How much truck do I need for a 23K 5th wheel?

[DKRITTER]

I currently have a Cedar Creek 36CKTS which when loaded with a couple of weeks worth of stuff weighs about 15K- 3k is on the hitch and 12k on the axles according to the scale. I'm pulling it with a F350 SRW and I am still below max and haven't had any issues.

We are looking at another trailer and it dry weighs a little over 19K and maxes at 23K I think (I'm pretty close). I know we have gone over the 350 SRW and are still below a 350DRW but.........................

For those who have pulled 20-22K 5th wheels is a 350DRW really enough truck?

We tow and camp about 100 nights a year? We take 1 or 2 trips a month both for pleasure and for business. About to leave on a 3 week trip towing the trailer a little over 2k miles.

Thank you

[BarneyS]

This thread has gone off topic and is starting to get nasty. Time to close it down. Thank you all for your participation.
Barney

[NC_Hauler]

jims1 wrote:

SoCalDesertRider wrote:

SoCalDesertRider wrote:
It can be done with a very late model diesel 1-ton dually with low axle ratio.

I would rather do it with something bigger, a small Freightliner (M2, FL60) or International (4000 series). The bigger trucks are built to haul and pull those heavy weights under continuous duty and do it problem free for years and years. The pickups are not rated for that. They have the power all cranked up and are taxing everything to max to get those big numbers in their ratings.

Let's go back to this statement right here, because it appears my statement set off the whole arguement.

Now, if you read the first line, what does it say?

"It can be done with a very late model diesel 1-ton dually with low axle ratio."

Then I went on to say what I would rather tow it with, which is a bigger truck, and gave my reasons why.

Now, for those of you jumping on me because you like your pickups and like to pull big trailers with them, where did I ever say your late model diesel pickups couldn't pull the trailer? And where did I ever say that a bigger truck HAS to be used?

That's right, I never said those things.

I gave my opinion on what I would rather tow it with.

So, it appears to me, that it is the pickup guys that are being the gestapo here, jumping on anyone who prefers an MDT or HDT over a pickup...

And it happens on every forum where someone asks what they need to pull a heavy 5th'er.
As soon as someone pony's up the $70,000 for the Ram, I'll buy it, but until then my lil' ole $19000 truck is good for us.

WOW!!!!!$70K:E Guess you don't know how to shop for a new truck..My 2016 is loaded out and cost 15K less than that, full warranty and that price included a 7 yr 120K Chrysler Max Care Extended warranty, zero deductible..

[RAS43]

That can be said about many threads here- trucks, 5th wheel hitches, tire life, etc. It does get old but that is human nature I guess.

[Me_Again]

This only thread is an step up from the only Dually vs SRW guys. If one does not what they have, then they do not have enough truck! Case closed you will crash and burn!

Chris

[jims1]

SoCalDesertRider wrote:

SoCalDesertRider wrote:
It can be done with a very late model diesel 1-ton dually with low axle ratio.

I would rather do it with something bigger, a small Freightliner (M2, FL60) or International (4000 series). The bigger trucks are built to haul and pull those heavy weights under continuous duty and do it problem free for years and years. The pickups are not rated for that. They have the power all cranked up and are taxing everything to max to get those big numbers in their ratings.

Let's go back to this statement right here, because it appears my statement set off the whole arguement.

Now, if you read the first line, what does it say?

"It can be done with a very late model diesel 1-ton dually with low axle ratio."

Then I went on to say what I would rather tow it with, which is a bigger truck, and gave my reasons why.

Now, for those of you jumping on me because you like your pickups and like to pull big trailers with them, where did I ever say your late model diesel pickups couldn't pull the trailer? And where did I ever say that a bigger truck HAS to be used?

That's right, I never said those things.

I gave my opinion on what I would rather tow it with.

So, it appears to me, that it is the pickup guys that are being the gestapo here, jumping on anyone who prefers an MDT or HDT over a pickup...

