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Towing in the extreme: My 2014 1500 & 33’ 5th Wheel RV

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nards444 Senior Enthusiast

nards444

Posted
Posted

That was more of a wink and a nod to the HD guys posting in this thread (who drive Denalis). Personally, you couldn't give me a 3/4 gas truck right now. Crappy towing power to go along with the stiff ride and really crappy mileage to top it all off! Maybe if they put the 6.2 in the 2500 sometime soon it would be a more attractive choice. But with the 6.0 (or Ram's new Hemi which is even worse) I'd limit myself to well below what they're rated to tow. Crawling along on the freeway in 1st gear is not my idea of getting the job done, I don't care if it's rated for the weight or not

 

Lol kind of figured that. Tow a jet ski with a diesel. I to agree the capability of a 3/4 gasser when it said and done like you I just dont see it. I guess your getting the better payload and probably some brakes but do to the engine the package is limited if you ask me, specially if you reall sit and compare it with a 1/2 ton

 

 

It matters a ton for many reasons. First, it's pretty common for the plaintiff to go after only what the insurance will pay...because they know they'll get paid. Secondly, insurance companies don't stay in business by paying out $200-300K on frivolous suits. Before they pay that they'll fight on your behalf in court using their own really good lawyers because they're protecting their money. If they lose and it was for more than your coverage, yes, you still could have some liability. But numerous hurdles need to be cleared before it gets that far. And if it does, the chances are you did something really bad--way, way beyond forgetting to account for your fat uncle sitting in the back seat.

I see what your saying and my point wasnt necessarily that insurance doesnt matter, but more on the lines of having insurance will not negate liability. And your right getting whats in the policy is easy pickens, and lets be honest you can sue for 10 million and even awarded 5 million, doesnt mean your going to collect, you cant collect what somebody doesnt have. But theres always asset seizure, wage garnishment etc, which is worst case scenario, but if it comes to that your looking at bankruptcy and or owing for the rest of your life.. Last year my buddy rear ended some guy that didnt have tail lights and was stopped, at least that was his story. anyways the guy he hit had some magical back problems, which hard to say what was legit, but that little fender bender alone my buddies insurance paid out 126k in liability, so that money can get eaten up quick even if you have 300k protecting you.

  • 1 month later...
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fshouttah2o Enthusiast

fshouttah2o

Posted
Posted

Dumb question: 3950 per axle, but only 7 200 lbs gcvw? 3950 x 2 is 7900. Axles engineered beyond the truck overall?

BlackZ71Silverado Senior Enthusiast

BlackZ71Silverado

Posted
Posted

 

 

I appreciate you pointing out that I am indeed riding on the edge. I also appreciate your concern for safety. I have seen some HD trucks with their rear tires under the wheel well.

 

When I say aggressive, I do not mean aggressive with the steering wheel and brakes (flying in and out of lanes, etc.) I meant aggressive with maintaining speed. Instead of going 55 up a hill, I will go 65 or 70. I have only gone 75 MPH one or two times while trailering. In inclement weather I slow down 5 to 10 MPH overall.

 

The driver is a HUGE part of the safety and stability of any trailering rig. Again, if I was pulling this trailer even 25% of all driving for this truck, I would get into a 2500 as fast as I could. But as a weekend warrior that only goes 100 to 700 miles at a clip on the east coast, this rig is actually a perfect fit.

 

Again, thank you for your candor.

 

 

That's where you are highly mistaken. Driver does not matter when you are towing above your trucks safe abilities. For that size 5th wheel, a 2500 is the smallest pickup that should be attached to it.

Good luck out there, hope nobody gets injured.

Jon A Senior Enthusiast

Jon A

Posted
Posted

Driver does not matter when you are towing above your trucks safe abilities.

 

That's complete BS. The driver always matters. Not just matters, but is the single most important part of the system where safety is concerned. If you think giving a clueless, careless idiot driver a truck with a bit higher tow rating makes everything OK, I think you're seriously mistaken. I'd rather share the road with a guy who knows what he's doing and drives in a careful manor any day, even if his rig is close to being maxed out.

 

 

For that size 5th wheel, a 2500 is the smallest pickup that should be attached to it.

 

Did I miss where he posted scale results or something? Did it show he was way overweight? Or is this just another wild opinion, like the guy who said you need a 2500 to tow any more than 4000 lbs?

j-ten-ner Senior Enthusiast

j-ten-ner

Posted
Posted

Dumb question: 3950 per axle, but only 7 200 lbs gcvw? 3950 x 2 is 7900. Axles engineered beyond the truck overall?

It's about the weight distribution. A palette of bricks in the truck bed can max out your rear axle but the overall weight is still within the gvwr.

