Looking to purchase

[sobrien84]

Hi,
I've been looking a purchasing a 5th wheel and the cougar half ton 32bhs has caught my eye. seems that I can find these in the price point that I'm looking at. any information would be helpful about this model ( is it any good is it junk ). also have a 2015 3/4 ton Chevrolet crew cab with the smaller bed. would pulling this cause any issues is the turning radius any good. looking for feed back from people with a similar setup.
thanks

[JRTJH]

I tow a 31' Cougar XLite (similar to the Cougar Half Ton) with a Ford F250 diesel. I am at my upper limit on payload with my rig. You don't give any information about your truck other than it's a 3/4 ton Chevy. If it's gas, you may have the payload to tow the pin weight of the 32BHS, if it's a diesel, and you're buying a bunk house model because there's more passengers than you and your spouse, you may find that your truck is critically overloaded by that model. A 36' fifth wheel with a GVW or 11,500 pounds can, at 20% pin weight, put over 2300 pounds (plus the hitch weight) on the rear axle. Add passengers, cargo in the bed (generator, water, firewood, etc) and you can see the "mess you could get into".....

So, depending on the truck, maybe you can maybe you can't safely tow the 32BHS.

As for short bed maneuverability, my Ford SB has a 6'9" bed. I do not have a sliding hitch and I've never had any issue with clearance or come close to damage to either the truck or the trailer. There are some who report problems with the shorter beds in GM and RAM trucks. I have no experience with those units.

As for quality of the trailer, we've never had any problems with the trailer construction or quality of build. Our only two issues were "components" in the trailer failing. First the Air Conditioner failed (replaced under warranty) and then the remote control receiver failed (also replaced under warranty) Otherwise, no problems or failures. I do all my own repair/maintenance and have performed wheel bearing/brake maintenance every year as well as replacing the "china bombs" for better quality tires.

[Canonman]

I gotta agree with John. That's a lot of 5er for a 3/4 ton truck. Our Cougar puts us right at the limit of our Ram's payload and we're only 30' 10k gross and 1800 lb hitch weight. You might want to look at a lighter 5th wheel due to the payload issues, or possibly a bumper pull.
That said. we use the Anderson hitch with our short bed Ram and have had no problems with clearance.

[jimsny]

I own 2012 f250 and pull a cougar 32bh 5th wheel . According to specs of 5ver pin weight is 1590lbs
My payload capacity of truck is 3200lbs. Truck handles 5th wheel very well. As far when the weight goes in my truck when hooking up truck goes down about 3/4 of an inch. Thats it. As far as the hitch I had a slider hitch put in it. Never used yet. My bed is 6'9 . I love my setup. No regrets with it.

[sobrien84]

I own 2012 f250 and pull a cougar 32bh 5th wheel . According to specs of 5ver pin weight is 1590lbs
My payload capacity of truck is 3200lbs. Truck handles 5th wheel very well. As far when the weight goes in my truck when hooking up truck goes down about 3/4 of an inch. Thats it. As far as the hitch I had a slider hitch put in it. Never used yet. My bed is 6'9 . I love my setup. No regrets with it.
thanks jimsny I have a desiel so I shouldnt have any issues if this is the route I decide to go down.

[JRTJH]

thanks jimsny I have a desiel so I shouldnt have any issues if this is the route I decide to go down.

Sobrien84,

The payload of jimsny's truck is 3200 pounds, if your truck is diesel, then your payload is around 1900-2100 pounds. His extra 1000-1300 pounds of payload is the only reason he "doesn't have any problems" remaining under the truck GVW. You won't be so fortunate with your limited payload.

Sure, your truck will "PULL" it without problems, the question is will it "TOW" it within the limits established by the manufacturer AND the load you place in/on it??????

[gagb1967]

Hi,
I've been looking a purchasing a 5th wheel and the cougar half ton 32bhs has caught my eye. seems that I can find these in the price point that I'm looking at. any information would be helpful about this model ( is it any good is it junk ). also have a 2015 3/4 ton Chevrolet crew cab with the smaller bed. would pulling this cause any issues is the turning radius any good. looking for feed back from people with a similar setup.
thanks

I have 32bhs. Got it in December. Some minor issues as expected in any new RV but overall satisfied.
I pull it with a 2014 RAM 6.4 HEMI regular bed. I got the slider hitch but had no need b of use slide yet.
If you get a 3/4 ton, unless it's gas, your ability to tie will be compromised by the PAYLOAD. While diesels have more towing power, they are way heavier reducing payload. My truck being a 4x2 has a payload capacity of 3400lbs
Diesel engines reduce that capacity by around 1000lbs, and 4x4 probably another 200.
Considering that from factory pin weight is around 20% the pin weight loaded will probably be around 2200. You will need at least another 500 for people gas and cargo in b truck, so unless truck has at least 3000lbs payload I would not recommend.

