3/4 ton truck capacity

[pattersonb]

I'm a "newbie" to RV'ing, so have some dumb questions. My truck is a 2008 3/4 ton Chevy Duramax/Allison. My understanding of that 3/4 ton designation is that the factory rates the bed capacity at approx. 1500 lbs. My 5th wheel's king pin weight of a "dry" trailer is rated at approx. 1650 lbs. Obviously, this will increase when the unit is loaded - depending on how the weight is distributed, etc. My questions are: Am I exceeding the vehicle's capacity? Is the 1500 lb rating closely related to the overall GVWR (i.e. as long as I don't exceed that number, I'm okay with a heavier load on the king pin)? Should I consider adding Air Lifts or some other type of suspension aids? Thanks for your input.

[sherdep]

which trailer are you looking to buy or own it already (Year and make) - I know this question is going to be asked

I would suggest Helper air bags since you will be putting alot of weight in the bed

[mike06081969]

Originally Posted by pattersonb

I'm a "newbie" to RV'ing, so have some dumb questions. My truck is a 2008 3/4 ton Chevy Duramax/Allison. My understanding of that 3/4 ton designation is that the factory rates the bed capacity at approx. 1500 lbs. My 5th wheel's king pin weight of a "dry" trailer is rated at approx. 1650 lbs. Obviously, this will increase when the unit is loaded - depending on how the weight is distributed, etc. My questions are: Am I exceeding the vehicle's capacity? Is the 1500 lb rating closely related to the overall GVWR (i.e. as long as I don't exceed that number, I'm okay with a heavier load on the king pin)? Should I consider adding Air Lifts or some other type of suspension aids? Thanks for your input.

I have a 3/4 ton Ford with the powerstroke diesel and am pulling a 40' Blue Ridge with it. Your RV dealer shouldn't sell you a unit you couldn't pull. You should be fine. I would recommend air bags. It will allow you to level the truck and it will handle and ride much better. I have the Firestone Riderite bags with on-board compressor and remote switch and gauge. They were a little pricy, but well worth the cost. You can get a simple air bag set up pretty cheap that will do the trick, just a little more trouble. There are much more experienced 5th wheelers on here than myself. I pulled a TT until this spring, so I'm pretty new to it myself.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by pattersonb

I'm a "newbie" to RV'ing, so have some dumb questions. My truck is a 2008 3/4 ton Chevy Duramax/Allison. My understanding of that 3/4 ton designation is that the factory rates the bed capacity at approx. 1500 lbs.

There is no such designation as 3/4 ton anymore. The 2500HD Duramax has a payload equal to your curb weight subtracted from 9200 pounds.

The curb weight with diesel is higher than that in your manual (2500HD without options), so the only way to know for sure is to weigh your truck empty. No hitch, just you and a full tank of gas. Subtract that number from 9200 pounds to get your actual payload.

[donn]

All I will do is give you the numbers when I was pulling my fiver with a 2500HD GM product.
Now remember this truck had a GVWR of 9200 pounds. Loaded ready to camp I scaled it at 7500 pounds. SO I had a net cargo carrying capacity of 1700 pounds before I exceeded the manufacturers GVWR. Hitching my 12,750 GVWR fiver to the truck and loading it up ready to camp turned my truck into 10,500 pounds. YUP! 3000 pounds pin weight on a scaled weight of a fiver at 12,350 pounds.
You MUST load the truck up like you would go camping and go to the scales.

[crocus]

"SO I had a net cargo carrying capacity of 1700 pounds before I exceeded the manufacturers GVWR. Hitching my 12,750 GVWR fiver to the truck and loading it up ready to camp turned my truck into 10,500 pounds. YUP! 3000 pounds pin weight on a scaled weight of a fiver at 12,350 pounds."
===============================================
There's a recipe for disaster!
Anyone overloading their truck that much is a danger to everyone one the road.

[Herk7769]

Donn,

My experience was exactly the same!

Since my "rating" was to be able to tow 15,800 pounds I "cubed out" the camper with everything a new RV'er might need and drove the 6 miles to the scales with a smile on my face. The GMC 2500HD pulled that load with NO EFFORT! I was even passing folks on the highway!


AFTER I weighed it, I squeeked home 15 MPH UNDER the speed limit and went through the camper with a fine toothed comb. I needed to dump 2500 pounds of tools, food, booze, water, and junk to get a passing weight at the CAT scale.