Pairing truck and 5th wheel feedback needed

[carl.swoyer]

Originally Posted by Jshopes81

It drives me wild seeing people say about the truck stopping the trailer. The truck shouldnt be stopping the trailer is all.

Every one has there view point.

[Hatchee]

Originally Posted by carl.swoyer

I guess I was suggesting that he purchased a new fifth wheel and a new truck.
I agree [emoji817] pct about legal.

It doesn't matter what modifications you do to a truck, you cannot change the MFG dot Sticker on the door.

OP....there is your answer. Some very good advise/information in this thread!!

[StageCoachDr]

Originally Posted by hans-barak

Help please. I am running into something similar to previous person asking. Currently got 2018 GMC denali duramax short bed truck paired with TT 2015 Palomino Solaire Ultra Lite 318TSBHK and 7125 UVW. Looking at 5th wheel which is 2016 KZ Durango 346BHQ with UVW 11,270, hitch 2,090 and GVWR 13,400. Will this setup work to upgrade to 5th wheel or any thoughts/feedback will be appreciated. Thanks!

By short bed, is it the 5 foot bed? If so, not sure you want to try to pull a 5er. Slider hitches work for the 6 1/2 foot bed. You need almost 4 feet between the kingpin and the back of the cab for best maneuverability in tight spots like backing into site.

[tuffr2]

A short bed on a GM 2500 series truck is 6.5'. The Little 5' beds only come on 150/1500 series trucks.

[hans-barak]

Ok. So payload is 2155 (yellow sticker) and rear axel max is 6200 lb. How do you guys figure out what’s appropriate max limit when considering 5th wheel hauling? Is these 2 numbers combined or not? I understand how I will have 3000 pin weight when looking at 13,400 GVWR 5th wheel but where does 2155 and 6200 kick in. Thanks!

[Mark 7]

I make no claims about the legality of the latchup on my latest 1200 mile round trip across the Dakotas with my 1998 Dodge 2500 quad cab (4X4 / Cummins) but and my 33' Montana 5er, but I did scale it out on our way out of town.

Steer axle was 4660#
Drive axle was 6520#
Trailer tandems were 10,140#

That brings the total to 21,300#

I think my truck weighs about 7200# so that means the hitch weight was just about 4000#.

The load range E tires I have on the truck are rated for 3500# each so I was OK there at 6520.

The Dana 70 rear axle has a load carrying capacity of 7500# so I was OK there.

Now I am fairly certain I was overweight for the CVWR for the truck, but it pulled and handled great. I have pulled that camper, or others very similar in size for 15 years with that truck and never had an issue. I am a truck driver by trade so I am comfortable with the combination.

There is an argument as to what could happen should I get involved in an accident in todays litigious society. I am sure some hot shot attorney would likely figure out I was way out of towing specs for the truck, (I'm not sure how far) but I am comfortable with it so I keep pulling it.

I just bought a 2014 RAM 2500 HD (Also Cummins) and I just hope it handles as well. People I know tell me I am going to be very pleased with the power difference.

All just FWIW!

Cheers!

[2Southern]

The answer is yes your truck CAN pull this weight. Make sure you have load "E" RATED tires to carry the weight. As far as the cargo for camping do not load in bed or front of the camper. Load it close to the fivers axles to take weight off of the truck rear axle load. Be safe and avoid steep hills if possible a 4.11 gear axle ratio would have served you better, but the truck can pull it.

[swavescatter]

Originally Posted by hans-barak

Ok. So payload is 2155 (yellow sticker) and rear axel max is 6200 lb. How do you guys figure out what’s appropriate max limit when considering 5th wheel hauling? Is these 2 numbers combined or not? I understand how I will have 3000 pin weight when looking at 13,400 GVWR 5th wheel but where does 2155 and 6200 kick in. Thanks!

Your Denali payload is only 2155? That's F150 territory. No way I'd hook up a 5th wheel to that. In fact, you need to be careful with overload even on just a travel trailer if you load gear in the truck and have a few passengers...

