2021 or newer Chevy/ Gmc HD 5th wheel towing

[moose074]

Ok so wife want’s back into a diesel so actually trying to do research instead of deciding hey let’s swing by dealership to see what new and driving away in new rig. In process I saw where Chevy put goose hitch/ 5th wheel mount 4” behind axle. I was wondering if anybody tows a 5th wheel with new design regular bed. Is 4” enough to hit a 90 while backing up with out a slider and what are overall thoughts on trucks

 

[moose074]

I looked more found a little more information but nothing from actual owners pulling

 

[Semperfi24]

We use a pullrite sliding hitch, so I cant give you the real world info you are asking for (short bed non sliding hitch), but I dont think I would be able to turn enough without it.

 

[Chascin]

I purchased a 2022 3500HD chevy last Sept. Installed a B&W turnover ball to use with an Andersen ultimate hitch. I did not realize that chevy/gmc had moved the location for the goose ball behind the rear axel. Maybe as suggested this is to allow tighter turns on a fifth wheel. With the Andersen hitch being 5” rearward of the goose ball I can turn my 32WB Wildcat (102”wide) around 80 degrees to the truck. I have only towed the trailer once with this setup and am not sure how I like the way the rig handles. Have a longer trip planned for the end of April so I will see how that goes. My concern is that with the goose ball being rearward of the axel and the Andersen ball another 5” rearward that the front end is getting too light. Rig has been to Cat scales an all weights are below max but have noticed the front axel weight getting lighter.

 

[Chascin]

I should have added that my fifth wheel has a Lippert 1621 standard pinbox and the Andersen coupler is facing rearward so as to give clearance on the tailgate and side rails

 

[Phenom]

Hope you all don’t mind the post as I’ve no longer got a FR product(still lurk), but I do tow a FW with a ‘22 Chevy w/regular bed and the factory puck system. I use a B&W patriot fixed hitch. I can get nearly 90 degrees with my SOB trailer. Never need that much backing but I had to see where the limit was. Most new FW’s of all brands have a pretty good cut out on front cap to assist with this as well.

Yes, the new factory mount is back a ways. Additionally I have my hitch set back a little. When you put this particular hitch together, there’s two options, one for closer to the cab and one for further back. I went with further back.

 

[moose074]

Thank you all for the responses, my current setup allows for close to 90 on the Ford. I like the look and agility of the shortbed, but I miss the tool box not only the storage room but the look as well. I know the Ram adds a 50 gallon tank on long beds as well. I see the mt mpg of the Ford and Gm trucks and I have enjoyed both the Ram and Ford diesels in the past. I have been lucky in the past able to get good deals and not carry negative equity to the new truck.
This last purchase was almost that way I didn’t carry negative equity but I bought at the wrong time and now that the used market is on track towards normal. I know I will take a big hit and will need to stick with the truck longer than normal. That said I don’t think I ever bought a truck ( except my current) as a stop gap between trucks I have always had intentions of keeping for long time, then I trade sooner than originally planned with no real reason.

 

[Locky]

When she said "Let's buy a new diesel truck", did you fall in love all over again with her lol

 

[TitanMike]

When she said "Let's buy a new diesel truck", did you fall in love all over again with her lol

Wasn't for a diesel truck but when I bought my Titan my late wife handed me the checkbook. I asked how big a check I could write and she answered "whatever you need".

We'd already been married 20 years and that just confirmed my choice. ( both to marry her and also let her manage finances[emoji106])

 

[moose074]

The wife is awesome always has been, she is fine with a bigger payment than I am. Daughter going off to college in next year, I don’t want such a big payment that I can’t enjoy doing the things we enjoy. We do have a big trip we are planning for next summer, p,us our goal is at least a monthly rv trip at least over weekends. So the gas would do the job but a diesel would do it easier. My truck does great for what I am doing now but I worry about a truck that might have 80k on the odometer pulling over it’s ratings by a fair some going up some of the mountains we plan on crossing. I will still be in the short daily drive scenario of 1 mile and down each day multiple times a day. Thanks for responding

 

[moose074]

Ok let’s try this again, I was more tired than I realized. The wife is very supportive, I don’t have a lot of vices and don’t spend a lot money. I do most all the repairs and upgrades around the house myself. Example just this fall our 50 year old orangeburg sewer collapsed. It was during my busy season working 80 plus hours a week, I told her to get a quote it was 2k a joint I needed 9.5 joints total. I have replaced 6 joints things are flowing and I will finish this spring. She says that alone I deserve a new truck she wants the diesel and a long bed. She didn’t like the refueling dance with a 38’ 5th wheel every 3 hours. The thought that I can’t do 90 degrees backing up, even though I never have had too in past 6 years of owning a 5th wheel.

I still have the same concerns that led me to getting a gasser the multiple short trips a day as a daily driver, that as been aliveated some as I have spoken to several people who asked why a traded and they are basically doing the same thing I was and never had problems. In 4 or 5 years of owning I really only had one issue and an extremely long regen process and that was my only problem.

I love short beds the look mostly but I do like carrying a real tool box and the look of a head ache rack but darn those things are long. I have owned Ford and Ram 6.7 test drove the Duramax last weekend. Like them all it’s just a matter of new truck with a higher payment but knowing the history or getting used lower payment but not sure of past history.

