Weight insight

[LTS0307]

Hello everyone! The wife and I bought out very first 5er in the fall of last year. It is a 2014 Montana 338DB. After we went out and got that all squared away we needed the truck still. I believe that we did well in choosing the truck. We bought a 2012 GMC Sierra 2500HD.

Here is where I am curious. Do you think that my weights will be okay when all is loaded and hooked up!?

[Javi]

I'd be extremely surprised if you are not grossly over your truck's payload limit with a dry pin weight of 2390... There is a yellow sticker on the door what will tell you the payload limit... then subtract every pound you add to the truck like the hitch, luggage, people, pets, maps, ice chests... etc.


but don't worry, there will be several folks come along in a few minutes and tell you how they pull much larger trailers with one wheel tied behind their back...

[Ken / Claudia]

That question really should have been asked and checked before you purchased. But now that you have them. Read the yellow stickers on the truck driver door and the yellow sticker on the trailer. If you do not understand how or why to check the weights ask. Take a trip with the combo loaded to a scale and see the real weights. Than decide if you think your safe or not.

[PARAPTOR]

to The Forum From Western PA

Congrats on that Montana nice unit !!! Enjoy !

X2 .. on Javi Comments my opinion you are in at least SRW 3500 territory, that is if you want to tow safety and legally. I will sign off and wait for the 2500 people "I can tow that" Especially the ones with the extra 30-45 gallon gas tanks in the bed. I can tow that and further . Okay here they come

[JRTJH]

Well, not quite yet... I'm a F250 owner, and I specifically bought a SMALL fifth wheel, a Cougar XLite 27RKS with an empty weight of 7200 pounds and a pin weight of 1120 pounds. I can attest that when loaded for a trip, my trailer weighs over 9000 and the pin weight hits 1800 with the water tank (which is against the back wall) full. On the return trip from dry camping for the weekend, with black tank 1/2 full and the front gray tank full, my pin weight is over 2000 pounds. If you "do the math" that's almost DOUBLE the advertised pin weight.....

Now, why all those numbers? To compare, my trailer maxes out my 3/4 ton truck. Your empty trailer weighs 3600 pounds more than mine, your empty pin weight is 1200 pounds more than mine, your GVW is 2500 pounds more than mine, so pretty much, even if you just want to "drag your empty trailer around", you're going to be well over your truck's GVW and probably over your rear axle maximum as well. Remember, there's more to safe towing than just being able to make it go 70 on level ground...

OK, now, I'll also take a seat on the sideline and wait for the, "Sure, you'll be just fine, I do it all the time" crowd to chime in......

[canesfan]

But wait!!! There's more...

Here we go...again.

Need one of those super duper movie theater 20lb sized popcorns.

And probably a drink

[PARAPTOR]

come on be nice .........

[rhagfo]

Interesting, I have found two grossly different weight specs for this 5er.

This is from RVGuide.com which is usually pretty accurate.
Technical Specifications:
Length 37'-4"
Dry Weight 9,875#
Payload Capacity 2,250#
GVWR 12,125#
Hitch Weight 1,725# (17%)
Loaded pin approximate 2,425# to 3,031# (20% to 25%)

These are from the Keystone web site and seem a bit strange to me.
To me it looks like the payload and pin weights got reversed.

Dry weight 10,800#
Carrying Capacity 1,700#
Dry Pin 2,390#
Length 37'-4"

Either way they have both already, if it will work for them only they can decide. Yes, Javi is correct likely over GVWR of the 2500, not sure where GM was placing their 2500 in 2012, 9,200#, 9,800#, 9,900# or 10,000#. It is the OP choice to run over GVWR, for some it works well others feel very uncomfortable being 10# that magic GVWR.

The OP did the purchase in the correct order, but likely to be within ALL the "Numbers" should have selected a 3500 SRW, for the sticker that says so.

[ctbruce]

This should be lots of fun.....

Chip Bruce, RPh
Kansas City, MO
2016 Fuzion Impact 312
2017 3500HD Silverado LTZ

[LTS0307]

Let me further clarify...I do have the 6.6 duramax. Extended cab, long bed. I know that changes many factors. Any change of thoughts?!

[kfxgreenie]

Originally Posted by LTS0307

Let me further clarify...I do have the 6.6 duramax. Extended cab, long bed. I know that changes many factors. Any change of thoughts?!

Yeah for the payload police it lowers your payload. Even more certainty that you will die.

[CarKath]

Originally Posted by LTS0307

Let me further clarify...I do have the 6.6 duramax. Extended cab, long bed. I know that changes many factors. Any change of thoughts?!

2 things you need to do .

