Is this enough truck?

[Cowpie]

Just a casual look at the current brochures on the Chevy website tells a story. A 1500 6.2L Max Tow DC at the factory has a payload available of roughly #2100 lb. A similar 2500HD DC at the factory has roughly 3100# for the gasser and 2700# for the Dmax. And the 2500HD gasser with the 3100# payload will be probably be cheaper in initial cost and operation than the top of the line 1500 6.2L Max Tow. The 2500HD gasser can use any fuel at the pump but diesel. The 6.2L, especially if towing, calls for premium to get maximum performance. And the 2500 would be considerably adept at pulling a 5th due to more robust suspension, frame, and brakes. And the 2015 2500HD 6.0L gasser won the the TFL Ike Gauntlet pull test yanking 13,000 lb of trailer and 500 lb of cargo in the bed with 3 people on board for a gross of 20,500 lb.

 

There is little need for a 1 ton to pull a 5th, unless you just want one, or you are doing it real heavy. Many commercial operators are pulling 5th wheel trailers of various sizes from factory to dealerships daily using 3/4 ton pickups. I see them everyday.

[CadillacLuke24]

Chevor on this site tugs 5th wheels all day with his 2500 Duramax Sierra

[Debra in Cali]

The hubs and I are new to this rv fun but he's not quite sure we have the right set up. If we ask a dealer they have their ideas but we find asking actual rv folks gets us answers. Here's what we have...

 

We bought a 2015 Chevy half ton Silverado High Country for one trailer, switched trailers for a 30 foot, 2016 Heartland Sundance LT 5th wheel. He believes the engine is big enough to handle the trailer but not convinced the truck is. Does that make sense? HP vs Payload I think?

 

Although we have not hauled the trailer long distances yet he says it's ok but believes we need something like a 3/4 ton or even a 1 ton to do the job.

 

The truck is 4x4 with crew cab, short box, I think a 5.3L engine, we do have the airbags...

 

Do any of you have experience with this, answers or can at least point us in a direction?

 

Thanks everyone!

We just purchased a 5th wheel. There is no way on earth that you are going to be able to pull a Heartland 5th wheel with a 1500 and not even a 2500 for that matter. Heartland brand 5ivers are heavy trailers. You are going to need a 3500 duel wheel to safely pull that heavy of a trailer. And a lot of the states require that you get an embellishment to your DL to pull anything over 10,000 lbs and a Class C license if it is over 15,000. Different states have different requirements, so look up your DMV codes for your state.

[sdeeter19555]

We just purchased a 5th wheel. There is no way on earth that you are going to be able to pull a Heartland 5th wheel with a 1500 and not even a 2500 for that matter. Heartland brand 5ivers are heavy trailers. You are going to need a 3500 duel wheel to safely pull that heavy of a trailer. And a lot of the states require that you get an embellishment to your DL to pull anything over 10,000 lbs and a Class C license if it is over 15,000. Different states have different requirements, so look up your DMV codes for your state.

Unless you are using your RV for commercia purposes, you should need nothing besides the standard driver's license.

 

The "classes" of licenses are typically for commercial use, and unless you're a hotshot towing an RV for a delivery or have a toy hauler with your sponsored race car inside, RVs are exempt in most cases. And if your using it commercially, you'd better have a DOT number on the side of the tow rig...

 

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[Darth_Vader]

We just purchased a 5th wheel. There is no way on earth that you are going to be able to pull a Heartland 5th wheel with a 1500 and not even a 2500 for that matter. Heartland brand 5ivers are heavy trailers. You are going to need a 3500 duel wheel to safely pull that heavy of a trailer. And a lot of the states require that you get an embellishment to your DL to pull anything over 10,000 lbs and a Class C license if it is over 15,000. Different states have different requirements, so look up your DMV codes for your state.

Given that a Heartland 35' only has a GVWR of 15,500lbs and a 2500 Duramax has a 5er rating of 18k lbs I don't know why you'd ever need a 3500 for a 30 foot rig.

[Nathan79]

Given that a Heartland 35' only has a GVWR of 15,500lbs and a 2500 Duramax has a 5er rating of 18k lbs I don't know why you'd ever need a 3500 for a 30 foot rig.

How much actual payload capacity do you think a 2500 Duramax has?

[Darth_Vader]

How much actual payload capacity do you think a 2500 Duramax has?

Probably around 3k or more, but a 15k fifth wheel isn't going to have a kingpin wieght more than that.

[newdude]

Given that a Heartland 35' only has a GVWR of 15,500lbs and a 2500 Duramax has a 5er rating of 18k lbs I don't know why you'd ever need a 3500 for a 30 foot rig.

 

Sure, its 18,000lbs on only one 2500hd configuration, a 2wd regular cab Duramax. Who honestly, except for a couple folk, are buying that to haul their family and a 5th wheel camper? If we use some realism, say they have a crew cab 4x4 standard box Dmax. Max 5th wheel trailer capacity is 13,900lbs. Quite a loss from that unicorn 2wd regular cab, and at full trailer GVWR, overloaded. Payloads for a crew 4x4 standard box Dmax from the door tags I've seen are in the 2400-2900lbs range.

 

Now, to try and move that 15,500 GVWR trailer properly? Either the unicorn 2500hd, or for a crew cab truck, at minimum, a 3500hd SRW, which would have 17,100lbs 5th capacity on a standard box, and 17,200lbs on a long box.