[zfuller123]

Hello Everyone....

Just a couple quick questions. I have a 2005 Chev crew cab 3500 dually (HD?) that i purchased initially for the purpose of towing a little over a year ago. Plans fell through right after that on the toyhauler i wanted then... but now i'm signing papers on the toybox i want... a Weekend Warrior 'Full Throttle' with a custom 2 foot extension to the garage area, making the thing a little over 32 feet in length.

Needless to say when i bought my truck i knew little about diesels, let alone anything about Diesel Place. Well, that 18 months later, my truck is not EFI Lived to death, Banks full system (tuner is something to look at now - doesn't get used - but the intercooler, boost tubes, intake and 'cat'less exhaust are all compliments of the Big Hoss Bundle).... as well as a Suncoast IV with 1057 converter and Mike L '06 cooler... Needless to say this thing SHOULD be able to pull a train with the help of some custom EFI live work....

but back to the point... I've been doing some reading on some of the RV sites (RV.NET was where i found a good thread about this)... and i'm wondering if is SHOULD be pulling something like this. GVRW is supposed to be 17,000 on the trailer.. but it's been whispered to me (by the dealer) that this is conservative and i'm actually adding weight with the extra footage, etc... I figure my trucks about as bullet proof as i can make it.. but not being an experienced 'big' trailer guy... i'm curious of the ratings on my truck (which is stock as far as tires and suspension go) is capable of handling such a beast 'safely'..... I have to believe it is... but in the back of my head i have 3 youngsters that will be occupying the back seat and the queen next to me... safety is a factor and i wonder if maybe i'm stretching things a little too far???

A link to the trailer: http://www.a1warriortrailers.com/ftl.htm#specs

I'm looking for comments... questions.. anything... i sign final paperwork in about a week.... just wondering if i SHOULD be signing it...

Thanks!!

-->Zach

 

[astieg]

Take a look at some of the stuff these guys haul here. It is truely heavy but not a problem at all with the rig, especially the way you have it set up.. Unofficially the #'s are in a very safe range knowing that the public will 'over-load' it. Buddy just got a 07 ford to pull his 07 39' coach. 18k and pushin the truck to the limits. Pull it without a 'hitch' hee hee hee.. but still it is a ford......... Drive safe and if it really matters to you discuss with the Queen for a 5500 etc...

 

[Rockin]

put the trailer on a scale before you purchase.

 

[RayMich]

You may want to look at my response to your other post.
http://dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=132487

 

[FLSTFI Dave]

My 06, Crew Cab dually 4x4, SLT trim, Duramax hits the scales at 7480 full of fuel with no body in the truck.

The GVWR is 11400, which means there are 3920 pounds of carrying capacity for people and hitch and pin weight.

Figure out how much your family weighs and subtract if from 3920, and that is what you have left for the weight of the fifth wheel hitch and trailer pin weight.

As for the trailer, the 17000 is the max it should weigh when you load it. If your carefull about what you put in it it may come in less than that.

Weight the trailer empty, it may be around 12,000 to 13000 pounds. That 4000 pounds of cargo it can haul, but if you only haul 3000 pounds in it you will be under your GCWR.

I would try to stay with in all the ratings. However, a few pounds over one will not be to bad, a 1000 pounds over may be another story.

If you went by the axle rating on your truck the GVWR would be 13000 pounds not 11400. Also your stock tires are rated to carry more than the axle they are on.

So you can see there is a little safety margine built in.

 

[murphyslaw]

If you went by the axle rating on your truck the GVWR would be 13000 pounds not 11400. Also your stock tires are rated to carry more than the axle they are on.

So you can see there is a little safety margine built in

by looking at the axle rating of 13000 thats axle only then factor in the weight of the truck on the rear axle and your back to 11400.


In all reality you should be fine with that 5'er make sure you have good range "E" tires and electric trailer brakes and have fun!!!!!


remember gvw's are the weight the vehicle can hold they have little to do with what they will pull. if your trailer is balanced right you will not have any problems.

 

[FLSTFI Dave]

by looking at the axle rating of 13000 thats axle only then factor in the weight of the truck on the rear axle and your back to 11400. Sorry but that is flawed information. Cause the truck sure weighs more than 1600 pounds. The Axle rating is how much weight the axle can carry. The front axle is rated for Just under 5000 pounds, The rear axle is rated for just over 8000 pounds.


In all reality you should be fine with that 5'er make sure you have good range "E" tires and electric trailer brakes and have fun!!!!!


remember gvw's are the weight the vehicle can hold they have little to do with what they will pull. if your trailer is balanced right you will not have any problems.

The axles are deliberatly rated for more than the trucks rating. This is for a few reasons. First if the axles were only rated to carry 11400, x amount of it on the front and y amount on the rear you would be hard pressed to load the truck to 11400 and not exceed on of the axles. As you would have to proper center the weight. That is also why the rear axle is rated for more than 3000 pounds more than the front. Cause when you add weight to the truck most of it will go on the rear axle.

 

[deepsouth]

Like my dad always says, " If the bumper ain't touching the ground, and you can still stop it, it ain't overloaded." Seriously, I have weighed over 40k before, and weigh 30k on a regular basis. If you have your load right, on the right trailer, with good brakes, you can tow more than the other guys would even dream of. Most "toyboxes" are set up for highway towing, and the Chevy 3500 with Duramax/Allison does a great job with them.