Need some honest opinions

[Newbie92]

I'm looking to get some honest information. I own a Chevy 1500 with a 5.3L engine and a 3.42 axel ratio. The GCWR is 15,000 lbs. I've been told I can pull a light weight fifth wheel as long as I use a slider hitch and watch my pin weight. Any opinions?

[hankpage]

3:42 rear will make towing anything a chore for the truck. You will really have to watch your payload and tire ratings. JM2¢, Hank

This subject has been discussed at length many times .... try the forum search for more info.

By the way .... Welcome to the forum.

[x96mnn]

The smallest pin weight i have found in a 5er is 1200 pds. It's not so much watching the pin weight as finding something that dry let alone loaded up that does not max out the payload on your rig.

I will not state you cannot or comment on it being safe or not. Just keep in mind if something goes wrong and your get in an accident an insurance company may use you being over a weight rating as wreakless driving and put you at fault.

[Bob Landry]

The term light weight is subjective. You need to look at the actual pin weight, the weight of passengers and cargo, and full tank of fuel and I think you are going to exceed the payload capacity of the truck. Don't forget to add 100lbs for the hitchIf the chevy 5.3L is anything like the ford 5.4L, it's not a towing powerhouse and coupled with a 3.42 gear, it's towing(and stopping) ability is going to be less than stellar.

I may have missed something, but the smallest fivers I've seen still have 1200-1300 lbs on the pin. I would look at more truck or less trailer and stay with a conventional tow rig. JMHO..

[fla-gypsy]

The payload limit of most 1/2 ton pickups eliminates them as a good choice for 5th wheel towing including yours. In addition you would find your vehicle underpowered and having a poor rear gear for towing a 5th wheel. There are TT's that would be a much better fit but even some of those would not work. Good luck with the search and you did well to come and ask first before committing to something that would be unsuitable and potentially unsafe.

[JRTJH]

The lightest fifth wheel that Keystone manufacturers is the Springdale 242FWRLSSR. Specs are:

Shipping Weight 6316
Carrying Capacity 1664
Hitch 980 (shipping weight)
Length 26' 3"
Height 11' 7"

Given those figures the GVW is 7980
Pin weight 15-25% at GVW is 1197 - 1995

EMPTY Pin weight with full propane and a single battery is around 1115.

I am not sure that the GCWR you listed is accurate, however even if it is, the payload is much more a limiting factor than GCWR in the half ton trucks.

When calculating your max trailer capability, use your payload, subtract all passengers and all luggage/cargo, then subtract roughly 150 lbs for the hitch and accessory towing equipment. What's left is your maximum pin weight.

An example, suppose your payload is 1600 lbs. Subtract 300 lbs for 2 people (150 lbs each) and 150 lbs for the hitch. Thats 450 lbs from the 1600. Assuming you have no other cargo in the truck, no bedmat, no bed cover, no firewood, no other cargo, your maximum pinweight would be 1150 lbs. The EMPTY pin weight of the lightest fifth wheel Keystone produces would allow you to tow it only if you could load it with only 35 lbs of additional weight (on the pin) over the empty trailer.

So, the answer is that probably your truck isn't going to make it towing a fifth wheel. We tow this exact trailer with a half ton F150. Our GVW is 7700 lbs, with a payload of 2120 lbs. We watch what we take with us very carefully, in fact, I stopped carrying 2x8 levelling boards and bought plastic blocks just to save weight. Every trip we take is a carefully managed exercise in loading the trailer.

Can it be done, yes, but it's not as "carefree" as just loading and going. Much more information is needed about your truck before any really accurate assessment can be done, but generally speaking, the answer is no, your truck won't tow the lightest fifth wheel that Keystone makes.

[Festus2]

There are some 1/2T trucks that are capable of safely towing a 5th wheel but, at this point given the information that you have provided, it is difficult to say that your truck is one of them.

Until you provide us with some additional information about your truck, it is difficult for us to give you sound advice. We do know, however, what your axle ratio is and; as Hankpage pointed out, that doesn't work in your favour.

We have no idea what 5th wheel you are talking about other than a "light-weight" one but Keystone and other 5th wheel manufacturers describe many of their units as being "lites" or "Half ton towable". The sticker on the RV is only a sticker - not a accurate and reliable guide for the RVer. If you can provide some figures/numbers for the 5th wheel you are considering, that would help.

The slider hitch will give you more flexibility in maneuvering but won't enhance the payload or capacity of your truck.

Once you provide us with some additional, specific information about your truck and the 5th wheel you are looking at, then we can determine your pin weight and payload.

Welcome, BTW, to the forum - a place we hope provides "honest advice" to everyone who asks.