And it happens on every forum where someone asks what they need to pull a heavy 5th'er.
As soon as someone pony's up the $70,000 for the Ram, I'll buy it, but until then my lil' ole $19000 truck is good for us.

[SoCalDesertRid1]

SoCalDesertRider wrote:
It can be done with a very late model diesel 1-ton dually with low axle ratio.

I would rather do it with something bigger, a small Freightliner (M2, FL60) or International (4000 series). The bigger trucks are built to haul and pull those heavy weights under continuous duty and do it problem free for years and years. The pickups are not rated for that. They have the power all cranked up and are taxing everything to max to get those big numbers in their ratings.

Let's go back to this statement right here, because it appears my statement set off the whole arguement.

Now, if you read the first line, what does it say?

"It can be done with a very late model diesel 1-ton dually with low axle ratio."

Then I went on to say what I would rather tow it with, which is a bigger truck, and gave my reasons why.

Now, for those of you jumping on me because you like your pickups and like to pull big trailers with them, where did I ever say your late model diesel pickups couldn't pull the trailer? And where did I ever say that a bigger truck HAS to be used?

That's right, I never said those things.

I gave my opinion on what I would rather tow it with.

So, it appears to me, that it is the pickup guys that are being the gestapo here, jumping on anyone who prefers an MDT or HDT over a pickup...

[Veebyes]

You need a beeg truck.

[Cummins12V98]

Me Again wrote:
This would be better!

Good grief! My wife does not need more space to fill. :B

[Cummins12V98]

"I can take my truck to and from work"

HEY, you need to scrub that dirty word from your vocabulary!!!

[NC_Hauler]

Tom/Barb wrote:

SoCalDesertRider wrote:

Tom/Barb wrote:
If I were going over 20,000# I'd be looking very seriously at

THIS

That's a nice truck! 🙂

They build them for a reason.

But not for the reason of only towing a 20K-23K 5er..This is 2016, get out and do your research..The MDT & HDT's, most of them feell you have to have a semi to tow a 16K 5er..It's their way or the highway...literally...I'd agreed with them back to about 5 yrs ago...but it's ridiculous to think you need a semi to tow a 16-23K 5er with,,,BUT, that's why I no longer frequent the Esdcapees forum..it's NOT user friendly if you disagree with them on ANYTHING. THERE IS A CLIQUE THAT COORDINATES MASS "JUMPING ON" OF ONE WHO WOULD DARE RECOMMEND ANYTHING BUT A MDT OR A HDT.

They build them ALL for one reason or another:R..Each class has a job it can do...If I were to go over 23K at this time...well, I wouldn't go that heavy because a semi tractor or MDT wouldn't work for us....so I'd stay light enough for a 3500/350 dually, (2013 and up) to handle what we need.

Jim

[Tom_Barb]

SoCalDesertRider wrote:

Tom/Barb wrote:
If I were going over 20,000# I'd be looking very seriously at

THIS

That's a nice truck! 🙂

They build them for a reason.

[SoCalDesertRid1]

Tom/Barb wrote:
If I were going over 20,000# I'd be looking very seriously at

THIS

That's a nice truck! 🙂

[SoCalDesertRid1]

A total failure of the trailer brakes on a 23k lb trailer, while being pulled by a truck that is near, at or over it's GVWR, is a problem.

Example, a 9,000 lb F350 with 4,000 lbs pin weight and a GVWR of 13,000 lbs for the truck, which equals the loaded weight of the truck. The truck can safely stop itself and the pin weight, but the other 19,000 lbs of trailer weight is the problem.

A total failure of the trailer brakes on a 23k lb trailer, while being pulled by a truck that has a GVWR near, at or over the total combined weight of the truck and trailer, isn't much of a problem.

Example: a 20,000 lb class 8 tractor with 7,000 lbs of pin weight and a GVWR of 54,000 lbs, which is 27,000 lbs greater than the loaded weight of the truck, as well as 11,000 lbs greater than the total combined weight of the truck and 23,000 lb trailer. The truck can easily stop itself and the trailer, with just the truck's brakes.

[Drifter1959]

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