Need some honest opinions

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Newbie92

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Mar 10, 2013
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I'm looking to get some honest information. I own a Chevy 1500 with a 5.3L engine and a 3.42 axel ratio. The GCWR is 15,000 lbs. I've been told I can pull a light weight fifth wheel as long as I use a slider hitch and watch my pin weight. Any opinions?
 
You will get plenty of the opinions you're asking for.... Mine is,,, go with the numbers brother, your within or not, pretty simple.  Watch the pin weight and capacity of your truck.
 
Newbie92 said:
I'm looking to get some honest information. I own a Chevy 1500 with a 5.3L engine and a 3.42 axel ratio. The GCWR is 15,000 lbs. I've been told I can pull a light weight fifth wheel as long as I use a slider hitch and watch my pin weight. Any opinions?

OK, you have your gross combined.  What does the truck weigh AS YOU WILL USE IT?  ie.....weight of truck itself, weight of driver and passengers, a full load of fuel, luggage, equipment, etc.  Add all of that up and subtract it from the GCWR and what's left is (in theory) what you can safely tow.

Deduct 20% off the GCWR if you tow in the mountain west.  Trust me on this.....I do it.  Some will disagree.....let them. 

I suspect your net figure will come out somewhere between 7500-8000 lbs.  You might be able to find a small fiver in that range, but you'll probably either want to go with a conventional travel trailer or upgrade to a larger truck.

 
The weak point on that truck is the rear springs. If I were to tow a small 5th wheel (I wouldn't tow a big one), I would install air lifts to take some of the stress off of the rear springs. It's a 1.5 hour job.
 

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In my towing book, your truck with that rear end and I assume a short bed, is just over 6000# of towing capability.  You should look at the towing ability with all the specs it has.  If it is 6000-7000, that means you need a fifth-wheel that weighs no more than 5000 and maybe less, depending on how you pack the trailer and the truck.  There are a few trailers that would be OK but very few.  Depends on what you want to be able to do.  But first, look at your trucks tow rating.
 
You are pushing it for sure....I know since I am towing what has to be the smallest 5th wheel ever made and I am shopping for a bigger truck. My 5er is 18.5 feet and under 4000 pounds and when I get to the hills it can be a struggle. I am pulling with a Ford F-150 with the 4.6 V8. I get 9 to 10 mpg which isn't bad, but I am definitely at the Max I would want to tow. Don't get me wrong it tows like a dream and on level ground I hardly know it is back there, that is one of the nice things about a 5th wheel.

I am looking at upgrading both - this year the truck and maybe this fall the trailer, want to move up to about a 24 footer and I am shopping for a 250 or 2500 with a diesel. And quite frankly, if I can find it, I will go with a 350 or 3500. That way I won't be as limited when I look for a trailer.

There are some brand new lightweights that they say can be towed with a 1/2 ton, but even then I think it is pushing it, far better to have too much truck than not enough. Brakes are better, transmissions are tougher and springs heavier all designed to make your life safer and easier.

Good Luck in your quest.

Jim

 
To COMer. The tow capacity on the truck is 9400. We have a Chevy 1500 4x4 with the tow package which according to Chevy increases the max tow weight
 
The tow capacity spec is based on an empty truck (except for fuel and a 154 lb driver), so reduce accordingly for whatever else you carry in the truck (including the 5W hitch). We often suggest just reducing the tow capacity by 10% to allow for extra gear and passengers in the tow vehicle.

A 5W places 20-25% of the trailer's  loaded weight on the back of the truck, so it also needs enough Payload Capacity to carry that amount. Again, passengers and gear subtract from the available payload for the trailer pin weight.  A 9000 lb 5W would mean something like 1800-2250 lbs of pin weight and few half ton trucks can carry that much, even without passengers.
 
Ok I got more info from hubby.  The max GVWR is 7000 and the GAWR is 3950 for the front and back.  The max payload is 1908lbs.  The trailer hubby looking at is the Cougar X-lite 29RBS it is used. Loaded at weigh station trailer came in at 8347. (this is with what what the sellers were carrying). Our Chevy has the tow package so already has heavy duty springs and high capacity air system. (But not sure why different air system). As far as passenger weight it's about 400 pounds for us and 2 rugrats
 
Newbie92 said:
Ok I got more info from hubby.  The max GVWR is 7000 and the GAWR is 3950 for the front and back.  The max payload is 1908lbs.  The trailer hubby looking at is the Cougar X-lite 29RBS it is used. Loaded at weigh station trailer came in at 8347. (this is with what what the sellers were carrying). Our Chevy has the tow package so already has heavy duty springs and high capacity air system. (But not sure why different air system). As far as passenger weight it's about 400 pounds for us and 2 rugrats

Add in a tank of fuel and your fifth wheel hitch, and you're overloaded.  You're over the weight limit on flat land, and dangerous in the mountains.  I'm sorry....I know this isn't what you want to hear, but you asked for opinions.....here's mine;  you need a bigger truck or a smaller trailer.
 
I am going to give my opinion based not on any kind of numbers, but based on my experience with almost the same truck. My truck is a 2000 Chevy Silverado with the 5.3 engine and 3.42 rear end with no tow package (may be the only difference in mine and yours). I believe my tow capacity is listed at around 8000 lbs more or less. My trailer is a 27' 10" bumper pull with a dry weight of 4660 lbs. I am guessing we have maybe in the neighborhood of 300 - 500 lbs of gear in the trailer (high end guess). With my setup, I would not be comfortable towing any more TT than what I have. I do not have any difficulty with my setup if I stay out of mountainous terrain. I am not sure I would feel comfortable with a 5ver due to the extra weight on the rear of the truck. Your truck may be a much newer model than mine with a consiberably higher tow capacity especially with the tow package and that may make all the difference in the world.
 
