Safe weight for 2016 Silverado 2500

[Unitech123]

We are looking to upgrade from a 23 foot TT to a smallish 5th wheel. We bought a new 3/4 ton truck as part of the migration and are looking at used units. What is the best way to determine if the truck can pull the 5th wheel? I don't want to push any limits; we use our existing unit quite a bit for road trips where we travel across the country and spend 5-7 days at a location before moving to the next one (we try and combine work with vacation so we will take a project that lasts a week, drive to the next city, and do it all again.) We don't want anything longer than 32 feet. I am trying to get a better understanding of what the numbers listed for weights of various capacities mean. Thank you.

[downtheroad]

This is what you are looking for.....something like this. (this is an image I took from Google, not mine)

[kzspree320]

Payload label will be somewhere inside the drivers door jamb. The payload, maximum for people and cargo (which includes 5th wheel pin weight), should be approximately 2,800-3,000 lbs.for a gas truck If you have the Vortex V8 gas (I assume), the maximum 5th wheel towing (which is more than conventional trailers) with the 4.10 rear axle is 14,300 lbs. I would try to shoot for a loaded weight of less than 12,500 lbs or I think you could be disappointed and over your rear axle weight rating of 6,200 lbs. The Montana you are considering is too heavy in my opinion. (My data is from the Chevrolet website and assumes standard crew cab gas truck). Good luck.

[IdaD]

Look at your driver's door. It should have a sticker with your axle ratings and tire PSI on it. Then look at your tire sidewall, which should have a rating at or over your axle rating (multiply by 2 since the load is spread over two tires). The lesser of your axle or combined tire rating the number you need to stay under in terms of how much weight you put on that rear axle.

[rhagfo]

Unitech123 wrote:
The truck is new. There are no stickers on either door. I have the sheet from the window and it has nothing useful. I googled the truck and got a GVWR of 9500, max trailer of 13000, and weight distr max tongue weight of 1300. There are just 2 of us (and sometimes a dog...) and we very rarely if ever carry water in our tanks. I am specifically looking at a used Montana 3150 because it has a king-sized bed and their web site shows a shipping weight of 11134 and a carrying capacity of 2831. So does that assume a max weight of 13965?

Well you don't state if the new 2500 is a gas or diesel. That effects payload, a diesel will pull more, but will carry less as the extra weight of the engine.
I doubt that you can carry that Montana within the GVWR of your 2500 at 9,500#.
This is another case of should have bought a 3500 SRW. That Montana will have a Dry pin in the area of 2,227# at 20%, if towed at full GVWR the pin could be between, 2,793# to 3,491# that is 20% to 25%.

[LadyRVer]

Keeping within weight limits, just for info, I had a Dodge Ram 2500, Hemi 5.7,
Towed a 33' Montana, model 30rk....too much for truck coming down a 7% grade. It weighed 11,600 loaded. I now have a 2500 2013 Dodge Ram,Hemi 5.7, tow 9600 lbs loaded, 31'fifthwheel. Perfect combo.


Edited by Barb

[kerrlakeRoo]

Unitech123 wrote:
The truck is new. There are no stickers on either door. I have the sheet from the window and it has nothing useful. I googled the truck and got a GVWR of 9500, max trailer of 13000, and weight distr max tongue weight of 1300. There are just 2 of us (and sometimes a dog...) and we very rarely if ever carry water in our tanks. I am specifically looking at a used Montana 3150 because it has a king-sized bed and their web site shows a shipping weight of 11134 and a carrying capacity of 2831. So does that assume a max weight of 13965?

look inside the drivers door, sticker should be there.
As to your max weight on the Montana, yes that appears correct.
As to payload, The pin weight on that unit looks to be around 2200 add for batteries and all that you load and it will likely go above 3000, adding yourself into the truck is going to most likely put you over.

[sch911]

The capacity stickers are inside the front door jamb. Yes they are there it's the law.

GVWR - Actual weight of the truck loaded = Payload.
In this case loaded means the pin weight of the 5er is included.

GCWR - Actual weight of the truck loaded = Tow Capacity


Note: The stickers ratings can be off if your trucks options vary from the base model.

You can safely tow right up to these levels. Your truck has been certified at those levels for safe towing by GM engineers. There is no need for any extra safety margin.

[Unitech123]

The truck is new. There are no stickers on either door. I have the sheet from the window and it has nothing useful. I googled the truck and got a GVWR of 9500, max trailer of 13000, and weight distr max tongue weight of 1300. There are just 2 of us (and sometimes a dog...) and we very rarely if ever carry water in our tanks. I am specifically looking at a used Montana 3150 because it has a king-sized bed and their web site shows a shipping weight of 11134 and a carrying capacity of 2831. So does that assume a max weight of 13965?

[kerrlakeRoo]

Check the sticker in your door. Payload and tow capacity.
Simplest way I can describe is payload is all the weight you can put in your truck, pushing it toward the ground, including yourself and passengers.
Towing capacity is all the weight your trucks drivetrain is designed to move and the brakes are designed to stop.
Without knowing all the specifics on your truck you should be around 3000 to 3500 payload and 13000 to 14500 tow.

When looking at pin weights on the 5er remember that's without anything added to the unit, batteries and other things you add to the areas forward of the wheels add to pin weight.