[Tonkatoy77]

Sobrien84,



The payload of jimsny's truck is 3200 pounds, if your truck is diesel, then your payload is around 1900-2100 pounds. His extra 1000-1300 pounds of payload is the only reason he "doesn't have any problems" remaining under the truck GVW. You won't be so fortunate with your limited payload.



Sure, your truck will "PULL" it without problems, the question is will it "TOW" it within the limits established by the manufacturer AND the load you place in/on it??????



Where are you getting your numbers from? A 2015 2500HD diesel has a GVWR of 10k. If his truck is a crew cab short bed 4x4 with a moderate amount of options, his truck most likely weighs around 7,200 pounds. That gives him a payload of 2,800 pounds.

[Tonkatoy77]

Hi,
I've been looking a purchasing a 5th wheel and the cougar half ton 32bhs has caught my eye. seems that I can find these in the price point that I'm looking at. any information would be helpful about this model ( is it any good is it junk ). also have a 2015 3/4 ton Chevrolet crew cab with the smaller bed. would pulling this cause any issues is the turning radius any good. looking for feed back from people with a similar setup.
thanks



You’ll be fine pulling that trailer. By the time you are loaded up, you will be at or just over your payload. Just make sure you have tires that can handle the weight. I have an 07’ Chevy and a 32DBH, and it does fine. My trailer has an empty pin weight of almost 2,000 pounds. I put on a set of 12 ply Nitto Tires that are rated for 3640 pounds each.

[sourdough]

Where are you getting your numbers from? A 2015 2500HD diesel has a GVWR of 10k. If his truck is a crew cab short bed 4x4 with a moderate amount of options, his truck most likely weighs around 7,200 pounds. That gives him a payload of 2,800 pounds.


Are you confusing gvw with payload? Two very different things.

[Tonkatoy77]

Are you confusing gvw with payload? Two very different things.



No, what makes you think I’m confusing the two?

Estimated tare weight: 7200 lbs.
GVWR: 10,000 lbs.
Payload: 2800 lbs.

That is basic math.

[sourdough]

No, what makes you think I’m confusing the two?

Estimated tare weight: 7200 lbs.
GVWR: 10,000 lbs.
Payload: 2800 lbs.

That is basic math.


And, you are 100% correct. I was juggling a couple of things at the time and juggled my brain right into disconnect.....sorry.:o

[sobrien84]

You’ll be fine pulling that trailer. By the time you are loaded up, you will be at or just over your payload. Just make sure you have tires that can handle the weight. I have an 07’ Chevy and a 32DBH, and it does fine. My trailer has an empty pin weight of almost 2,000 pounds. I put on a set of 12 ply Nitto Tires that are rated for 3640 pounds each.

Thanks for the real world run down.

[rhagfo]

Where are you getting your numbers from? A 2015 2500HD diesel has a GVWR of 10k. If his truck is a crew cab short bed 4x4 with a moderate amount of options, his truck most likely weighs around 7,200 pounds. That gives him a payload of 2,800 pounds.

Facts not assumptions;
4X4 Crew cab
Curb weight 7,392# (this is the stripper 6.6 Diesel)
Max payload 2,583# (this is the stripper 6.6 Diesel)

Now understand that the 2,583 is the MAX Payload of that model, You should look at the Yellow Payload sticker on the drivers door post it will likely be less! Once you start adding trim packages and people, fuel and a hitch, that number gets smaller and smaller.
The dry pin on that 5er is 1,570# and is only 17% of the dry weight. It is also less battery and propane. The more realistic pin of 20% of the base 5er with 1,200# of stuff would be 10,340# 20% equals 2,068# now you are down to 515# before exceeding GVWR. This is off the MAX payload, so now deduct weight of options, hitch, people, and STUFF in the TV, and you will likely be over GVWR.

Now Tonkatoy77, will say you will be fine exceeding GVWR. Well yes the 2500 and 3500 SRW share many parts Drive train is the same, might need heaver springs or bags. Yea, go by rear axle rating, sure.
Now I as one that towed by rear axle rating for several years, over GVWR there was something that kept eating at me.
There are a lot of hungry lawyers out there and even firms looking to litigate cases involving being hit by RV's. They will be looking at everything to go after you.

[sobrien84]

Payload is figured after 150lbs for driver and a full tank of fuel. After those number that is when the fancy yellow sticker of death is slapped on a vehical

[Don_T]

No, what makes you think I’m confusing the two?

Estimated tare weight: 7200 lbs.
GVWR: 10,000 lbs.
Payload: 2800 lbs.

That is basic math.

