Community Forums

pitcrew18 · 07-11-2012, 07:30 PM

After our purchase of our 36B4 Cedar Creek earlier in the year I knew it was time for a larger truck. After reading countless threads from you fine folks we just brought home our 2012 Silverado 3500 DRW. I do have a few questions I hope you can answer however, first of all on the SRW I always aired up the rear wheels to max allowable pressure, can you tell me what is needed with DRW? Finally the old truck had the plug in instead the bed while our new truck has it above the hitch, is one superior to the other? as far as positioning should I have a second one installed in the bed to keep the cord further from the roadway or should I make due with the current plug in.

TEAMTJ · 07-11-2012, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pitcrew18

After our purchase of our 36B4 Cedar Creek earlier in the year I knew it was time for a larger truck. After reading countless threads from you fine folks we just brought home our 2012 Silverado 3500 DRW. I do have a few questions I hope you can answer however, first of all on the SRW I always aired up the rear wheels to max allowable pressure, can you tell me what is needed with DRW? Finally the old truck had the plug in instead the bed while our new truck has it above the hitch, is one superior to the other? as far as positioning should I have a second one installed in the bed to keep the cord further from the roadway or should I make due with the current plug in.

Hi Pitcrew!

I also have a '12 GMC 3500 DRW that I upgraded from a SRW. When towing my TH I always air up all tires (truck and trailer) to max psi. I know of some folks who don't air up truck tires to max psi, but for me that felt a little squishy. Max psi just feels more comfy for me, but I'm also within 1,000 lbs of both my GAWRs and GVWR. As far as the extra plug, I had a second one put in the bed bc I didn't want the cord banging against my tailgate with the bumper plug.

Roam America · 07-12-2012, 09:49 AM

If you have LR-E tires, air them up to max. You should weigh your truck and trailer combined. Then you may make adjustments in tire pressure as desired. With a dually you need to make sure both the inner and outer tire has the same pressure.

My `08 F450 had LR-G tires. No way would I air them up to max. I ran 100# in the rears and 90 in the front. 125# was way too much for the 5er I was pulling.

RustyJC · 07-12-2012, 10:06 AM

On our dually (see signature) with load range E tires, 65 PSIG front and 60 PSIG rear is all that is required to handle the respective GAWRs per the sticker in the driver's door jamb. Since I'm nowhere near the rear GAWR towing our 16K GVWR 5th wheel, I run 60 PSIG and it works fine for us. If I aired the rear tires up to 80 PSIG, the ride and tire wear would be compromised needlessly.

As a matter of convenience, I've always installed a 2nd 7-pin connector in the truck bed. Plug-in pigtails that go between the harness plug and the existing 7-pin connector are now available from any number of sources that make this much easier than it used to be when we had to splice and solder the 2nd connector into the harness.

Rusty

BCooke · 07-12-2012, 10:50 AM

As Rusty mentioned. You can get load rating charts for your tires and air them up to the proper pressure for the weight for a better ride and handling, you need to know your weights.
I have a seven pin at the back and in the bed (tow 2 different 7 pin trailers) the 5er wire lays in the bed with less chance (I think) of problems.

pitcrew18 · 07-12-2012, 07:56 PM

Thanks for the advice folks I am having the connector installed tomorrow and I had planned on weighing the truck and camper when we leave for Hilton Head next week.

shortlance · 07-14-2012, 09:48 AM

I have used the bumper plug for years with no problems but just ordered one for in the bed. Check out this thread.http://www.irv2.com/forums/f44/5th-w...cs-129739.html