What Size RV can I tow? Please Help!

[Chuck___]

I known someone out there knows the actual method to figure out how much legally a person can tow with; the vehicle they have now and or the truck their looking to purchase to tow with. I am talking about a simple guide of the meanings of like GCWR and GVWR and calculations needed.

My goaded is to know exactly the weight in "all important areas" before shopping and or purchasing a 5th wheel.

I have read were too many people purchase a RV and later found out that the RV/5th wheel is too heavy to legally tow and most important "safely".

Please educate us fellow RV'er on all weight aspects what to look out for, meanings, how to calculate, were to look up, before we go shopping.

Update 12-28-14 Time:1:35 PM

I courtly hare a 99 Dodge 250 Cub Cab long bed Diesel. Possibly looking to upgrade some great day.
Information on driver door. GAWR Front 2001 KG (4410 lbs.) Rear 2760 KG ( 6084 lbs.) GVWR 3992 KG (8800 lbs.)

Weighted truck at scales: Front axle 3880 lbs. Rear axle 2780 lbs. Total weight of truck unloaded 6540 lbs.

Yes, I have been a member for sometime now; but to me I would like to see were a person could click on a heading without digging though pages after pages. Maybe a main heading or something.

With the truck data weights in hand; any shopper could easily click on a heading, see the meaning for example GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Ratings) take the weight information on any trailer
and know with a little math if they are purchasing trailer that they can Safety Handle!

Thanks and look forward to all your help.

[stickdog]

It's really very simple. Most 3/4 or 1 ton trucks will be over their GVW before they are over their CGVW. So what is important is the tow vehicle has sufficient GVW for the pin weight of the 5th wheel.
Generally speaking your better off with a 1 ton than a 3/4 ton because of GVW. However not all 1 tons are the same in their GVW a 2015 Ford SRW 350 has between 10,000 and 11,500 GVW depending on equipment upgrades, where a SRW 250 has a max 10,000 GVW. A 350 DRW can have a GVW between 13,000 and 14,000 again determined by equipment.
If your considering a crew cab long bed you can figure on curb wt. close to 9,000 pounds with a hitch installed which would leave pin wt to 1000 pounds on a 10,000 GVW and that is not much.
If your buying off the lot most dealers will have trucks with the lower GVW's but loaded with goodies because most folks like them. If they have trucks with the higher GVW' on the lot they will be plain jane work truck types.
All trucks have their GVW rating listed inside the on the door pillar.
We purchased our truck before purchasing our fifthwheel but we knew our maximum size and stayed within that range when shopping for it.

[Old-Biscuit]

Do you have a truck currently?

If so....what truck

[The_Mad_Norsky]

Take a look here. fifth wheel towing