I do have a big 25 day trip we are planning for next summer and will be crossing the northern end of the Rockies a few times. My truck has 68k on it first 50k are unknown. I can see the truck having 80k on odometer by the time I take the trip, and I am about 2k over my combined weight So the truck does work hard. I don’t see thing’s getting better in car market anytime soon or I would try to wait it out.

 

[moose074]

Well might pull the trigger on Monday on a 2022 Chevy Silverado LTZ 3500 Z71. Pricier than I want but everything was found several 2020 or 2021 LTZ trim levels 2500 all with 45k or higher on mileage but going for 68k this one only has 17k for 72. They sent me home in it for weekend. It’s a lot of money but we will see. Averaged about 72mph on way home got 21.5 mpg . Ride is so much smoother than my 2019 . Payment will almost double so not sure. When I get my tax rebate for solar I can refinance lower amount and hopefully lower rate to make payment more bearable.

 

[LittleBill]

Well might pull the trigger on Monday on a 2022 Chevy Silverado LTZ 3500 Z71. Pricier than I want but everything was found several 2020 or 2021 LTZ trim levels 2500 all with 45k or higher on mileage but going for 68k this one only has 17k for 72. They sent me home in it for weekend. It’s a lot of money but we will see. Averaged about 72mph on way home got 21.5 mpg . Ride is so much smoother than my 2019 . Payment will almost double so not sure. When I get my tax rebate for solar I can refinance lower amount and hopefully lower rate to make payment more bearable.

I had a 2015 Chevy LTZ 2500HD CC SB 4X4 Diesel and traded it in on a 2021 3500HD High Country Dually CC LB 4x4 Diesel in March of 2021. Fuel economy initially on the 3500HD wasn't as good as what I was getting with the 2500HD. However the more miles I put on the 3500HD the better the fuel economy is doing and just about back to what I was getting on the 2500HD.

I do like the like the way the 3500HD pulls over the 2500HD. The combined weight with the 2500HD was just at 24,000 lbs and now with the 3500HD I am right at 25,400 lbs. With the long bed it is a little tricky sometimes in finding a decent parking spot, but not really too bad and really like the extra room on both in front and back of the hitch with the std hitch on the 3500HD. I had a Demco AutoSlider on the 2500HD where I didn't have near the room I have on the 3500HD. Making tight turns takes a little more room than the 2015 did, but again I deal with it. A friend of mine has a Ford F450 which is suppose to have one of the better turning radius on the market.

One thing to note if you have a furrion rear observation camera like I do, you will need to get an adapter for your 7-way plug. After much troubleshooting as to why my camera wasn't working when connected to the 2021 3500HD TV. I found out it had to do with 'Pulse Width Modulation' for the taillights. It reduces the voltage to the taillights to somewhere around 7 volts (I believe) which is okay for the taillights but not the camera. My camera needs 12 volts to operate even thought the blue light lit when on 7 volts.

There wasn't anything available at the time I needed something so I made my own using a relay to supply the 12 volts needed to the taillights so could run the camera. My adapter looks similar to what etrailer now offers - https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Furrion/FR87PR.html (of course mine is not as pretty).

Good luck and be safe -

 

[moose074]

Thank you for letting me know about your updating I am glad the mpg went up. I am amazed at the smoothness of the ride compared to my 2019 F 250. Traveling to the dealership the road was so bad it all but ripped the steering wheel out of my hands once and several times felt like I wasn’t in control. Road just as rough on way home but the Chevy handled it great. It’s a huge payment so I am not sure. Wish I had a crystal ball

 

[moose074]

Well I pulled the trigger, not sure it was the smartest thing to do but I am now owner of new to me 2022 3500

 

[LittleBill]

Well I pulled the trigger, not sure it was the smartest thing to do but I am now owner of new to me 2022 3500

 

[FlaNative]

Agree with Phenom on the hitch arrangement. We own a 2005 GMC Sierra 2500HD Duramax and have the B&W Patriot 18K hitch. The hitch is set to 4" to the rear of the axle. We have over 2,000 miles towing with this set up and have had no trouble in backing the rig into a spot.
We have owned a Curt Q20 slider before and found that we hardly ever used the slider function. The Curt had a lot of play in it and that caused some noise issues when stopping/starting. The Patriot is much tighter and gives us more confidence when towing. Patriot is a piece of cake to couple/de-couple: a good solid hitch.
The GMC has been a great truck: 4WD, short bed SLT package. We added an after market exhaust brake (Pac Brake) which helps slow things down, however it is a gradual process due to the weight of the 5er pushing us. Unloaded, she slows it down like I'm braking with heavy foot pressure. Additionally, we don't have to buy DEF, which saves us money. We're planning on keeping our GMC until we're done rv'ing.
Good luck with your new truck, moose074! Happy camping too!

 

[moose074]

Finally got the B&W turnover installed, yesterday drove straight home hooked up. Now camping wind was wicked yesterday 30 plus so was happy to get 8.1 mpg on the trip. It’s amazing what 4 inches does. I could get close to 90 on the ford but not all the way. Pretty sure I could now. The space between the truck and trailer seems to have increased more than 4 inches. Trailer appears to respond quicker when backing. I do need to fix the sag

 

[moose074]

Just an update I was pretty darn close to a 90 while backing up last Saturday after wrong turn. Appeared I had lots of room between cab and 5ver