Fifth Wheel Capabilities Truck

[nhtope]

Hello,
I have a 2013 Chevy 2500HD Work Truck model with the 6.0 Gas and 4X4. It is extended cab short bed with 3.73 gearing. I currently tow a travel trailer but was considering a future upgrade to a fifth wheel. How large can I go with this truck. I have tried several calculators online but it is a bit confusing. If anyone can help clarify I would appreciate it. Is a 10,500 lb dry weight fifth wheel too much?

[JIMNLIN]

silvercorvette wrote:
I do not know what a 6.0 is, but a 454 cubic inch engine is a big block.

EDIT

I had to convert 6.0 into cubic inches to be able to understand how big a 6.0 is, a 366 cubic inch definitely not a big block

Keep in mind the OP is about a '13 model truck.
The problem is Ram hasn't had a big block gas engine since dropping the 488 ci (8.0) V-10 in '03.

Or GM dropped the 498 ci (8.1) in the late '00s.

Or Ford dropped their V10 in the late '00s.

These big blocks had the hp and more importantly the big torque numbers (450-500+) to pull heavy loads more easily without all the typical high rpm as our small block gassers require.

At one time we had a choice to pull heavy (similar tow ratings) with a diesel or the big block gas engine.

[silvercorvette]

Dave H M wrote:

JIMNLIN wrote:
Looking at GM online fleet ordering guide CLICKY LINK shows your 2500 Chevy WT has 3500-3600 lbs payload. The truck will have no problems carrying that trailers pin weight.

Now the deal killer is GM say the '12 2500 WT 6.0 4x4 short bed 3.73 has a 9800 lb tow rating (4.10 gears = 14300 lb)

IMO any smallblock pulling over 12k will not make for a comfortable towing experience. The truck will struggle at those loads. I would stick with a 10k wet weight trailer.

OK I give, give me an example of a 2012 LARGE block.

OP if you got a 6 speed you should be fine in towing with 5th most of the time.

I do not know what a 6.0 is, but a 454 cubic inch engine is a big block.

EDIT

I had to convert 6.0 into cubic inches to be able to understand how big a 6.0 is, a 366 cubic inch definitely not a big block

[ependydad]

nhtope wrote:
Hello,
I have a 2013 Chevy 2500HD Work Truck model with the 6.0 Gas and 4X4. It is extended cab short bed with 3.73 gearing. I currently tow a travel trailer but was considering a future upgrade to a fifth wheel. How large can I go with this truck. I have tried several calculators online but it is a bit confusing. If anyone can help clarify I would appreciate it. Is a 10,500 lb dry weight fifth wheel too much?

OP- if you are of the opinion that you should stay within a truck's ratings, here's a page that I wrote on how to decide how much you can tow:
What Can I Tow?

It'll hopefully break down the math for you and give you a better understanding.

[BarneyS]

nhtope wrote:
Snip... I still feel like a fifth wheel will be a better towing experience compared to a 35 foot travel trailer. Am I wrong to assume that? I wish I had diesel but it was not in my budget for the new truck.

If you are presently towing with a Hensley hitch then NO, the towing experience will not be any better with a 5th wheel and could be worse. There are other reasons for going to a 5th wheel from a TT towed with a Hensley but towing experience is not one of them. 🙂
Barney

[nhtope]

I appreicate all of the feedback. So, if I am understanding this correctly if I had 4.10 gears put in some day I would greatly increase my towing capabilities. I know the cost is substantial but still cheaper than another vehicle upgrade. How bad would fuel consumption be with 4.10 gears vs. 3.73? The majority of our travel is local with a couple big trips each year. We did travel from Wisconsin to Disney last year. That has been the biggest trip. My curent set up is great with the hensley arrow and the wilderness 3150ds. I am just considering a upgrade with features and stability some day. I still feel like a fifth wheel will be a better towing experience compared to a 35 foot travel trailer. Am I wrong to assume that? I wish I had diesel but it was not in my budget for the new truck.

