First time fifth wheel owner

[rvlifer]

I've towed really small empty trailers around my Dad's property YEARS ago... but nothing this size

You have a lot of company unfortunately. I have been asked by more than a few people to move their rvs into spots.

Recommend you find the biggest empty parking lot you can find and practice. The biggest things are the height, how wide you need to turn, and backing up.

It can cost a lot of money and damage if you take any turn too sharply and assume at some point that you will get stuck on a small street where you cant turn around and have to back up the rv for a mile.

Maybe that is a bit of an exaggeration but if you are prepared for those things you will be prepared for almost anything that you might run into

 

[Larry N.]

The biggest things are the height, how wide you need to turn, and backing up.

But the width of the rig and the proper use of, and trusting, your mirrors are also additional big factors in learning to tow and, especially, in backing.

 

[CharlesinGA]

The trailer has a 14, 545 lb gross weight and thus, expect pin weights of about 3600 lbs. Given this, is your truck a Dual Rear Wheel? Is is a diesel? 4x4?

Charles

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

He described his truck as a 3500HD, so yes to the DRW.

 

[rvlifer]

But the width of the rig and the proper use of, and trusting, your mirrors are also additional big factors in learning to tow and, especially, in backing.

Agreed. Good side mirrors are a must. Working backup camera on the back of the rv helps a lot too

 

[interpim]

He described his truck as a 3500HD, so yes to the DRW.

It is a single rear wheel truck, it is 4x4 and has a tow capacity of 17k. I towed it home today (1.5 hours) with no problems. Have it sitting in front of my house now.
This is a pic of when we picked it up this morning.

 

[interpim]

The trailer has a 14, 545 lb gross weight and thus, expect pin weights of about 3600 lbs. Given this, is your truck a Dual Rear Wheel? Is is a diesel? 4x4?

Charles

Truck is Silverado 3500HD 6.6L Duramax with a 17k tow capacity. Dry weight on the camper is 12.5k

 

[Alaskansnowbirds]

Truck is Silverado 3500HD 6.6L Duramax with a 17k tow capacity. Dry weight on the camper is 12.5k

Dry weight is a useless piece of information. RV manufactures should be banned from listing it. It's just a selling tool. I see an awning on the RV. Your RV is already above the dry weight listed. The second you put the first item on the RV, you are no longer at dry weight. With all your personal gear, pots and pans, food, clothing, water, propane, etc. you'll be getting close to the GWR of the RV.

What is the gross weight rating of the RV? Because that is the closer weight you'll be operating at. You should take the RV as it is right now and have it weighed. Subtract that from the GWR of the RV and that will tell you how much "stuff" you can carry in the RV.

Also add the GWR of the RV and the scaled weight of the truck with full fuel and loaded for travel to make sure you're not of over the combined weight rating of the truck.

 

[CharlesinGA]

He described his truck as a 3500HD, so yes to the DRW.

Well, no, they do make a 3500HD SRW, always have.

From the Chevrolet web site, for the 2024 models..................
Silverado 3500 HD is offered as a Crew Cab with Standard Bed or Long Bed and is available in a single rear wheel (SRW) or dual rear wheel (DRW) configuration.

Here is the 2024 (OP didn't say what year truck) Chevy Trailering guide. Pages 44 to 47 cover the gooseneck/5th wheel towing for the various motor/cab/bed/rear wheel configurations.

If its some other year, it would behoove the OP to closely study the information and verify on their door jam placard, the rear axle weight rating, as that will be the first limit they will hit or exceed. Towing capacity means very little to nothing. Truck payload and rear axle weights and limits are the place to scruntize.

SRW will have very limited rear axle weight, so close attention needs to be paid to LOADED PIN WEIGHT and door jam placard RAWR.

I would not have asked, but this trailer is rather heavy and long, and the OP is apparently new to RVing and the weight trap is one almost everyone falls into in the beginning.

Charles

 

[interpim]

Well, no, they do make a 3500HD SRW, always have.

From the Chevrolet web site, for the 2024 models..................
Silverado 3500 HD is offered as a Crew Cab with Standard Bed or Long Bed and is available in a single rear wheel (SRW) or dual rear wheel (DRW) configuration.

Here is the 2024 (OP didn't say what year truck) Chevy Trailering guide. Pages 44 to 47 cover the gooseneck/5th wheel towing for the various motor/cab/bed/rear wheel configurations.

If its some other year, it would behoove the OP to closely study the information and verify on their door jam placard, the rear axle weight rating, as that will be the first limit they will hit or exceed. Towing capacity means very little to nothing. Truck payload and rear axle weights and limits are the place to scruntize.

SRW will have very limited rear axle weight, so close attention needs to be paid to LOADED PIN WEIGHT and door jam placard RAWR.

I would not have asked, but this trailer is rather heavy and long, and the OP is apparently new to RVing and the weight trap is one almost everyone falls into in the beginning.

Charles

I know you guys are coming from the right place, but I did about a year worth of research before I bought the truck, and just now the trailer. I've done the math, added up the trailer, any cargo (overestimated), truck, passengers, toolbox, full aux tank and me and 3 other fat boys in the truck and I'm still coming in under my combined GCWR. My RAWR is well under my pin weight, and I'm having no problems towing this trailer.

Although I am new to this, I by no means am coming into this blind. I research and re-research things like this. I've seen more than enough comments about trailering capacity to not come into this with open eyes. I appreciate all the concern and comments, but what I am towing is well within my capacity.

The post was merely to ask about parking my fifth wheel. Thank you for anyone who commented.

 

[rjshiflet]

Tail wag (or trailer swing) is a real issue. Besides the need to back PRECISELY straight back in with mere inches of grace space...as you pull out if you start turning the least bit early a 41' trailer is going to swing the rear end and cause serious problems to the trailer and/or the house.

 

[rvlifer]

Keep an eye on your tongue weight. How you load the rv could exceed the tongue weight on a srw even if all the other weights are good. Anything you store in front of the rv tires will add more to that

 

[Adventurous Traveler]

I know you guys are coming from the right place, but I did about a year worth of research before I bought the truck, and just now the trailer

Kudos to the OP for being diligent and resourceful in preparing himself and his family for the world of RV'ing.

All of the experienced Forum members who chimed in with suggestions were speaking about their situations, experiences, and observations of others who were not as researched and prepared as the OP before diving into the lifestyle.

Speaking from my own experience of becoming an RVer, my first RV was a used 32' motorhome, the OP will learn as he goes along many of the suggestions made that are to be gained only by experience. When I bought that first used motorhome and after payment and paperwork were taken care of with the private seller "Craig" and I was ready to leave, Craig said, "I only have one more question, am I backing it out of my driveway or are you?" I looked at the RV I just bought, his driveway and the street behind it, and answered pretty quickly, You Are! Driving home I had to go through a toll booth on the NYS Thruway and I thought I'd mess up my shorts because I didn't think I would fit through. That was 17 years ago and I can honestly say I've made it this far without any major mishaps other than a rogue tree branch meeting my awning backing into a campsite without my wife as a spotter, and I'm sure the OP being as practiable as he seems to be will do just fine.

My only piece of advice that I can offer, is always look up when maneuvering the rig, not just behind and side to side.