At frizlefrak. Can you explain in detail why for me?  I as this because dear hubby not very educated in the trailer world and is focused on tow capacity of truck being 9400.  I'm not the sharpest on towing either but know that more than towing capacity plays into what you can tow.  I didn't think we could handle a fifth wheel but would like to sound intelligent when I explain why.  Am I correct to believe a small travel trailer would be towable with our vehicle?  Thanks again for all the advice ;D
 
OK....in simplest terms;

You're stating your tow capacity is 9400 lbs. 

Power wise....I'm assuming you've done your research, and that that number is accurate.  Honestly, with a 3.42 axle and a 5.3l gasoline engine, I'm finding that a bit hard to swallow.  I haven't researched your truck, so I could be wrong.....but a modern Dodge 2500 with a 3.42 axle and a Cummins Diesel is only rated at 9600 lbs.  Go to a 3.73 axle, and it jumps up to the neighborhood of 13K.  Go to a 4.10, and it's around 14,500 lbs.  That's a 3/4 ton truck with a diesel.  So power wise, I think you're in over your head even on flat land.  In the mountains towing up 8% grades where I live, that trailer will eat your lunch.

Now, even if it is 9400 lbs....you've got a trailer that's scale weighed at roughly 8350 lbs, correct?  You are at about 89% of rated capacity before you put a fiver hitch, a drop of fuel, or anything beyond 154 lbs of driver.  You said 400 lbs for driver and passenger + 2 kids.  Lets call that 550 lbs.  You are now at 8900 lbs.  Add in 35 gallons of fuel x 8 lbs per gallon.  That's another 280 lbs.  Throw in a fifth wheel hitch setup....I'm guessing 150 lbs for that.  You are now at 9330 lbs.....or 99.25% of your trucks rated capacity.

The closer you get to the limit, the less fun towing will be.....your scenario would terrify me....it would be a white knuckle thrill ride on anything that isn't perfectly flat.  I'm towing a trailer that GROSSES 7700 lbs and isn't loaded anywhere near that, with a truck rated at 1200 lbs more towing capacity than you, and I wouldn't want any more trailer than I have. 

The closer you get to the limit, the quicker it will wear out your equipment too.  Towing on the ragged edge of mfg recommended limits strains EVERYTHING.  Your car engine probably has a RPM limit (red line) of about 6000 rpms....can you imagine running it there all the time?

Seriously....we're just trying to give you sound advice here and keep you, above all, SAFE.  Your scenario is leaving ZERO margin for error....what happens if you lose your trailer brakes (a blown fuse away from reality) coming down a steep grade?  What if someone blows a stop sign in front of you??  Can you stop that monster that's bearing down on your from behind?  What if you get a wind sway?  Can the truck control the trailer, or will the tail wag the dog?

I know...I'm not telling you what you want to hear, and ultimately it's your decision.  Do whatever you think is best.


 
OH...I almost forgot....pin weight.  Figure around 22% of that trailer weight will sit square atop the axle of your truck.  Load 1800 lbs of bricks in the back of your truck, drive it around town all day, take it on a short trip, and tell me what you think.

You need a 3/4 ton truck with at least a high 3 ratio rear end and either a big gasoline engine or (preferably) a diesel.  A 6.0 Chevy gasser with the 4.10 axle would do it.  Same with Ford or Dodge. 
 
Thank you frizlefrak!  I like being able to explain why we can't do something. And to everyone else thank you to you too. I appreciate all the advice. So now he has a choice get a bigger truck and wait for fifth wheel or find a smaller trailer. Thank you again!
 
I looked in my towing guide book again and your engine with that rear end and 4WD is still listed as just over 6000#s.  No idea the difference but I did check for that rear end and that configuration.  I just can't imagine it being 9400#s as I have a 2500/3.73 with the 6.0 and it is only 10,500.  There should be a lot more difference.  Where did you get the figures you quoted?
 
COMer said:
I looked in my towing guide book again and your engine with that rear end and 4WD is still listed as just over 6000#s.  No idea the difference but I did check for that rear end and that configuration.  I just can't imagine it being 9400#s as I have a 2500/3.73 with the 6.0 and it is only 10,500.  There should be a lot more difference.  Where did you get the figures you quoted?

Yeah....I really want to see where that drivetrain combo was rated at 9600 lbs.  The 6000 lbs sounds closer to reality.  I can't imagine stacking an 8400 lb fifth wheel on it. 
 
The limiting factor seems to be the 3.42 axle.  Other rear ends are rated much higher. 
 
The tow rating assumes a full tank of fuel as well as a 154 lb driver, so no need to add in the weight of the fuel.

Looking at a 2010 ChevyTowing Guide, I see a 5.3L, 3.42 axle, extended cab 4x4 1500 rated at 9600 lb for a 5W or TT. Other configurations with that engine and axle are all within a couple hundred lbs of that, so I see no reason to doubt the rating

Payload rating is a concern, though. With upwards of 1700 lbs of weight on the hitch (20+% or more x 8347) plus the 400 lbs of passengers probably puts you over the top. You may have counted hubby twice, though. The payload rating assumes a 154 lb driver in the cab.
 
I'm using a 2009 Trailer Life Tow Ratings Guide.  No idea why there would be that much difference in one year but the message to the OP is probably to look in his book and get the correct information for his year and his configuration.  I am curious though.  The 9400 rating is allowed when there is a cooling package installed.  How does that improve the rating of the suspension?
 
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