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Old 10-20-2014, 06:04 PM   #1
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Can I Tow It

I have a 2015 Chevy Silverado 2500HD (dry 6525) with a fifth wheel towing capacity of 14000 and a GCWR #20500.

The camper's dry weight is 12120 with a dry hitch weight under 1900. I still should have almost 1800 of room to load junk (dry).

My understanding is my limit is for both truck and rv is GCWR# 20500. My truck weighs 6525 and rv 12120 (both dry). I have to be below the hitch weight and towing weight. Everything in the truck and rv on top of the dry weight has to be below my GCWR. They say you put about 600 pounds worth of stuff in the camper. My wife and kids (5 and 7) don't weight 500 altogether. I should have just under 1200 pounds left.

If my thinking is off can you explain.
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Old 10-20-2014, 06:43 PM   #2
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Payload is almost always the limiting factor, the limits you mention are important but typically you will run out of payload before you exceed the GCVWR.

You mention your truck weighs 6525, is that with full fuel and all passengers? If not, fuel up and load up then hit the scale. If it does then simply subtract the scale weight from your trucks GVWR, this provides the "actual cargo carrying capacity". This number is what you have available for the FW pin weight and hitch plus anything else you an to carry.

Lastly, RV dry weights mean nothing. At a minimum you need to consider actual ship weights plus estimated cargo. I know we have loaded way more than 600lb in gear in my TT. It adds up really fast. Heck, I bet the mattress topper plus batteries alone are 200lbs -- that doesn't even start to count kitchen items, grills, tools, EZ ups, camp chairs, bikes, etc.
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Old 10-20-2014, 06:53 PM   #3
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Payload is almost always the limiting factor, the limits you mention are important but typically you will run out of payload before you exceed the GCVWR.
Agreed. Look at the door pillar sticker for the payload capacity of your truck. My F-250 has a payload of 2400lbs. A pin weight of 1900 would only leave me with 500lbs for everything else.
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Old 10-21-2014, 06:58 AM   #4
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I'll 3rd these suggestions. The CAT Scale is your friend. Pile the tribe and some gear in the TV, fill the fuel tank and weigh her. The difference between the Rear GAWR (from the Yellow sticker) and the drive axle weight (from the scale) will tell you how much weight you can add to the rear axle. That will be the hitch and the pin.
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Old 10-21-2014, 07:15 AM   #5
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You will have to consider payload, and GCVW. Payload is weight in/on the truck itself, GCVW is the total weight for both vehicles (loaded). If you don't exceed either you are good to go.

Have you bought this trailer or are you ordering it? The reason I ask is because we recently ordered one and the booklet dry weight and the actual dry weight when we received the trailer was about a 10% difference. Just something to keep in mind if you haven't physically seen this trailer and sticker.
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Old 10-21-2014, 05:28 PM   #6
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I have not bought it. Just looking right now and trying to figure out how heavy I can go.
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Old 10-21-2014, 05:40 PM   #7
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Once you know the available cargo capacity of your 2500, the loaded pin weight will tell you how large you can go. My understanding is FW pin weights are typically ~20-25% of the loaded weight. If my Duramax is similar to you truck, then you are working with about 2400lbs or cargo capacity. For me that is ~400lbs for me and the family plus stuff, leaving 2000 for hitch and pin weight. That would allow approx 9000-10000 loaded FW.
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Old 11-02-2014, 07:03 PM   #8
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Flipside,
I have the same truck, 2105 chevy 2500HD crew cab 6.0 L gas with 4:10 rear Z71 and trailering package. I'm new to 5th wheel pulling and have the same question. Can I pull the trailer I want to buy? The trailer salesman, of course says, "sure, you won't even know it's back there!"

I get so many different opinions and also have found so many "fill in the blank towing calculators" but they are all over the place. I did find this one though that I hope is accurate because it says I can safely pull the trailer I'd like to get (Jayco 345 BHTS). I like this calculator because it uses all of the parameters, not just 3 or 4. Please anyone let me know your thoughts on this calculator.

I can’t attach a link to this message so just Google:
Fifth Wheel Hitch Calculator - Purdue University

It’s an excel spreadsheet. Let me know what you come up with on your trailer.

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Old 11-03-2014, 07:23 PM   #9
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My dealer saying I can tow upto 13,000 with airbags and springs attachments added.

I had three different dealers say this. But yes they are trying to sell the fifth wheel.
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Old 11-03-2014, 09:43 PM   #10
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Error on the side of caution

Today the dealer and I also crunched the numbers some more and he believes it's right inside the limits. I think I'm going to end up getting a Jayco HT. The one 5th wheel model with the 4 bunks over the nose and the queen in the back would fit my 3 boys and big dog just fine, while leaving my wife and I with a better feeling about safe towing capacity. In a few years when I get the bug for new toys I'll get a bigger truck and maybe a fancier trailer. That will be right around the time the boy's braces will be paid off but then again they'll likely want to go to college. I better get while the gettin's good. I'm curious to see what you decide. Keep this thread posted please.

