Jayco 5th Wheel Option

[pmbarber]

Hello, we currently have a Jayco travel trailer with a dry weight of around 6800. We are looking to upgrade to a 5th wheel soon and were looking at the Eagle HT's. My TV is a 2003 Silverado 2500HD 6.0. The tow capacity is between 10,100-10,600 depending on what website you read the specs on. We were looking at going no higher than 8500lbs dry with the new 5th wheel. Would this be reasonable and would the truck still perform ok? Thanks in advance for your advice and comments.

[Rustysocket]

Read the capacity sticker on your actual truck. Start there first.

[pmbarber]

Thank you

[norty1]

Agree. The sticker capacity will list YOUR trucks capacity. That's the only one that matters.

[RobH]

I owned an Eagle 314 bds TT two years ago and pulled it with a 2007 Chevy 2500 6.0L. It worked the truck too much, so I bought an older Ford F-350 diesel to tow it.
Flash forward, now I own a Ram 2500 5.7L gasser and a fifth wheel Eagle HT 29.5 bhok. It pulls like a dream compared to the TT. In my opinion, I think you'd get along great unless you're constantly climbing mountains.

[DownTheHighway]

get the payload of your truck, then take your VIN # to a dealer and get the real numbers that your specific truck can haul for a fifth wheel. I'm assuming that 10k towing is from the bumper

[vcbice]

I guess I'd start with how well do you like towing what you have? Do you feel the engine struggles with it on hills? If not, then go to the limits of what your truck is rated for. If you feel it struggles, then stick with the weight you currently tow.

FYI, do not pay much attention to dry weights. Most of the time that is without options like AC units, spare tires and is with empty tanks (you might be surprised what the mfgs consider options). To be conservative look at the GVWR for the trailer and compare to the GCWR of your truck.

[TxLoser]

For reference, I have an Eagle HT which has a stickered weight on the lot of 7600ish. The advertised weight on Jayco's web site is 7185. So, coming off the dealer lot it was about 400-450 lbs heavier than advertised on the web. So maybe 80-90lbs of pin weight.

As to the truck, if you have the 4.10 gearing you'd probably be fine with one of these. I had one of the newer 2500hd's with 3.73's and it struggled with winds and hills. Maybe not an apples to apples comparison as your truck would be a 5 speed I think.

All that being said, here's my weight ticket loaded up for a week long trip(FW tank nearly filled too). 100lbs over payload. This is a diesel. My Gasser had an additional 400lbs of payload, so I'd have had 300lbs to spare. Point being, these things seem to gain weight.







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[Archie]

Originally Posted by pmbarber

Hello, we currently have a Jayco travel trailer with a dry weight of around 6800. We are looking to upgrade to a 5th wheel soon and were looking at the Eagle HT's. My TV is a 2003 Silverado 2500HD 6.0. The tow capacity is between 10,100-10,600 depending on what website you read the specs on. We were looking at going no higher than 8500lbs dry with the new 5th wheel. Would this be reasonable and would the truck still perform ok? Thanks in advance for your advice and comments.

We have a 2016 6.0 HD 4:10 rear axle and pull a 2017 HT 27.5 RLTS. Total 5er weight is 9042 lbs loaded. Pulls Blue Ridge Mountains 50 mph at about 3200 rpm. Couldn't be happier !

[repacs0103]

As others have said, Until you check your capacity you won't know for sure, but a 2000-2500# pin weight should be more than acceptable in a gas engine truck with 9200# GVWR. That 6 liter has a 4 speed 4l80E behind it, so it will work a bit, but nothing it can't manage. I have an 05 6 liter 2500HD at work (same engine and trans) that regularly tows up to 14,000 and it handles it fine.

[pmbarber]

Thank you to all those that replied, especially the comparison examples to similar equipped trucks as mine. I think I will be fine upgrading and using my current TV, but as TxLoser pointed out weight seems to add up quick. I am a little concerned about payload however. My current stickers on the door and glove box indicate the following:

GVWR= 9200
GAWR Front Axle= 4410
GAWR Rear Axle= 6084
CWR= 2578 (concerning!)
GT5= 410 Rear Gears

[B5 GTX]

They are sold as half ton towable, towing one with a 3/4 ton truck should be a non issue. We tow our 29.5 with a 3/4 ton gas and it handles it well. Just pulled it nearly 700 miles from Ohio to Hilton Head without an issue, even during a panic stop due to a vehicle fire and lane closure.

