I'm in shock right now. Last year when i bought my 1 ton, I knew nothing really about weights, and towing. I just figured its a one ton, it'll pull anything. Fast forward to about a month ago. We sell the bumper pull and buy a 25ft fiver. "I have a one ton. I can pull a 40ft if i want."
This week, I've done some reading here, and did a little math. According to NADA, my trailer is 4600# dry. My truck is a big boy. Extended cab, long bed, 4x4. So, my cargo load is only 1800#. At 25%, my pin weight is 1200#. Figure 400# for me and my wife, 200# for the hitch, and 200# for my truck box, and guess what has two thumbs and is right at their cargo load before adding any gear to the trailer? THIS GUY!!
Add 50 gallons of water, and that add another 100# to my pin, and then add another 50-100# to the pin for my gear. That doesn't even include a full 33 galons of gas in the TV.
I have no choice butnto say damn the torpedos and run it this season, but I guess I'll be looking for a 2500HD or a small 3500 next season. Bummer is, I gotta have 4x4, and that takes a good bit of weight away from my cargo load. So, what truck would work for me? (Gotta be a bowtie, or a Ram)
Weazletoe wrote: I'm in shock right now. Last year when i bought my 1 ton,...... Extended cab, long bed, 4x4.......So, my cargo load is only 1800#...........its a one ton, it'll pull anything...........sell the bumper pull and buy a 25ft fiver. "I have a one ton. I can pull a 40ft if i want."
.....my trailer is 4600# dry. . At 25%, my pin weight is 1200#.
400# for me and my wife,
200# for the hitch
200# for my truck box,
right at their cargo load before adding any gear to the trailer
......I guess I'll be looking for a 2500HD or a small 3500 next season.
So you bought a 1 ton truck? What make, model, and year is the truck? Is it a gas or diesel? A 2500HD will have lower rear axle rating and GVWR than a 1 ton. Also, a 3500 is a 1 ton.
I think you're looking at the wrong numbers. On the driver door or door pillar should be a sticker. What does it say next to the GVWR? If your truck is a single rear wheel it should be in the area of 9600#.
I can't think of any 1 ton trucks that only have 1800# of cargo capacity. Please answer the questions regarding what truck you have and we can help you a lot more.
Check your door sticker ratings for ratings. I think you have the wrong numbers for a 1 ton somehow. Every 1 ton truck made, even really old ones, can easily handle the trailer you describe. I'm really curious why you think a 2500HD (a 3/4 ton) truck will be a larger replacement for your 1 ton.
Its a 1990 Silverado. 454 (gas), three speed trans with granny gear. Think I mentioned already its extended cab, long bed, 4x4. IIRC, it has a 3:73 rear, but won't swear to that right now. I do not recall the GVWR, but I do know the sticker in the glove box says the cargo load is 1780. I'll double check tomorrow.
Yes, I do realize a 3500 is a one ton. I was thinking a 2500HD may, may, have a higher cargo load than my current 3500 assuming the 3/4 were a regular cab, short bed. Less weight, more cargo was my thought. But, I honestly don't know. You guys are the experts. That's why I'm here. :-)
I think you are thinking too much. From what I have seen out there, you are closer to your "offical" regs than most. FYI, tow as far as you can before you pass your last chance to fill up with freshwater. Take it slow and enjoy!
A 1990 GM 3500SRW 4wd should have 9200 GVWR and 6084 RGAWR, if I remember right. With the 4wd, 454, SM465, ext'd cab and long bed, the empty truck likely weighs about 6500 lbs.
9200-6500 = 2700 lbs payload capacity
The rear axle likely weighs a little under 3000 lbs empty. With a 6084 rear axle weight rating, that means a little over 3000 lbs of available rear axle load capacity.
I think you'll be just fine hauling your small fifth wheel's pin weight, your family and other minor gear in the truck.
By the way, GM doesn't make the 2500HD with a regular cab and short bed. None of the brands make a 3/4-ton or 1-ton with regular cab and short bed.
That's exactly what my plan was. With the exception of one trip to Salt Lake City where we do not need to take water, we boondock at the same site. There is a dump station right a at the base of the mountain we camp at where we always fill up. I figure why carry the extra weight, and why pay for 50 gallons of water at home, when i can fill up where my tax dollars have paid for it already?
If my calculations do turn out to be correct, I'm not that far off. Based on what I've read here, and seen on the road, I'm a LOT closer than a lot of people. Not that it means much, but my truck doesn't even squat when hitched. I've pulled it a bit, and I can't even feel it behind me. Accelerating, or stopping. I'm not gonna sweat it to bad.
SoCal, you really know your Chevy's! I can only aspire to have that knowledge at hand some day. The numbers you quote sure make a lot more sense to me, especially that 3k cargo weight. That sounds a lot more like it. Thanks for your help. Not that I don't trust you, but I'm going to check my stickers again tomorrow, and repost. Thanks so much!
Weazletoe wrote: SoCal, you really know your Chevy's! I can only aspire to have that knowledge at hand some day. The numbers you quote sure make a lot more sense to me, especially that 3k cargo weight. That sounds a lot more like it. Thanks for your help. Not that I don't trust you, but I'm going to check my stickers again tomorrow, and repost. Thanks so much!
You're welcome.
You can double check my scale weight approximations by taking your empty pickup to a truck scale and having it weighed. Weigh each axle separately so you know what your rear axle weight is by itself.
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