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01-05-2006, 12:13 PM
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#1
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Community Administrator
Pond Piggies Club LA Gulf Coast Campers Outdoors RV Owners Club Entegra Owners Club Skyline Owners Group
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 40,775
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With all the talk about maximum towing capacity that goes on in this forum I have a question I've been wondering about that I thought you experts would know.
I think it's Chevy that lists different towing capacities for trailers & 5th wheels. Doesn't seem like other mfr's do that. Why? Not just why does Chevy to it when the others don't but why are the numbers different on trailers than on 5th wheels? Without getting too "techno" on me, fella's. ok?
Sign me, "Curious in OH".
L-
__________________
Lori (& Dave, my spirit guide) - RV/MH Hall of Fame Lifetime Member | My iRV2 Photo Albums
2016 Phoenix Cruiser 2350S, 2018 Phaeton 40IH,2006 Bounder 36Z, 2004 Cougar 285EFS, 2000 Aerolite 25FBR
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01-05-2006, 12:13 PM
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#2
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Community Administrator
Pond Piggies Club LA Gulf Coast Campers Outdoors RV Owners Club Entegra Owners Club Skyline Owners Group
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 40,775
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With all the talk about maximum towing capacity that goes on in this forum I have a question I've been wondering about that I thought you experts would know.
I think it's Chevy that lists different towing capacities for trailers & 5th wheels. Doesn't seem like other mfr's do that. Why? Not just why does Chevy to it when the others don't but why are the numbers different on trailers than on 5th wheels? Without getting too "techno" on me, fella's. ok?
Sign me, "Curious in OH".
L-
__________________
Lori (& Dave, my spirit guide) - RV/MH Hall of Fame Lifetime Member | My iRV2 Photo Albums
2016 Phoenix Cruiser 2350S, 2018 Phaeton 40IH,2006 Bounder 36Z, 2004 Cougar 285EFS, 2000 Aerolite 25FBR
There is great need for a sarcasm font.
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01-05-2006, 04:04 PM
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#3
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 12
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My guess would be to sell more trucks.
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01-05-2006, 06:28 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: North America somewhere
Posts: 30,982
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I think the reason is that when towing a 5er approx. 20% of the weight is on the tow vehicle, which gives it much more stability, traction-for both going and stopping, and this arrangement is the same as OTR semi-tractor/trailer units.
__________________
2000 Winnebago Ultimate Freedom USQ40JD , ISC 8.3 Cummins 350, Spartan MM Chassis. USA IN 1SG 11B5MX,Infantry retired;Good Sam Life member,FMCA. " My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. John F. Kennedy
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01-05-2006, 09:10 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Outdoors RV Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Hillsboro, OR, USA
Posts: 1,293
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With a TT the tounge wt is about 10 to 15% of the total wt. while the pin wt of a 5er is in the 20 to 25% range. The towing capacity of a truck is determined by taking the CGWR (usually determined by the drivetrain) and subtracting the curb wt of a typical truck plus a 150lb driver from it. In the fine print there are usually things about not exceeding the GVWR or the GAWR. Who reads the fine print GM simply adjusted the tow ratings for towing 5th wheels to account for the higher pin wt. so as not to exceed the axle rating.
When it comes to all this weight stuff things get complicated. Too many mfgs are fudging numbers to stay one step ahead of the competition. RV mfgs try to make the rig look as light as possible while truck mfgs try to make thier rigs look they can tow the world. Couple these two facts together and you have a high potential for trouble.
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2017 Chevy 2500HD LTZ DuraMax Diesel Silver Ice Metallic
2017 Outdoors RV Timber Ridge 25RDS Mountain Series 4X Off Road Suspension Pkg
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01-06-2006, 12:02 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Boerne, TX
Posts: 527
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If I am not mistaken, they normally list a higher rating for 5th wheels. My initial guess is that 5th wheels are more stable to tow.
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2005 F-250 XLT 4X4 V-10
2006 Wildcat 31QBH
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01-06-2006, 01:01 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Palmdale, CA USA
Posts: 640
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Take a look at the towing guide that came with this months Trailer Life Mag. It has ratings for all trucks pulling both TT and 5er's. And yes, the 5er is much more stable than a TT. I know the Hensley Arrow allows the TT to pull very nicely, but people who use that setup is a very small number compaired to what's out there.
