I need advice from the weight police

[JWood422]

I bought a 2024 Chevy Silverado 2500HD 6.6L gas with 10 speed Allison transmission. It was time for a new vehicle so we bought it to replace our 2008 Ford Expedition with over 237,000 miles.

I’m attaching the door sticker for y’all to help me figure out what’s a reasonable size and weight 5th wheel. We’re happy with our travel trailer but are considering a 5th wheel for a bit more room and storage.

All I have to go on is this sticker. I haven’t weighed my truck but the sticker says its curb weight is 7378 lbs. The 4 of us (me, my wife and 2 dogs) weigh 450 total. So that in itself brings the truck to 7828. I don’t feel we carry millions of pounds of extra stuff for camping. We carry 2 folding chairs, a 22” Blackstone griddle, 2 non-electric bicycles, clothes and food. Oh, I’m sure I’m leaving stuff out but those are the biggies. We don’t carry water in the tank and always empty the black and gray tanks before traveling.

Y’all have all said it’s important to weigh the truck and trailer to get true weights. I have no idea how to weigh a trailer before purchase. I can’t imagine a dealership letting me take their trailer to a scale before buying it.

At the very least is there a rule of thumb for estimating what a trailer will actually weigh as it actually sits on the lot? What weight would y’all use as a cutoff point for my truck? I’d love answers to any important questions I haven’t asked, too. Thanks!

 

[tomkatb]

The likely limiting factor is likely tongue weight.

Tongue weight is the listing in the advertising plus about 15-20% of the total loaded weight of the rv minus the weight of the empty rv. Batteries, propane plus all your stuff.

Very broad. Varies a lot.

Find a trailer you like and it Is easy.

Shopping for an rv takes TIME!!

It is harder to get gas with a 35’ trailer than with diesel. The majority of stations are iffy.

 

[DougW9876]

By the time you add a 5th wheel hitch you are going to have about 2800lbs available for pin weight of your fiver. I would prefer to try for one that has about 2,300lbs of pin weight when loaded and ready to go. A trailer will have the pin weight as it left the factory on the sticker on the side of the trailer. That won’t include the propane, batteries, or anything else that is put in by the dealer or you. You just have to make a best guess and try to err on the side of caution, then when you get it actually loaded up go find a scale. You can then make adjustments on what you haul and where you load it if needed.

 

[moose074]

I will agree that getting diesel is easier and that’s why my wife made me go back to diesel. That said I pulled a 42’ and 38’ never ran out of fuel. You should love the new level of get up and go in your truck just a decade of technology better. When I got my most recent 5th wheel I told my salesman my limitations of payload it took him a few units of me telling him nope this is too heavy. While concerned about payload I was more concerned about overall weight as I was in a 2019 F 250 with the 6.2 gasser and I like the mountains.my vote try not to exceed 2500 pound for hitch

 

[JWood422]

Thanks y’all.

 

[mmartin_tdc]

For what it's worth, my historical real world numbers on my 5th wheels has been right around 22% of the loaded weight of the trailer as it is ready to go camping.

 

[OshawaDave]

I bought a 2024 Chevy Silverado 2500HD 6.6L gas with 10 speed Allison transmission. It was time for a new vehicle so we bought it to replace our 2008 Ford Expedition with over 237,000 miles.

I’m attaching the door sticker for y’all to help me figure out what’s a reasonable size and weight 5th wheel. We’re happy with our travel trailer but are considering a 5th wheel for a bit more room and storage.

All I have to go on is this sticker. I haven’t weighed my truck but the sticker says its curb weight is 7378 lbs. The 4 of us (me, my wife and 2 dogs) weigh 450 total. So that in itself brings the truck to 7828. I don’t feel we carry millions of pounds of extra stuff for camping. We carry 2 folding chairs, a 22” Blackstone griddle, 2 non-electric bicycles, clothes and food. Oh, I’m sure I’m leaving stuff out but those are the biggies. We don’t carry water in the tank and always empty the black and gray tanks before traveling.

Y’all have all said it’s important to weigh the truck and trailer to get true weights. I have no idea how to weigh a trailer before purchase. I can’t imagine a dealership letting me take their trailer to a scale before buying it.

At the very least is there a rule of thumb for estimating what a trailer will actually weigh as it actually sits on the lot? What weight would y’all use as a cutoff point for my truck? I’d love answers to any important questions I haven’t asked, too. Thanks!

With that payload you should have no trouble with a 33' fiver and 11,000 lbs. Now, if you're planning on climbing the rockies a lot.....that a different conversation.

 

[sailorsam20500]

My thought on how heavy a trailer can you pull... Base your calculations on the GVWR of the trailer. Also get the unloaded weight to insure you have enough capacity to add the stuff you want to take with you when camping. I've seen some postings on small trailers that only allowed a few hundred pounds...

 

[JWood422]

I appreciate y’all’s input. This is all very helpful.

 

[fanrgs]

The yellow GVWR sticker on the front driver's side of every fifth wheel you look at includes the weight of any items you put in the trailer plus a full water tank, batteries, and full propane tanks. Calculate about 20% of that GVWR as the "wet weight" of the pin (the manufacturer will only give you the "dry" pin weight). And don't forget to add 200-250# to the truck bed for the hitch weight.

