Towing a fifth wheel

You lost me at GMC. LOL!!

 

I did not. My truck purchases are
04 Silverado RC LB
15 Silverado
18 Tundra SR5 CM
20 Tundra SR5 DC
21 GMC 3500

there is a lot that went to into that each truck decision. I’m not brand loyal

 

Sometimes you need more payload and towing capabilities. Trust I have 20 pages of messages between members on trucks before I made my decision. I love tundras. Aka why I still visit this forum daily. But Toyota doesn’t make a HD so you have to decide between 3 brands. And no way in hell I am buying a ford

 

Appreciated everybody's input but I've made my mind. I love my third generation Tundra but I don't want to risk the safety of my family mostly when we have decided to travel all over the USA.I'm trading my Tundra for a 2022 GMC AT4 2500 Duramax which it have the capabilities that I'm looking for. I just got the deal done.

 

Make sure if you do get a gmc 2500 that it has the 11,400 lb gvwr. Typical 2500’s are limited to 10,000 lb GVWR’s and, that specific configuration you want, would barely be over 2000 lbs of payload. Probably enough for the trailer you want but not by a lot.

If it were me, I would skip a 2500 altogether and go straight for the 3500. It’s essentially the same truck, just has bigger numbers on the stickers.

 

I believe the 10k GVWR GM HD’s are just special orders for companies that want to avoid DOT ratings. Same exact truck with a lower rating. Going to a 1 ton when a 3/4 ton will cover your needs is just making your ride even stiffer. I have about 3,500lbs of payload in my 3/4 ton, plenty for most people.

 

Very nice! It’s just too bad you are missing out on that 2023 interior upgrade!

 

Springs are an easy swap though. The sticker is not.

 

Based on my conversation with a large volume dealer the 10k GVWR trucks are just special ordered fleet vehicles. Literally the exact same truck with a derated sticker. But yes, it would be good to check because there is no way to change the sticker.

 

A 3/4 ton truck is gunna be simple, especially if its a gasser. All these Toyota people are obsessed with over-complexity as they drive their DOHC VVTi V8's around while the HD's are running pushrod port injected V8's still, except for GM as of 2020 because they went direct injection. GM is still using their old, well sorted 6 speed. Ram is using the excellent 8HP75 that they have been using since like 2014. Fords the only one that kinda has a question mark on the transmission. Other than that, these things are about as simple as they get. I doubt they will have a significant amount of issues.

A diesel is a different story, but no one really needs a diesel HD unless they are towing BIG. The new ford 7.3L and the GM 6.6L gasser are very stout motors.

 

I do drive a lot and I get it. But the reason I went through so many trucks is because of the problems stated on the forum. Weights and capacities change and the tundras didn’t the solve the issues. So I went HD. However I did just crossed 31k and I bought the truck 1 year ago to the day.

I put a combined 80k miles on the tundras in 2.5yrs and towed well over ratings.



and here is todays project

 

That's the way to do it. If I were going to be towing heavy and often I'd make the jump to an HD gasser. Just not willing to do the DEF or all the deletes to get rid of it. HD trucks are just on another level.

As midsize trucks have crept up on half tons and the new mini trucks are coming into the market it is looking like half ton trucks are struggling to find their place. There are even rumors that they might go the way of the dodo. My secret hope is that if this happens Toyota will move the next generation of Tundra into the world of HD trucks. I don't think anyone here would be sad to see an HD Toyota.

 

If Toyota made a HD truck I’d buy it the day it hits the lot. And I am right of the cusp of needing a diesel, but I can’t afford a diesel

 

Well, it'd be next gen, so at least a decade out.

 

If you move forward I would really check it on a scale and consider changing tires to some higher rated ones. You have a few choices before getting to 121 E rated but I would even consider jumping up to E. Some of that defeats the purpose of having a halfton.

The reason people suggest a higher capacity truck is because the 5th wheel puts a larger portion of weight on to the truck compared to a conventional travel trailer.

I would go with a conventional travel trailer and nothing more than airing up your tires some for more capacity. You will be able to pull “more” trailer.

 

I guess I should check back more often

Congrats on the GMC.

GM and I believe Dodge is like this. The ford is a little lighter and I have stuck with diesel f250s at 10,000 until I bought my recent 350 dually (because of the chip shortage and availability). I had to derate my trailers to avoid CDL and one of them I sold as the market was way out of control and I couldn’t refuse.

I get less ass pucker in the Ford ripping across a job site in 4x4 with a 10k+ trailer in tow. The front dana 60 is built pretty strong in these.

 

Still too heavy.

https://www.rvtravel.com/rv-review-jayco-eagle-ht-24re-smallest-fifth-wheel-rvdt-1841/

 

If we have learned anything from towing threads, just load whatever you want and you’ll be good

 

I was lucky when I bought my 23.5 jayco 5th wheel back in 2012, 5700lbs and the hitch weight is 1050lbs. One slideout.

 

Go register it for less weight and take that paperwork to the manufacturer and tell them you need a new sticker to stay in compliance with the law.

I went down to 10,000 on one of mine incase I ever get a 450/550 medium sized truck.

 

Just as a precaution. Derating a trailer is getting a big look from the feds and FMCSA. Kaufmann trailers are being looked into for doing this to let people get by without a CDL.

 

Do the crime do the time. I could gross the trailer at 11,500 and still stay in 100% compliance with decent weight on the tongue. My dually with a 3 inch hitch doesn’t know its there. Plus have reserve registered weight in the truck if push came to shove; taxes paid.

Our other trucks are a dodge 1500 that can hardly pull it, basic gas f250, and f150 with a 10,000 aftermarket hitch.

The only people they mess with around here is gooseneck and dually combo (cdl check), 450/550s towing anything, or a dual tandem trailer pulled by a single rear wheel truck.

YMMV

 

Just stirring the pot a bit, but I spoke to this guy earlier this year, and he said he added airbags to his Tundra and had no problem and averaged 9mpg.