SRW or DRW and hitch

[Trublu1068]

Hello all,

After a long search we have settled on either a Northpoint 387FBTS or a Pinnacle 36FBTS. Both are about 13500lbs. I will be towing with a 2018 GMC 3500 SRW with a tow capacity of 17200. Has anyone had issues with this set up? Should I anticipate getting airbags? Also, any suggestions on a hitch? The bed in my truck is the standard 6.5ft. This will be our first 5th wheel so I don't know alot...yet.

Thank you in advance for your thoughts and suggestions.

[Lowmiler]

That’s the empty weight. Max rated weight is 16k. If you’re a weekend warrior, maybe you’re running around 15k loaded up, no washer dryer, or generator. Figure 20% is your pin weight, making it 3k lbs.

What’s the *payload* rating on your truck? That’s more important than tow rating when it comes to 5th wheels.

On a rig that size, I much prefer a diesel dually. But there’s lots of people running 3/4 ton trucks with heavier rigs (overloaded).

I personally run the Reese Goose Box pin box and use the factory gooseneck connections in the bed. Air ride, clear bed when empty, and Jayco warranty approved.

[TxLoser]

I’ve got the same truck and a little less trailer. A 321RSTS. Works great with the SRW. However, if I had a bigger trailer I think DRW would be in order. Try it out for a bit and see how it feels since you’ve already got the truck. I do think you’ll be a little over weight, but see how it feels and go from there.

[Rustic Eagle]

Trublu1068,

Welcome to JOF

Knowing your GMC 3500's actual "available" payload capacity would be helpful info to have when shopping for your new FW.

I would take your GMC 3500 under loaded conditions (passengers, full fuel, etc.) to a CAT scale and weigh it. Subtract the CAT weight from your TV's specified GVWR...., the remaining weight is your actual "available" payload capacity to support the weight of a hitch and FW loaded pin weight.

Just food for thought.....

Bob

[AndyO]

I agree with those above, check your payload rating. Probably far more relevant than the towing capacity. I have a 2020 Silverado 2500 with the 6'8" bed, I use a Curt Q20 hitch on a slider, if I don't slide it back on slow speed tight terms the back of the cab and the front of the camper can hit. With it slid to the maneuvering position it gives you an extra foot of room to work with.

[AKRUEBBE]

Diesel dually without a question...........save a lot of money and do it right the first time!!

[Joan617]

Yeah that sounds like you will be close. I don't have a lot of experience with trucks, never mind large p/u's, but I had the luxury of buying the 5'ver before I had a truck. Having little experience and no bias, I simply ran my fingers down the Ford towing guide, taking in to account the many footnotes, asterisks and fine print that pertained to fifth wheels. Our 5'ver grosses out at 16,750 and I think I could have just gone with SRW, but with little margin and some uncertainty, so I "rounded up" and went with DRW.


Joan was furious when I cam home with the Maroney Sticker, but soon understood when considering family safety, knowing it would be our only home. She drives as much as I do, with and without the rig, and loves it, despite the inconvenience of using the long and fat truck as daily driver.

[RedHorse1]

Visit the CAT Scale and get the axle weights. Your pin weight will probably be 20-25% of your loaded 5th’s weight. Assuming loaded it’s 15k that’d be 3000-3750#.
Add Europe to the rear axle weight and compare that to the Rear GAWR on the sticker. I expect you’re in dually country or real close to it.
The CAT Scale is your friend

[DrSmart]

Originally Posted by TxLoser

I’ve got the same truck and a little less trailer. A 321RSTS. Works great with the SRW. However, if I had a bigger trailer I think DRW would be in order. Try it out for a bit and see how it feels since you’ve already got the truck. I do think you’ll be a little over weight, but see how it feels and go from there.

Your Jayco shows 1895lbs dry pin weight on the web site. OP is looking at 2795lbs and 2905lbs dry pin weight on those 2 models. Just sayin'.

[DrSmart]

Originally Posted by Trublu1068

Hello all,

After a long search we have settled on either a Northpoint 387FBTS or a Pinnacle 36FBTS. Both are about 13500lbs. I will be towing with a 2018 GMC 3500 SRW with a tow capacity of 17200. Has anyone had issues with this set up? Should I anticipate getting airbags? Also, any suggestions on a hitch? The bed in my truck is the standard 6.5ft. This will be our first 5th wheel so I don't know alot...yet.