Clark
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2005 Alfa See Ya 313 5er
2005 F350 PSD CC DRW Tow Boss
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01-09-2006, 07:47 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Outdoors RV Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Hillsboro, OR, USA
Posts: 1,293
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Yes, being more stable is great, but just because it is more stable does not give it more towing capacity - GVWR and GAWRs are there for a reason.
__________________
2017 Chevy 2500HD LTZ DuraMax Diesel Silver Ice Metallic
2017 Outdoors RV Timber Ridge 25RDS Mountain Series 4X Off Road Suspension Pkg
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01-10-2006, 12:06 PM
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#9
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Community Administrator
Pond Piggies Club LA Gulf Coast Campers Outdoors RV Owners Club Entegra Owners Club Skyline Owners Group
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 40,775
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I sent a message direct to Chevrolet on their website. Let's see what the other "experts" have to say. They should know, right?
L-
__________________
Lori (& Dave, my spirit guide) - RV/MH Hall of Fame Lifetime Member | My iRV2 Photo Albums
2016 Phoenix Cruiser 2350S, 2018 Phaeton 40IH,2006 Bounder 36Z, 2004 Cougar 285EFS, 2000 Aerolite 25FBR
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01-15-2006, 08:54 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Oregon
Posts: 2,731
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As some have said, yes it does mean that in most cses you can tow a bigger 5vr than a TT. And as most have tried to explain, to no avail. The reason is GCWR is set for each truck no matter what you are pulling and then there is GVWR, which takes into account the truck, the payload, the passengers, and the other crap we through in there. Now you put all of htis crap together and you really have a big mess. Most trucks are OVER weight when take all of this into consideration and actually have the TT or 5VR weighed. All said and done if you follow the mfg states then you are safer and within what they know is safe for there truck.
Pick out the TT or 5VR and then go and buy a truck that states it can handle what yo want to tow. Whatever you do, don't trust the RV dealer becuase they will tell yo that you can tow a 155vr with a 1/2 ton pickup. Also don't fully trust the sticker they install inside the TT/5VR because it only tells you what the empty before any options weight is.
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Retired Navy Submariner
2014 Itasca Sunstar 35F; 5 Star tuned; 2014 Jeep Cherokee TrailHawk
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01-16-2006, 07:39 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Spokane, WA
Posts: 1,545
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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">I think it's Chevy that lists different towing capacities for trailers & 5th wheels. Doesn't seem like other mfr's do that. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Take a look at the towing guide that came with this months Trailer Life Mag. It has ratings for all trucks pulling both TT and 5er's. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Both Chevy and Ford show towing capability broken down by "conventional" and "fifth wheel." Dodge is the only one that doesn't break down their towing capability this way...they have just one number. At least this is true in both the Dodge truck brochure and the Trailer Life Towing Guide.
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2014 Winnebago Aspect 27K
2011 Kia Soul
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01-16-2006, 07:39 AM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Southern MD
Posts: 55
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The real answer is most factory reciever hitches included with tow packages have a 10K or 12K rating. This is the limiting factor for tariler vs fifth wheel applications
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2004 Cedar Creek 362BBS Custom.
2006 Volvo VNL42T630 465HP 1650ft/lbs. 12 speed Freedomline
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01-18-2006, 03:25 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Prattville, AL USA
Posts: 204
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I was just sitting back and waiting for someone to come up with the answer. themisfitking has the right answer you can get a fifth wheel hitch that is rated at 25 thousand lbs. but like he said most reciever have 10K or 12K lbs. rating. The two numbers will not show unless the truck can tow a trailer of 10K to 12K lbs or more. This would mean a GCWR of 17K or more.
Tom
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2001 Sunnybrook 33 BWS
2015 Chevy 2500 6.0L 4.10
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01-18-2006, 09:05 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Outdoors RV Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Hillsboro, OR, USA
Posts: 1,293
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And you can also put that hitch in a 1/2T PU too.
You can also get larger reciever hitches.
__________________
2017 Chevy 2500HD LTZ DuraMax Diesel Silver Ice Metallic
2017 Outdoors RV Timber Ridge 25RDS Mountain Series 4X Off Road Suspension Pkg
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