How much engine to tow 5500 lbs?

[marquette]

My wife and I are looking to buy a used 19-22 ft 5th wheel. Weight range from 35-4000 dry so I am figuring 5-5500 lbs wet weight. I have already decided the TV has to be a 3/4 ton with either a extended or crew cab. Budget wise I am looking at 1998-2004 trucks. In the trucks I have looked at Chevy has the venerable 5.7 or the 5.3 or 6.0., Dodge the gas 5.9 or Ford has the 5.4 or 6.8 V10. I have looked at the paper statistics of all of them but would like to hear some real world experience of what works. I will tow mostly midwest, Dakotas, and New England. Probably about 5000 miles a year. I am not interested in a diesel.

[NC_Hauler]

marquette wrote:
Here is a example of one of the trailers we looked at and the others are similar.
1995 Komfort Lite 22LF Listed at 3442 lbs. So I figure 5000 lbs loaded. Some of the others were in the 3800 lb do 5500 lb loaded. Imperial camper in Newport, Mn has it if you want to google the listing.

I looked it up and believe you are reading it wrong...it states it has TWO, 3442# rated axles. That means the axles will handle 6884#...still a light weight, but remember, approx. 20% of the 5er's weight is dropped into the bed of the truck as pin weight...

the 3442 is what the axle rating is times 2= 6884 that can set on the axles, (probably more like 6,000#... I would speculate that GVW of the 5er is closer to 7800#, pin weight of 1560#, giving you a 5er load on your axles of approx. 6240#...and I'm just ball parking....GVW I would think could be 7800# to 8,000#...BUT, a 2500 could still handle that easily...

Again, the 3442 you gave was the weight rating of ONE of the axles on the 5er in MN. There are two 3442# rated axles, thus the reason that I speculated GVW

[marquette]

Here is a example of one of the trailers we looked at and the others are similar.
1995 Komfort Lite 22LF Listed at 3442 lbs. So I figure 5000 lbs loaded. Some of the others were in the 3800 lb do 5500 lb loaded. Imperial camper in Newport, Mn has it if you want to google the listing.

[NC_Hauler]

Ben, that 8.1 could fly..it was another reason I got rid of it and ended up with my first D/A combo...:)

As you stated, as I did also...seems like a very light 5er....would like to know what name brand and model, just to research it...and again, he should use GVW of unit...

[BenK]

Yup...8.1L or the 502 if I could find one I liked...the good ole 7.4L
is just fine and does blow away many 8.1L & oil burners...

What they don't get is that with the ever increasing torque numbers...the
OEMs installed 'torque management' to keep from twisting the drive
train into pretzels

With that, they don't have full power mode that I do with no torque
management attributes in my ECU

Now a tuner will remove lots of the torque management stuff, but then
the risk is to the drive train

Repeat RC's question...is that trailer really that light? and go back
to my questions of gathering their ratings to then do the simple math
and figure out

All doable and another point...decide if you believe in the ratings
system or not

If not, then all academic and do whatever

If yes, then my metrics stand...

[NC_Hauler]

APT wrote:
GM replaced the 454ci (7.4L) from the 90's with the 496ci (8.1L) for 2001-2007. It was dropped due to emissions and demand. 😞 It was a beast.

Consider the fuel tank size too. My prior TV had practical RV towing tank range of 160-200 miles. It was a nuisance at best for short in-state trips. My new TV tank range is 250-325 miles much better.

Agree....but son, that truck could RUN....(:

[NC_Hauler]

May I be so bold as to ask, where are you going to find a 19-22' 5er with such a light weight of 5500# loaded?? Just haven't heard of too many that weigh that little...as stated, no more than that weighs, you could do it with a 1/2 ton....

Make sure you're using GVW and not "dry" or "empty" weights, those are far from helping you any....Of course, if you're going to go with a 3/4 ton truck....there is no need to worry about a 5,000-5500# truck...just do yourself a favor and use 5er' actual GVW and go from there.

[APT]

GM replaced the 454ci (7.4L) from the 90's with the 496ci (8.1L) for 2001-2007. It was dropped due to emissions and demand. 😞 It was a beast.

Consider the fuel tank size too. My prior TV had practical RV towing tank range of 160-200 miles. It was a nuisance at best for short in-state trips. My new TV tank range is 250-325 miles much better.

[NC_Hauler]

marquette wrote:
Is the 8.1 the same as the 454?

It started as a 454, but that's where it ends. it became an 8.1/ 496 CID engine and could "flat scat" ...Believe the reason it got canned was because mpg wasn't good at all..BUT, it was the only gasser that I'm aware of that was strapped to an Allison tranny with a 4;10....I used it to tow a 5er, (GVW of about 12,000# at the time), all through the mountains of NC, TN, SC, WV and Va and I never had an issue with it...other than even when empty was lucky to get 12 mpg and that was pushing it...Had a K&N air filter, dual's and a Grantelli MAF sensor to try to "eck" out more mpg...But it was an aniMULE:)

[phillyg]

I only know Fords. Either the 5.4 or V10, with a towing package and 3.73 or higher axle, will easily handle that load.

[marquette]

Is the 8.1 the same as the 454?

[NC_Hauler]

I Owned an 01' Chevy extended cab 2500 with the 8.1 and Allison tranny...would blow a 6.0 and the others that you mentioned off the road, (I know, because I ran most of those when I had the 01)....It also came with 4:10 ...if you could find one of those it was a solid hauler to be sure....only downside was it never met a filling station it didn't like:).

[colliehauler]

APT wrote:
From that era, I recommend GM 8.1L and Ford V10. The small blocks didn't have the power of today's full sized pickups and were mated to 4-spd transmissions. The only penalty of the bigger engines from that era is unloaded fuel economy compared to say GM 6.0L or Ford 5.4L.

This is what I would go with as well. If you wanted to go to a larger trailer you would not be limited by the truck. The trade off is unloaded fuel economy. Pulling the camper the mileage would be similar.

[john_bet]

My '99 Dodge 1/2 ton 5.2L did a pretty good job of towing a 27' 7k TT. We towed from Indiana to Great Falls,MT. and to Rapid City,S.D. with it and was real comfortable with how it handled.

[APT]

From that era, I recommend GM 8.1L and Ford V10. The small blocks didn't have the power of today's full sized pickups and were mated to 4-spd transmissions. The only penalty of the bigger engines from that era is unloaded fuel economy compared to say GM 6.0L or Ford 5.4L.

[BenK]

All 'can do it', as a half ton can tow the Space Shuttle...true...I've seen the videos :S

How long do you plan to own both the TV and Trailer? Smaller displacement
will not last as long as a larger displacement that doesn't have to work
as hard

Where do you drive?

How do you drive?

How does and what does your family load up?

What are the spec's for the trailer? GVWR & PIN (dry, so you can do
the percentage of actual weight) are the main one. Better yet if you
have the actual

That will then tell you what will be on the hitch in the bed and that
will then tell you what is left in ratings for your payload. People,
pets, ice chest, tool box, extra oil/coolant/etc, firewood, etc

Find the TV's GVWR, GCWR, F/R GAWR and if GM what receiver it has
GMT800's have a very, very poorly designed receiver, but don't let
that stop you if a good one comes across your path. A traditional
designed receiver is in the $150 buck range and about 1 hours labor

Then do the simple math: GCWR => TV + Trailer + hitch/stuff weights
Best to use actual weights

As for which badge...personal choice thing. They are all capable and
is what you like best that matters...not what I like... 🙂