Maximum 5th wheel weight for SRW

[DarrellQ2001]

I'm going to buy a new 5th wheel this spring and I know I must upgrade my truck also. I like the Excel 37IKE but it has a GVW of 18,700 and I hate DRW trucks. Is there any make of SRW that would safely handle this trailer?

[mpierce]

jus2shy wrote:
I own a 3500 SRW, Crew Cab Short bed 68RFE with the Cummins. My maximum payload is roughly 3,800 lbs according to the sticker. GVWR is 11,700 IIRC. I think you may be at/near the limit of payload if you use the 20% rule. Then you'd have no room for anything but yourself on the truck.

Is that right? I have a Voltage 3600. 19,000# GVWR. 20% of that is 3800#. That is FULLY LOADED wt.

I am about 3300# fully loaded on the pin. One really needs to weigh the combo, as 20% is JUST a rule of thumb, not the bible.

Kind of makes my point about going to 19.5 tires if one is pushing the limit. Tires are the limiting factor on SRW trucks. Do they make the sticker higher? No. But, do they actually increase the ability to carry a marginal load? Yes.

[Redsky]

With DRW there are four tires with about 90% of their load capacity in that configuration or about 4x3000 or 12,000 lbs. so the axle is the limiting factor. With the GM/Chevy and Dodge trucks the axles and wheel bearings are rated at 10,900 lbs. so the limiting factor is the load capacity of the two tires at the rear.

Standard truck E range tires provide 3200@80 PSI or 6400 lbs for the two at the rear axle, but there are Nitto and Toyo tires that fit on 16/17/18 inch rims and have 3750@80 PSI rating and provide 7500 lbs. of load capacity at the rear. Figure 3200 lbs. for the heavy duty truck itself and that leaves 4300 lbs. for the weight of the 5th wheel.

Going to 19.5 rims and tires and the per tire load capacity is around 4400@110 PSI and that provides a rear load capacity of 8800 lbs. and minus the truck weight that leaves about 5600 lbs. for the 5th wheel trailer.

I know people towing 13,500 lb. 5th wheels all over with a SRW pickup and no difficulties with the handling or with high rate of tire wear.
They are all using the stock rims and E rated tires, nothing special.
They are all using a TrailAir or comparable kingpin setup to absorb the shock from the trailer and isolate it from the cab of the truck.

In my own travels I have noticed that four-fifths of the hundreds of trucks I have seen pulling 5th wheel travel trailers (not horse or cargo trailers) are SRW trucks.

Yes a DRW will work but is very seldom necessary.

[jus2shy]

I own a 3500 SRW, Crew Cab Short bed 68RFE with the Cummins. My maximum payload is roughly 3,800 lbs according to the sticker. GVWR is 11,700 IIRC. I think you may be at/near the limit of payload if you use the 20% rule. Then you'd have no room for anything but yourself on the truck.

[mpierce]

john&bet wrote:
I will relate a talk I had a few years ago with a fellow who had a Travel Supreme triple axel 5th that they were full timing in. He pulled in next to me and we were talking about his set up. The truck was an MDT and his trailer had a GVW of 18k+ that he had towed with a 3500 dully. The engine performed real well but the rest of the truck was lacking in tires and braking and general comfortable feel. He was much happier after the up grade in truck. Just for your consideration.

"a few years ago"

RAM especially has dramatically upped the strength of the frame and suspension since then. The wt. is well within the limits of a 3500 DRW. Not even pushing the limits.

It is close to the limit of a SRW 3500. If OP insisted on a 3500 SRW, I would suggest he get a RAM 3500 SRW, and swap the tires to 19.5, and add airbags. He may be a little under, or a little over the rating, but will be well within tire limits. DRW would be better.

[JTrac]

I pull my Excel with a SRW but mine is 3 feet shorter and lighter. I am within all specs, fully loaded, but not by much. My truck does an excellent job, is very stable and stops very well but I'm not sure I would want to pull anything bigger with it. I really think in that weight range I would want a dually. Excel has an option for upgraded tires and disk brakes which we have and I highly recommend. I think it helps a bunch with the handling and stopping. Ours has load range J Michelins.

We find our 34 to be very roomy and more than adequate for our needs. Not sure you have looked at one or if it would work for you but that would be an option to keep you in the SRW range.

