Is 2500# a realistic gap w/37' 5th wheel?

BT,DT. Pulled the trigger on a 36 foot fiver that had a 13,750 GVWR. Scaled ready to travel, 13,500 pounds. Pin north of 3000 pounds. Originally had a 2500 D/A ext cab 4X4. Scaled truck was 7500 pounds. So at the end of the day my scaled weight on the truck 10,500 pounds and it had a GVWR of 9200 pounds. Air bags, new tires and after struggling for three years I gave up and bought myself a dually. What ended it for me was pulling out of Warm Springs one hot day at 25MPH, heater on full and the windows all open. The next week we got rid of my problem.

Read my post: Attention weight police and you will find out about my experience with my F250. My yellow sticker is 9931# with 1963 cargo Gvwr 12535#. After going to a CAT scale I found out I am 900# over the GVWR for my F 250 which is I am told a f 350 badged as a 250. I would say get a 1 ton truck

mtofell1 wrote:
Yellow sticker weight is 9950# and I've got a max of 12,500# for my truck. Payload is 3000# which seems like I'd run out there at about the same time the setup as a whole is too much. What I'm looking for are experiences of people who have loaded these 5th wheels.

I'm thinking 600# of people in the truck being conservative and planning on the kids growing. 5th wheel hitch another couple hundred. So, that leaves me 1700# worth of stuff in the trailer. Full tank of fresh water takes 500# so that leaves me with 1200# of food, clothes, pots/pans, tv, etc, etc. Seems like I'm in the ballpark at least. Of course, it does add up quickly I know. I'm trying to decide if I'm pushing it too much. Of course, I know the tires don't all explode the instant I go 10# over weight.

Since everyone's family size and whatnot varies I guess I'm really wondering how much bedding, tvs, pots/pans and general camping stuff gets packed in. 1200# seems like an awful lot.

I'm assuming that "3000 lb payload" is for the truck....correct? So with all the stuff you're talking about, you're forgetting the pin weight of the trailer which will be about 20% of the trailer's total weight (what ever that may be when fully loaded and ready to travel).

So if you have 600 lbs of people, the hitch with another 200 lbs, and probably another couple hundred worth of stuff in the truck (tools, equipment, wood, etc) that only leaves 2000 lbs for the pin weight.

Is that 9900 lbs the "dry weight" of the trailer? If yes, another 1200 lbs of stuff in the trailer, you will be over 11,000 lbs and 20% of that is 2200 lbs.

So, looks to me that you are going to be 200 lbs over your trucks payload capacity.

Of course, that assumes all the info you provided is close to being accurate and also if my assumptions are valid.

FWIW, typically the mfg'ers tow capacity is not really a figure to consider. You will max out your truck's payload capacity,or RAWR, and/or the GVWR way before you reach that magical tow capacity figure.

Ron

In my case -- shopped for a new Ram in 2010 and salesperson at Dave Smith asked if I would be interested in a 3500 instead of 2500 cuz it was cheaper. Base price of 2500 megacab srw 4x4 was $39,300 and cummins was $7500 option. 3500 megacab 4x4 was $47,100 and cummins was standard equipment. SRW was a $983 deduct cuz dually was standard equipment. The only thing I did not get was tire press monitor system was unavailable on 3500 and standard on the 2500. I have the TST 507 tpms which shows press and temp on the TV and the 4 trailer tires which I feel is better than just monitoring the TV tires with OEM.

My set up in signature below is perfect for my 12,200 lb fiver. My opinion is once gvwr of fiver is over 11k, I recommend a 1 ton SRW at minimum. I am well within all specs on the truck and the towing experience is perfect.

IMO, go one ton. I added a 50 gallon diesel auxiliary tank in the box...450 lbs. If you increase your battery bank..75 lbs each, etc. Get more truck than you need.

mtofell1 wrote:
Yellow sticker weight is 9950# and I've got a max of 12,500# for my truck. Payload is 3000# which seems like I'd run out there at about the same time the setup as a whole is too much. What I'm looking for are experiences of people who have loaded these 5th wheels.

I'm thinking 600# of people in the truck being conservative and planning on the kids growing. 5th wheel hitch another couple hundred. So, that leaves me 1700# worth of stuff in the trailer. Full tank of fresh water takes 500# so that leaves me with 1200# of food, clothes, pots/pans, tv, etc, etc. Seems like I'm in the ballpark at least. Of course, it does add up quickly I know. I'm trying to decide if I'm pushing it too much. Of course, I know the tires don't all explode the instant I go 10# over weight.

Since everyone's family size and whatnot varies I guess I'm really wondering how much bedding, tvs, pots/pans and general camping stuff gets packed in. 1200# seems like an awful lot.

_________________
2006 Silverado Duramax 4X4, CC, Short Box
Bone Stock except for rear air bags

My guess is the 3,000# is the CC of the 5er giving a GVWR 12,950#
With 3,000 of Payload, not likely to use it all maybe be at about 11,500# GVW for the 5er.

I carry/pull that all the time with our 2001 Ram 2500, no issues, i don't even have or need bags. Only exceeding GVWR, well under axle ratings.
Yes the TV will be over it's GVWR, but that decision is the OP's.

Just realized I never updated my vehicle information - the truck in question is 2014 Ram 2500 w/6.4 Hemi. Not a lot different than the last truck.

It's looking like I need to lower my sights a bit. I've found a couple 5th with dry weights more in the 8500-9000# range. There's still a good chance I'll end up with another TT. I'm just really trying to avoid hauling around a 37 foot TT but to get the floor plan and other things I want that's what it will be. I had a 5th before and really like the way they tow and the way the upper level sits over the bed.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts.

Here is our weight for a 34 foot trailer and 2011 Silverado 3500HD Diesel

Steer Axle - 4900 lbs
Drive Axle - 6060 lbs
Trailer Axle - 9220 lbs
Gross Weight - 20,180 lbs

Truck GVWR 11,600 lbs
Trailer GVWR 12,380 lbs

Our CF335SS weight leaving the factory was 10,014 lbs "dry".
Add on’s to the original weight out the factory door - Both propane tanks full, dual 12V batteries, gray and black tanks empty, water tank about 1/3 full and 3 slide awnings. Trailer packed for "camping".

Most 5th Wheel owners are over weight at the tongue so a 3500 series tow vehicle makes sense. However, the 3500 is usually a good bit more expensive because they aren't usually sitting on the lot but must be special ordered in colors other than white with low on options. The 2500 has as much torque and overall tow capacity but just less carry capacity on the rear axle. My total loaded trailer weight is 14,000 lbs and I have towed it with my 2500 Duramax with Allison 50,000 miles with no issues. Don't buy a dually unless you like fighting it in town when not under two and want to forego the wife driving it.