Question on which truck to buy

[lealrk]

We are very new in the world of RV's and we are in the process of becoming fulltimers...

The 5th wheel we are looking at getting has the following spec.

Gross Vehicle Wt Rating (GVWR) 19,000 lbs. Unloaded Vehicle Wt (UVW) 14,925 lbs. Cargo Carrying Capacity (CCC) 3,401 lbs. Hitch Weight 2,200 lbs. MEASUREMENTS Length Feet 40 Overall Length 40 ft. 2 in. Awning Length 14 ft.


What truck would be recommended for this 5th wheel?

Thanks

What t

[Always-RVing]

Not a pickup, but if you did, get a Dodge. Check out other similar postings on this same topic. Really, you'll need something hefty, but many tend to stretch the limits of something lighter (F350, 3500). What I see in the RV park for the BIG stuff are single axle diesel tractors of which there are hundreds to choose from. There is a 5th wheel the owner says weighs in @ 26,000 lbs. His teeny, tiny little pickup is no longer the tow vehicle.

You can buy single axle semi trucks for $20k - $30k in good shape.

[Ray,IN]

Welcome to irv2.com and our extended family!
No F350 pickup is rated to haul and tow that GVW safely IMO. The minimum size is a F550 or other MDT. Do not use the UVW in any calculations when properly and safely matching a tow vehicle and trailer. This Tow Vehicle/Trailer Calculations Demonstrator
is very helpful, whether you are a novice or veteran of towing.

[RustyJC]

With all respect to Ray, the calculator he links is designed for a bumper pull (TT) as evidenced by the 12% hitch weight it uses. 5th wheels typically run 20% or more of the total trailer weight as pin (hitch) weight.

A 19,000 GVWR 5th wheel is definitely in 550/5500 or MDT territory as a minimum!

Rusty

[powerboatr]

yep at lest a 450/550 or mdt
thats going to be one heavy sucker all loaded up for the road

[TXiceman]

Yep, he is into 450/4500 or 550/5500 range for that size trailer.

Ken

[Ray,IN]

Well, I can't get the link in my previous post to work. No way to correct it, I apologize folks. Here is another: Fifth Wheel Weight Calculator
that also includes the option for selecting the 20% safety factor used by full-timers.

[SuperGewl]

Yeah looks like yo need a Sports Chassis SportChassis if you really want to be safe. The 450/4500 -550/5500 will also work if properly equiped.
The other option is Class A and , diesel pusher toad. Yo may come out cheaper this way, even if you buy a full trailer and put your toad in it vice towing it flat.

[TEX-CTD]

like said a 5500/550 or freightliner business class MDT medium duty truck is needed. like said take 20% of the trailers GVWR to get a LOADED hitch wt. check you axle and tire ratings.

[Hitchhiker]

If you can wait, the 2011 Chevy/GMC 3500 duallys are supposed to be getting an increased trailer rating of up to 20,000 pounds. If you get the right cab configuration and keep your cargo weight reasonable you might be under its GCWR with that trailer.

You can read more about it here.

[RustyJC]

Originally Posted by Hitchhiker

If you can wait, the 2011 Chevy/GMC 3500 duallys are supposed to be getting an increased trailer rating of up to 20,000 pounds. If you get the right cab configuration and keep your cargo weight reasonable you might be under the GCWR for that trailer.

You can read more about it here.

As has been discussed numerous times here, take "manufacturer's trailer tow ratings" with a very large grain of salt for the following reasons:

1. They are calculated as GCWR minus the laden curb weight of the truck. That's fine - except the laden curb weight typically used is for a base, unoptioned truck with no accessories and cargo and only a 150 lb driver. Actual laden curb weights can run as much as 1,000 to 1,500 lbs more than the curb weight used by the manufacturer in his "trailer tow ratings" calculation once the truck is loaded with factory options, accessories (i.e., the 5th wheel hitch, tool box, auxiliary fuel tank and whatever else the owner installs), passengers, cargo, pets, etc. Every pound added here reduces the "trailer tow rating" a corresponding amount.

2. Notice the truck's GVWR doesn't appear anywhere in the calculation. The problem with a 5th wheel RV is that 20% or more of the loaded RV's weight must be carried by the truck as pin weight. Ignoring GVWR is the reason a lighter 2500-series truck often has a higher "manufacturer's trailer tow rating" than a heavier 3500-series dually, but in the real world application of towing a heavy 5th wheel the 2500-series truck will exceed it's GVWR long before it reaches it's GCWR or "trailer tow rating" limit. The manufacturer's "gotcha" is in the fine print that accompanies the trailer tow rating that says, "None of the truck's other ratings are to be exceeded."

Rusty

[Hitchhiker]

Originally Posted by lealrk

What truck would be recommended for this 5th wheel?

I forgot to mention, the 2011 Ford 350/450 duallys are supposed to be getting an increased trailer rating of up to 24,400 pounds. Again, as Rusty has reinforced above, you need to get the right cab configuration and keep your cargo weight reasonable to stay under the GCWR's with that trailer.

You can read more about the Ford here.

Looks like the tow rating race between Ford and GM is starting again, I have a hunch the Dodge boys will offer something comparable in 2011 too.

[TEX-CTD]

by no means am i saying the other #s dont matter

with that said from talking to the hotshot crowd tire and axle ratings are what DOT checks and worries about most.

again im not saying to over look the other numbers but.........

my truck has a GVWR of only 10,500 for a 1 ton DRW but the rear axle rating is like 9400 lbs and the front 5XXX lbs. so 14,XXX but.........well u get the point

in my truck w trailer and full fuel and 4 adults, 1 kid, 1dog, and all the "stuff" my rear axle was 6000 and total was 18,900lbs

[wingnut60]

I believe you will find the GVWR on the 2011 450s to be derated to 13,500--down from the 14,500 previous. Maybe they can pull the same, but they can't carry as much.
Joe