Advice On Towing 7290# Fifthwheel

[uawmem]

i bought a fifthwheel 7290# unloaded and i have a 2001 gmc 4.8l ext cab p/u will i be ok towing? most trips are 50-100 miles.

[alaska511]

The upgrades you will need to handle that kind of weight are going to be expensive. You will not feel very safe. It will be way under powered, and the transmission is going to hate you.

 

50-100 miles isn't much, but I wouldn't do it regularly. What is the pin weight?

 

Are you a UAW member?

[txab]

The upgrades you will need to handle that kind of weight are going to be expensive. You will not feel very safe. It will be way under powered, and the transmission is going to hate you.

 

50-100 miles isn't much, but I wouldn't do it regularly. What is the pin weight?

 

Are you a UAW member?

 

+1 I'd want more truck than that.

[Sweathog62]

Add about 1200-1800 pds for gear and people and you appear to be a bit over the limit. Trans cooler, oil cooler, and additional radiator capacity would make a good start.

 

My .02 cents worth.

[grampadirt]

Pulling it is one thing,how about stopping?

[bigbengalbubba]

i bought a fifthwheel 7290# unloaded and i have a 2001 gmc 4.8l ext cab p/u will i be ok towing? most trips are 50-100 miles.

 

No.

[gave20]

i bought a fifthwheel 7290# unloaded and i have a 2001 gmc 4.8l ext cab p/u will i be ok towing? most trips are 50-100 miles.

 

No.

 

 

+1

[dietz4ibanez]

In the long haul you could get by but you are going to need a bigger truck... The smallest I would consider would be a NBS Vortec-Max... But you would be better off with a 2500hd. IMO

[mljenkins]

i bought a fifthwheel 7290# unloaded and i have a 2001 gmc 4.8l ext cab p/u will i be ok towing? most trips are 50-100 miles.

 

I have a gooseneck 6500# empty trailer that I tow with my '06 5.3L 4.10 and the load is noticeable. When I have the horses and gear I am right at 8500#, about the max Chevy rates the truck for. Even empty the trailer is HEAVY. I have brakes on both trailer axels and a Progigity inertia brake controller. I don't tow often and only have the rig because I got the trailer after the truck for a deal I could not pass up. I never had any intenions on towing a gooseneck when I purchased the truck. When things get better I want to upgrade to a 2500 w/ a 6.0L. On the flat the rig is fine, in fact I can tow with cruise on. On hills it is terrible. To back it up the hill at my house I have to put it in 4 lo because the reverse gear is geared so high.

 

To tow the trailer I had to add of course the hitch (B&W turnover) and Hellwig helper springs. My truck already had trailering and HD suspension package. Without the helper springs the headlights aimed high at night and everyone kept highbeaming me.

 

With your engine, and probably gear ratio as well (you didn't mention) I would say do not attempt it unless you have the money, are going slow, and are staying on the flat. You'll probably be putting your truck over it's gcwr anyway which isn't safe and frowned upon by dot (putting it nicely).

[C & A s Dad]

If you have 4.10 gears, if you add a very large stacked plate trans cooler, if you add some good air bags and/or helper springs, if you have a really good brake controller, if you are very very careful, if you have some good LT tires with the proper air pres. and if you are towing on completely flat roads, you might could possibly squeek by on some very short trips but your truck is going to be overloaded once your camper is loaded and ready to tow.

 

I would strongly suggest you begin looking for a good 2500 series truck.

[Ranger]

Definitely would start asking some buddies for help...That 4.8L is gonna struggle with 8k+ lbs. My 5.3L (stock) barely got decent speed out of pulling a 8,000 lb Bobcat uphill...Not to mention your transmission and rear end are gonna be grenading themselves.

[pwall]

Hi.

 

You didn't mention if your truck was 4x2 or 4x4, also your axle ratio.

Based on the owners manual for the 2001 GMC Sierra, the tow ratings for your truck are:

Axle Ratio Max Trailer

3.73 7,000lbs

4.10 8,000lbs

 

5th wheel hitch weight is approximately 20% of the weight of the trailer, so appoximately 1458lbs in the bed of the truck. Max is 1500 for your truck.

 

And the weight you mentioned is the dry weight....accesaries likes A/C are not included in the manufactors weight label.

 

Personally, I think the trailer is too much for you truck.

 

The above info was found on page 4-62 of the owners manual.

[Outbacker]

i bought a fifthwheel 7290# unloaded and i have a 2001 gmc 4.8l ext cab p/u will i be ok towing? most trips are 50-100 miles.

 

In one word: NO. What is you tow rating? My guess, and this is only a guess is somewhere around 7000 pounds. This trailer unloaded is 7290 pounds, and lets add a few hundred pounds of gear (not including water), you will easily be over 7500 pounds. And remember that your towing decreases with the number of people and gear that you carry in the truck. This is dangerous and in my opinion should not be attempted. And like some stated, you may get towing and do fine till you have to stop. Can you say tail wagging the dog?

[svensk]

Just buy a shitbox early 90's ford f250 or 2500 chevy and abuse that instead.

[uawmem]

thank you everyone i just picked up a 2001 2500hd crew cab 6L 4:10 gear i think it will do the job nicely