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Old 11-04-2014, 09:04 AM   #11
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just get what you want now if you have the means, dont waste your money settling on something, i wish i did and didnt waste extra money settling on a TT when i knew i wanted a 5th, since getting it i have been much happier
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Old 11-04-2014, 10:22 AM   #12
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I know what you mean but I'm not settling for something I don't really want. I'm also being realistic with what I need vs. what I want.
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Old 11-04-2014, 10:37 AM   #13
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I know what you mean but I'm not settling for something I don't really want. I'm also being realistic with what I need vs. what I want.
I've found that "settling" on what I need has worked well for me. You are also being realistic about what you can comfortably tow with the truck that you have. From my experience, when you start to get close to the published GCWR towing gets much less enjoyable. Believe me, regardless of what the salesman says, you will know it is back there if you're up against the GCWR.
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Old 11-05-2014, 01:17 PM   #14
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The trailer salesman, of course says, "sure, you won't even know it's back there!"
The only way "you won't even know it's back there" is, if in fact, it really isn't "back there"
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Old 11-05-2014, 07:13 PM   #15
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Hook it up and tow it. From my experience if you are 80% of your capacity you are already out your comfort zone. If the wind is in the back everything will go smooth.
But max weight and a heavy head wind (which is more of a downside than weight) you are way out your comfort zone. 60% of the max is more my comfort zone and then I have to take that headwind in strife. A salesman.......hmmmm
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Old 11-06-2014, 05:12 PM   #16
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the only way "you won't even know it's back there" is, if in fact, it really isn't "back there"
truth!
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Old 11-07-2014, 07:30 AM   #17
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It is up to your "comfort zone". I've towed boats, trailers, and now a small RV, all with my Ford Ranger. This truck has over 215 thousand trouble free miles on it, and has never let me down. I don't break records in the speed catagory, nor would I ever want or expect to when towing. I stich to the right lanes when towing, and always use enough space between me and the front vehicle. Still, you get the clowns that like to cut up in front of you close, so make sure your braking is top notch, and you have a quality brake controller.
Respect the weight you are pulling, and compensate space and speed for it.
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Old 11-07-2014, 09:21 AM   #18
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My dealer saying I can tow upto 13,000 with airbags and springs attachments added.

I had three different dealers say this. But yes they are trying to sell the fifth wheel.
I pull close to 13K# with our F350 and it's a great match-up. The towing max doesn't tell the whole story. In my experience you will max out the rear axle long before you reach the max tow weight. This is a bit of an apple/orange comparison but... Our first TT weighed in at 4400#, the max tow weight was around 8K# for the TV (an '03 Expedition 5.4 gasser) but I was 200# shy of the rear axle max with just the bride, wiener dog and myself in the TV.

I said earlier "the CAT Scale is your friend". Load up, hit the scale and you will KNOW how much weight you can add to the rear of your truck.

Bags and helper springs will help level the truck but you could still overload the rear axle.
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Old 11-16-2014, 02:09 PM   #19
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bags and springs will not increase the payload, so dont let a salesman talk you into that. I am guessing you will be well over your payload with that rig. In fact, I would venture a guess a lot of the 3/4 ton trucks you see pulling good sized fifth wheels are well over their payload capacity (which is why I went straight to a 3500 SRW and payload capacity per door sticker of 4075lbs). Definitely hit the CAT scale with fuel and family aboard and compare that weight to the payload door sticker and go from there
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Old 11-16-2014, 05:34 PM   #20
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What about my tow question

Taking in all of the advice from this forum and the Chevrolet dealership where I purchased the truck, here is where I stand:
2015 Silverado Trailering and Payload Capabilities
GVWR 9500
Trailering Capacity 14000 (5th wheel) 13000 (conventional)
GCWR 20500
Front Axle Cap 4800
Rear Axle Cap 6200
Rear Tire Rating 3525
King Pin/Bed Cap 3000
Occupants/Cargo 2789


2015 Silverado Loaded and fueled Cat scale weights (without trailer)
Steer axle 4260
Drive axle 3220
Gross 7480

Actual 2015 Jayco Eagle 34.5BHTS weight on yellow sticker
w/full propane 10686

Published Trailer Weights (for whatever it’s worth)
Dry pin weight 1835
Dry weight 10305
GVWR 12995
CCC 2690


Can I tow it? Haven't bought the trailer yet.

I say, yes. As long as I can load it with approx.1000lbs of gear in the trailer while keeping the pin weight under 2020 lbs. but what say you guys?
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