DesertDogs wrote:
Spot-on, thank you.
I will need a minimum of 4,000 lbs. payload from the truck, to cover the pin weight of the 5th wheel and the passengers (2 people, 2 dogs) in the truck. Definitely need a one-ton SRW with 4000 lbs. payload, at minimum. And avoid carrying much fresh/grey water while traveling.
5th wheel will only be used for an occasional trip, not FT, so no need for it to be heavily loaded.
Since the vast majority of use of the truck will be as our daily driver, we do not wish to have a DRW truck.
A 5th wheel will not put enough weigh on the front axle to allow 4K of carrying capacity and very few SRW 350/3500 actually have that much CC. It is the RGAWR you need to worry about. Do you plan on a washer/dryer and a generator? If so you will need a duallie. If these items are not on your list and the trailer really has close to the 2600 dry pin weight, then with careful loading you will get by with a 350/3500.
My 16K Bighorn has a 2435 lb dry pin weight, no W/D and no generator. A Demco picture frame and a B&W manual slider. Here are my loaded weights.
Front-----5120
Drivers---6620
Sub Truck-11740
Trailer---12780
GCW-------24520
Trucks RGAWR is 7K, dry camping and moving fresh water to the 2 grey and black tank would put more weight on the rear axle of the truck.
I started with less dry pin weight and talked to Heartland to verify that their dry pin weight was accurate.
You did not I believe state if you want a SB or LB truck. That is in play also, as slider hitches are heavier.
I my case I had the truck first and wanted to more up from our 29" 5th wheel to something in the 34-36' length. I found that there were a lot of trailers that I would not be able to tow.
I would really want to know the actual dry pin weight of the trailer you are considering before buying it.
