Do I Have Enough Truck?

[Shep1956]

Hi everyone... new here to the forum. I'm looking to upgrade to a larger 5th wheel. I have a 2008 Chev 2500HD diesel with an Allison 6 spd transmission. It's has the standard 6.5 ft box.

The Chev literature says it has a 13,900 lb towing capacity and a 3,250 lb carrying capacity.

We're looking at the Designer 37RLQS. We'd be hauling it from Northwestern Ontario (just north of Minnesota) to some place warm in the winter so we're looking at some long hauls.

I'm hoping that those of you that have been pulling units this size might be able to tell me if my truck is capable of pulling a trailer the size of the 37RLQS.

I'd appreciate any and all advice.

[healthi]

Hi Shep1956! Welcome to the Jayco Forum!

Years ago we had a Ford 250 Diesel and pulled an Aljo Fifth Wheel. I can't remember what the rating was for towing or how much the Aljo weighed. But I do know that we fell within the GCWR for both truck and trailer. It sounds like you have a long enough box. How much does the 37RLQS weigh?

[Shep1956]

Hi Healthi,,, thanks for getting back to me on this. The 37RLQS weighs in at about 12,000 lbs dry with a tongue weight of 2,165 lbs. I'll usually travel as light as I can... I don't expect to be carrying much more than 1,000 lbs.

[glazier]

You know how loaded those questions can be on other forums (weight police). I think that Designer is getting real close to a 3500 truck. You have the engine, and the trailer has its own brakes, its just the single rear tires that will be put to the limits. Best of luck to you.

[One Country Boy]

Hi Shep and welcome to the forum.

I was looking at the specs on the Designer 37RLQS. I've never owned a Chevrolet. Judging from the info you provided, I would think you would be about maxed out, if not slightly over. If you travel mostly on fairly level terrain you will probably be fine. The RV is about a foot longer than our Eagle and probably weighs a little more. I pull our Eagle with a Ford F250 diesel, crew cab. I'm within specs but I would not want to go any heavier. We do haul a lot of gear though.

Good luck with it. Get it out on the road and try it. Again, very glad to have you aboard.

Jim

[healthi]

You say that your Chev literature says it has a 13,900 lb towing capacity and a 3,250 lb carrying capacity. You say that your 37RLQS weighs in at about 12,000 lbs DRY.....

Hmmmmm reading other forums on this topic, I have learned that by the time you add passengers, full tank of fuel, and "stuff"... then you add water. full propane, maybe full tanks, and "stuff" to your trailer.... if it were me I wouldn't put the safety of others on the road (or you) at risk by hauling what you intend to with the above combination.

I agree with Glazier, if you haven't bought the unit yet, go lighter. If you have the unit, upgrade to a heavier duty truck.

[Shep1956]

I appreciate everyone's thoughts here. Just to clarify... I haven't bought the 5th wheel yet, I'm gathering the information I need to safely tow the unit. As I said in an earlier post I'd likely be adding no more than 1,000 lbs when trailering.. I never trailer with anything in the tanks other than perhaps 10 or 15 gallons of fresh water.

But for the sake of the discussion, is the issue the carrying capacity of the truck or the fact that my truck has single rather than dual wheels? My understanding is that 5th wheel trailers are inherently stable on the truck. Is stability still the issue here? If it's carry capacity would that issue be addressed by beefing up my suspension? I understand I have several options to do that.

[Sheetmusic]

We are doing the same exercise you are. We have a JaycoG2 27BH and are planning to move to a fiver. We have been looking at a Designer 35RLTS.

I came across a site that has been helpful, www.5thwheelforums.com. Tons of information there. One of the people passed along a calculator, http://changingears.com/rv-sec-calc-trailer-weight-fw.shtml. You will need to gather up several weights that are not listed in the brochures. Most are available on the web. I found that I may have to change trucks or reduce trailer size. Like you have not purchased either.

Check out the fiver forum.

