5th wheel with 1/2 ton

calgator73 · April 18, 2015

They did change all the models to have the nht radiator...my only concern is tires and frame...lotta stress.

Hoffstader · April 30, 2015

I have 14 5.3 with 3.42 gears short box crew cab. It hase been used three times to pull a aluminum three horse goose neck trailer. The truck had zero problem towing and handling the trailer. I have hauld a lot of s*!t with our farms 2012 1 ton dodge dually and the 06 duramax 3/4 ton with way bigger trailers and the exact same three horse trailer. Sure you feel it back there, but its expected in a 1/2 ton truck.

I never did know what it was to tow 'stock' because right away added air bags and added a few performance things.

If the trailer didn't have dual axles, wasn't aluminum, didn't have trailer breaks, ya-da-ya-da-ya-da it wouldn't be towing this trailer with the 1/2 ton... Loaded up with two horses or a dozen calves I tipped the scales at just over 11,600kg (full tank of fuel and two people + all gear). But overall it can handle the weight no problem. Just don't drive like a maniac and think your going to get stopped in enough time going 110km/h. Max I drive when pulling that trailer is 95.

Conky Conky · May 28, 2015

My chevy 1500 pulling my 5th wheel.

Conky Conky · June 1, 2015

I just hit the scales again and weighed in @ 19449Ibs combined weight I had fresh water tank and east tans full. Iv decided I'm gonna buy a 3500HD next.

Conky Conky · June 1, 2015

Ment to say waste tanks not east tanks

BlackZ71Silverado · June 2, 2015

I just hit the scales again and weighed in @ 19449Ibs combined weight I had fresh water tank and east tans full. Iv decided I'm gonna buy a 3500HD next.

WOW! Good decision on the 3500, very smart and safe choice. When towing heavy, might as well do it the right way.

Need some pics of the new truck when you get it!

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Conky Conky · June 2, 2015

That was combined including the truck

BlackZ71Silverado · June 2, 2015

GM's 5th wheel/goosneck weight ratings for EcoTec3 engines, Vortec are a little lower :

5.3L with 3.42's : 15,000

5.3L with 3.73 & max trailer: 16,700

6.2L with 3.42 : 15,000

6.2L with 3.73 & max trailer : 17,700

Conky Conky · June 2, 2015

Ya well GM could save a lot of money and just send trucks to me for testing cause my pickups get used for there intended purpose. Towing ratings are just a suggestions it handles weight very well doesn't feel near as heavy as the scales say. I pull up river hills and can always keep it above 100km/h climbing. As I always set the cruise at 110km/h.

Jon A · June 7, 2015

I just hit the scales again and weighed in @ 19449Ibs combined weight I had fresh water tank and east tans full. Iv decided I'm gonna buy a 3500HD next.

Heh, I honestly thought you were joking with your first post. I guess not. Yes, even I'd recommend you get a bigger truck or smaller trailer.....

They did change all the models to have the nht radiator...my only concern is tires and frame...lotta stress.

Right there with you on the tires (I recommend anybody doing much heavy towing swap to E rated tires), but people should understand a 5th wheel/gooseneck actually puts much less stress on the frame--even with a much larger pin weight.

With a 5th wheel you have a direct loadpath (especially with airbags helping take the additional load) straight down from the pin, throught the frame directly into the bags into the axle and into the ground. Virtually no bending/torsion is placed on the frame. If you want to put a huge payload on a truck, this is by far the best way to do it.

With a bumper pull, the weight is several feet behind the rear axle and the frame must support it in bending. Those concerned the longevity of a 1/2 ton's frame towing heavy loads is a worry should note this is a much, much worse condition than a gooseneck or 5th wheel.

With the HD's where they go through the hassle of giving separate tow ratings, the ratings for 5th wheel/gooseneck are much, much higher than bumper pull. It's simply a much better way to tow a heavy trailer--safer handling on the road and puts much less stress on the vehicle.

And another note on safety--I still see many people on so many forums making themselves less safe by "leveling" the truck with a WDH because that's what feels better going down the road. GM recommends 50% FALR and I just noticed Ford's 2015 F150 manual recommends only 25%. That's only about the weight of a meduim-sized dog being transfered to the front. In other words, not enough to fix the handling issues people usually try to fix with a WDH. They're giving the recommendations they feel is the safest for a reason.

I find it quite interesting people will say the max payload on the sticker or in the owner's manual is a number written in stone that should not be violated by a single pound....and yet they'll crank the WDH to 100%, 150%, 200%, 300% or whatever "feels best" to them driving down the road when that same owners manual is telling them that's unsafe. If people stuck to 50% some of their setups wouldn't feel so good anymore...and maybe they'd take a second look at going the 5th wheel route instead if they could get over the false "conventional wisdom" on the internet that they're somehow unsafe on 1/2 tons.

calgator73 · June 8, 2015

Heh, I honestly thought you were joking with your first post. I guess not. Yes, even I'd recommend you get a bigger truck or smaller trailer.....

