Looking for advice.

[Gundealer1]

I’m looking at a 2022 Keystone Avalanche 390DS 5th wheel. Dry weight is 14,300 lbs., Hitch weight is 2,740 lbs. I currently drive a 2021 Chevrolet 2500HD and since I’m new to travel trailers, I’m reaching out for opinions from you, the experienced. Will I be asking too much of my 2500HD to carry this or would it require a heavier or perhaps a dual wheel truck? I certainly don’t want to make this purchase only to have it drive like a boat. Thanks in advance for your help.

[oscarvan]

Originally Posted by Gundealer1

I’m looking at a 2022 Keystone Avalanche 390DS 5th wheel travel trailer. Dry weight is 14,300 lbs., Hitch weight is 2,740 lbs. I currently drive a 2021 Chevrolet 2500HD and since I’m new to travel trailers, I’m reaching out for opinions from you, the experienced. Will I be asking too much of my 2500HD to carry this or would it require a heavier or perhaps a dual wheel truck? I certainly don’t want to make this purchase only to have it drive like a boat. Thanks in advance for your help.

You will get 12 opinions from 10 experts here. I suggest you read the manual to your vehicle, and also the weight sticker in your door. Then do the math.

So far it is fact, not opinion, although there are people that will try and tell you those numbers don't mean anything. I disagree. So does my attorney.

Most will respect those numbers, and the conservative amongst us try to stay close to 80%, although that is not always possible.

TV GVWR
5-er GVWR
GCVWR
Max Trailer Weight
ALL Axle weights
ALL Tire weights

There's a cool worksheet here: https://www.fifthwheelmagazine.com/new-tow-calc.aspx

My OPINION is that you will be close, but probably ok, but again..... do the math.

Lastly, (semantics, I know) it's a Fifth Wheel Trailer OR a Travel Trailer which is a rear hitch pull.

Cue the experts who've been pulling a 20K trailer with a Camry for 50 year no problem..........

[Bhidalgo]

Originally Posted by Gundealer1

I’m looking at a 2022 Keystone Avalanche 390DS 5th wheel. Dry weight is 14,300 lbs., Hitch weight is 2,740 lbs. I currently drive a 2021 Chevrolet 2500HD and since I’m new to travel trailers, I’m reaching out for opinions from you, the experienced. Will I be asking too much of my 2500HD to carry this or would it require a heavier or perhaps a dual wheel truck? I certainly don’t want to make this purchase only to have it drive like a boat. Thanks in advance for your help.

For what it's worth...I have a '22 Alliance 310RL with a Wet weight of roughly 15K. We pull it with a '22 F-350. We originally had a '21 F-250 when were looking at 5'ers but it was right at limits so we ordered the '350 the same day as the RV. I'm roughly within 15% of rated Cargo Capacity currently but well within the load capacity of the rear axle. We have zero issues pulling - have gone round trip from North FL to both Lafayette, LA and Hurricane Mills, TN with it and both times the only thing that suc#ed about the trip(s) was the price of diesel. My numbers may be too close for comfort for some but I've assumed the risk and so far we have been fine with both pulling and stopping.

Be safe and get your truck numbers together to determine how much RV you can safely pull - and stop. I would have kept the 250 but we were within 90-95% of CC of the truck and did not want to risk it. Everyone has an opinion on weight and towing but it's up to you to decide what you want to do. Just my two cents...Bill

[wrvond]

Originally Posted by Gundealer1

I’m looking at a 2022 Keystone Avalanche 390DS 5th wheel. Dry weight is 14,300 lbs., Hitch weight is 2,740 lbs. I currently drive a 2021 Chevrolet 2500HD and since I’m new to travel trailers, I’m reaching out for opinions from you, the experienced. Will I be asking too much of my 2500HD to carry this or would it require a heavier or perhaps a dual wheel truck? I certainly don’t want to make this purchase only to have it drive like a boat. Thanks in advance for your help.

You're looking at a pin weight of very nearly 3800 pounds when the camper is loaded up. I doubt your 3/4 ton has enough cargo carrying capacity for that plus a hitch and all the other stuff that goes in your truck.

[txdutt0629]

That’s an awful lot of trailer for a 2500. It’ll do it but it won’t like it and the truck will let you know. The new generation GM 2500’s 4wd Crew Cabs with a Duramax probably range from 2900-3200 ish lbs of cargo capacity so that 5er is already at/over your max.

[Isaac-1]

This will certainly be marginal, one thing you don't tell us is how you will use the 5th wheel. Are you planning a 50 state adventure, or will it be towed the the local lake 75 miles away in mostly flat land once at the beginning of the summer than back home in the fall?

[RVnAggie]

Welcome to the forum; and a very wise move for seeking advice before the trailer purchase. Although you may not hear what you were hoping to, you’ll have info to consider in your decision.
1. As others have said, know and understand ALL the rated capacities and limits of your truck…not just max towing capacity.
2. Need to know the max GVWR of the 5th wheel not dry shipping weight and dry pin weight. This is a 43’ trailer and you’ll likely be well over 16.5k when loaded for use and certainly so if carrying any water and will have a wet pin weight of probably3600lbs+
3. Do the math on the combination of # 1 & 2.

Lastly, sharing my personal experience & comparison of 2 trucks with same trailer FWIW….
I have a 40’ Keystone Alpine. Weighs 15.3 to 15.5k (scaled weight) depending on amount of water and a few other minor things on how it’s loaded. (Dry weight of my trailer is about 1,500 less than the avalanche you’re considering.)
I pulled this for 3 yrs with a 2016 F250. I never did the math with items 1 & 2 above before the purchase and later learned how overloaded I was thanks to a friend. After experiencing dangerously high winds in New Mexico and West Texas, I came home and immediately traded for an F350 DRW. Now have 3 years time with the new truck and same trailer.

There is no comparison to the stability, stopping, comfort and level of “enjoying the travel” between the two, not to mention the peace of mind in knowing I’m conservatively within the capacity boundaries of the truck for safety and liability reasons should there ever be an unfortunate accident involving lawyers and and/or insurance claim disputes.

So…. I made an uneducated purchase of truck and trailer 3 months apart and “enjoyed” a rig similar to what you’re considering for 3 years.
Then made the upgrade to the right truck and now know what “really enjoying” the trip and reducing risk feels like. Knowing this, I say don’t do what I did….you’d be wise to reconsider a smaller lighter trailer or upgrading to DRW truck.


Happy shopping and safe travels,