[kcconawa]

I have F250 4x4 diesel and have towed 31 foot designer fiver over 18,000 miles in 2008 & 2009. Has been a very stable confortable tow. I pulled onto some state scales in WY last summer and my gross weight was a little over 11,000 lbs. which gives me some "cushion" for that emergency stop!

When you look at the Good Sam tow ratings, I think with the 37 footer you are pushing the weight limit with a F250/2500HD truck. You talk about traveling light but who wants to stay at a full service campground every night? We Wal-Mart camp frequently when traveling which saves our cash for tourist things. For that you need fresh water @ 7.5 lbs/gallon.

Another factor is GVWR weight includes your diesel fuel, the weight of yourself, your honey, your clothes, groceries, etc. etc. It doesn't take long to go well over 1,000 lbs. Personally, if I was buying a 37 footer, I would go up in truck capacity.

[yogi154]

I have a Ford F 350 PSD Dually 2008 and a 37 ft Designer 2010 I just weighted at the Cat scale

Steer axle...........Drive axle..............Trailer axles

5340 lb 4140 lb no trailer with full load of fuel 80 gal

5240 lb 7020 lb 10480 lb

Designer Loaded weight 15,800 Gross

Hope this helps Wayne

[glazier]

I have a Ford F 350 PSD Dually 2008 and a 37 ft Designer 2010 I just weighted at the Cat scale

Steer axle...........Drive axle..............Trailer axles

5340 lb 4140 lb no trailer with full load of fuel 80 gal

5240 lb 7020 lb 10480 lb

Designer Loaded weight 15,800 Gross

Hope this helps Wayne

Is your steering axel 1000lb lighter with your fiver hooked up ?

[yogi154]

No its a 100 lbs lighter and the rear is 2900 lbs heaver per the Cat Scale loaded weight with the trailer hooked up. Total trailer weight 13,260 lbs.

The goofy part is the old Cardinal was 10,600 lbs loaded weight and the Jayco tows better. I just wish the truck would get some better MPG's

[glazier]

I am sorry typo, one hundred is what I was getting at. I would have thought the front would be slightly more than your un-loaded weight. You are still in good shape with those weights and your truck.

[Bobalink]

Hi, I pull 09 35 RLTS 11,900lbs dry from Illinois to Rio Grande Valley for the past 2 years, plenty of power no safety issues as far as i am concerned.

Good Luck

[gowesley]

I was worried about the same thing last spring, we purchased a 2011 37 rlqs eagle and have a 2004 ext cab 2500hd duramax which is rated at a max 5th wheel rating of 15,800 and the trailer has a max load of 15500, loaded I figure were 1000 lb under max. We dont go far but we did pull it over 400 miles on the freeway at 65 mph and had no problems, didnt feel any different than my previous 5th wheels. I dont feel I needed them but I did add a set of Timbrens which took about 15 minutes.

[clutch]

You are close to the limits of your truck but still within specs. I don't know of anybody that would travel that far with full tanks so you should be good.

[grncrdbrit]

Thanks Sheetmusic for sharing that 5er forum, got some useful info there :)

[renoman69]

You are going to be well over the pin weight allowed for that truck. Well over. I have a 25.5 RKS Superlite and the same truck and run very close to maximum.

[poohbear]

Hi everyone... new here to the forum. I'm looking to upgrade to a larger 5th wheel. I have a 2008 Chev 2500HD diesel with an Allison 6 spd transmission. It's has the standard 6.5 ft box.

The Chev literature says it has a 13,900 lb towing capacity and a 3,250 lb carrying capacity.




Sure your not looking at the tag-along towing capacity?Thats my bumper pull rating on my 03 2500HD GMC,15K is my 5thwheel/gooseneck gross.Mine is a crew cab longbed which does add a small gross increase.

[jk5ivers]

nobody has yet to mention your brakes on the truck. when you are that close to max weight you have to think of how you are going to stop. any truck will haul the trailer but few can stop it!!!!