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Take a look...40' 5th wheel....2500hd handle it?

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13K views 22 replies 17 participants last post by  bpe1  
#1 ·
I am looking at this trailer. I have a 30' bumper pull now and am considering going to a 5th wheel. It says it weights 12,239 and i am going to be putting my rhino inside, so add 1,200 pounds. I fill up with water when i get where i'm going so don't need to add that.


My truck is a 2007 2500hd LBZ crew cab 4x4 with a 6' lift 35's and firestone bags. Also I am probably going to 4.56 gears so it should have more than enough power.

Can this truck handle it or does this trailer need a dually?

http://www.shoprvconnection.com/index.php/inventory/123-template-put-vehicle-name-here
 
#2 ·
Without a doubt it will pull it no problem. The GVWR of my 5er is 14,300 lbs and it is a full 13'6" high. Where you will have problem is the tongue weight putting the GVW of your truck over. Your airbags will help the ride and level the truck out.

Personally I would do it but I am just a weekend warrior, rarely more then 200 miles from home. As long as you don't get pulled into a scale you will be fine IMO. The weight police will tell you no way but I see a lot of people do a lot more with a lot less every day.
 
#3 ·
Ya i'm sure the truck will handle pulling it its just getting it stopped is what i was concerned with.

Also, what hitch would you use with this trailer? There is a husky 16k glider on my local craigslist will this work good?



Thanks!
 
#4 ·
Hitches and Weight are both a big can of worms. Personally I run a manual slider and I have never had to slide mine back. It's nice to have the option I guess. 16k is a pretty light hitch but they are technically rated high enough and are cheap enough. I would probably suggest going with a heavier hitch. You'll need to do your research as far as auto slider, manual slider etc etc. There are probably 100 different options and everyone has a different opinion.

Have you looked around on rv.net?
 
#5 ·
A 40' 5th wheel is way too much for a 3/4 ton truck...too long, too heavy...you'll be way over the GVWR for that truck. Check the Tire and Loading Information sticker on the left side of the door frame, it will give you the cargo capacity for your truck. I have a 14k 5th wheel and I carry around 3,500# in the truck (pin weight, weight of the hitch, cargo, passengers, etc)...way over the capacity of a 3/4 ton.
 
#6 ·
I was just talking to a buddy the other day and he was saying that In CA anything over 10k is going to require a certain type of license or something. Not sure...either way, Ive got a 30" 5ther and with the lift wheels and tires I can definately tell the trailer is back there. My trailer unloaded is just under 10k
 
#8 · (Edited)
Nah, the 10k rule is for bumper pulls and non travel trailers....

the 2011s srw rigs would handle this 40' a little better (higher rating than the 2010 duallys,) not that your 2500 won't pull it but it's a long ol' thing so go steady now down inclines and around bends, I've never had issues with CHP and the rest and I'm often close to my GVWR...

Seriously though, if you prefer SRWs (I do) then get a 2011 3500srw before you upgrade your trailer. They come with a standard bed now and have a GVWR of 11,400 huge brakes, an exhaust brake and stability and sway control...always a good idea to have more truck than trailer...
 
#7 ·
a 3/4 ton is plenty for that trailer, I would be a little leary hauling it with the lift though. I hauled a 44' enclosed GN (17,000 pounds) over 80K miles, never had a problem.

The truck can handle it, I'm not sure if commie-fornia will let you though.
 
#9 · (Edited)
It'll pull it, but you would be foolish to do so - especially with a lift.
You need a dually minimum for that three axled behemoth.
 
#10 ·
Nice toy hauler!

It sounds like you will be close to the maximum weight rating for the truck when you're loaded up. Find out what the UVW (unloaded vehicle weight) of the 5th wheel is. There is a factory produced sticker located inside one of the cabinet doors near the kitchen sink. That will tell you what the rig weighed when it left the factory, then you can do the math.

Can the truck handle it? Sure. But I would be careful not to exceed the manufacturers weight ratings. Insurance companies don't get rich by writing checks.

If you anticipate traveling the mountains, consider a turbo brake - Banks Speed Brake, Edge Evolution tuner, or a custom EFI tune. I have the Evo and love the turbo braking capability.

I would also consider an automatic sliding hitch. Search the forum for "new 5th wheels" for a recent thread on the subject of hitches.
 
#11 · (Edited)
I pull a raptor toy hauler.I use a pullrite autoslider and love hit hitch it up and go with no worries. Some people think its too much. I do not feel unsafe towing it. Ive towed up into Yellowstone NP, and just move 1200 miles to MN and it towed awesome. It stops great and accels great. I just pulled into the scales it was 23502 truck and trailer me and 110 water etc. Now I just moved so we carried a lot more in the trailer this time so we were heavier, normally its two grizzley 700's water and stuff and we were at 21300. to each there own.

