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

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.

The more you can carry in the trailer, the more you can balance the load to take some pin off the truck. There are some nice, lighter weight, FWs out there in the 30-35' range, if you look. You =don't= have to travel with full water, if you plan right. On our annual boondocker with the family, I tow about 130 miles with minimum water, then stop at the last place to fill up before our exit to fill. Leaves me only the last 25 miles to tow with water. This includes the spare water jugs (2 x 7gal cubes), which are right inside the door, behind the axles. Depending on what you want to carry, you do need to watch the CCC of the FW, as some of the "half tons" are pretty anemic in that aspect. I grew up having to pack light, as we did a lot of flying in small planes, and Dad was religious about how we packed. Of course, this meant that what Mom wanted/needed got to go, and our stuff got left behind. :-)

Lyle