1st timer with a towing question

[Richngin]

EOW, lol, I didn't take anything personal.
I asked a question that people took in two different ways.
I HATE communicating via email or across the internet for that very reason.
One thing I have learned is everyone has thier opinion

[Stan&Sharon]

My truck is gas,which is much lighter than diesel which gives me much cargo capacity. Yesterday I did another cat scale and we are fine In all respects.


2021 GMC Denali 2500HD
Curb Weight 7,352
Max Payload 3,298
GVWR 10,650 lbs
GCWR 24,000 lbs
GAWR 6,600 lbs
Drive Axle Ratio 3.73
Max 5th Wheel Trailer Weight 16,220 lbs
Max 5th Wheel Hitch Weight 2,490 lbs

[Stan&Sharon]

Here's another video on the Timbrens.

https://youtu.be/d5Z32tI1Uqg

[TWP723]

Pin weight of the RV and payload capacity of the TV are critical. Dry numbers are greatly affected when loaded for a trip. Air bags and such help with ride quality and weight dampening. Nothing will increase your payload. For example: My truck has a 3193lb. payload cap. My 5'er's pin weight is 2300lbs. I'm running AirLift bags on all four corners and tow with approx. 25lbs. in the rear and 20lbs. up front. Theoretically, I have about 893+/- lbs to play with. Now I load the 5'er and weigh it again. My pin goes up to 2480lbs loaded exactly how we want it. I reduced my capacity, leaving 713lbs. now. My wife and I together are 375lbs. I now have 338lbs. of cargo cap before MAXING out. You don't want to MAX out. Just when you think you have it figured out with a decent TV, it becomes closer than you thought. Everything is affected with weight, regardless of how small it may seem at the beginning.

[TxLoser]

I pulled a similar weight FW. A 26.5HT with a 2500. No suspension mods. It was diesel, so your payload will be higher than my diesel payload number was. I was right below or right at my max payload with that trailer. On a long trip maybe 200 over. No big deal. Took it all over. NM, CO, SD, WY, MT, TX, AR. I think the weight will be fine for you. That engine will work pretty hard on hills and at high altitude, but if you’re patient and don’t mind some high 3-4000 rpm climbs, you’ll be fine. Load it up, see how it feels and you may find you don’t need any suspension mods.

Back to the engine. I pulled a travel trailer with the 6.0 gasser and 3.73 rear end. Was not impressed. Down in Texas it was ok, but out west and headwinds, it was working hard. The biggest downside of this was the mileage which caused reduced range.

[curver900]

why are you adding airbags before you buy it?

that 6L gas motor is going to work hard out west to keep that in tow... you will be in the 4-5k rpm range going up passes if that is what you are planning on doing.

don't be surprised when your mileage is around 4 give or take in the mountains and 7ish on the freeway at 65.

it will pull it and it will work but start looking for a one ton with the new gas motor or a diesel...

good luck with what you decide...

or look for a smaller rig and then upgrade later

[RipinSC]

I also pull a 2019 321RSTS with a 2015 GMC 6.0 gas. I did add timbrens and they work great.
I am just under my max truck GVWR of 9500 lbs.
All other specifications are about 88% of max.
I take it to the Cat scales and carry the weight print out with me when I travel.
The key is I have no generator and always travel with all holding tanks empty.
Once you add water, you will be over weight.
I had a 34 ft open range prior to my Jayco and pulled it out west. Avg. MPG when towing is about 7.
You will be fine just make sure you don’t travel with holding tanks full and make sure you got to the Cat scales and get everything weighed.

[Kim Gass]

There is an intangible "happy pulling" factor that we adhere to. We try not to go over 70 percent of the ballyhooed tow weight on the tow vehicle to avoid that "pulling the concrete block" factor.

We have a much lighter set up but it seems to have worked for our initial TT and so far with the second one. We do a lot of cross country travel and those long Western grades can tax your engine. We have steeper grades here in Maine but they do not go on for miles..

Just an aside.. you have a lot of weight there and it does not do you a favor going downhill. Do you have engine braking capability on your TV? Ie is it adjustable? You can overheat brakes going down those long hills.

We were duped in Death Valley. We had smoking brakes. Not good. We did not realize that we had dropped 5000 feet over 10 miles.. it did not seem like much of a grade. We smelled brake pulled over and were enveloped in smoke.

You will be mortified at mileage going west. And pleased going east.

RichnGin we love your town and its resilience post Michael. We are coming next month for a visit.

But geez where do locals get breakfast?

