5th wheel towing weight
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Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,862
Likes: 44
From: Tooele, UT
5th wheel towing weight
So the wife and I are looking at getting a 5th wheel toy hauler and last year when I bought my truck I didn't even think to look at it's towing ratings. Well now that we are looking at 5th wheels I'm noticing that a lot of the ones we are interested in are in the 18-19K GVWR range. The brochure for the 15's says with 3.55s the 5th wheel/gooseneck towing capabilities is only 15,900lbs. Would it be a problem if I did tow up to 18,000 or 19,000lbs. We don't have any toys yet so I won't even be towing over the 15,900 rating but I was just curious as to if these trucks will still handle it ok and safely.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,243
Likes: 275
From: South Central Indiana
You probably could but your payload capacity will be the limiting factor. Those heavy 5th wheels usually have 4000+ pin weights. Plus if you grossly exceed your grawr you could be shortening the life of your truck.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,745
Likes: 72
From: West Virginia
The pulling of the weight is not the issue. You can tow the space shuttle if you want.
Cargo carrying capacity is your nemesis. Start with that bit of information and deduct yourself, your bride, and all other cargo (including hitch). What's left is your available pin weight or hitch weight.
You might look into a bumper pull toy hauler. With a WDH it's possible you might end up with less weight on the truck.
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Prolocutor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 13,618
Likes: 1,247
From: Western MA
So the wife and I are looking at getting a 5th wheel toy hauler and last year when I bought my truck I didn't even think to look at it's towing ratings. Well now that we are looking at 5th wheels I'm noticing that a lot of the ones we are interested in are in the 18-19K GVWR range. The brochure for the 15's says with 3.55s the 5th wheel/gooseneck towing capabilities is only 15,900lbs. Would it be a problem if I did tow up to 18,000 or 19,000lbs. We don't have any toys yet so I won't even be towing over the 15,900 rating but I was just curious as to if these trucks will still handle it ok and safely.
If you find a TH with a reasonable pin weight, you will have no problem at all with 18-19k. I towed mine, which can got upwards of 20k, with my 2012 and it was an excellent towing experience. So much so in fact, that when I ordered my 2017, I stayed SRW 350. Remember, 5th wheel tow ratings are manufactured numbers made up of fairy dust and unicorn horns. The only numbers that matter are GAWR and tire ratings. Find a 5ver that keeps you in line with those and do not sacrifice what you want. They are out there. Mine has a pin of 2800# with the garage empty and 2600# with it loaded.
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More Turbo
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 522
Likes: 2
I do not have a toy hauler but agree the pin weight will very significantly loaded and unloaded do the cargo room behind the axles.
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,862
Likes: 44
From: Tooele, UT
the amount you can tow and payload increased significantly from the 15 model year and the 17.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,477
Likes: 4,069
From: Raceland, La.
Rumor has it that a member on here is fabricating ballast tanks for the rear of the toyhauler's. This will enable you to use the old see-saw theory to lighten up the pin weight and even use a F-150 with the max towing and payload package to haul these heavy toyhaulers!!
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 1,040
Likes: 9
Rumor has it that a member on here is fabricating ballast tanks for the rear of the toyhauler's. This will enable you to use the old see-saw theory to lighten up the pin weight and even use a F-150 with the max towing and payload package to haul these heavy toyhaulers!!