I don't know my truck models well enough to tell if yours is a gas or deisel. I do know that we have a Dodge 3500 HD Hemi gas engine, 5 speed, long bed dually, and we pull our 30' fiver just fine as far as pin weight and total weight goes. Our problem is top speed of 60 mph when towing, and it's working hard in fourth gear. I think my husband would concur - get the biggest TV engine you can afford, a long bed deisel if possible. He wouldn't be without the dually as well. Much more stable.
Kathy B. & Hubby
Dodge 3500 V-8 5.7 Hemi 4wd, 4dr long bed dually
Outback 28' FLRS Fifth Wheel
2 kids
2 Poodles
As stated what your pin weight, both GM 3/4 tons are rated at 9200 lbs but the SRW 1 tons are rated at 9900 lbs (ford,dodge) so do some math before buying!
KC
05 Gulf Stream Sun Voyager 8379 triple side with the Atrium
The GM dealer says that the 25% of the weight that you put over the rear axle is distributed to the front axle...so unless he's lying, the pin weight is less of a concern than the GVWR.
My sierra is 6500# and i have to carry another 550#...so if i get a hitch weight of 2140# I'm literly squeaking in under the 9200# max @ 9190#.
Doesnt it seem like going over the 9200# by a little, and i do mean a little, like no more than 100#, shouldnt that be ok?
I will still be under my GCWR by 400#. That's with my 5th whl fully loaded.
My 5er is around 12-13k when loaded. I tow the Sierra all the time with no problem. Speed gets down to 35-40mph on some of those long 6-8% uphill grades, makes me feel like a real over the road trucker cuz their all down shifted and chugging along with me.
George & Ann
Boone the wonder dog (Wonder if he'll stay home or chase rabbits)
Topaz Lake, NV/San Felipe, Baja Norte
Towing a 06 Jayco Eagle 323RKS
with a 04 Dodge Diesel 4x4
Why don't you look at the Arctic Fox 5ers? Are you happy with your current Arctic Fox? They may be a little heavy if you are looking for something over 30 feet.
"The GM dealer says that the 25% of the weight that you put over the rear axle is distributed to the front axle...so unless he's lying, the pin weight is less of a concern than the GVWR."
When your GM dealer spoke, was his mouth moving? Take your dealer with you and weigh the front and rear axles of the truck. Then add 1000 pounds to the back of the bed, re-weigh your truck and see if the weight is 75% on the rear and 25% on the front?
Ask your dealer who is with you why the front axles don't show 250 pounds more and the rear axles show 750 pounds more? Watch that little bugger sweat!
Don't trust a car/truck or an RV salesman when they are trying to sell you something.
2005 SunnyBrook Titan 31BWKS, MorRyde SE Suspension, King Dome Satellite. Direcway Internet Access.
2005 Dodge 3500 SLT,Cummins,Quad Cab,L/B,SRW,48RE Auto w/Tow/Haul,Line-X,Chrome Step Bars,Prodigy Controller,15.5K PullRite Hitch,Cowboy Creations V-gate.
Quote: The GM dealer says that the 25% of the weight that you put over the rear axle is distributed to the front axle...so unless he's lying, the pin weight is less of a concern than the GVWR.
I suspect he is referring to a travel trailer hitch with weight distribution. For a fifth-wheel, the centerline of the pin is only one to two inches in front of the rear axle. As a result, most (95%+) of the weight goes right to the rear axle. Either way you look at it, 1,000 lbs carried, no matter how it's distributed, is still 1,000 lbs. Of course, the rear axle is rated much higher than the GVWR will allow.
It's amazing how many 3/4 ton trucks you see on the road are overweight with the fifth wheel in tow. It's because the dealer only points out the trailer weight and totally neglects the pin weight.
This GM dealer has sold me about 20 vehicles and i would consider him a friend.
On his lot he has many 1 ton GMC and Chevy's that are not as popular, thus harder to sell.
If he wanted to stir me wrong, it seems likely that he would tell me lies that would persuade me to simply buy the 1 ton.
Yet, he has not done that.
A few things he mentioned, one i already mentioned, that when weight is ove rthe rear axle...25% gets distributed to the front. That obviously effects the gvwr, but can influence how much pin weight you choose to have. (i look forward to weighing with and without 5er hooked up)
The other thing he mentioned that was news...was that GM when publishing there curb weight assumes it is full of fluids and that all seats are filled with an adult while other manufacturers do not.
That will obviously be important when calculating your gvw and gcw.
But i still have a question...say you have a gvwr of 9200#...would anyone be willing to go over that by a hundred pounds or so?
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