[Ruth]

We just took delivery of our 2018 Eagle HT 27.5 RKDS FW. We are towing with an 07 Silverado 2500HD. We previously towed a34ft Puma with a GVWR of 9927 and never had trouble. Our FW is just a bit heavier. My sig has my TV specs. While we have only towed the new FW once, we had no problems at all.

[vcbice]

There are two parts to this. First, can your engine, transmission and rear axle handle the weight you are towing. All of the 3/4T and 1T trucks can easily 'handle' a 12,000lb trailer. 'Easily' towing and braking a load is NOT an indication that you are within the weight limits of your truck. Go and get your rig weighed, it might surprise you.

The second part is the cargo capacity of your truck and the pin weight of your trailer. 3/4T trucks get 'fuzzy' here. Why? Most are 1T trucks with fewer springs. Looking at your axle weight ratings confirms this. Some will say you must remain within your GVWR regardless of axle ratings. Some of us regularly exceed the GVWR but stay within the axle ratings.

My trailer pin weight is just under 2000lb. That is a bit high for my 11,000lb trailer (should be closer to 1700lb, ie, 15% of your trailer weight). The truck has about 500lb of cargo (people, fuel, hitch).

If I were very concerned about it I would move some of the weight inside the trailer to behind the axles to lighten the pin weight a bit.

Based on my towing experience if you are near the sticker cargo capacity of your truck you will be hitting the bump stops on a regular basis. This is not good and overly stresses your suspension and axle. Get some overload springs or air bags if this is the case for you.

[Chrisb-24]

Yes your TV is ok and you need to look at the 28.5 RSTS. My wife and I have one and love it.
What ever you get, you'll love it.
Happy shopping for your new 5er!

[dgodecke]

Well I can tell you what I think of the Duramax, not a good option for a bigger FW.

I have a 12,000lb FW and a 07 Duramax 2500 HD. On the trip I am on right now I have had to stop 5 times to let it cool down and this is after I have put a new high flow cooling system and a custom built shroud with the biggest pair of fans I could buy as well as 2 fans on the trans cooler. It is jut not enough to do the job.

On another note I have seen very few Duramax truck towing on this trip. Every campground is filled with Fords and Dodges.

On my return I will be changing tow rigs before my next long trip.

Originally Posted by pmbarber

Hello, we currently have a Jayco travel trailer with a dry weight of around 6800. We are looking to upgrade to a 5th wheel soon and were looking at the Eagle HT's. My TV is a 2003 Silverado 2500HD 6.0. The tow capacity is between 10,100-10,600 depending on what website you read the specs on. We were looking at going no higher than 8500lbs dry with the new 5th wheel. Would this be reasonable and would the truck still perform ok? Thanks in advance for your advice and comments.

[repacs0103]

Originally Posted by dgodecke

Well I can tell you what I think of the Duramax, not a good option for a bigger FW.

I have a 12,000lb FW and a 07 Duramax 2500 HD. On the trip I am on right now I have had to stop 5 times to let it cool down and this is after I have put a new high flow cooling system and a custom built shroud with the biggest pair of fans I could buy as well as 2 fans on the trans cooler. It is jut not enough to do the job.

On another note I have seen very few Duramax truck towing on this trip. Every campground is filled with Fords and Dodges.

On my return I will be changing tow rigs before my next long trip.

There is something fundamentally wrong with that truck…. A gas engine can pull 12k without overheating. Diesels inherently run much cooler than a gasser so if it's heating up you've got an issue. If you just had new cooling system components installed then I would suspect an air bubble.


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[DownTheHighway]

Originally Posted by dgodecke

Well I can tell you what I think of the Duramax, not a good option for a bigger FW.

I have a 12,000lb FW and a 07 Duramax 2500 HD. On the trip I am on right now I have had to stop 5 times to let it cool down and this is after I have put a new high flow cooling system and a custom built shroud with the biggest pair of fans I could buy as well as 2 fans on the trans cooler. It is jut not enough to do the job.

On another note I have seen very few Duramax truck towing on this trip. Every campground is filled with Fords and Dodges.

On my return I will be changing tow rigs before my next long trip.

You may want to get your truck checked, a 2500 duramax should be able to pull #12k w/o issues. My brother in law is towing a 38' Fiver with a 2012 2500 CC Duramax without issues, I don't think the towing capacity changed that much from 07 to '12

[dgodecke]

I have had issues with cooling since 100k

[TxLoser]

Definitely an issue with that particular truck. Any of the three diesel options from that model year would be able pull that kind of weight without breaking a sweat.

That's a bummer your having issues. I'm sure it takes away from the trip.

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