Hope this helps
 
#12 ·
Moparmotel, your truck has enough power to pull that 5er at a reasonable speed (I, personally, would not go over 60mph), but the lift and tires alter the dynamics some. The lift will decrease stability because it raises your center of gravity, and it may require you to lift the 5er in order to hitch it properly. Also, if you have them, lift blocks will increase the leverage on your springs and may increase spring wrap which will be bad for u-joints. Your tire size increases your rolling mass an adds to the load on your brakes. The air bags will help, and the Rhino will take some weight off the hitch.

The 5er weighs a little over 12k lbs empty. It probably has a GVWR in the 16k-18k range, so a 16k hitch will be marginal. You may want to look into an 18k-20k hitch for that trailer (I went with an 18k slider for the 5er in my garage for a good safety margin).

Can you tow the trailer? Yes. Should you? In my opinion, no. You will be at or above the limits of your truck which will be a problem should you run into an emergency situation. If you find yourself suddenly having to make an emergency maneuver, your towing conditions will go to **** in a hurry, and you will find yourself wishing you had more truck. I know from experience.

As far as driver's licensing in CA, you will have to get a non-commercial Class "A" license to tow that trailer. It is considered a 5er over 15k lbs and not used for hire. If you get stopped without the license, the trailer could be impounded. I had to get a restriction 41 RV endorsement on my Class "C" license as the 5er I tow is between 10,001 and 15k and not used for hire.

There's more to consider, but I figured this post is long enough already. Good luck with your decision.
 
#14 ·
My little old 30.5' trailer. Not nearly as fancy as the one you propose but it is easily towable with a 2500. Pin weight on this trailer requires larger tires than stock plus some sag control via air bags. Yes I am over the 2500HD specs a little but within the SRW 3500 specs. My truck is legal (in my home state) too as it is licensed for 10K GVWR. This campsite is off the pavement 20+ miles of single lane twisty steep dirt Forest Service road.

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#16 · (Edited by Moderator)
Seems like you've made the wise decision already, but I'll chime in that that trailer is too much for a 3/4 ton. That empty weight you quoted doesn't even include a lot of what most toy haulers include:

- Generator
- Generator fuel tank
- Generator fuel
- Roof AC (or two)
- Propane cylinders (And propane)

Etc etc etc.

Stated empty weights are rediculously off base nowadays and few people realize that they're usually a "bare bones, no accessories" weight. Even the empty LP cylinders a trailer ships with are usually not even included in that weight.

I suspect the ACTUAL empty weight of that unit (assuming it has a genny and AC) is closer to 15K. Add 1000# of camping gear and 1000-1500# in the toybox and you're WAY outside of the 3/4 ton range, much less SRW.

It'll pull it, sure....but I wouldn't.
 
#17 ·
I have a 35' 5th wheel and used to pull it with my ecsb and as long as it wasn't windy it was fine I have a cc dually and it's way better I wouldn't get it if your not upgrading to a dually
 
#18 ·
If you do decide to do it, I'd look for some 19.5" rims, and get some commercial tires.
 
#20 ·
The weight police say I'm over way over with my 11.5K dry 5er.

They'll really come down on you.

Will it pull it? No problem. BTW I pull mine with 3.73s and spent a lot of time in Montana & Idaho this summer. Handled it great.

You may find that 40' is a little too long for manuevering in some campgrounds though. I don't think I would ever want to go past 34' for that reason.
 
#21 ·
Oh, I'm way over my tow rating as well but unless you are a member of the GCWR or "factory figures" police I don't think many people would wrong me for pulling a 12K fiver with a 1-Ton dually...despite the factory GCWR numbers suggesting I'm grossly over the suggested numbers.

But there are limits and I think a 40' 17-ish thousand pound fiver is beyond that limit for a 3/4 ton single rear wheel.
 
#22 ·
Again, thanks for the responses. I am definitely not going with the 40' now, looks like you need a 3500 dually or possibly even a Kodiak for that trailer especially with CHP.

I've got a 26' (30' with tongue) bumper pull now that is 10,500-11,000 loaded and the truck pulls it good. I was considering upgrading for the better towing and the big front bedroom the 5th wheels have.
 
#23 ·
You also need to consider about 1,000 lbs. per person camping. If full time this goes higher. For full timers its a chore to keep the axles from being over loaded. I'm full time and I've had some scary situations with my dually towing 5ther. Glad I had at least a dually. God bless.