Thank you in advance for your thoughts and suggestions.

Your payload and GRAWR on the GMC 3500 will be your limiting factors. Not what it's rated to tow. Either go with a lighter trailer pin weight model for that tow vehicle or a dually and you won't have to worry about what goes into the front storage and bedroom. With the short bed truck I'd recommend the Superglide hitch.

[TxLoser]

Yes sir. I get that. My point was that I have a much lighter fifth wheel than he’s looking at and I’m about maxed out on a my 3500 SRW(same truck as his)so for him DRW would be the best choice, but to try it out if he purchases the trailer and see how it feels since he already as the truck. I suspect he won’t like it and probably needs to be prepared for a truck purchase.

[Paul Kasper]

We have a Pinnacle 36FBTS and pull it with a 2019 GMC 3500 and have no problems.we have a Curt Q20 hitch and that works out good also.

[Trublu1068]

Paul, is your truck a SRW or DRW?

[Trublu1068]

Thanks for all of your responses and suggestions. In looking at the payload capacity of the truck it says it's 7153.

I am not a technical guy and don't quite understand alot of the jargon being used such as, "Add Europe to the rear axle weight and compare that to the Rear GAWR on the sticker."

Based on what I'm hearing from everyone you all don't think it's safe to tow either of those trailers on a truck that rated for 17200? Since I'm not an expert on the subject I can't really have an opinion that means much. It just seams that if a truck is rated to tow a certain capacity, it should be able to handle that capacity. I would imagine car manufacturers would be conservative in determining that number and any weight below that would be considered safe.

Again, this is just an opinion of someone that doesn't know much about the subject.

[RedHorse1]

Originally Posted by Trublu1068

Thanks for all of your responses and suggestions. In looking at the payload capacity of the truck it says it's 7153.

I am not a technical guy and don't quite understand alot of the jargon being used such as, "Add Europe to the rear axle weight and compare that to the Rear GAWR on the sticker."

Based on what I'm hearing from everyone you all don't think it's safe to tow either of those trailers on a truck that rated for 17200? Since I'm not an expert on the subject I can't really have an opinion that means much. It just seams that if a truck is rated to tow a certain capacity, it should be able to handle that capacity. I would imagine car manufacturers would be conservative in determining that number and any weight below that would be considered safe.

Again, this is just an opinion of someone that doesn't know much about the subject.

Sorry, didn’t proofread what I tapped out. Should read: “add your pin weight to the rear axle weight”.

[DrSmart]

7153 is for dual rear wheels. Pan down to 'Weight and Payload'.
Look for your engine, cab and wheel base configuration:


https://media.gmc.com/media/us/en/gm...2018.tab1.html

[Lowmiler]

Originally Posted by Trublu1068

Thanks for all of your responses and suggestions. In looking at the payload capacity of the truck it says it's 7153.

Pretty sure that's your Gross Rear Axle Weight Rating, not your payload capacity.

Gross Rear Axle Weight Rating takes into account the weight from the truck before you add external weight (like cargo or a fifth wheel front end). You add the weight of the rear truck to the weight of the cargo, etc., and arrive at the max limit.

I bet your payload rating on a SRW, assuming crew cab diesel, is around 36-3700 lbs.

[Lowmiler]

Originally Posted by DrSmart

7153 is for dual rear wheels. Pan down to 'Weight and Payload'.
Look for your engine, cab and wheel base configuration:


https://media.gmc.com/media/us/en/gm...2018.tab1.html

2WD payload, diesel shortbed CC: 3993 lbs
4WD payload, diesel shortbed CC: 3927 lbs

[thelfrich]

We’ve got similar set up. 2018 Pinnacle 36KPTS with GMC 3500 SRW Duramax, had it 1 year, so far so good, no problems, our hitch is PullRite Super Glide

PS - I weighed on CAT scales in Feb (it was pretty easy with the app) and here’s what I got. Pinnacle GVWR 16,500; Feb 2020 16,180. GMC GCWR 25,300 lb; Feb 2020 24,720. GMC Max 5th wheel tongue weight 4,000 lb; Feb 2020 3,880

[dkegel]

Originally Posted by Lowmiler

2WD payload, diesel shortbed CC: 3993 lbs
4WD payload, diesel shortbed CC: 3927 lbs

You won't find accurate payload numbers from any publication. You have to look at the door sticker. Depending on options, the actual payload could easily be 500 lbs less than those numbers.

Dave