This may be correct but I find it hard to believe. I have a regular cab truck with a gas engine and it weighs 6900 pounds. Are you saying a truck with a crew cab and diesel only weighs 300 pounds more? My last crew cab diesel weighed in at 8200 pounds. These numbers are from Cat scales.

[Tonkatoy77]

This may be correct but I find it hard to believe. I have a regular cab truck with a gas engine and it weighs 6900 pounds. Are you saying a truck with a crew cab and diesel only weighs 300 pounds more? My last crew cab diesel weighed in at 8200 pounds. These numbers are from Cat scales.

Like I said, it was an estimated weight. The reason I estimated it at 7200 lbs is because my 2007 crew cab 6' 6" bed LT3 4x4 Duramax has a curb weight of just over 7k. I looked up the curb weight of OP's truck. From what I found, it has a curb weight of approximately 7384 lbs. That gives OP 2616 lbs payload. Either way, his truck is plenty big enough to tow the trailer he bought.

[Don_T]

Like I said, it was an estimated weight. The reason I estimated it at 7200 lbs is because my 2007 crew cab 6' 6" bed LT3 4x4 Duramax has a curb weight of just over 7k. I looked up the curb weight of OP's truck. From what I found, it has a curb weight of approximately 7384 lbs. That gives OP 2616 lbs payload. Either way, his truck is plenty big enough to tow the trailer he bought.

I didn’t know there was someplace that you could input the truck with the trim level as well as all the options and get an accurate weight. Please post a link. It will be useful. If it is the VIN check, it doesn’t take into consideration any of the options, only the basic truck. Mine wasn’t even close.

[rhagfo]

Like I said, it was an estimated weight. The reason I estimated it at 7200 lbs is because my 2007 crew cab 6' 6" bed LT3 4x4 Duramax has a curb weight of just over 7k. I looked up the curb weight of OP's truck. From what I found, it has a curb weight of approximately 7384 lbs. That gives OP 2616 lbs payload. Either way, his truck is plenty big enough to tow the trailer he bought.

The curb weight listed in the WEB sited are for the base model of that cab and bed configuration (read this as lightest). The listed Payload in that same site is also for the lowest trim level of that cab and bed configuration Read this as Maximum for that lightest truck).

The Yellow Payload sticker has the actual payload for a given TV, as it left the factory. Once that TV is off the dealers lot the only way to know the available payload is to weigh the TV. This should be loaded as it would be ready to tow. One needs to get separate weights for front and rear axles, then do the math.

[Tonkatoy77]

The curb weight listed in the WEB sited are for the base model of that cab and bed configuration (read this as lightest). The listed Payload in that same site is also for the lowest trim level of that cab and bed configuration Read this as Maximum for that lightest truck).

The Yellow Payload sticker has the actual payload for a given TV, as it left the factory. Once that TV is off the dealers lot the only way to know the available payload is to weigh the TV. This should be loaded as it would be ready to tow. One needs to get separate weights for front and rear axles, then do the math.

I already responded to you once and the moderators deleted my comment, so I'm not going to waste my time arguing with you. good day sir!

[Tonkatoy77]

I didn’t know there was someplace that you could input the truck with the trim level as well as all the options and get an accurate weight. Please post a link. It will be useful. If it is the VIN check, it doesn’t take into consideration any of the options, only the basic truck. Mine wasn’t even close.

That's why I said ESTIMATED. The weight of 7384 that I quoted is from media.gm.com. I know the weight of my 2007 because I have weighed it before. It is just a hair over 7000 pounds. I believe that a 2015 could be 384 pounds heavier than mine, but I wouldn't believe it if it was much higher than that. My point still remains the same though. The OP has more than enough truck to tow his trailer. The comments others have made stating he doesn't is just plain nonsense.

[Don_T]

If the OP would look at his door sticker he will find John’s estimate is very close. It is unlikely that truck has a payload rating over 2200 pounds, most likely less. Even better he should do as suggested and weigh it so he knows exactly what it can carry.

[Tonkatoy77]

If the OP would look at his door sticker he will find John’s estimate is very close. It is unlikely that truck has a payload rating over 2200 pounds, most likely less. Even better he should do as suggested and weigh it so he knows exactly what it can carry.



So just to be clear, you think OP’s truck is 900 pounds(or more) heavier than mine(even though they are both Chevy 2500HD crew cab standard bed 4x4 Duramax diesels)?

OP’s truck has a GVWR of 10k. Subtract 2200 and you get= 7800.

My truck has a GVWR of 9,200. Subtract what my door sticker says (2319) and you get= 6881. And like I said earlier, my actual weigh is a hair over 7k.

That is a 918 pound difference on the same configuration truck, only difference is age. I’m sorry, but I don’t agree. That’s why I said earlier that I DO believe it could 300-400 heavier. But not 918.

[chuckster57]

I’m closing this thread.