but such is life as we know it.


Again, I don't see any problems with the combo, you've done your math, and should work.

[Tom_Diane]

dpark, you have a PM

[texasdiver]

A 3500 will bump your GVWR up to 11,500 lbs and your payload up to 4,125 lbs. for an otherwise identical truck. It will also give you a 17.000 lb 5th wheel tow rating. Those are pretty big jumps in numbers for relatively little extra cost.

Here are the 3500HD specs

[azdryheat]

I'm a former owner of the 2009 version of your truck. We towed our Everest with the 2500HD just fine. Everest is much heavier than what you plan to tow - 14000# GVWR. I added Bilstein 5100 shocks and Firestone airbags. To be honest, I can't tell much difference with my dually towing the same trailer except I don't need the shocks or airbags. Oh, and the only reason we have the dually is we plan to upgrade to a toy hauler. The 2500 will tow just fine for you.

[campercoop]

I just bought the same truck only a GMC with the 6.0 engine, either way the payload is rated the same at 3066. The payload does go up to 4190 with standard box on the 3500 HD.

[goukcats]

I currently have the 299RKS which has dry weights of 200 lb less pin & 650 less shipping weight than yours. I did tow it with an 08' GMC 2500 CC, 4x4, SB, 6.0, w/373. It towed great in the mtns of KY, TN & NC getting 8-10 MPG. I never felt any control issues & only switched to my current TV so I could use cruise control on long trips.

My current TV (see sig)is rated with lower towing numbers than the one you are considering. We go from KY to FLA down I75 a couple times a year & the only time I am off cruise is during very heavy traffic & Jellico mtn. My brother tows a 2004 Montana with my same TV & he had a 2004 Ram prior to that. He has been pleased with his combination also.

I agree the 3500 SRW would give better tow numbers. I also think if you really are sticking with your current 5er, you are good to go. My 2c..

[hmknightnc]

You are well within the manufacture's specifications with that truck and trailer combination. You are no where near approaching any legal limits, tons of room before you hit any legal requirements (The only legal limits are your tire and axle specifications plus whatever you pay for Gross Vehicle weight via truck registration. Payload, Manufacture's GVWR and GCWR are not legal limits).

10,000# GVWR FW with a diesel 3/4 modern truck is a perfect match. Buy the truck and go have fun.

[rhagfo]

You are looking at the curse of the 250/2500 diesel, lots of power and low payload! If you are buying new and can get just as good a deal on a 3500 for the few $$ more, you will be within specs. If you stick with the 2500 you might get to the point that you are over the GVWR, but within axle and tire ratings.
This is where I am, don't plan on getting a bigger truck soon, or a smaller 5er. The combination works well together, not a recommendation for you.
My 5er is 1,000 heaver dry and has a 12,300 GVWR, I tow right at 11,000# with 2,000# of pin. I tow this level on the stock Camper Package springs.

[MARKW8]

Let me say this first, I wouldn't want to pull my 5er,15,500# on the scale, with anything less than the DWR truck I have. That said, after owning a TC now for 14yrs and carrying it for 9yrs on a 2500 srw, I wouldn't hesitate to pull that Cougar with one. My camper loaded,2 people, the dog, full water tank was right at 3500#. For sure over gvwr but within the oem tire and axle rating. Never did we think it was unsafe.

Mark

[kaydeejay]

dpark wrote:
I am not looking for the weight police to chime in, I am looking for answers from people with the above truck or a legitimate answer. I am going to pull the trigger on a 2500HD this week (truck is already picked out with deal made) but didn't do it due to just needing to make sure I am within specs.

The truck is a 2014 2500LTZ 4x4 crew cab with a Duramax/Allison combination. GVWR 10000lbs. The truck specs are 2706# payload, 6200# rear axle, 5200# front axle 15800# fifth wheel towing, 24500# GCVWR

My fifth wheel that I currently own and will be pulling with it is a 2014 Keystone Cougar High Country 315RES. Specs are 8563 empty with 2437 carrying capacity...leading to 11000# Gross rating. I know this is fine, but the pin weight is listed at 1600# and when I weighted it on our truck scales it was closer to 1800# loaded.

Is anyone towing something similar to this and do you feel I am within specs to be legal?

My truck has the same payload as that one you are looking at.
My loaded pin is 1800#.
With a 300# hitch (Superglide) and an extra 25gals of fuel (150#) plus the two of us, I am 200#under GVWR.
I suspect you will be in the same ball park.
If, as you say, the fiver is a keeper then I think you will be OK. Close to max on payload, but OK.
Good luck

[dpark]

shadoow wrote:
you mentioned a truck spec of 2706# for payload. Is that based on the actual wt. of the truck or somewhere else? Your room for pin wt. would be the difference between the truck GVWR and the actual wt. of the truck loaded as if you were going camping (i.e. you, wife, dog, kid/s, hitch, tools, full fuel tank, etc, etc.). Just guess-timating from when i had a 2009 GMC 2500HD D/A (GVWR of 9200#) i would say you should be ok. My actual truck wt. loaded up for camping came to a little less that 7200# leaving me 2000# for pin wt.

The weights are from the Chevrolet website for that style truck on the specs secion.

[dpark]

mguay wrote:
You didn't say if it was a Gasser or a D/A? If it is the 6.0 Gasser...make sure it has the 4.10 rear end! I had an 09 6.0 with the 3.73 rear and my current 5er and had a hard time getting 8 mpg while towing!

It is a 6.6 Duramax.

[dpark]

mdamerell wrote:
If you are asking the question you must know in the back of your mind you'd be better off with the 3500. For the price difference why not get the 3500 and not worry about it?

Either way, I hope you enjoy your new truck 🙂

I have run all of the weights in my mind and am well aware of my margins, and yes, I probably would be better off with a 3500, but for the couple hundred miles towing a year, want to see what others are towing and just want to bounce the questions off all the people on the forum. I know there are extremes out there for everything (the dually people to tow a PUP, and the 1/2 ton crew towing 12,000# 5ers) but just want good conversation to reinforce or sway me to the bigger suspension.

[shadoow]

you mentioned a truck spec of 2706# for payload. Is that based on the actual wt. of the truck or somewhere else? Your room for pin wt. would be the difference between the truck GVWR and the actual wt. of the truck loaded as if you were going camping (i.e. you, wife, dog, kid/s, hitch, tools, full fuel tank, etc, etc.). Just guess-timating from when i had a 2009 GMC 2500HD D/A (GVWR of 9200#) i would say you should be ok. My actual truck wt. loaded up for camping came to a little less that 7200# leaving me 2000# for pin wt.

[camperfamily]

Since you have not yet bought - consider a 3500 SRW. A little more purchase cost and a little more reg fees (at least in NJ). But a lot more capacity/comfort over the 2500. You can load up with firewood, benny, tools etc without much concern. Our previous 2002 F350 had a GVWR of only 9900#. Even with our 9985 GMVW 5th we were real close to the GVMR on the truck. The 2013 moved up to 11,500# GVWR and we could go to a larger trailer and still be legal.

Also have friends who tow a larger Montana (39' and ~13000#) with a 2500 Sierra. While they say it has the power it squats down good and he says its "squarely" at times.

FWIW