highfive
Nashville
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Most of the models we are interested in seem to range between 37-40', have dry weights of 11,400-12,500#, and hitch weights of 1800-2500#.
We would like to stay on the shorter side, but wonder if, realistically, it makes any significant real world difference whether you're pulling 37 or 40'.
Our tow vehicle is a Chevy Silverado 3500HD diesel dually. This is a "one ton" truck, so hitch weights in excess of 2200# cause me concern. Any thought on that aspect.
All advice will be appreciated.
Thanks.
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Cabriolet86
Rochester, MN
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Quote:This is a "one ton" truck, so hitch weights in excess of 2200# cause me concern.
One ton doesn't mean you have one ton of payload capacity available. My 3/4 ton truck has over 2000 pounds of available payload.
Take your truck to the scale, weigh it. Subtract that amount from the GVWR of your truck, and that's your available payload capacity.
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donn0128
Pronounced Ore-gun
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highfive wrote:Most of the models we are interested in seem to range between 37-40', have dry weights of 11,400-12,500#, and hitch weights of 1800-2500#. These are totally meaningless numbers. What you need to be looking at are the trailers GVWR and the 20% of GVWR as pin weight.
We would like to stay on the shorter side, but wonder if, realistically, it makes any significant real world difference whether you're pulling 37 or 40'. Only time it will make any difference is when you are manuvering. Towing straight down the road you would not know the difference.
Our tow vehicle is a Chevy Silverado 3500HD diesel dually. This is a "one ton" truck, so hitch weights in excess of 2200# cause me concern. Any thought on that aspect. IF 2200 pounds of pin concerns you then the real world pin weights of the trailers you are looking at will scare the you know what out of you! A fiver with a 15000 GVWR will be carrying around 3000 to 3500 pounds of pin weight.
All advice will be appreciated. I know many many people are towing 40 footers with duallies, but in reality that is probably the extreme upper limit for a 1 ton dually and a 1-1/2 ton would be much more appropriate for that load. JMHO you understand.
Thanks.
Donn
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luvlabs
Frederick, MD
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Check your door frame or glove box for the sticker that gives you the cargo capacity for your truck. Depending on which version of dually you have (cab length, 4X2 or 4X4, and trim level), you should have a cargo capacity of 3900-4400 lbs. A pin weight of 2200 lbs is nothing for that truck to handle.
Length should be less of a concern than what your pin weight is going to be. However, trailers with dry weights in that range generally have GVWRs of 15-16,000 lbs. Pin weights will be around 3000-3200 lbs if you manage to get the thing fully loaded. This is well within the capacity of your truck.
Where you would be stretching it a lot would be when your dry weights are higher, say 14-18,000 lbs. At that point, a 1.5 ton or MDT would be a far better choice then an overloaded 1 ton.
Carriage Cameo 33CKQ | 08 GMC 3500HD CC LB Duramax Dually | Sam the Cat and the Labs | Best wife going
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DraginRat
On The Road
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Highfive;
This is a great place to get a lot of OPINIONS, but if you need some reliable data and information, you should probably look for an expert out in the real world. As you will see, you will get 50 answers to your question, and not nearly any of them in agreement.
I would look to someone in the business that isn't trying to sell you something.
Ken Gasbarri
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rvtommy
blooming prairie minnesota
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one and a half ton would that be a F-450 ?? Why do we see so few F-450s out there ?? They look like the same body style?? Thinking about getting a F-450 and going to a fifth wheel should be able to pull most fivers we will be buying a large one for sure!! thanks rvtommy
this is rvtommy
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smpowers
Northern part of the peoples republic
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Get me some popcorn......just kidding.
Here is one more opinion from the peanut gallery....most people just take the RV and Auto dealers word on weights which is almost always a bad idea. I used to not worry about weights, but blown tires and other headaches convinced me otherwise.
The only sure way is to check actual weights (Our fiver empty is actually 100 lbs lighter than the panel says). It is amazing how quickly the weight of bedding, food, blocks, "toys", clothes, etc. adds up.
Sandra Michael & Ella
Olive the deer dog
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highfive
Nashville
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Thanks to all for your informative posts.
Stuart
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JIMNLIN
Big Cabin, OK
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highfive
2200 lbs won't be a problem for your 3500 DRW truck as thats only about half of its legal payload. You didn't say what year truck you have but I would assume its a DMAX/A engine/tranny combo ?? That being the case it has approx 8200-8500 RAWR capacity which will leave you right around 4500+ lbs (approx)for a payload. Figure your approx pin weight from that number. 37' to 40 ' 5ers can be to much even for a 3500 DRW trucks. I'm sure you will be able to find one that long with a road ready pin weight of around 3500 lb which will put you close to max weights for your trucks numbers. Just don't go over your trucks RAWR/tire caps. Many 37'-40' 5ers will be in a 4500 or even a 5500 truck weight range.
Jim
'03 2500 Dodge/Cummins HO 3.73 6 speed manual Jacobs
'97 Park Avanue 28' with two slides
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snownyet
Western NY
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Im not going to get into the tow vehicle arguement but I think the weights youre quoting are unrealistically low for 37-40' trailers. Just another opinion but the length of the trailer means nothing to me with regards to towing a trailer, its total weight, frontal area and how its balanced is going to determine how it travels.
2007 Montana Mountaineer 307RKD
2006 Chevrolet 2500 4x4 crew Duramax/allison
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