I have a friend who is thinking of trading a travel trailer for a 26' mid profile fiver. The trailer is around 6400 lbs. dry weight. He currently has a '07 gmc 1500 with the 5.3, 3.73 rear, auto, and heavy duty towing package. According to the specs, he would be within range. However, I feel it is probably too much trailer for the truck. Does anybody have a similar rig? I am trying to talk him into trading trucks also but he is not sure his wife will go along with that one. Any real life experience? Thanks.
kb
Forget the dry weight. He will probably be closer to 7400# when he rolls out. Also what ever the truck list for tow rating, that is a maximum based on a base model truck with only a 150# driver on board. Add passengers, cargo, options and a hitch and the weight will be lowered.
He can probably pull it, on the flat ground, but forget the hills and no mountains.
Also, his pin weight will be around 1500# and a 1/2 will run our of carnying capacity or payload fro the pin weight long before he reaches his towing limit.
Practically a 1/2 ton truck can tow about a 22 to maybe 24' 5er. He needs a 3/4 ton truck fro that much 5er.
Ken
Amateur Radio Operator.
Vintage 1989 Avion Silver, 34V, toted by a 2002 F350, crewcab dually, 7.3L,4.10 axle,SCMT. Travel with one miniature Schnauzers, one standard schnauzer and one African Gray parrot. Practicing for retirement!
our trailer is similiar size and weight and we found it was too much for our 1/2 ton. It could pull it, but I only felt comfortable going on shorter trips. Fuel mileage was horrible too. We upgraded the TV and have never had any regrets.
2005 Kustom Koach Legacy LW275
2005 Dodge Ram 3500 CTD SRW
DW, Sadie and Lucie (our dog and cat)
One of my close friends had a 1500 chev with a short 5er like you describe. He assured me he would be ok with it. He ended up hating it. He said his MPG stunk. Recently he went the other way, he now has major overkill, he got a 3500 Dmax someone installed air bags and towing mirrors on. Way more truck than he will ever need with that trailer.
Keep the dry pin under 1000 pounds. Mine is about 1200 pin (880dry) and 7500 loaded (7880gvwr) and I am very pleased. And I am almost always in the mountains. Some are very happy with a 1/2 ton at the max and others need a big honking truck to pull 8000 pounds comfortably. I can't know what group your friend is in. I do find most that post of unhappy towing have 3.42/3.55 gears rather than 3.73/4.10/4.56 gears of those that are satisfied.
We had a Durchmen 26RK and tried pulling it with a 1/2 ford and it didnt do to well.Yes i could pull it but not fast enough to be safe in the hiways and that was flat ground.
I have a 27' Puma fifth wheel that I tow with my Hemi 1500, Quad Cab with 3:92 rear, & full trailer towing pkg. My trailer also is 6400 lbs dry and I try to leave all the truly non essential stuff at home, empty water & balck/gray tanks, to keep the weight down. Power wise, the Hemi will pull all day long, no problem. The truck is rated for a GCVWR of 14,000 lbs. I have towed with this combination for the past two years without a problem, tows and handles comfortably. Two weeks ago I pulled in for gas on I81 where there were weight scales. For $8 I got the rig weighed.
This was with a full tank of fuel, trailer full of food and beverages, two kids and the DW,
I am under by 580 lbs for the GCVWR, but over on my rear axle weight rating. This doesn't leave me too much room to buy souveniers!
Remember, the Hemi is the same motor in the 1500 as the 2500, just a few more choices in rear end gear ratios and obviously higher weight ratings for the 2500.
Even though my 1500 does the job, and a Hemi that gives you the confidence you can pull anything, my next truck will be at least a 2500, probably a diesel. The 1/2 ton's are all too close to their max axle ratings that two cases of beer put you over your max.
There are smaller 23-25' fivers that would probably be ok with weight.
Bottom line, if you have the chance, take everything to the weight scales to know for sure
I was trying to sell him on the advantages of the duramax/allison combo. I know I love mine. If he realizes in the beginning that he might have to trade trucks, that is ok. I just don't want him to buy the fiver and not be prepared to trade trucks if he is not comfortable with the 1500. This guy likes to dry camp a lot in the mountains and I am just afraid he will not be comfortable with the extra weight that he will need to carry with him. I told him that if he buys it, I will go pick it up for him and take it to a campground for him. If his wife stays in it a few days, she might have to have it at whatever cost!
You should tell your friend to use the GVWR of the 5vr, not the dry weight. He definitely will be close to GVWR than dry weight when loaded with propane, water, clothing, food, BEER, etc.
My 02 5.3, 3.73 e/c pulled 26-ft, 5000-lb loaded, 5vr for 3 yrs. Did ok on flats and hill, but in CO on I-70, down to 1st gear, 30-35 mph, NOT OK, semi's were passing us.
Now have 05 8.1 4.10, e/c pulling 9200 loaded. Gas mileage down about .2 mpg. Towing is very satisfying, acceleration much better than with 02 towing 5000. Day and night difference.
I agree with most, smaller trailer or larger truck.
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