Right there with you on the tires (I recommend anybody doing much heavy towing swap to E rated tires), but people should understand a 5th wheel/gooseneck actually puts much less stress on the frame--even with a much larger pin weight.

With a 5th wheel you have a direct loadpath (especially with airbags helping take the additional load) straight down from the pin, throught the frame directly into the bags into the axle and into the ground. Virtually no bending/torsion is placed on the frame. If you want to put a huge payload on a truck, this is by far the best way to do it.

With a bumper pull, the weight is several feet behind the rear axle and the frame must support it in bending. Those concerned the longevity of a 1/2 ton's frame towing heavy loads is a worry should note this is a much, much worse condition than a gooseneck or 5th wheel.

With the HD's where they go through the hassle of giving separate tow ratings, the ratings for 5th wheel/gooseneck are much, much higher than bumper pull. It's simply a much better way to tow a heavy trailer--safer handling on the road and puts much less stress on the vehicle.

And another note on safety--I still see many people on so many forums making themselves less safe by "leveling" the truck with a WDH because that's what feels better going down the road. GM recommends 50% FALR and I just noticed Ford's 2015 F150 manual recommends only 25%. That's only about the weight of a meduim-sized dog being transfered to the front. In other words, not enough to fix the handling issues people usually try to fix with a WDH. They're giving the recommendations they feel is the safest for a reason.

I find it quite interesting people will say the max payload on the sticker or in the owner's manual is a number written in stone that should not be violated by a single pound....and yet they'll crank the WDH to 100%, 150%, 200%, 300% or whatever "feels best" to them driving down the road when that same owners manual is telling them that's unsafe. If people stuck to 50% some of their setups wouldn't feel so good anymore...and maybe they'd take a second look at going the 5th wheel route instead if they could get over the false "conventional wisdom" on the internet that they're somehow unsafe on 1/2 tons.

I agree on the 5th wheel bit. Even when towing my TT with my 2500hd diesel I can still feel the truck trying to move. Just so much more mass that I don't have to worry about it. In regards to FALR....I wonder how much TV mass reduction is playing into the desire to maintain more mass over the rear axle. That's going to ride like crap stock. I shoot for 50-100%...next week I'll be weighing the new rig to see how close I am.

hegsz71 · June 8, 2015

Ya well GM could save a lot of money and just send trucks to me for testing cause my pickups get used for there intended purpose. Towing ratings are just a suggestions it handles weight very well doesn't feel near as heavy as the scales say. I pull up river hills and can always keep it above 100km/h climbing. As I always set the cruise at 110km/h.

so let me get this straight you would rather beat on a truck, risk the lives of others on the road for the simple fact that you "think" that tow ratings are a suggestion? Being a tow truck driver I wish whoever is in your truck and the other cars around you well WHEN you end up crashing. Until you see a family killed be someone like you who thinks numbers are just suggestions you'll clearly never change your thinking. And to top it off you set your cruise control while towing the monstrosity. Grow a pair and buy a big boy truck if you want big boy toys.

KARNUT · June 8, 2015

In the early 90s when I stated pulling my equipment HP and TQ ratings were less than 1/2 tons today. The tow ratings on 3/4 and one tons were about were 1/2 tons are now. The only that's really change that much are HP and TQ ratings across the board and tow ratings. The tire patch and brakes surface, spring rates are the same . Trailer brakes and load placement determines load safety. A goose neck on a 1/2 ton wood be better than a bumper hook up and just find for a camper.

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MikeNH · June 8, 2015

In the early 90s when I stated pulling my equipment HP and TQ ratings were less than 1/2 tons today. The tow ratings on 3/4 and one tons were about were 1/2 tons are now. The only that's really change that much are HP and TQ ratings across the board and tow ratings. The tire patch and brakes surface, spring rates are the same . Trailer brakes and load placement determines load safety. A goose neck on a 1/2 ton wood be better than a bumper hook up and just find for a camper.

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Gotta disagree with that. Trucks are obviously more powerful but that's only a small part of it. Brakes have gotten bigger (and HDs even beyond that), tires are bigger and MUCH better than even 10 years ago. Comparing trucks of the 90s which had little in the way of computer modeling to what they can do today is apples to oranges.

KARNUT · June 8, 2015

Gotta disagree with that. Trucks are obviously more powerful but that's only a small part of it. Brakes have gotten bigger (and HDs even beyond that), tires are bigger and MUCH better than even 10 years ago. Comparing trucks of the 90s which had little in the way of computer modeling to what they can do today is apples to oranges.

They had anti loc brakes and 10 ply tires back then. When you see tow ratings go up it usually has to do with an HP and TQ increase

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