Community Forums

Dave Pelletier · 01-07-2021, 09:13 AM

Honestly a 14,000 lb GVWR, 39' fifth wheel is huge and has massive windage as well......if I had such a trailer, I'd be sticking to a one ton dually myself and probably a diesel. If I owned a 2500 with a 6.0 gasser, I'd be looking to keep the trailer's GVWR at or near the 10,000 lb mark.

My dad hauled his Denali 36' 5er with a 2500HD duramax and he did it for several years.....I don't know the exact weights and I'm not even sure he ever weighed it but it was a big load for that truck and he eventually replaced it with a GMC 3500 dually.

2 cents,
Dave

nicky8668 · 01-07-2021, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NevadaNick

After weighing my 2018 GMC dsl pickup with all the normal crap, my wife and myself i have nearly 4k pounds left on the rating of the tires. Personally i would pull it.

Tires?

NevadaNick · 01-07-2021, 09:57 AM

Tires and axle rating are what i will not exceed, the rest is pie in the sky numbers that make no sense.

Dieselguy4 · 01-07-2021, 10:00 AM

Your pin weight will be close to 2500 lbs once you get loaded to go camping. I have a Sierra 375RKS. Its 41 foot long and had a dry pin weight of 1900 lbs and a dry weight of 11800 lbs. Once I got it ready to go camping I had 2500 lbs pin weight and it weighed 12800 lbs. I was pulling with a 2006 Dodge Ram 3500 mega cab SRW diesel. My problem was rear gawr. You will have the same problem. That 39 ft fifth wheel will not be a fun or safe tow on a 2500 gas truck. your biggest worry will be rear tire capacity. Allot of people will say they do it all the time. I was 400 lbs under rear gawr and 100 lbs over gvwr. I was also 100 lbs under max towing. My combined gcwr was 21000 lbs. I was at 20900 lbs. It was not a fun towing experience at times. I went to a 2017 F350 DRW. Best decision I made. You will like your gas truck until you hit the first hill. You will need more truck or a smaller trailer

nicky8668 · 01-07-2021, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NevadaNick

Tires and axle rating are what i will not exceed, the rest is pie in the sky numbers that make no sense.

some states allow you (or they don’t care) exceed your GVWR as long as you are below tire load and axle ratings, while other states, like PA, clearly state no vehicle can exceed their registered GVWR. Really depends.

Old-Biscuit · 01-07-2021, 10:17 AM

2018 2500 gas....12,000# GVWR 5th wheel

NevadaNick · 01-07-2021, 10:54 AM

So is Pa like Nevada and i can register for whatever weight i want to ?

nicky8668 · 01-07-2021, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NevadaNick

So is Pa like Nevada and i can register for whatever weight i want to ?

It’s unclear. But here is what PennDOT says:

Weight Limitations - Every truck shall have its own registered gross weight based on the gross vehicle weight rating assigned by the manufacturer (specified on the federal weight certification label) and an equivalent weight rating determined by PennDOT based on axle and wheel strength, horsepower, braking power and other factors affecting the ability of the vehicle to handle heavier loads.

Dieselguy4 · 01-07-2021, 11:20 AM

South Carolina you have to register GCW. My fifth wheel and my F350 are registered at 23000 Lbs. I weigh in at 21940 Lbs. My 2006 Dodge Ram 3500 and car trailer is registered at 16000 Lbs. Car trailer and truck weight in a 15000 Lbs. It is a pain. I would rather resister GVWR of the truck and be done with it.

NevadaNick · 01-07-2021, 11:53 AM

Nevada used to require registration for gcw, but a few years a go they told me at dmv that it only applied to commercial. There are companies with F250’s that pull goosenecks that are registered for 40k lbs. Ca registers by weight now as well. Except for company trucks, i know of nobody that has been stopped or ticketed for registration. After 1 pickup at a company i worked for was stopped and ticketed i went and registered all the pickups to 25,999.

tuffr2 · 01-07-2021, 12:15 PM

I am guessing something happens at 26,000lbs like it cost more $$$ to register trucks. That 25,999lbs is cheaper.

If this is the case - although I do no agree how else is the government going to do it?

Gordon Dewald · 01-07-2021, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuff31

Hello all,
I am new to this forum and somewhat new to camping as a whole. I purchased a Keystone Laredo Travel Trailer in March of last year and I am already looking to upgrade to a fifth wheel. I was hoping someone could help me with a question I have. I recently purchased a 2018 GMC Sierra 2500HD SLE Crew Cab 4wdr with 6.0 V8 Gas engine. The info I read tells me I can tow a max 14,300 fifth wheel (assuming I am reading it correctly). I am currently looking at a 39ft Keystone Cougar that has a dry weight of 11,700.
My concern is whether or not I will have enough power to pull this fifth wheel with my GMC. Any information would help.

Thanks in advance.
Cory

If you do not exceed any of the load specifications on your truck it will tow the trailer anywhere it is practical to go. You may go slower if you are close to the limits. Depending on the speed you try to go your fuel consumption may be affected (the faster you go the more fuel you will burn).

NevadaNick · 01-07-2021, 01:42 PM

Tuff, 26,000 and over requires CDL

xc-mark · 01-09-2021, 06:42 AM

payload wise its really not a good fit for a 2500 , your really close or over the max payload rating of any 3/4 ton truck. Do owners do it , Yes should they No but most dont know any better. At a min you would need to look at the tire weight rating and scale the camper hooked up and loaded for travel to know how close you really are. As far as the 6.0L it will do it but you cant be ina rush and you cant be concerned with your up hill speed and how high the RPM's are going up hill. My dad had a 2004 6.0L crew cab and 4.10 gears , with 9000lbs on a 4% grade he was down to 40 mph and 2nd gear at 5000RPM. My 2006 Duramax truck with 10,000lbs behind on the same day pulled the hill at 60mph and only running 2000rpm.

the 6.0L motor needs RPM and doesnt have 1/2 the TQ of the newer diesel truck. I would suggest you trade your 2018 in while its worth good money and upgrade to any one ton single wheel diesel truck but keep in mind you really will be at the top of what a single rear wheel one ton should do. A larger RV will need a duel rear wheel truck if that is your end game two or three years down the road.

Hills for any 2017 and newer diesel truck 3/4 ton and larger truck can be pull at the posed speed limit with 17000lbs behind it.