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looking at trailers/5th wheel need help!

bc_gavin

By bc_gavin
in Towing, Hauling & Hitches

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bc_gavin Enthusiast

bc_gavin

Posted
Posted

the wife and i are looking at getting a 5th wheel or TT i have a 2010 gmc 1500 Nevada Edition Z85 HD Sus, in the book it says 5500lbs 11000lbs gvcw but the salesman told me i can pull 9600lbs but only have 1800lbs payload anyone know if thats true?

 

this will be my first camper ive never pulled anything before so you guys think a 5th wheel will be

easier to tow then a TT?

 

thanks guys. i have the 4.8L 3.42 gears 4spd tow/haul

dave_benn Enthusiast

dave_benn

Posted
Posted

I wouldn't pull anything that heavy(9600 lbs), you have the 4.8L with the 4 speed and 3.42 gears. I got the 5.3L with the 3.42 and a 6 sp trans and i wouldn't tow that much. My trailer's max weight(including all payload) is 7200 lbs and thats the most i would wanna tow with it. Maybe some one on here with a similar setup can give you a better idea of shat to tow cause all i can give is my based on my truck. Good luck and happy camping.

manley Enthusiast

manley

Posted
Posted

Your tow capcaity is 5,500 pounds.

Your carrying capacity (payload) will be on the inside of your driver's door jamb. It is probably about 1,600 pounds, not 1,800 pounds. Note that that includes EVERYTHING you can carry, driver, wife, kids, hitch weight, anything in the pickup, etc.

1/2 tons typically don't have the carrying capacity to handle 5th wheels, and your salesman is not very well-versed in the particulars of your truck... nor does he care.

If I had that truck, and wanted to stay within my safe capabilities, I would probably be looking for travel trailers in the 5,000 pound GVWR range... certainly no MORE than that, and it will likely limit you to something less than 25 feet long...

 

Good luck!

  • 4 weeks later...
fridley New Member

fridley

Posted
Posted

the wife and i are looking at getting a 5th wheel or TT i have a 2010 gmc 1500 Nevada Edition Z85 HD Sus, in the book it says 5500lbs 11000lbs gvcw but the salesman told me i can pull 9600lbs but only have 1800lbs payload anyone know if thats true?

 

this will be my first camper ive never pulled anything before so you guys think a 5th wheel will be

easier to tow then a TT?

 

thanks guys. i have the 4.8L 3.42 gears 4spd tow/haul

 

fridley New Member

fridley

Posted
Posted

I have an 08 cc shortbed, 5.3, 4spd, 3.42. I just bought a 5th wheel, 24ft, 4000lbs. My truck pulls it just fine at 65-70 mph. Downside, 9mpg. Been loving the camping ever since.

  • 3 weeks later...
BlackZ71Silverado Senior Enthusiast

BlackZ71Silverado

Posted
Posted

If you are getting a 5th wheel, you should get a 2500 diesel. That's the right way to do it. A 1500 no matter the engine has no business towing one IMO. Seen way to many accidents like that.

 

Sure that truck can pull it BUT it comes down top pulling it safely and beling able to stop. An HD is the ONLY way to go to properly pull a 5th wheel.

dave_benn Enthusiast

dave_benn

Posted
Posted

If you are getting a 5th wheel, you should get a 2500 diesel. That's the right way to do it. A 1500 no matter the engine has no business towing one IMO. Seen way to many accidents like that.

 

Sure that truck can pull it BUT it comes down top pulling it safely and beling able to stop. An HD is the ONLY way to go to properly pull a 5th wheel.

 

 

As much as i wanna agree with you it not entirely true, they make 5th wheels that are 1/2 ton towable. I see alot of a1/2 tons towing 5th wheels, but most of the time people tow way too big of a trailer for there truck. I would suggest a 3/4 ton or bigger but like i said there are trailers out there made for 1/2 tons.

  • 10 months later...
patfromnc Enthusiast

patfromnc

Posted
Posted

we pull a 31 foot 5th wheel just fine with our 2500hd, we use to pull a 24ft bp camper with out 94 1500k blazer yes it did it but wouldn't recommend doing it all the time after a few pulls the transmission started to slip. 5th wheels are a lot easier to pull if you have never pulled anything before. good luck and have fun camping

Nathan79 Enthusiast

Nathan79

Posted
Posted

the wife and i are looking at getting a 5th wheel or TT i have a 2010 gmc 1500 Nevada Edition Z85 HD Sus, in the book it says 5500lbs 11000lbs gvcw but the salesman told me i can pull 9600lbs but only have 1800lbs payload anyone know if thats true?

 

this will be my first camper ive never pulled anything before so you guys think a 5th wheel will be

easier to tow then a TT?

 

thanks guys. i have the 4.8L 3.42 gears 4spd tow/haul

This is a perfect reason not to trust a salesman to tell you towing capacity.

CKNSLS Enthusiast

CKNSLS

Posted
Posted

I would be concerned that he will be over his GVWR. Even the "so-called" one-half ton towable 5th wheels have heavy pin weights.

 

There are some really nice Ultra Light bumper pull trailers you should look at that you will have no problem with the requirements of your truck.

ATMINF Enthusiast

ATMINF

Posted
Posted

I think Camplite has some very light trailers, not 5thwheels though.

2017HD Enthusiast

2017HD

Posted
Posted

I think that your particular truck is not well suited for towing either a TT or 5th wheel. Glad to see that you are trading it in on something a bit bigger. As for the "1/2 ton towable TTs" there are some that are in the realm of a normal 1/2 ton truck - however most of them are better suited for the trucks with the "Max Tow Package".

 

There are many numbers involved when determining the actual towing ability of a truck.

 

First is the CGWR or combined gross weight rating - this is determined largely by the drivetrain - engine, transmission, rear gears. It is also the most that your truck and trailer can weigh.

 

Next is the GVWR of the truck - this is the max that the truck can weigh. This is followed by the GAWR which is the axle ratings - most trucks have axles that can handle more than the GVWR of the truck. Payload is the Curb Wt of the truck subtracted from the GVWR. For most 1/2T trucks the GVWR is around 6900 lbs and the curb wt is around 5000 lbs so the payload is around 1900 lbs. Check your placard on the door frame for the ratings on your truck. You can safely tow an RV as long as you don't exceed the CGWR, GVWR, or GAWRs.

 

When it comes to trailers - conventional TTs are designed to have between 10 and 15% of their total weight on the hitch - 5th wheels have between 15 and 25% - so when looking at 5th wheels, you need to be extra careful to make sure that you don't exceed the GVWR and GAWR of the truck. Also note that most RVs weights are approx. and sometimes don't include any options - they also do not include batteries, LP gas, or fresh water in the water tank - all of which need to be factored in to the weight equation.

 

If you do your homework it is possible to tow a TT or 5th wheel with a 1/2T truck.

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