1 - read the drivers side door post tag for actual weights

2 - hit a scale and get actual real life weights of your configuration

Both should lead you to being overweight . I've been there done that and argued the point . End of the day , I bought a dually and shut my mouth , lol

[ctbruce]

Originally Posted by LTS0307

Let me further clarify...I do have the 6.6 duramax. Extended cab, long bed. I know that changes many factors. Any change of thoughts?!

Your max payload for this truck is 3358 lbs. for a stripped model. Other accessories will take off of this. Keep in mind we are not trying to tell you what you can and cannot do. We've all been there. We've almost all at one time or another exceded the weight limits of our trucks. What we are saying is that it is not a matter of making 1 of the multitude of weight parameters. It is a matter of making all of them.

Most trucks, will run out of payload before they run out of capacity to pull. The Duramax is strong, as I noted earlier. The manufacturer still lists the truck as having a maximum trailer weight of 13,000 lbs. and a gross combined weight rating of 30,000 for the pair. Just a guess, but I am thinking that if the trailer max is 13k, if your truck weight 17K, that is a heck of a 3/4 ton truck! Point being you run out of other capacities before you reach the max that the Duramax can tow. It doesn't negate all of the other numbers.

[LTS0307]

I have numerous different places telling me that this truck can haul up to 14,700. If I am doing my math correct. Dry weight for my 5er if 9,875# with a carrying capacity of 2250. Those numbers together give me 12,125. That allows me to have 2,575 pounds left to play with for bed supplies, people weight, and my 65 pound dog.

Correct?

[Javi]

Originally Posted by LTS0307

I have numerous different places telling me that this truck can haul up to 14,700. If I am doing my math correct. Dry weight for my 5er if 9,875# with a carrying capacity of 2250. Those numbers together give me 12,125. That allows me to have 2,575 pounds left to play with for bed supplies, people weight, and my 65 pound dog.

Correct?

See pm for my cell.. call me and I'll explain weight

[PARAPTOR]

Thanks !! Javi I am sure the OP appreciates your offer

[x96mnn]

Originally Posted by LTS0307

I have numerous different places telling me that this truck can haul up to 14,700. If I am doing my math correct. Dry weight for my 5er if 9,875# with a carrying capacity of 2250. Those numbers together give me 12,125. That allows me to have 2,575 pounds left to play with for bed supplies, people weight, and my 65 pound dog.

Correct?

Your combining what your rig can haul with what your rig can carry. Theses are two different things.

My truck can haul 24000pds and carry 5925pds. I cannot load 20000pds in the back of my truck and haul a trailer 4000pds! I will destroy my truck and an accident could be in trouble depending on the lawyer on the other side.

Now I could haul a 24000pd trailer which would have a pin weight around 3600pds giving me 1300pds for me and any extras in the truck. Would I do it? Not a chance! My reason is based on experience which includes towing way over my TV's limits! From my experience towing a trailer near or over 80% of the max tow weight is no fun. I find the feeling of pushed, pulled and sway caused by the trailer stressful! My ability to control an emergency situation with such setup limited and the anxiety already in place would make such a situation more dangerous!

That is me though, every other person is different. My advice based on been there, done that is your in for a rough ride if it was me behind the wheel.

You will hear the term weight police and I have another term which is "law does not matter police" these are the guys who feel the more people on the road over the limit makes it ok.

[ctbruce]

Knowing these folks, I know what they are saying. Can you pull it is not the same question as is it the right thing to be pulling it. Apples and oranges.

Regardless of what the sales brochures say, the numbers printed on your door jamb stickers are the official numbers. That is your payload and your gross numbers for your specific truck.

Also, dry weight printed in a trailer sales brochure means nothing. When you are loaded, go to a CAT scale and weigh it. Then you'll know where you are and you will be making your decisions with real world numbers.

Also for the record, the diesel will tow a house, but the extra weight makes your payload of your truck go down.



Chip Bruce, RPh
Kansas City, MO
2016 Fuzion Impact 312
2017 3500HD Silverado LTZ

[CWtheMan]

Originally Posted by LTS0307

I believe that we did well in choosing the truck. We bought a 2012 GMC Sierra 2500HD.

Here is where I am curious. Do you think that my weights will be okay when all is loaded and hooked up!?

Nope! The hitch weight will be the limiting factor.

Load the truck up with fluids, passengers you expect to carry on a regular basis, add all the stuff to the truck that you anticipate taking on most trips and then take it to some scales and see what you have left over for a hitch weight.

Did the dealer let you drive it off the lot?

Most of us will add some weight with age. So will a RV trailer.

[chuckster57]

Why hasn't anybody just said add air bags...that makes it all better right?

I'm getting up to put more butter on my popcorn!!