[tuffr2]

Since you keep asking without weighing your truck, if you take the axle capacity minus the actual weight of the drive axles that will give the max pin weight your truck can carry according to some members of this forum. That will put your trucks capacity to carry a pin weight and hitch around 3,000lbs. (Depending if the drive axle on your truck weighs 3,200lbs)

I would not take advice from professional truck drivers because they are in a league beyond most drivers ability.

But IMHO I would try to keep the pin weight to 2,500lbs. You can tow a 5 wheel with 3 slides if one of those slides is a wardrobe slide. And you do not pack the basement storage area with heavy items.

You can probably carry either of these trailers:

[Captn John]

Originally Posted by Jshopes81

Im in the opposite boat. We really want a toyhauler but the floorplans are way different when you go from a bumper pull to a fiver. Weve looked at several bunkhouse and mb fivers and tts but i really want a place to put a golf cart and a motorcycle and i want the kids to have their own room. Be very glad you guys even get to have this discussion. The wife cant figure out why im casually looking at medium dutys too since the dually shouldve been good for anything less than something like a drv but she likes the 44ft 16klb dry toy haulers.

So about 20k gvrw? My 2019 F350 dually 6.7 Lariat payload is 5598 on the sticker. SHOULD BE ENOUGH AND 2020 WILL BE HIGHER.

[Captn John]

I pulled a34' Cougar, not a lite, with a 2016 F250 6.7 4x4 and stayed under all numbers. The only reason payload was ok is nothing was in the cab except me, wife and dog. Nothing was in the bed except the hitch. I loaded front storage light. The rack on the back carried the genny and compressor and gas, about 100#. The fw tank was at the rear and never less than2/3 full. Heavily loaded the living room. PW was only 18% and never a problem towing. OP has 350# less on the sticker which would have put me over.

[pbrockmeyer]

Hans, I'm not sure about the weight ratings as others have talked about. Suggest you listen to advice and do your homework for pairing TRK/FW. I do want you and anyone else out there to know this info if you have a short bed truck. I recently sold my 31 ft 7,500 lb fifth wheel and moved to a truck camper. When installing brackets I noticed fluid leak from transfer case. 2017 F250 4WD shortbed truck. Ford dealer said witness marks on rear drive shaft yoke showed driveshaft was being pushed into transfer case. He also said has seen this before on shortbed trucks. I did not have bags or Timbrens on my truck when I was towing F/W. This can be a very big problem for S/B trk owners. I highly suggest anyone add either of these items so as not to cause this problem. Of course I have a problem with FOMCO producing a truck that exceeds my camper weight, rated for more weight but no recommendation to add either items. Hope this helps with you and anyone else out there.
BTW I have a 3 year old Reese 12,000 sliding fifth wheel hitch for sale. $800 OBO. Let me know if interested. I live in Maryland. shovelheadude@gmail.com

[edaa53]

Put you 5th hitch in the bed, fill the tank, load up several cases of beer , add a 5G jug of emergency diesel and head to a CAT scale. Costs $11. Front and rear axles on separate pads and pull the trigger. These are your real numbers. RAWR less CAT rear axle is your available rear axle load (read pin). This is not your carrying capacity - that's different yet. I did the CAT twice - once w/ truck ready and once hooked up to my NuWa 5er. Did my math prior to purchase of either. Regards. Ed

[Jshopes81]

Originally Posted by Captn John

So about 20k gvrw? My 2019 F350 dually 6.7 Lariat payload is 5598 on the sticker. SHOULD BE ENOUGH AND 2020 WILL BE HIGHER.

With my license situation there are no advantages to going with one of the newer pickups. The ride is trash in the pickups, turning radius vs a big truck is similar, size is similar to big trucks, and big trucks handle a load way better. Big trucks have air ride, air brakes, industrial motors....i cant think of one single advantage that a new pickup would have vs a pre emissions class 6, 7, or 8.