Is my pickup enough?

[D.C.]

Looking at a new Montana mountaineer which weights 11546 and carrying capacity of 2509 for a total of 14055 if fully loaded.

I have a late 2007 Chev 2500 Duramax. Is this enough Pickup? Tongue weight for GVWR is OK. Checked that out already.

Any help would be appreciated!!

[Hansel]

Originally Posted by D.C.

Looking at a new Montana mountaineer which weights 11546 and carrying capacity of 2509 for a total of 14055 if fully loaded.

I have a late 2007 Chev 2500 Duramax. Is this enough Pickup? Tongue weight for GVWR is OK. Checked that out already.

Any help would be appreciated!!

I'm no expert, but where did you get those weight number's?? If you got them off the sticker it's safe too say it weigh's more than that.

I'm sure your truck will pull it, but at over 14K I think you need more truck IMHO

[D.C.]

Got the numbers from Keystone. They are also posted on the trailer. Don't think I would put 2400 #'s in it.

[chuckster57]

Tongue weight? You mean king pin right? If you used the weights off any brochures, they are "dry" meaning before any propane or batteries. In pretty much every fifth wheel, the propane and battery(s) are up front adding to the king pin weight.

I looked at the Keystone website and based on your 11546 weight, the king pin will be about 2300#'s. Can your truck carry this safe and legally?

The way to find out is: Take your truck to a CAT scale and weigh it with everything you would have in it while hitched to the trailer headed to the campground, including people, pets, gear and a full tank of fuel.

Look at the sticker on the drivers door, you'll see the GVWR of your truck. Subtract the weight from the scale and that's how much room you have left. Look at the weight of the rear axle, add 100#'s for the hitch and subtract that from the rear axle weight rating.

If all the numbers fall in line, your good to go. Over, not so good, but lots of people are over. That doesn't make it right or safe, so it becomes your decision weather or not to put you, your family and anybody on the road with you in danger.

[JRTJH]

We've got virtually nothing to go on other than a statement that you've got a 2007 Chevrolet diesel truck and are considering a Mountaineer that weighs a little over 11,000 pounds empty. The truck in question comes in three models with "I think" 11 variations all with different payloads and in two GVW's. What are the specifics on your particular truck and what trailer model are you considering?

Trying to guess what we're talking about is not a good way to get reliable information. Please post the specifications for your truck and the model for the Mountaineer you're considering.


We need the truck model, bed length, rear axle configuration, payload, weight, GVW and GCWR to even begin to be accurate in any recommendations.

[D.C.]

The truck is a 4 door 4x4 Chev Duramax 6.5 foot bed single fear axle. The scaled weight with me and a load of fuel is 6600#'s. GVWR 9200#
The 5er is a mountaineer 362 RLQ showing those numbers(empty 11546#'s and hitch weight 2055#).
The load weight on the pu shows 2350#'s(can't remember the exact # but very close) haul weight.

Looks like I would be at the top of the range for this 5er?

[JRTJH]

By the time you put a hitch in the truck, propane and a couple of 6 volt batteries, you're going to be overloaded, That's before you add passengers, cargo to the truck bed. Don't forget that cargo in the trailer, even a little, will also add to the pin weight if it's in front of the trailer axles. Usually it's real close to 20% of the total trailer weight, so if you're looking at 11546 empty, 200 for batteries and propane, 500 (that's real light) for camping supplies, you're looking at an anticipated trailer weight of about 12246. 20% of that is 2450, add the 100 lbs for a standard fifth wheel hitch or 200 lbs for an upgraded sliding hitch and you're looking at being "way up there" before your wife sits in the seat.......

Will the truck pull it? Heck yes, probably without breaking a sweat, but that doesn't make it legal or "mechanically a good choice" to stress the truck that much if you can prevent it.

Just my opinion, but I'd say you're at the very top and probably overloaded pulling the empty trailer with your wife and a small cooler in the back seat.

[KanTC]

D.C.,

Also keep in mind that your truck's GCVWR is 22,000 lbs.

We have a 2006 Duramax, similar configuration... if you plan/expect to stay within all of the truck's listed ratings/limits,
then you'll have to choose a lighter 5th wheel. As an example, the Laredo in our signature photo has a GVWR of 11,000 lbs.

Hope this helps,
Terri, the Chevy co-pilot

[D.C.]

Thanks for the info. Still working on all the truck & trailer details.

[bsmith0404]

I have a 5er that is a little heavier than what you're looking at, 2013 Alpine 3500 RE. Also had a 5er that is very close to the one you're looking at, 2008 Jayco 291 RLTS. You can pull the specs for both on-line. I pulled both with a 2011 2500 duramax. There is only a couple hundred pounds difference between the pin weights. The truck pulled both with no problems......BUT, I felt unstable with the added weight of the Alpine. The Jayco was at the limits of the truck. Additionally, the 2011 has a higher capacity than the 2007. They changed the frame and springs quite a bit between those years. I have jumped up to a 3500 DRW and absolutely love it in comparison.