[Cummins12V98]

john&bet wrote:
I will relate a talk I had a few years ago with a fellow who had a Travel Supreme triple axel 5th that they were full timing in. He pulled in next to me and we were talking about his set up. The truck was an MDT and his trailer had a GVW of 18k+ that he had towed with a 3500 dully. The engine performed real well but the rest of the truck was lacking in tires and braking and general comfortable feel. He was much happier after the up grade in truck. Just for your consideration.

As you said the talk was a few years ago.

Any of the big 3 diesel dually's will handle the RV in question.

I can tell you my combined weight is 28K with a pin weight of 4,500#. The Ram CC Dually handles the load with ease and is very solid in 40-50 mph side winds.

Look around many owning MDT's are selling them and buying 350/3500's.

[john_bet]

I will relate a talk I had a few years ago with a fellow who had a Travel Supreme triple axel 5th that they were full timing in. He pulled in next to me and we were talking about his set up. The truck was an MDT and his trailer had a GVW of 18k+ that he had towed with a 3500 dully. The engine performed real well but the rest of the truck was lacking in tires and braking and general comfortable feel. He was much happier after the up grade in truck. Just for your consideration.

[kzspree320]

I agree with the guys that recommend the DRW if moderately loaded and the 450/MDT if heavily loaded. I would not use a SRW even lightly loaded, since we all (OK most) accumulate stuff to fill the capacity given.

[ChooChooMan74]

Worst case scenario, I would get 19.5" LR F or LR G tires. Just my 2 cents.

Rickson Wheel Manufacturing

Click the link for some useful information.

[rhagfo]

DarrellQ2001 wrote:
I'm going to buy a new 5th wheel this spring and I know I must upgrade my truck also. I like the Excel 37IKE but it has a GVW of 18,700 and I hate DRW trucks. Is there any make of SRW that would safely handle this trailer?

Well here is something to think about. These are the specs on the 2013 Excel 37IKE

Specification Description
Length 37'2"
Height 12'7"
Hitch Weight 2,750 lbs
Dry Weight 14,100 lbs
Gross Weight 18,750 lbs
Cargo Weight 4,650 lbs
Axle Weight 15,000 lbs
Fresh Water Capacity 88 gals
Grey Water Capacity 67 gals
Black Water Capacity 44 gals
Furnace BTU 40,000
Sleeps 4
Tire Size 16
Slides 3
Bed Size King Available

So the Dry weight is 14,100 the GVWR is 18,750 making the payload 4,650# that is a LOT of STUFF. If loaded with 2,000# of Stuff weight would be 16,100# or so. If the pin remained at the 20% of dry then pin weight would be 3,220. That would be within the rating of the Ram 3500 SRW.
I don't think I would want to tow that much on SRW, but looks like it could be done within limits.

[Old-Biscuit]

hmknightnc wrote:
As others have said you are limited by tire capacity with a SRW 1 Ton truck. It highly depends on the truck and gear you have in the truck but as a general rule with a 1 Ton SRW you should stay below 14k# GVWR of a FW, for a 3/4 Ton you are looking at no more than 12k# GVWR FW. The trailer you are looking at is squarely in Dually country

There's the MFGs published specs and numbers and then there's the real world........

The above quote is in the Real World.

I get a chuckle when folks post MFGs. published numbers without posting ALL the little caveats/footnotes that are noted in the tiny print.

By the time the truck is optioned out and one actually goes across a set of scales loaded up camp ready they can't believe the numbers.....where did all that payload capacity go? what happened to that magical tow rating? my tires can't handle that kind of weight?
the truck weighs more than the sticker? Bah.bah.bah......

I wish MFGs would not publish any numbers and just state.........you need to weigh your truck in order to know what it can carry and/or haul!

[kaydeejay]

john&bet wrote:
You may even be pushing MDT area.

or at least 450/550 territory.

[hmknightnc]

As others have said you are limited by tire capacity with a SRW 1 Ton truck. It highly depends on the truck and gear you have in the truck but as a general rule with a 1 Ton SRW you should stay below 14k# GVWR of a FW, for a 3/4 Ton you are looking at no more than 12k# GVWR FW. The trailer you are looking at is squarely in Dually country

[rhagfo]

Nutinelse2do wrote:
HDT

Ram 3500 DRW, no not HDT, but has towing capacity well above the 18,000#

[sidney]

My 2013 RAM 3500 SRW stock tires max load is 3640 lbs. LT 275 70R 18

Sticker payload is 3900 lbs.