Campincarters wrote: HI Folks, I am looking to tow a 2008 Montana Fifth Wheel. The 3605 has a dry weight of 11,600 and GVWR of 15,600. I am wondering if I have enough truck and does anyone know if I should add air bags to the back. Thanks for any advice.
Campincarters
If you try to pull that big of a trailer with a 3/4 ton TV the next question you'll be asking on here is "which is better - air bags, timbrens or adding more helper springs and why does my truck bounce so much"?
And if your rear axle ratio is not enough you'll be complaining about not enough power and poor fuel mileage.
You better pay attention to BFL13 when he tries to tell you don't do it.
With that truck he will never be complaining about power as the 3500 DRW has the same engine and the same gear ratio. He will get as good if not better fuel mileage with that truck as any on the market.
What is wrong with adding a spring? Adding a spring and changing wheels/tires is all GM does to make a 2500 into a 3500 SRW.
Can the 5er be loaded to 15.5K? Yes. Will it? I doubt it very seriously. I have everything I can think of packed into mine and it still on comes up to less than 2K above dry weight.
With a few improvements the truck will handle the weight and it will pull it just fine. The only issue you will have is a leaning sensation when taking good curves at highway speeds (curves on the interstate at 65mph). Would dual wheels or 19.5 wheels with higher rated tire capacity and stiffer sidewalls handle these situations better? Absolutely.
Is the truck in question unsafe in this combo? We only need to look at statistics to answer that question. 80% of RVers exceed one or more of the manufactures stated limits. Yet RVers are among the lest likely groups to be involved in an accident. If exceeding these limits were so dangerous and posed such a threat to life and property, our insurance companies would demand that we submit a weight ticket prior to ever issuing a policy.
Still waiting to see the road littered with bodies from towing over GVWR.
2006 2500HD CC SB 4X4 Duramax/Allison
Prodigy/16K Reese/265E Tires/Bilstein Shocks
RM Active Suspension/RDS 60gal Toolbox combo
Campincarters wrote: It is a 2500HD. The Pin Weight is 2000 Lbs. I have seen others towing similiar fifth wheels just wanted to make sure.
Thanks again
campincarters
Most of the others are doing it wrong using small overloaded pickups. Kinda hard to understand.
chevman 3500 2wd duramax dually
chevman
2001 35 ft avalon alpenlite RK
2005 3500 2wd duramax CC dually
prodigy
easyrider/reese airhitch
trailair center point suspension
JT Strong Arm Stabilizers
KSH 55 inbed fuel tank
Garmin 2720
scanguage II
TD-EOC
Induction Overhaul Kit
My Fuzion has a similar empty weight as the trailer under consideration. Fully loaded with fuel, water, and 1100 lbs of quads, it still doesn't break 14k on the scales. I have a hard time seeing someone loading one of these with 4k worth of stuff. But hey, I travel light.
I have a GMC 1 ton SRW 4wd CC. I tow over GVWR and right at GCWR. But I'm way under my axle ratings. I think if you can keep this trailer under 13 or 14k, and keep the pin weight less than 2400lb you will be ok. The GVWR on the GM's is artificially low in my opinion. I think GM is trying to avoid certain licensing penalties for commercial users (and some private citizens). I wish they would do what Ford does, and put the actual GVWR on the truck but offer a 10k GVWR sticker for commercial users looking to avoid higher licensing fees and CDL requirements.
Having towed a similar sized trailer with a 2500HD, my advice is to not do it. I thought everything was good as well until we almost "bought the farm" with the combo on the PA turnpike last summer. I now own the correct sized truck for my fiver.
I would suggest smaller trailer or larger truck. In either case, the decision has to be yours to make.
Carriage Cameo 33CKQ | 08 GMC 3500HD CC LB Duramax Dually | Sam the Cat and the Labs | Best wife going
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