[Old and soft]

Your opinion may differ, and mine is worth what you paid for it. Towed with a 5.4, 4spd auto, superduty for 13 years. That thing was a dog unless spnning over 4500 rpm. 2nd gear to pull little Missouri hills at 60 mph. That screaming motor would also get me all wound up. Got a powerstroke 3 years ago. That thing calmly grunts thru almost any thing without me or the truck all wound up. That alone helps me feel less fatigued at the end of a travel day. Remember, this is supposed to be fun.
You will probably be just fine, just remember you also have limits.

[Richngin]

Kim,

2 places have a really good scratch made breakfast
Sisters Restaurant @ 236 Reid Ave, Port St Joe, FL 32456 (850)229-7121
Sand Dollar Cafe @ 301 Monument Ave, Port St Joe, FL 32456 (850)227-4865
Both open at 7AM EST, but call the day before and make sure they will be open
I assume ya'll are staying across the street from the El Governor Hotel ?
If so, don't pass up Killer Seafood; it's the blue food truck right down the street with all the people surrounding it, if its open.

[Bodaddy]

I have a 2019 Jayco Eagle HT 30.5CKTS and I have 2021 Chevrolet 2500 gasser and it pulls fine and it has plenty of payload. We just got back from a trip out west and we put 5330 miles in a little over 3 weeks. It pulled great up the mountains and down also. We sell our trucks every 6 months to a year because we get GM employee discounts and I’m probably gonna get a 2022 with a Duramax just to try it out. But I like the gasser so much ,I’m having to talk myself into even trying the diesel. But, if I don’t like it, I’m going right back to the gasser, cause I know I like it. 6 months goes by quickly. We also use the Anderson fifth wheel hitch. No problems.

[Blamphere]

Our 2014 Chev 1500 has been pulling our 2017 Eagle 27HT fifth wheel for three years with no problem. We use an Andersen hitch which is a dream to connect and quiet on the road.

[LUVNFUN]

Richngin, you have received a lot of responses so, to be honest, I haven't read all of them. Someone might have already provided a link to this spreadsheet that may help you with your calculations. I found it helpful as I can consider different trailers and the figures are calculated for me based on my truck. Just cut and paste the following link:

https://brandonreid.github.io/truck-...ity/index.html

As for suspension mods, you may want to check out Roadmaster Active Suspension. I put these on my GMC pickup, and they were the perfect setup for me.

Good luck with your research.

[htglaser]

I have a GMC 2500 4WD Sierra Crew Cab with 6.6L V8 Gas, 3.73, GVWR 10,650 lbs, 6 ft - 6 in box. Pulling a 2021 30.5 CKTS with no problem. Towed from Southern California to Idaho, then Jackson WY, and back down US 395 on the Eastern Sierra return home.

Hitch is a Puck mounted PullRite OE 25K Super 5th, with a Lippert Turning Point pin box using a wedge to push the pivot rearward, so no slider.

No problems whatsoever with tow uphill, brake downhill, or stability in wind, 8 MPG. In fact, this is my 7th RV, my first 5-er, and it's the best tow vehicle - RV combination I've had.

[TnHiker]

Originally Posted by Richngin

Hey folks !
We have a Chevrolet 2500HD, gasser, 6.0l motor.
We are looking at adding airbags, and are thinking of going with the Anderson hitch.
We are going to purchase the 30.5CKTS HT
The truck weighs 7100lbs, full of fuel, and no one in it
My tow capacity is 9500/14000
I'm done "googling" because you can't get a straight answer on the internet, so I'm coming to ask people that actually do this !
My question is, with my setup, are my weights and limitations way in the green and I won't have any issues pulling this thing in the real world, cross country???
The truck can pull a concrete truck, but I don't want to pull the concrete truck to Montana !

Welcome to the forum from East Tennessee. As you can see from my travel map I have traveled out west a lot and I love it out there. I have read all the post through today. I hope you have all the info you need. I will throw this in there with the rest. My dry pin weight for my camper (see in the signature) is 1595 lb per the Jayco sheet. I have some upgrades as you can see and, in the end when I'm loaded and ready for the road my actual pin weight is 2090 lb. That's 495 lb more than dry pin weight. My camper travel weight is 10,690 lb so the pin weight is 20% of the total weight. So just be aware the pin weight is always more than the brochure says. Happy Camping and God Bless!

[Richngin]

Thank you all for the input !

And thank you for the link to the spread sheet
I've listened, read, pondered, and calculated, and using the spread sheet, it looks like I have about 500lbs available payload left, and am at 74.6%; not quite to the coveted 80.0% mark.

If needed i can lighten that up a little more

[Little5ver]

Richngin

I pull a 2020 30.5CKTS with a 2019 F250 6.7 FX LWB with Airlift's and just weighed on the last trip on what I thought was a "HEAVY" load and was well within spec's. Pulls like dream!

[Richngin]

Thanks for the info L'5ver !