brianf40 Posted July 15, 2017 Share Posted July 15, 2017 Truck: 2016 sierra 2500 6.0 4.10 rear I'm thinking about upgrading from a Travel Trailer to a fifth wheel. The fifth wheels I'm interested in range from 8500lbs to 9500 dry. Anyone have experience with towing a 5th wheel of this size with a comparable truck? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMiller Posted July 15, 2017 Share Posted July 15, 2017 Truck will handle it fine, real question is what kind of hills you have to deal with and what is the real weight of the trailer once completely loaded as the weight shown ends up being way under actual weight, guessing you will find you are at 13,000lbs once loaded. Let the 6.0 rev, it will be just fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianf40 Posted July 15, 2017 Author Share Posted July 15, 2017 I do a lot of short trips in eastern pa. Not a lot of BIG hills. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silverado4x4 Posted July 15, 2017 Share Posted July 15, 2017 Just hook up the 5th wheel and roll with it, yull be fine. The truck will love flexing its muscles with the 5th wheel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver16 Posted July 15, 2017 Share Posted July 15, 2017 Little advice. Practice backing the 5er before you do at a site and become the park entertainment. It is completely different than a trailer. Plenty of vids online for a pre practice sesh. Once you get it you will love the advantages. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sledge8 Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 I have a 30' 10,000 lb 5'r that I pull with my 2015 6.0 4:10. I will say it pulls better than my 04 6.0 4:10 did. As said above. Once you add LP, water, gear, food, etc. you can add about 1000 lbs to that dry weight. As long as you don't frequently pull through the mountain's out west you will be fine, even if you do go through the mountains the truck will handle it. Just don't expect to win any speed contests going up the mountain. Flat land Minnesota, I set the cruise at 68 and go. Keep in mind some 5th wheels have extremely heavy pin weights and you could get close to your payload max once you, the wife and kids and dog are in the truck. Mine is about 1600 lbs which leaves me about 1300 lbs for other stuff in the truck. Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carkhz316 Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 Since '11+ are pretty much the same truck, I'll weigh in. I have a '12 CCSB with 4.10's and I pull (occasionally) a 26' Fifth camper. The camper with our food for the weekend, couple cases of water, 60 gallon water tank full, grill, generator, and propane, is right about 9300lbs. It pulls it just fine here in MN. I still push 10mpg with the cruise set at 70. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMiller Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 Since '11+ are pretty much the same truck, I'll weigh in. I have a '12 CCSB with 4.10's and I pull (occasionally) a 26' Fifth camper. The camper with our food for the weekend, couple cases of water, 60 gallon water tank full, grill, generator, and propane, is right about 9300lbs. It pulls it just fine here in MN. I still push 10mpg with the cruise set at 70. Power wise it's the same since '07 1/2, chassis wise it has been untouched since '11. Great chassis! Swap the 4.10 gears for 4.56's and it would be perfect! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carkhz316 Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 Power wise it's the same since '07 1/2, chassis wise it has been untouched since '11. Great chassis! Swap the 4.10 gears for 4.56's and it would be perfect! I have a buddy with same truck as me, albeit a 2009. Aside from some knobby MT's, his is stock. That truck rides way different than mine. It bounces around a lot (ride quality; not bad shocks), and has noticeably more sway and the truck twists and turns more. It's not bad by any means, but the newer chassis/ running gear feels much more "planted" and sure footed, if that makes sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver16 Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 My 2010 GMC Sierra 2500HD had Coops 285s, leveling kit, Bilsteins. It had a looser(sp) feel than this one I have now but I think the Turnoverball w/Champion slider makes a huge difference. It's night and day than my Ford. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMiller Posted July 18, 2017 Share Posted July 18, 2017 I have a buddy with same truck as me, albeit a 2009. Aside from some knobby MT's, his is stock. That truck rides way different than mine. It bounces around a lot (ride quality; not bad shocks), and has noticeably more sway and the truck twists and turns more. It's not bad by any means, but the newer chassis/ running gear feels much more "planted" and sure footed, if that makes sense. Of course that makes sense. I said the power train which includes the motor-trans-transfer case-hardened diff-rear diff. You are referring to the chassis which was updated/all new for '11 which I completely agree IS much more planted, stiffer, better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carkhz316 Posted July 18, 2017 Share Posted July 18, 2017 Of course that makes sense. I said the power train which includes the motor-trans-transfer case-hardened diff-rear diff. You are referring to the chassis which was updated/all new for '11 which I completely agree IS much more planted, stiffer, better. Yup, I had figured out some time ago that the 2007-10 HD trucks were essentially the 800's with a new body on them, so I had that in mind driving my friends truck. It's just interesting feeling the difference driving them back to back. His even has similar mileage as mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianf40 Posted July 18, 2017 Author Share Posted July 18, 2017 Bought a 2017 Grand Design reflection. 8515 dry wt. I think it is perfect size for my truck. Thanks everyone for the input. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sledge8 Posted July 19, 2017 Share Posted July 19, 2017 Bought a 2017 Grand Design reflection. 8515 dry wt. I think it is perfect size for my truck. Thanks everyone for the input. Congrats on the new RV. As someone said above, go practice maneuvering and backing in some large lot. In my opinion they are easier to back up but much different than a regular pull behind. Have fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davidj101 Posted July 20, 2017 Share Posted July 20, 2017 Don't know if you have a long bed or not, but if it's a short bed, be aware of the corners when backing, if you didn't get a slider hitch. I've never hit mine, but I've seen plenty of trucks with bent cab corners in the campgrounds. I love towing the 5er. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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