[Newbie92]

Ok here's some more infor that I hope helps. The max GVWR is 7000 and the GAWR is 3950 for the front and back. The trailer hubby looking at is the Cougar X-lite 29RBS it is used. Loaded at weigh station trailer came in at 8347. Our Chevy has the tow package so already has heavy duty springs and high capacity air system. (But not sure why different air system). As far as passenger weight it's about 400 pounds for us and 2 rugrats

[Festus2]

Thanks for supplying some additional information. I am not sure what you mean by the "high capacity air system" ....are you referring to air bags or some other similar system? If that system is the same as air bags, it will do nothing to increase your payload. It will make the ride more comfortable and perhaps make your TV and 5th sit more level when hooked up.

[crash]

Even if it tows it ,It will be under some strain and I would worry about the stopping ablility of it to.Just my 2 cents

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by Newbie92

). As far as passenger weight it's about 400 pounds for us and 2 rugrats

Keep in mind that as "rugrats" grow, they become heavier, but even more important, as they grow, the toys and other things they bring along get heavier and much more numerous.

I'm thinking that if you do look at fifth wheeling with that truck, you're going to be in a constant battle to say under the max payload, if it's even possible depending on the trailer you select. Pin weights are all going to be above 1000 lbs no matter how you cut it, the hitch will add to that and the 400 lbs of current passenger weight puts you at or over the max already. It's a "no win situation" any way you cut it.

[campingcpl]

Originally Posted by Newbie92

Ok here's some more infor that I hope helps. The max GVWR is 7000 and the GAWR is 3950 for the front and back. The trailer hubby looking at is the Cougar X-lite 29RBS it is used. Loaded at weigh station trailer came in at 8347. Our Chevy has the tow package so already has heavy duty springs and high capacity air system. (But not sure why different air system). As far as passenger weight it's about 400 pounds for us and 2 rugrats

We had a 1500 GMC with the 5.3L and 373 gears and the complete tow package (heavier springs, trans & oil cooler, etc.) and pulled our current Sprinter with it. We are around 1000# on the pin and around the 8500# fully loaded and the truck pulled the trailer fine on short trips with fairly flat roads but if any wind or hills and the truck really strugled. With you having 342 gears you will really have a tough time pulling that type of weight. Like what everyone else has said here I wouldn't go with anything less then a 3/4 ton for a trailer of this weight.

[Newbie92]

I hear what all of you are saying. But now I have a axel truck size question. I have been looking at the 2500 and I'm finding that the 2500 with a 3.73 axel has the same towing capacity as the 1500 with a 3.42 axel. Why would they have they same stats?

[cabinfever]

I have a 2007 2500HD Silverado...GCWR is 18,500lbs with the 3.73 gears....max TT with weight distribution...12,300lbs.....the payload on the 2500 HD is in the 3200lb range....gives room for pin weight and then some on a 5er.....

[Newbie92]

To cabin fever. I got my tow info from our chevy manual. We have a 2012 chevy. If you look online at the manual it's page 9-95 the 4wd extended cab same truck we have now is same style but 1500

[cabinfever]

Originally Posted by Newbie92

To cabin fever. I got my tow info from our chevy manual. We have a 2012 chevy. If you look online at the manual it's page 9-95 the 4wd extended cab same truck we have now is same style but 1500

After looking at some 2012 numbers I see the 2500 towing max to be down from my 2007 and not much higher than the 1500 like you said. However like said here before, the 2500 still has a much higher payload over the rear axle where the 5er pin would be. Much more suspension on the 2500. There are many reasons tow max changes year to year. One example, my 07 2500HD has disc brakes on all 4 corners and starting in 08 GM went back to drum brakes on the rear. I'm thinking the drums on the rear took tow capacity away.

[JRTJH]

One reason for the significant differences in towing limits between the 2007 and the 2012 is the changes in how towing limits are calculated. GM adopted the SAE towing standard in 2012 and the way SAE sets up the calculations does, in many situations, give dramatically different towing limit results.

Without getting into the real nuts and bolts of the SAE standards, basically, there were no "uniform measurements" being used by truck manufacturers and no real way to compare "apples to apples" from one manufacturer's towing limits to another. The SAE standard gives a "one way" calculation so the consumer can compare a vehicle from one manufacturer against a known standard used by all other manufacturer. Whether it's the "best way to calculate" or not isn't a part of what I'm saying, rather the reason that you see 3/4 ton calculations close to 1/2 ton calculations on an older model truck is that GM adapted the new way of calculating towing limits in 2012.

[Corbin1357]

You just need to find the right 5th Wheel!! Like in the video link below!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bA7-Y7eqNw8

[IdahoSRT10]

Originally Posted by Newbie92

I hear what all of you are saying. But now I have a axel truck size question. I have been looking at the 2500 and I'm finding that the 2500 with a 3.73 axel has the same towing capacity as the 1500 with a 3.42 axel. Why would they have they same stats?

The most important question is ....what is the Payload rating for your truck?
Post all the details of your truck...year, model, 4x4, options ect.
http://fifthwheelst.com/tow-rating.htm
http://trucks.about.com/od/2007chevy...ilv_update.htm

[Newbie92]

This may sound dumb to many of you but how do I find the payload?