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What size truck?

ohmymy111
Explorer
Explorer
I recently bought a King of the Road 36ft 5th wheel. It is a triple axle, and weighs about 13K.

What size truck should I realistically be looking at getting to pull it?
19 REPLIES 19

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Explorer III
ohmymy111 wrote:
The water tank was not full, so I know that will obviously add weight. But for how I plan on using it, it is highly unlikely I will ever pull it with the tanks full. Other than that it was completely loaded up.If things go to plan, it will be pulled twice a year, going to and from seasonal property.


As requested, weights???
2015 RAM LongHorn 3500 Dually CrewCab 4X4 CUMMINS/AISIN RearAir 385HP/865TQ 4:10's
37,800# GCVWR "Towing Beast"

"HeavyWeight" B&W RVK3600

2016 MobileSuites 39TKSB3 highly "Elited" In the stable

2007.5 Mobile Suites 36 SB3 29,000# Combined SOLD

ohmymy111
Explorer
Explorer
The water tank was not full, so I know that will obviously add weight. But for how I plan on using it, it is highly unlikely I will ever pull it with the tanks full. Other than that it was completely loaded up.If things go to plan, it will be pulled twice a year, going to and from seasonal property.

Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Explorer III
rhagfo wrote:


If the 5er was loaded when you weighed you should be good to go.


Devil is in the details.........

Was truck fully loaded camp ready (you, all passengers, any stuff in cab, any stuff in bed, full fuel etc)
And
Was trailer fully loaded camp ready (linens, towels, bedding, clothes, canned goods, boxed goods, pots/pans, utensils, dishes, cups/glasses, toys, books, tools, lawn chairs, tables etc etc etc)

So.........
How close to RAWR?
How close to trucks rear tire load ratings?

Devil in the details!!!!!!!!
Is it time for your medication or mine?


2007 DODGE 3500 QC SRW 5.9L CTD In-Bed 'quiet gen'
2007 HitchHiker II 32.5 UKTG 2000W Xantex Inverter
US NAVY------USS Decatur DDG31

rhagfo
Explorer III
Explorer III
ohmymy111 wrote:
Thanks for all the replies!!I weighed the front axle, and rear axle of the truck I was pulling with, and then weighed the camper. Then later weighed just the truck and subtracted that out of the gross weight I had, and had just over 13K. I have a F350 with a 7.3l SRW. I was concerned it might be too small, but consensus seems that it will be fine. I didn't want to state what I had, as to avoid a possible bias. In addition, I have upgraded the tranny cooler to the 6.0l tranny, and run a scangauge 2 to monitor all my temps.


That is likely a very nice 5er. We bought a 1986 28' King that needed the last 6' of the floor needed to be replaced. Once that was done we really enjoyed that 5er, it was beautiful inside, and looked good outside also.

If the 5er was loaded when you weighed you should be good to go.
Russ & Paula the Beagle Belle.
2016 Ram Laramie 3500 Aisin DRW 4X4 Long bed.
2005 Copper Canyon 293 FWSLS, 32' GVWR 12,360#

"Visit and Enjoy Oregon State Parks"

time2roll
Nomad
Nomad
May as well post the weight tickets and see what happens.

ohmymy111
Explorer
Explorer
Thanks for all the replies!!I weighed the front axle, and rear axle of the truck I was pulling with, and then weighed the camper. Then later weighed just the truck and subtracted that out of the gross weight I had, and had just over 13K. I have a F350 with a 7.3l SRW. I was concerned it might be too small, but consensus seems that it will be fine. I didn't want to state what I had, as to avoid a possible bias. In addition, I have upgraded the tranny cooler to the 6.0l tranny, and run a scangauge 2 to monitor all my temps.

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Explorer III
King of the Road are VERY heavy RV's. Wonder why it's a triple axle??? I's saying a Dually for sure.
2015 RAM LongHorn 3500 Dually CrewCab 4X4 CUMMINS/AISIN RearAir 385HP/865TQ 4:10's
37,800# GCVWR "Towing Beast"

"HeavyWeight" B&W RVK3600

2016 MobileSuites 39TKSB3 highly "Elited" In the stable

2007.5 Mobile Suites 36 SB3 29,000# Combined SOLD

TxGearhead
Explorer II
Explorer II
As far as SRW, Ford will have least payload, then GM, then Ram the most. By a lot.
2018 Ram 3500 CC LB DRW 4X4 Cummins Aisin Laramie Pearl White
2018 Landmark Oshkosh
2008 Bigfoot 25C9.4
2014 NauticStar 21 ShallowBay 150HP Yamaha
2016 GoDevil 18X44 35HP Surface Drive

BB_TX
Nomad
Nomad
WOW! Such truck neutrality I have never seen. Are all the brand loyals mellowing?

I agree on any 350/3500. Which ever you like best. You need to know the trailer pin weight though to determine whether a DRW will be needed to support the weight.

Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Explorer III
From other posts this is a 1992 King of the Road 5th wheel.....
Triple axle/that year will weigh more than 13K

350/3500 DUALLY especially if like 5th wheel it is a used truck
Is it time for your medication or mine?


2007 DODGE 3500 QC SRW 5.9L CTD In-Bed 'quiet gen'
2007 HitchHiker II 32.5 UKTG 2000W Xantex Inverter
US NAVY------USS Decatur DDG31

NC_Hauler
Explorer
Explorer
I find it hard to believe a triple axle 5er only has a weight of 13K... I'd like to know the GVW of the 5er and go from there. I've owned a 14K GVW 5er and a16,950 GVW 5er and both were only had two axle's.. This, 13K just doesn't sound realistic.

OP, what is 5ers GVW, THAT's what you need to base the tow vehicle on.

Jim
Jim & Kathy, (Boxers, Buddy & Sheba)
2016 Ram 3500 DRW Longhorn 4X4/CC/LB/Aisin/4.10/rear air assist ...Pearl White.
2016 DRV MS 36RSSB3/ W&D/ slide toppers/ DTV satellite/ 5.5K Onan propane gen.
B&W RVK3600 Hitch
Fulltiming in WV & TX
USAF 71-75 Viet Nam Vet

IdaD
Explorer
Explorer
azdryheat wrote:
Dually's aren't much more expensive than single wheel axles. Get the dually and have no worries. Plus you'll be able to upgrade to a larger trailer down the road.


You don't need a dually for a 13k lb fifth wheel, and I wouldn't personally recommend one unless it's a dedicated tow vehicle or the fifth wheel size really requires one. Duallys are great towing trucks but they're worse in every other respect - off road, snow/ice, parking lots/garages, tight city streets, etc. Just my opinion.
2015 Cummins Ram 4wd CC/SB

Nicholsfamily05
Explorer
Explorer
One ton diesel.

Can't go wrong there with any of the brands really.

But I am a Ram fan.
2016 Ram 3500 4x4 Big Horn Crew Cab, SRW. Cummins Turbo Diesel Automatic 68RFE Trans
50 gallon diesel Transfer Flow tank with the Traxx 3 system.
2017 Sierra FLIK 5th Wheel
42' Front Livingroom, 15K
Hydraulic level up system

azdryheat
Explorer
Explorer
Dually's aren't much more expensive than single wheel axles. Get the dually and have no worries. Plus you'll be able to upgrade to a larger trailer down the road.
2013 Chevy 3500HD CC dually
2014 Voltage 3600 toy hauler
2019 RZR 1000XP TRE