Want to upgrade to a 5th Wheel. The unloaded weight is 12,800. What type of truck will I need to comfortable pull this? Thanks!! Currently have 08-Silverado 2500HD, Crew Cab, Gas, 3.73 axle. The owners manual of the truck says this is not good enough. Does anyone have any suggestions?
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a 3500 DRW truck with the diesel or the Ford V-10 will handle pin weight and GVWR just fine. MDT or HDT is overkill but for sure they will do the job also.
Jim
'03 2500 Dodge/Cummins HO 3.73 6 speed manual Jacobs
'97 Park Avanue 28' with two slides
A one-ton fully configured for towing will be acceptable. If you can't afford one of those, then a converted HDT, although a little big for that trailer, will work out just fine especially if you plan on 150,000 miles of towing in the next 10 years.
First thing to do is to forget "dry or unloaded weight" Do you ever plan to tow the trailer with nothing in it?
That trailer probably has a GVWR of over 15,000# so your loaded pin weight will be about 3000#. This is firmly into 1 ton dually range and is too much for a 3/4 ton truck.
Hope you have fun shopping for a new truck....
ken
KE5DFR
Vintage 1979 Silver Streak Supreme Rocket toted by a 2002 F350, crewcab dually, 7.3L,4.10 axle,SCMT. Travel with two miniature Schnauzers and one African Gray parrot. Practicing for retirement!
I went from a 3/4T to a dually when I went from a 8400 gw 5er to this 9600 gw 5er so I don't think a truck bigger than a 1T would be overkill when you're that close to a 1T's limits but I like a lot of margin. I'd sure consider >1T if I were going to use it a lot. Craig
2003 Dodge HO CTD, NV5600, 4.10. Real 1Ton - pregnant with twin spare tires, 4WD - all on the rear. Aurora 2000 turbo, Diablo Predator, 4" muffler. 98 Sunnybrook 30RLFS 5th wh. WHOEVER INVENTED WORK DIDN'T HAVE AN RV!
Let's see...
The BEST truck for towing a big 5er...
A Dodge Ram CTD 3500 dually, long box, standard cab, manual transmission...
Oh, wait, that is my truck.
Best for you is the one YOU like, set up the way YOU like it.
While I agree, bigger is better, I have seen a LOT of 5ers in the size you are describing being towed by 3/4 ton trucks. My son towed the 5er in my sig. with a 3/4 ton Dodge CTD, no problems.
4X4 or 4X2, again, is YOUR choice. I chose 4X2, and have never regretted it.
Good luck, and have fun shopping.
CM1, USN (RET)
'94 Dodge 3500 4X2 CTD, Std. cab, LB, 5 speed, 4.10 LS diff., Jacobs Rambrake, 273,000 Miles
'99 Monaco McKenzie 32' triple slide
'95 Tioga 29H Ford-based Class C
Daily driver: '06 Jeep Liberty CRD
Towed: '06 Jeep Rubicon Unlimited
You will loose a ton of money on your 2008 2500HD w/ 6.0 3.73's and might be better off getting a smaller travel trailer. But to tow a large 5th wheel with 12,800 lb unloaded weight a DRW 3500 with Duramax/Allison would be the minimum from GM.
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Currently have 08-Silverado 2500HD, Crew Cab, Gas, 3.73 axle. The owners manual of the truck says this is not good enough. Does anyone have any suggestions?