[blt2ski]

This motor has 300plus HP, and it only has teh ability to tow 10K lbs?!?!?!?!? yeah right! This setup has better gearing the the 4sp trannies with 4.10'S! I'd pull my 12K equipment trailer with this truck. My guess is a 12K 5w will tow easier yet, much easier than a TT would, due to better aerodynamics of the setup! Frankly, as long as you get a hard sided smooth walled trailer, with no frontbed room slide, I'd go for it! You should be under the axel wt ratings etc too!

Yeah you will be turning some rpms, like 4K going up hills, in the gear below direct, not that the 6sp has a direct from what I understand....still, you will be in 3rd or 4th gear going up steeper hills, probably in the 50 mph range. The only person that gets tired, is one not wanting to hear a motor turn some rpms! My dmax sounds horrible with a 25K total load going up a 4% grade with the pedal to the metal doing 55 at 3000 rpm. Would imagine the same sound at 5K+ rpm in a as rig.

As long as you can stay under axel wt ratings, the truck will handle the trailer fine! A dmax is rated higher, so the truck etc will handle the trailer.

Marty

[JIMNLIN]

OK I give, give me an example of a 2012 LARGE block.

:h :@
Your idea so You tell us.

[Dave_H_M]

JIMNLIN wrote:
Looking at GM online fleet ordering guide CLICKY LINK shows your 2500 Chevy WT has 3500-3600 lbs payload. The truck will have no problems carrying that trailers pin weight.

Now the deal killer is GM say the '12 2500 WT 6.0 4x4 short bed 3.73 has a 9800 lb tow rating (4.10 gears = 14300 lb)

IMO any smallblock pulling over 12k will not make for a comfortable towing experience. The truck will struggle at those loads. I would stick with a 10k wet weight trailer.

OK I give, give me an example of a 2012 LARGE block.

OP if you got a 6 speed you should be fine in towing with 5th most of the time.

[skipnchar]

Weigh your truck and subtract that weight from your GVWR. THat's how much PIN weight (fully loaded not empty) you can handle. OTHER than that, it's a personal matter of whether YOU are happy with the performance.
Good luck / Skip

[TomG2]

You have plenty of payload to carry the pin weight, probably over 3,000 pounds available. I towed a 9,000 pound fiver with your combination very successfully. It was a success for me and a bigger success for the gasoline dealers.

[goducks10]

http://www.chevrolet.com/content/dam/Chevrolet/northamerica/usa/nscwebsite/en/Home/Vehicles/SUVs%20a...

According to Chevy's site you can only tow 9500lbs. The killer is the 3.73's. If you had the 4'10's you'd be good for 14,000 in a 5'er. 9500lbs isn't much but there's still quite a few 5'ers in the "1/2 Ton" style that would work well. Something with a dry weight around 8000lbs or even less would get you something decent. I couldn't find the payload info for 2012 but for 2013, your truck starts at 3189lbs. so assuming they didn't jump the payload numbers too much if any you have plenty of payload for the 9500lb limit.
Check your door sticker for CCC.

[JIMNLIN]

Looking at GM online fleet ordering guide CLICKY LINK shows your 2500 Chevy WT has 3500-3600 lbs payload. The truck will have no problems carrying that trailers pin weight.

Now the deal killer is GM say the '12 2500 WT 6.0 4x4 short bed 3.73 has a 9800 lb tow rating (4.10 gears = 14300 lb)

IMO any smallblock pulling over 12k will not make for a comfortable towing experience. The truck will struggle at those loads. I would stick with a 10k wet weight trailer.

[Road_Runners]

I would say your ideal fifth wheel trailer length would be 29 to 30 ft.

[mkirsch]

Maybe yes, maybe no.

It all depends on how much the "10,500lb dry weight fifth wheel" REALLY weighs loaded and ready to camp.

It all depends on how much payload your truck has left.

10,500lbs is going to be 12,000lbs by the time you're loaded for camping. That's an awful lot behind a 6.0L gasoline engine even considering the 6-speed transmission.

Your pin weight is going to be in the 2400-3000lb range, plus 250lb for the hitch in the truck. That will max out the stock rear tires on the truck, and it will likely require airbags or helper springs. It will almost certainly be over the GVWR of the truck.

Even not knowing the exact weight of your truck and the payload it has left, a 10,500lb dry 5th wheel is going to pretty much be at the truck's limits, and your limits in the patience department as well.