crazymcs wrote: The 5th wheels we are loking at are the superlights. There all around 8500lbs GVWR. They have the smaller fronts not as high as the nonsuperlights.
8500# GVWR sounds doable. I'd look at any of the 3/4 ton (2500/250 series trucks). GM has the 6 speed auto/6.0L Vortec, Ford has the V10 available, and Dodge has the Hemi. All are relatively close in performance, and all are reliable to the best of my knowledge. Pick the one you like the best.
Have you read the 2007 Heavy Duty Shootout over at Pickuptrucks.com? They do a very good job testing the newest batch of HD trucks.
You will do fine with a 3/4 Ton properly equiped.
A Dodge RAM 2500 Mega Cab with the 5.7 Hemi is a good example.
With the towing package and 4.10 rear end, it has a towing capacity of 10,700# and a payload of 2230#. With a GCWR of 17,000#, you're light weight 5'er will work.
You don't need a 1 Ton or a diesel, though it would pull much easier. I understand you want it for a daily driver. $3.65 a gallon is a lot better than $4.65 a gallon for diesel.
2007 Dodge RAM 2500 Quad Cab w/6.7 Cummins
2008 Palamino Sabre 31RKTS
Reese 15K Pro Series manual slide
Prodigy
Firestone Air Bags
Travel in peace...leave the M-I-L at home.
8,500 and 1,500 seem to be the dry wts, not the GVWR of the trailer.
That would make the pin wt percentage 1500/8500 =17.6 which is lighter but typical of say a Wildcat.
We load about 2,000 over UVW including water, so say this trailer weighs 8,500 plus 2,000 =10,500 loaded for a trip and use 18% for pin wt, that's 1,900 pin wt.
We pull a 5er (no trouble in mountains)weighs about 9,500 (of which 1,900 is pin )with a gas Chev 2500HD 6.0/4.10 with GCWR of 16K. The truck weighs 6,700 except for the trailer. The 1,900 pin makes the truck weigh 8,600, well under the 9,200 GVWR. But the GCW is 9,500 plus 6,700= 16,200 a tad over the 16K rating. The truck doesn't complain about that though.
The new Chevs have 18.5K GCWR if you get the 4.10 so that would be great for a 5er that is 1,000lbs more than ours. Still no problem with pin wt and the extra power with the new 6 speed transmission means being 6,700 plus 10,500= 17,200 or 1,300 under the GCWR. You don't need no steenkin Diesel for that.
a good 3/4 ton should work for you just fine. Just to be on the safe side, figure out your loaded pin weight (which is the dry pin plus 20% of whatever you load into the trailer) to be sure you are still within your cargo rating. That includes who or what goes in the truck too.
Don't forget to allow for the weight of the hitch, which can be 100 to 300# depending on whether you need a slider or not.
Loaded weight of my fiver is 9000# (with a GVWR of 9600@). My pin is right on 20% at 1800#. Even with the diesel engine using 600# of my cargo rating I'm 400# under truck GVWR and 6000# under GCWR when loaded for travel.
The D'Max laughs at it.
Those who say running the diesel is expensive go very quiet when actual fuel consumption gets compared. 6.0L rigs can turn in as low as 8mpg while I get 13mpg HWY with mine. The extra cost of the fuel is more than repaid in increased mileage and the effortless grade climbing capability is priceless!
Yep, the diesel option is more expensive, but pays back at trade-in time. If you plan to lease (if you can find a good lease these days) that may complicate the math!
Keith J, Retired from GM Engineering
2005 GMC Sierra 2500HD SLE 2WD/CC/SB/DA.
1999 Sunnybrook 27RKFS Fiver
Bilsteins, Line-X, Westin steps, Prodigy, Retrax, 16K Superglide, 5th-Airborne pin-box, Multi-vex mirrors.
crazymcs wrote: What is the difference between 4.1 and 3.73. What is the advantages of them both.
4.10's---drive shaft turns 4.1 times for every 1 ring gear turn
3.73's---drive shaft turns 3.73 turns for every 1 ring gear turn
4.10's will give you more pulling power (better mechanical advantage) and the 3.73's will give you better unloaded gas mileage..how much better is questionable but they will.
What is the difference between 4.1 and 3.73. What is the advantages of them both.
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With new Chev 6.0 gassers its 2,500lbs more trailer with the 4.10 than with the 3.73 for GCWR (18.5K vs 16K) The Classic 6.0 2500HD had 4.10 no other choice and got 16K GCWR.
The 3.73 should get better mileage but you would be crazy to get that if you want the new truck for trailer towing. More GCWR is better for going up hills and not losing speed
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