2016 GMC Sierra 3500 SRW vs. Ambition 38FB - Am I safe?

[tama2112]

Hi All,
I am pulling the trigger on an Ambition 38FB this week. Here are the specs:

- 9,000 lb. axles
- GVWR is 21,460**
- Dry weight: 16,000
- Pin weight is 3,710

**I'm told the GVWR is so high because the axles can carry more weight than standard 8,000 lb axles. That I won't likely have more than 18,000 pounds total for weekend camping.


The tow vehicle is a 2016 GMC Sierra 3500 SRW. Specs on that:

- CREW CAB, STANDARD BOX, 4WD
- Axle Ratio: 3.73
- Max Towing Capacity: 17,200 lbs
- Door Sticker: The combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed 3,594 lbs.
- Tires: Max Load Single: 3,525 lbs (Load Range E)

Spoke to a truck shop this morning. The state that I will have "absolutely no problems if I install air bags".

Can I get your thoughts please? Please note: I am not full-timing. This is for weekend trips with the family.

Matthew

[JIMNLIN]

I would add to those referencing the trucks rear axle.
RAWR= the lessor of the tire/wheel or rear suspension. The axle itself is the big 11.5" AAM unit rated around 10800 lbs so no problems with it.

Bags will cure suspension issues and 19.5" wheel and tires will fix the other part.

A bit about your 3500 GM weights. These new trucks are heavy. Many 350/3500 SRW owners report their empty trucks rear axles are weighing in the 3400 lb range leaving around 3500-3600 lb payload in the bed.
Now add a 20 % of the trailers wet weight = 3600-4000 lb range and the trucks rear axle is overloaded before you put the hitch in the bed and other necessary junk. I normally don't tell folks if their safe or unsafe so lets just say the OEM truck isn't rated to carry that much weight...... without mods.

That trailer is in one ton DRW country.

[larry_barnhart]

My thoughts are if you are thinking family safety your truck is not enough truck.

chevman

[transamz9]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Anyone telling you a SRW truck will be fine with that load should be taken out back and have the HE!! beaten out of them.

Your pin weight can EASILY be 5,365# at 25 precent. Also just because the GVWR is 21,460# (a weird number) does not mean squat. My GVWR is 21K and my rig scales 23K. Even being a weekend warrior your pin will exceed 4K.

Pick from the BIG 3 and get a 350/3500 Dually or buy a RV that maxes out at 14K.

Okay because you are so far away and I don't have to worry about you taking me out back I will say this. The SRW truck will handle it fine with some help from bags or other load helpers. The tires need to be upgraded to more capacity.

I look at it from a perspective that he already has the truck. He wants this fifth wheel. One of two things is going to happen. He's going to hook to it and say "no way" or the truck will do what he needs until he can get a heavier one. 5-6k for some upgrades to his truck is a lot cheaper than a new truck.

He also has to remember that he has to drive the rig appropriately to the conditions at which he has and to his ability.

[peoples1234]

drsteve wrote:

tama2112 wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Anyone telling you a SRW truck will be fine with that load should be taken out back and have the HE!! beaten out of them.

Your pin weight can EASILY be 5,365# at 25 precent. Also just because the GVWR is 21,460# (a weird number) does not mean squat. My GVWR is 21K and my rig scales 23K. Even being a weekend warrior your pin will exceed 4K.

Pick from the BIG 3 and get a 350/3500 Dually or buy a RV that maxes out at 14K.

Appreciate your input. The factory says the pin weight is 3,710. Are you saying it could actually more?

The factory pin weight is for a dry trailer. Everything you add will increase the pin weight.

It absolutely will be more...

[cruiseruser]

Tama2112,

The other requirement for you to tow that combination, if you have a North Carolina Drivers License, would be a Non Commercial Class A Drivers license. Any combo's GVWR over 26000 requires that designation on your license.

I think that rv is too heavy to safely pull with your tow vehicle.

[drsteve]

tama2112 wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Anyone telling you a SRW truck will be fine with that load should be taken out back and have the HE!! beaten out of them.

Your pin weight can EASILY be 5,365# at 25 precent. Also just because the GVWR is 21,460# (a weird number) does not mean squat. My GVWR is 21K and my rig scales 23K. Even being a weekend warrior your pin will exceed 4K.

Pick from the BIG 3 and get a 350/3500 Dually or buy a RV that maxes out at 14K.

Appreciate your input. The factory says the pin weight is 3,710. Are you saying it could actually more?

The factory pin weight is for a dry trailer. Everything you add will increase the pin weight.

[tama2112]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Anyone telling you a SRW truck will be fine with that load should be taken out back and have the HE!! beaten out of them.

Your pin weight can EASILY be 5,365# at 25 precent. Also just because the GVWR is 21,460# (a weird number) does not mean squat. My GVWR is 21K and my rig scales 23K. Even being a weekend warrior your pin will exceed 4K.

Pick from the BIG 3 and get a 350/3500 Dually or buy a RV that maxes out at 14K.

Appreciate your input. The factory says the pin weight is 3,710. Are you saying it could actually more?

[Cummins12V98]

Anyone telling you a SRW truck will be fine with that load should be taken out back and have the HE!! beaten out of them.

Your pin weight can EASILY be 5,365# at 25 precent. Also just because the GVWR is 21,460# (a weird number) does not mean squat. My GVWR is 21K and my rig scales 23K. Even being a weekend warrior your pin will exceed 4K.

Pick from the BIG 3 and get a 350/3500 Dually or buy a RV that maxes out at 14K.

[tama2112]

kzspree320 wrote:
I think you will be overloaded on your rear axle weight rating and possibly your tire rating. Hard to really know without knowing more about your truck and options. Look inside the drivers door jamb at the label. It should give you the RAWR (rear axle weight rating). Read your tire sidewalls and they will have the maximum weight for each tire. Give us that info. Even loaded lightly to 18,000, I would not do it. Air bags don't increase your tire capacity. Now if your willing to change to 19.5" wheels and tires. It may be doable. We just don't know enough about your truck. We need the RAWR and tire info. Good luck.

Hi - thanks for your response. I updated my post with the following info:

Door Sticker reads never exceed 3,594 lbs
Tires are Load Range E; Max load single = 3,525 lbs

[Grit_dog]

Good first post with all the proper info.
You'll get opinions from "you need a F650 to you're fine".
That's a lot of trailer, but I'll say you're fine.... barely. Dually would be ideal, but I get the weekend trips vs duty cycle of someone pulling it all over the country. You'll be right at GMs rear axle rating and well under the axle mfgs rating. Pin weight will be what? 3500lbs? I'm not a 5ver expert.
I'd have the heaviest tires I could, like 3700-4000lb rated tires, slap some air bags on it and go camping.
This advice is predicated on the fact that you are already fairly well versed in towing.

[12th_Man_Fan]

I have 4K pin weight on a GMC dually and it is quite a load.

I don't think you want that much weight on a single wheel truck I know I would not be comfortable.

Do you know the cargo carrying capacity of your truck? GVW minus actual weight of truck fuel and passengers.

I am probably overly cautious when it comes to weights.

Good luck.

[kzspree320]

I think you will be overloaded on your rear axle weight rating and possibly your tire rating. Hard to really know without knowing more about your truck and options. Look inside the drivers door jamb at the label. It should give you the RAWR (rear axle weight rating). Read your tire sidewalls and they will have the maximum weight for each tire. Give us that info. Even loaded lightly to 18,000, I would not do it. Air bags don't increase your tire capacity. Now if your willing to change to 19.5" wheels and tires. It may be doable. We just don't know enough about your truck. We need the RAWR and tire info. Good luck.