Additionally, my dad has a 2007 Dmax crew cab. His 5ers empty weight is 8200 with a GVWR of 11,200 (2010 Jayco 30.5RLS Super Lite) his truck pulls it very nicely. I would recommend you try to say in this range.

[D.C.]

Truck is a late 07. It is the newer body style like the 08. Looks like if I want a bigger trailer I should also be looking at a bigger truck. Newer 1 ton would be the ticket.

[Javi]

Originally Posted by D.C.

Truck is a late 07. It is the newer body style like the 08. Looks like if I want a bigger trailer I should also be looking at a bigger truck. Newer 1 ton would be the ticket.

There ya' go... Mo trailer.... Mo truck

[Hansel]

Originally Posted by D.C.

Got the numbers from Keystone. They are also posted on the trailer. Don't think I would put 2400 #'s in it.

The weight sticker is going too be off, or at least in my situation with my Laredo the sticker say's that it's weight is somewhere around 6700lbs but when I took it too the CAT scale is was just over 8000lbs. That is over 1000lb difference, that's all I'm trying too point out is that you can't go by the sticker weight or believe the dealership, because they want too sell a unit and usually say "Ya you have plenty of truck" and "Yes" your truck will pull it, but is it towing safely?? Probably not IMHO if you haven't purchased the unit yet, I would consider a smaller or lighter unit.

[cblong]

Originally Posted by D.C.

Truck is a late 07. It is the newer body style like the 08. Looks like if I want a bigger trailer I should also be looking at a bigger truck. Newer 1 ton would be the ticket.

if your looking into GM trucks look at 2011 and newer they had a frame redesign that increased payload and towing and they haven't done any significant re designs since then.

[bsmith0404]

Originally Posted by D.C.

Truck is a late 07. It is the newer body style like the 08. Looks like if I want a bigger trailer I should also be looking at a bigger truck. Newer 1 ton would be the ticket.

The 2011 and up 2500 Dmax has a GVWR of 10,000, 800 lb gain over previous years. You're still on the edge of the weight limit with that trailer, so if that's the one you want I would agree more truck. Or, as I mentioned earlier, there are 35' 5ers out there in the lite classes (like the one my dad has) that are well within the weight range for your truck. Just have to decide what is right for you and what expense you're willing to go to.

[D.C.]

Yes I will have to look in the light class RV or at least go to a 1 ton truck. I do not want to put myself or others in harms way.

I already have a smaller 5er that is in range. Just needed more living space because we spent 8 months in it.

The more I work the numbers I see it is not that close. I thought at the beginning it was at the edge. It is not. They don't make it easy to understand the abilities of trucks. Money is tight here so I was wishing it would work out.

1 more question about truck weights? I looked at the numbers for front and back axles on a truck yesterday. 2012 Dodge 3500 front axle 5500# rear axle 6200# and gvwr 10100. Why do these not add up? May be a silly question but I would like to understand. My truck does not add up either. Don't have those numbers for my truck in front of me though.

[SAABDOCTOR]

HI DC. I went down that path with a Montana and a dodge 2500 td speed hd everything. I too was close in weight but not over. it pulled it just fine... How ever on long down hill runs you could smell the brakes. that was enough for me! it may have been with in limits but still i felt unsafe! went with a 3500 dually. never regretted that move. You will get used to the WIDE rear end. Good luck!

[jtyphoid]

Originally Posted by D.C.

1 more question about truck weights? I looked at the numbers for front and back axles on a truck yesterday. 2012 Dodge 3500 front axle 5500# rear axle 6200# and gvwr 10100. Why do these not add up? May be a silly question but I would like to understand. My truck does not add up either. Don't have those numbers for my truck in front of me though.

The manufacturers take into account a bunch of different things to determine the limits, such as structural strength, engine power, engine cooling capacity, tires, braking capacity, handling, etc.

Some people want to hang something heavy off the front, like a snow plow, whereas others want to carry something heavy in the bed, then there are those of us who tow, etc.

Because of those different use cases, the manufacturers determine axle limits separately from GVWR. The bottom line is that you'll hit some other limit, like braking capacity, before you'll hit the individual axle limits if you try to take both axles to the limit.

[bsmith0404]

I know this is a Keystone owners forum, but you may want to look at a Columbus. They are a lite trailer and have a very open floor plan. I looked at one and almost bought it before going with the Alpine. It's in the same price range as the Mountaineer. I think you would be very surprised with the amount of living space. My only complaint with it was it lacked basement storage compared to the drop frame models. With a family of 5 (3 females) I need all the storage I can get.

[D.C.]

Thanks. There is a dealer here in town.