Forum Discussion

TheSeaPine_Owne's avatar
TheSeaPine_Owne
Explorer
Jul 01, 2013

Should I be towing this? Real weights, real specs, real qu

The truck:

2008 silverado 2500 HD crew cab long bed 4X4 diesel Allison.

On the door:

GVWR - 9200 lbs
GAWR(FT) - 4860 lbs
GAWR((R) - 6084 lbs
The combined weight of cargo and passenger should never exceed 2181 lbs

In the manual under cc long bed 4x4 6.0L V8 4.10

Max trailer weight - 12,100 lbs
GCWR - 18,500 lbs
For fifth wheel trailer, kingpin weight should not exceed 3,000 lbs

The camper: 2011 sprinter copper canyon 31fwfsbhs
Sitcker: 9850 dry, GVWR - 12,300 lbs

Now the scale:

Weight of truck with full tank 100% loaded for the trip (we were on a week long trip)
Front axial 4875. Rear axial 3655 lbs. total - 8530 lbs

Weigh of truck and camper, again fully loaded:
Front axial 4880 lbs, rear axial 5920 lbs, trailer axial 9380. Total 20,180 lbs

I think I'm over my GCWR, but hit all the others OK. What do you all think about the safety of this setup? Have I exceeded othe limits?

The other trucks without CC or long bed or 4x4 have modest improvements to the Max trailer weight, but not so much GCWR in the manual. This is a fairly small 5th wheel! I see way, way, no way bigger campers on this same truck as the norm??????

What an I missing, is everyone over limit or am I making a wrong assumption. Am I OK with my rig? I couldn't get a smaller 5ther. The 3500's aren't that much better either in the specs...........
  • rhagfo's avatar
    rhagfo
    Explorer III
    Jul 06, 2013
    TheSeaPine_Owners wrote:
    I do have 245, and it's what on the door label.

    So I tow a Copper Canyon 293 FWSLS with my 01. This unit is very close in weight to yours, you need to do two things.
    1. Loose some weight in the TV, front bumper for sure. Then figure why the rear is so heavy, you should not be that heavy on the rear axle!
    2. Step up to 265 tires for some extra weight capacity,

    As stated before I am over my GVWR, but still have 1,500# of total axle capacity 500# front and 1,000# rear. Sit level without air bags.
  • chevor's avatar
    chevor
    Explorer
    Jul 05, 2013
    How often do you pull the trailer? I think you'll be fine for short trips. Traveling across country I would get the front end weight down by at least 300 pounds. Could switch to a bigger tire for a higher weight rating.
  • ependydad's avatar
    ependydad
    Explorer
    Jul 03, 2013
    Looks like you're close, but under on tire load capacity -

    Your rear axle is: 5920 meaning each tire carries approximately 2960 pounds. (Assuming equal distribution, but it's hard to get individual wheel weights.)
  • TheSeaPine_Owne's avatar
    TheSeaPine_Owne
    Explorer
    Jul 03, 2013
    These are well made vehicles for sure.

    My tires are michelin m/s2 L/TX, 3092 lbs single at 80psi, 2778 lbs double.
  • mkirsch's avatar
    mkirsch
    Nomad II
    Jul 03, 2013
    The short answer is: YES, these people you see with "way way... bigger" fifth wheels are OVERLOADED, often significantly, often even exceeding the tire ratings on their trucks.

    By and large they are BLISSFULLY IGNORANT of their situation. The RV dealer said they were fine. They didn't crunch a single number. They just hitched up and went camping.

    Sometimes a more conscientious driver will notice that things aren't right and start digging in to find out why, but for the most part people have no idea.

    Makes you ask, "WHY BOTHER?"

    It's a testament to how well built and overdesigned these trucks are that people can head out on Friday evening, and return home Sunday afternoon safe, fat, and happy.
  • rhagfo's avatar
    rhagfo
    Explorer III
    Jul 02, 2013
    TheSeaPine_Owners wrote:
    And I suppose I could load the camper a little differently and get more of the stuff behind the camper wheels, remove that deduction saving grill guard and I'd be better off.


    Yea, I think i would loose the bumper also!!
  • ependydad's avatar
    ependydad
    Explorer
    Jul 02, 2013
    TheSeaPine_Owners wrote:
    I am still over the GVWR though by 1600 lbs while towing. That one worries me. Those numbers on the door are surely correct, it's the manual I'm fighting with.


    Other than finding the GCWR rating, the manual doesn't make one lick of difference. What really matters is your actual weights vs. your door stickers.

    Doing the math of pin weight (2,270) divided by camper weight (11,650) gives you your percentage of pin weight (19.5%) which is pretty spot on for a typical fifth wheel (20%-25% is the norm, though some, like mine are significantly under at 16.5%).

    IMO, I wouldn't be comfortable being over GVWR by 1,600 pounds.
    (edited to remove a comment about being over on rear axle weight- I went back and saw that you weren't)

    Have you looked at your tire's carrying capacity yet? It should be stamped on the sidewall of the tire (this tire is rated to carry X pounds at Y psi).
  • TheSeaPine_Owne's avatar
    TheSeaPine_Owne
    Explorer
    Jul 02, 2013
    And I suppose I could load the camper a little differently and get more of the stuff behind the camper wheels, remove that deduction saving grill guard and I'd be better off.

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