How Legit is FifthWheelSt's Calculator?

[hopeisnotastrat]

i'm looking to purchase a new truck and 5th wheel. The 3 trailers we've narrowed it down to are all very similar in terms of GVWR: roughly 15,500 lbs.

The frustrating thing is that I've entered the specs for 2016 GMC HD 3500, 2016 Ram 3500 HD, and 2016 Ford F-350 into the fifthwheelst calculator and it says that none of them can pull any of these trailers.

How is that possible?

I see 5th wheels all over campgrounds with less truck.

[golf_bears]

Any one of those trucks will pull those RVs. That is not the problem. The real issues to be concerned about are:
1--- Will the TV rear axle carry the load? What's the TV rear axle rating.
2--- Will the TV tires carry the load? What are they rated for?
3--- Will the truck stop the load?

As suggested, you can change the gear ratio and/or go to a dually.

Personally, I would get a dually with at least a 4.1 gear ratio.

Like many RVers, you get a TV with more capacity than you need to start with because down the road Ma-Ma most likely will want a bigger RV.

As your user name implies, "hopeisnotastrategy", get it right the first time!!!!

[hopeisnotastrat]

BobKrogstie wrote:
Your tow vehicle weight is wrong. Not even a semi tractor weighs 15500.

OK - I'm an idiot. I understood that field to be for the weight of the trailer.

Thanks for pointing out my error.

Having said that, when I correct that with the weight of the tow vehicle (7082 lbs) it still shows that I'm 2000 lbs short of being able to tow the trailer.

[enblethen]

The gross weight of the trailer is 15,500!

[BobKrogstie]

Your tow vehicle weight is wrong. Not even a semi tractor weighs 15500.

[MFL]

Lol, you never want to look at what others may be towing with. I am sure there has to be someone towing that size with a half ton, and airbags.

I haven't looked at the calculator, but I am thinking it would be picking the 1 ton DRW, to add plenty of safety.

IMO, many of the SRW new models would carry a 3,000+ pin wt, plus a 200lb hitch.

Jerry

[hopeisnotastrat]

Here's a screen shot of the specs of the RAM 3500 HD and the results just to show you what I mean.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/zogi36auhpmu26a/fifthwheelst%20calculator%20screen%20shot.tiff?dl=0

[enblethen]

Differential gear ratios and transmission ratings would be the first things to check.
Higher numerical differential may increase capacity.
Went to the website and it shows gear ratio as 3.73 for Chev. That is too high of ratio. Should be at least 3.90 to 4.10 Look at the ratings using 4.10s