 

[RamManMN]

To summarize what several others have written:
1. You have about 2800# of payload available after people, dogs, and fifth wheel hitch.
2. Assume 22% hitch weight
3. USE GVWR of the fifth wheel for your calculations:
2800÷.22 = 12,727# is the max gvwr you should look for. Personally I'd knock off 10% for added margin of safety which would be 12727 - 1272 = 11,455

There are quite a few fifth wheels out there that would meet that criteria. Basically any of them that claim "half ton towable" in my mind should actually be called 3/4 ton towable. Examples would be Grand Design Reflection 150 or Keystone Cougar 1/2 Ton.

https://www.keystonerv.com/product/cougar-half-ton/premium-fifth-wheels/floorplans

https://www.granddesignrv.com/fifth-wheels/reflection-150-series?modelName=Reflection-150

 

[Red Roadrunner]

Read your manual, it gives all the info you need!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jjscsix]

Read your manual, it gives all the info you need!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think the picture he posted is all the information he needs for the tow vehicle. What he needs is real world weight information on the trailer he gets. Without being able to actually weigh it before he buys i think the advice here has been very good.

 

[jjscsix]

I will agree that getting diesel is easier and that’s why my wife made me go back to diesel. That said I pulled a 42’ and 38’ never ran out of fuel. You should love the new level of get up and go in your truck just a decade of technology better. When I got my most recent 5th wheel I told my salesman my limitations of payload it took him a few units of me telling him nope this is too heavy. While concerned about payload I was more concerned about overall weight as I was in a 2019 F 250 with the 6.2 gasser and I like the mountains.my vote try not to exceed 2500 pound for hitch

Ive been doing a lot of homework for my next tow vehicle. What sort of gas mileage are you getting on your current diesel at say a steady freeway 60-65mpg? I have a spreadsheet and my factors include both cost of fuel and range in a tank of gas.

 

[capeharj]

I bought a 2024 Chevy Silverado 2500HD 6.6L gas with 10 speed Allison transmission. It was time for a new vehicle so we bought it to replace our 2008 Ford Expedition with over 237,000 miles.

I’m attaching the door sticker for y’all to help me figure out what’s a reasonable size and weight 5th wheel. We’re happy with our travel trailer but are considering a 5th wheel for a bit more room and storage.

All I have to go on is this sticker. I haven’t weighed my truck but the sticker says its curb weight is 7378 lbs. The 4 of us (me, my wife and 2 dogs) weigh 450 total. So that in itself brings the truck to 7828. I don’t feel we carry millions of pounds of extra stuff for camping. We carry 2 folding chairs, a 22” Blackstone griddle, 2 non-electric bicycles, clothes and food. Oh, I’m sure I’m leaving stuff out but those are the biggies. We don’t carry water in the tank and always empty the black and gray tanks before traveling.

Y’all have all said it’s important to weigh the truck and trailer to get true weights. I have no idea how to weigh a trailer before purchase. I can’t imagine a dealership letting me take their trailer to a scale before buying it.

At the very least is there a rule of thumb for estimating what a trailer will actually weigh as it actually sits on the lot? What weight would y’all use as a cutoff point for my truck? I’d love answers to any important questions I haven’t asked, too. Thanks!

It's simple, a gooseneck and a fifth wheel are the same. Use the numbers on the plate for the gooseneck.

 

[acadianbob]

Based on a similar truck, F250 with 6.2 gas/6 speed, I would aim for a 5er with a GVW of no more than 12K. You may still have some "nervous" times if you get into heavy winds in the plains states.

 

[Springerdad]

Just as a what for, I have a 2022 2500HD diesel crew cab. I recently delivered a 48 foot 5er to it's new owners after my son's friend sold it. We took it 35 miles on side roads and the interstate and the drive was stress free and comfortable.

Normally I wouldn't do that but it was a last ditch thing so his friend could get it sold. The truck hardly squat at all under that monster's pin weight either.

My current camper is a 27' Grand Design 150 series 5er, and my hitch is a B&W Patriot 16K.

 

[wolfnwillow]

The yellow payload sticker on the door is almost more important. Although both are needed for correct measurements. But in the end, only weighing will be most accurate. I had a very similar size gasser, 3/4 ton. I was and am very anal about my weights.
I ended up with a total length fifth wheel of 33 feet, dry hitch weight of 1500 lbs and GVWR of 10130 lbs. It was a 2018 Jayco Eagle.
I was plenty big enough with all the right amenities for two of us and occasionally 4. We were very comfortable in it for long stays.
Those weights and measurements allowed me to carry normal equipment in the trailer and truck without worrying too much about going over my weights.
When I really loaded up with those "extra things" for longer trips I would just hit about the max weight per the "weight police" standards.
After many trips I realized I was in the minority as I constantly saw 3/4 ton diesels pulling full size massive fifth wheels which were obviously overloaded and even after talking to many of them, they only knew their pulling power not their payload (yellow sticker). Which on average is about 1000 lbs less than a gasser. The Jayco was the right combination of towing and payload weight for me.

 

[RRSCOTT]

I have a 2020 2500hd Silverado 6.6L gas. I pull a 34 ft plus 5th wheel. It's dry weight on the sticker says 8605 lbs. I can pull a 5th wheel weighing up to 16600 lbs, tongue weight up to 2490 lbs, the GCWR is 24000 lbs, and the curb weight of the truck is 7240 lbs. Payload is 3410 lbs. This is what is on the sticker on the truck. I have not weighed the 2 of them. I'm going to, just haven't gotten it done. Empty the truck sits butt high, but hooked up, they sit level.