Selecting the right tow vehicle

[casalzer]

I am looking to purchase the 36FBT unit later this year.

5th Wheel tow is approx. 15,900 lbs.

I am looking at the 2015 GMC 3500 which has a 5th wheel tow rating of 16,900.

Is this going to work. I have never owned an RV and just want to select the correct vehicle. Would really appreciate your feedback. Would like to avoid the DRW model if possible.

Chris

[cariboocreek]

Some other as important questions. What is the payload of the truck and what is the gross combined weight rating, and what is the gross vehicle weight rating. I have a 2013 Ram 3500 SRW diesel, and those numbers you quoted would be right on the line for me. My payload is 4,000 with a gcwr of 25,000 and a gvwr of 11,700.

At your trailers max weight of 16,000 you should have 3200 lbs pin weight, plus the hitch, plus gas, plus passengers,plus any other stuff in the truck, plus the weight of your truck. That weight should not exceed your gvwr. Assume your truck weighs 8000, you and mother weigh 300 (combined ), the dog weighs 40, the hitch weighs 200, and the pin is 3200, then you would need a truck with a gvwr of at least 11740 plus the weight of your fuel. So let's call it a gvwr of 12,000. If your trailer is maxed at 16000 minus the 3200 is a total axle weight of 12,800 plus the 12,000 for your truck, then you will need a truck with a gcwr of at least 24,000.

Clear as mud....

I'm not familiar with the new GM's but after all that crap above, I bet your ok.

[huronwoods]

With the larger fifthwheels, the thing to watch is the rear axle weight rating of the truck. According to GM, the rear GAWR of the 3500HD is 7050 lbs. This is usually because of the rear tires...you can only carry so much weight with two wheels and tires. When the truck is loaded with people, fuel, equipment and a fifthwheel hitch, there could easily be 4000 lbs or more on the rear axle. Last time we weighed our dually GMC, the rear axle had 4200 lbs on it.

With 4000 lbs on the rear, you only have 3050 lbs available for pin weight, before the truck is overloaded at the rear. Our Pinnacle weighed 3560 lbs on the pin last time we weighed. If our truck was a 2015 SRW, we would be overloaded by 510 lbs.

Definitely consider a Dually. The 2015 GM 3500HD dually has 2800 lbs more rear axle capacity, plus the stability advantages of a wider rear track and four tires on the road supporting the heavy pin weight.

[cariboocreek]

....oh yea I forgot about axle weights....

[casalzer]

Thank you all for your feedback.

Looks like I will be going with the Dually

Chris