Tow Weight

[RVNavyRet]

We are brand new to RVing and are looking at 30-34 foot 5th wheel. The one we really like and per the salesman weight limit is fine, but not so sure from what I read. We have a 2018 Chevy 2500 LT gas (14000) ads tow weight for 5th wheel. The 5th wheel is Keystone Avalanche 333MK, 11400 dry weight, 15,000 gvwr and 2390 hitch weight. We should be around 13000-13500. Is this still to much weight for this truck? What is everyones recommendation for weight on this size truck? Any advice us greatly appreciated.

[A Don]

[mtofell]

Hard to envision staying within your numbers or having a very positive experience with that combo. I'm guessing your payload door sticker on the truck is around 3K? Once that trailer is loaded up you'll probably be around 13.5-14K (or even up the GVWR of 15K). 20-25% of that weight goes on the pin and you're over payload right there. That's before a hitch or people and gear in the truck.

[Skip426]

First I'm glad your doing your own research and not trusting the salesman . Thank You.

Many who do their own research come to the conclusion that their tow vehicle will be over loaded on the rear axle once they come anywhere close to their max tow capacity.
Look for your trucks door sticker , with info on front and rear gross axle weight ratings , then pack up everything you think you might have in the truck when on the road towing a trailer ; family , tools , pets ; and fill the truck with fuel and go and get your existing axle weights . Comparing the actual weights to the rating on each axle will tell you how much; pin& hitch ; weight can safely be added .

JMHO: I'm with ; mtofell ; even without exact #s this is too much trailer for your truck .

[4x4ord]

Many of us just ignore the gvwr numbers on our trucks. My opinion is that your truck will handle that rv just fine. You should probably either base your decision on your opinion or go by the weights posted on your truck's door frame.

[FL420]

Originally Posted by 4x4ord

Many of us just ignore the gvwr numbers on our trucks. My opinion is that your truck will handle that rv just fine. You should probably either base your decision on your opinion or go by the weights posted on your truck's door frame.

Unbelievable! We see people who "ignore the gvwr numbers" on the local news all the time.

[tuffr2]

Don't ignore the GVWR. GM now carries a J2807 sticker to try to keep people from ignoring any of the capacity limits on truck.

What is the Occupant/Cargo capacity sticker on your truck...aka 'Payload'. That is what you basically have to work with.

If the payload is 3,000lbs and the pin weight of the 5th wheel is 1,800 you will be ok. But if the pin weight is 3,200lb then you are not ok.

Typically 250/2500 series trucks are good for towing travel trailers more than 5th wheels. Typically to tow a 5th wheel you should have a 350/3500 series truck.

[chunker]

Originally Posted by RVNavyRet

We are brand new to RVing and are looking at 30-34 foot 5th wheel. The one we really like and per the salesman weight limit is fine, but not so sure from what I read. We have a 2018 Chevy 2500 LT gas (14000) ads tow weight for 5th wheel. The 5th wheel is Keystone Avalanche 333MK, 11400 dry weight, 15,000 gvwr and 2390 hitch weight. We should be around 13000-13500. Is this still to much weight for this truck? What is everyones recommendation for weight on this size truck? Any advice us greatly appreciated.

First your dry weight is as the trailer came from the factory. If you are talking about an actual trailer, not brochure weight, look at the sticker on the left front side. Usually under the pin overhang. That empty or unloaded weight, is as that particular trailer left the factory. It doesn't include any fluids or dealer added items such as battery, propane, equipment, etc. I also don't subscribe to the "ignore the GVWR" of either the RV or truck. Dangerous territory for you and others.

For the truck don't use the manufacturer's web site info for towing capacities. For a 2018 Chevrolet the max number you see will be a WT, 2WD, specifically equipped engine, rear axle and transmission. Chances are you don't have that bare bones truck and your real numbers are nowhere near those. Your left door post sticker gives you maximum cargo capacity for your truck as it left the factory. Anything you add, bed liner, trailer hitch, tonneau cover, tool box, etc, REDUCES that capacity on a 1:1 ratio.

RVing should be fun and a trip relatively stress free. Being under-trucked makes for unpleasant drives and increasingly stressful trips. Many of the trucks out will "pull just fine" but handle it poorly. Pulling is just small part of a tow vehicles chore. Handling, stopping also a big part and perhaps the most important.

[Cumminsfan]

The truck can carry it but you'll hate towing it. If you tow in any kind of hills or mountains you'll be begging for a diesel. A brochure weight of 11,400 lbs will easily be 13,000 loaded.
FWIW I tow 9500 lbs with a 2018 Ram 2500 6.4, 4.10 rear end and in the mtns it will beg for mercy. I does okay for the most part but I can't imagine another 3500 lbs and 4' more behind me. I've been all over the west and in some pretty steep grades and having another 3,000-4000 lbs behind me would've been rough. Not to mention the terrible mpgs you get.
Gm's 6.0 while being super reliable is not know for being a power house. Neither is my Ram 6.4.
If you only tow out in the flats with some hills then it's fairly workable.

[Mtn. Lion]

Get a Ford 1-ton with the 7.3L big block Godzilla V8 gasser, 10-speed transmission and the 4.33 ring gear and you could pull that trailer w/out moving to a diesel.

[SB_James]

That’s too much trailer for a 3/4 ton truck. I pull a 12,200 lb fiver when loaded up with a diesel F250, and I wouldn’t go any heavier. I’m 200 lbs over the GVWR, but 3 or 400 lbs under my rear axle rating. I would not totally ignore GVWR, as the manufacturer considers brake size, shocks, etc. but the most important is your axle rating. A good rule of thumb is to find a trailer that is 80% of your truck’s rated fifth wheel tow weight. Good luck and stay safe!

[Dieselguy4]

First weight your truck with fuel tank full and passengers. Then you should have your axle weights and available payload. You can't go over your rear tire load capacity. You need to be under gvwr and axle gawr. Being at or just under gvwr will make for some white knuckle driving. I was 260 lbs under rear gawr and 200 lbs over gvwr. 100 lbs under gvwr. It was a 2006 Dodge ram 3500 srw. It tow ok but when I got into any cross winds it got pushed around. Moved to a 2017 F350 few. No issues my dry weight was 11700 lbs and a pin weight of 1900 lbs. Real world numbers 12500 lbs, 2500 on the pin. 10500 on axles. Move some weight last weekend now 13100 lbs 2790 lbs on pin and 10300 lbs on axles

[TXiceman]

First thing is to forget anything the salesman tells you. Get the Chevy Towing Guide for your truck and read and understand all the terms. Look up the ratings for GCWR and Cargo Capacity or Payload Capacity for you specific engine, gear ratio and cab.

Here is the towing guide for the 2017.
2017 guide

[wandering1]

Originally Posted by RVNavyRet

We are brand new to RVing and are looking at 30-34 foot 5th wheel. The one we really like and per the salesman weight limit is fine, but not so sure from what I read. We have a 2018 Chevy 2500 LT gas (14000) ads tow weight for 5th wheel. The 5th wheel is Keystone Avalanche 333MK, 11400 dry weight, 15,000 gvwr and 2390 hitch weight. We should be around 13000-13500. Is this still to much weight for this truck? What is everyones recommendation for weight on this size truck? Any advice us greatly appreciated.

So why dont you get the towing specs from the dealer? Dont trust the salesman, they are trained to lie for money.