 

so long

j-ten-ner

BlackZ71Silverado Senior Enthusiast

BlackZ71Silverado

Posted
Posted

 

That's complete BS. The driver always matters. Not just matters, but is the single most important part of the system where safety is concerned. If you think giving a clueless, careless idiot driver a truck with a bit higher tow rating makes everything OK, I think you're seriously mistaken. I'd rather share the road with a guy who knows what he's doing and drives in a careful manor any day, even if his rig is close to being maxed out.

 

 

 

Did I miss where he posted scale results or something? Did it show he was way overweight? Or is this just another wild opinion, like the guy who said you need a 2500 to tow any more than 4000 lbs?

 

 

Think what you want to think and use no common sense. I have seen far too many crashes where "professional drivers" (guys who drive truck for a living) had their trucks loaded to, and over capacity almost kill people on the highway. If anybody thinks they are ever in total control of a vehicle, they're delusional.

Jon A Senior Enthusiast

Jon A

Posted
Posted

Thinking the driver is not a critical component in safety no matter what he's driving is not what I'd call using common sense.

EXSlider400 Senior Enthusiast

EXSlider400

Posted
Posted

:lurk:.........need a scale ticket.........which will also help with DOT.

 

Too many factors without one.

 

TT sticker if (usually) for max with weight including gear and full tanks so until you get a real "as towed" weight all else is pointless. I do agree tires and helpers/bags will help towing but nothing will change the weights on the OEM GM sticker. Driver makes huge difference is rig is in accident but if it is, weight may or may not be a factor in court or by law enforcement. I work at scrap yards and see overweight vehicles constantly....every day.

  • 2 weeks later...
DenaliDually Enthusiast

DenaliDually

Posted
Posted

I don't know much about Areostreams, but I'm pretty sure it's under 8k after a quick scan of the 25 page pdf from there website. This rig was probably within spec...

 

Being over weight is careless and unnecessarily endangering unsuspecting people around you. Being a safe and experienced driver is clearly an advantage. But with these long trailers, wind is a variable that will put you in a ditch in a heart beat!

 

Coming up to this scene I could see the back and forth "S" shaped tire marks in the right lane. Probaly got a gust from a larger truck passing and it perpetuated into disaster. A solid set of trailer brakes may have helped straighten this one up. I noted the trailer tires were all inflated as I passed so it didn't appear it was a blow out.

 

Stay safe!

 

 

2015 Denali 3500 DRW, Michelin ltx, 4x4

  • 2 weeks later...
EXSlider400 Senior Enthusiast

EXSlider400

Posted
Posted

Looks like a "newer" camper so it should of had brakes and the suburban should have the plug but may not have the controller or the controller may have been set incorrectly. I assume there is a WD hitch to. This is where the integrated controller may of helped via the sway control.

 

My signature shows my regular cab with towing package pulling a Jayco Eagle camper (it 100% was over weight and had air shocks with 180psi and extra leafs). So we only did this a few times and on a road for 10-15 minutes where speed limit was 50 and I was going 40. That is why we purchased a more capable truck with integrated controller. To be safer.

  • 3 months later...
Hockeylover86 Enthusiast

Hockeylover86

Posted
Posted

Sorry for the thread revival, but I have seen this quite a bit in the campgrounds local to me, 1/2 tons with much heavier trailers than they have towed in the past.

 

Do what you want, just don't get anybody killed pushing the limits of these trucks.

 

I even had to rescue a '14 1500 when a couple camping couldn't get their 36' TT off the sandy site next to me that they had been on for a week.

 

After a couple rains the light 1500 could not get the TT out of the sunken groove that the wheels had settled into. I told them I would try my truck (07 LBZ Dmax) and give it a try. After I proceeded to walk that TT right out, they absolutely couldn't believe it.

 

There is more to a trucks capability than what the owners manual says.

calgator73 Senior Enthusiast

calgator73

Posted
Posted

Sorry for the thread revival, but I have seen this quite a bit in the campgrounds local to me, 1/2 tons with much heavier trailers than they have towed in the past.

 

Do what you want, just don't get anybody killed pushing the limits of these trucks.

 

I even had to rescue a '14 1500 when a couple camping couldn't get their 36' TT off the sandy site next to me that they had been on for a week.

 

After a couple rains the light 1500 could not get the TT out of the sunken groove that the wheels had settled into. I told them I would try my truck (07 LBZ Dmax) and give it a try. After I proceeded to walk that TT right out, they absolutely couldn't believe it.

 

There is more to a trucks capability than what the owners manual says.

That's why we almost always spring for the premium sites lol

 

Sent from my LGLS990 using Tapatalk

  • 3 weeks later...
jamesmc321 Enthusiast

jamesmc321

Posted
Posted

good topic, I have learned a lot about how much I am not using my 1500 for, guess I can start taking my own firewood and my fat uncle :thumbs:

  • 1 month later...

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