2thesea
Grand Terrace
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I have a 2011 1500 Chevy crew cab with 5.3L and 3.42 axle with HD Cooling Pkg. I would like to tow a small fifth wheel (30' or less gross weight of under 9500lbs). I know the manual does not recommend this.
Is this due to the short bed?
Does anyone out there tow a fifth wheel with this similar truck?
If so, what type of hitch do you have?
Any suggestions would help.....
Thanks, Dan
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craig7h
Marion, Iowa
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Joined: 03/23/2002
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This link may help you http://changingears.com/rv-sec-calc-trailer-weight-fw.shtml
I really think you are a little small in the truck area. You will need a "slider hitch" in the bed.
Craig
06 RAM 3500 diesel power
08 35' Cardinal
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wandering1
Texas
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Check the specs for the truck and see if it can handle the weight of the 5th wheel trailer and the pin weight. 1/2 ton trucks are overated for safely towing fifth wheel trailers. Get at least a 3/4 ton with long bed if you want to safely RV.
Read this: Should Shortbed Trucks Tow Fifth Wheels?
* This post was
edited 02/09/12 07:46am by wandering1 *
HR
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Helmsey
Knoxville, TN
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You are going to run up against your cargo rating very quickly, I'd say that is why it is not recommended by Chevrolet.
Load your truck up like you would to go camping and note the number....find out what a good slider hitch weighs and add those 2 numbers together. Now, take that number and subtract it from the GVWR and that is what you are left with for cargo capacity. Now, see what the hitch (pin) weight is of some of the campers you are looking at, make sure to use 20% of GVWR (not dry weight) for this number and see if it is less than what you have left for cargo capacity. I would be willing to bet that you are going to be over GVWR at this point.
2001 Fleetwood Prowler 727X
2004 Chevrolet 2500HD D/A CCSB
Days camped in 2010: 29
Days camped in 2011: 22
Days camped in 2012: 6
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Wills250psd
on the road
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9500lbs with that truck while not impossible its a very bad idea. truck will tire quickly. IMHO
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JIMNLIN
out here
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My wifes '06 1500 chevy 4x4 5' 8" crew cab says 5er or GN not recommended. I contacted chevy truck customer service for the reson. Chevy felt the 5' 8" bed was too short for a 5er to clear the cab even with a sliding hitch. I use a older GN bed plate so I can use my smaller GN trailers moving my equipment.
I would contact 5th wheel hitch makers and see if a sliding hitch is available for your chevy 5' 8" bed.
A 9500 lb 5th wheel may have 1800-1900 lb pin weight. Add a 200 lb hitch and another 200 for occupants and gear over the trucks rear axle. Now your at 2100-2300 lbs. Your 1500 truck may have around 1500-1700 lb payload before over loading the trucks small semi float rear axle and P tires.
I would forget about trailer length and concentrate on a 5er with a max 900-1100 lb dry hitch weight. Don't let uninformed folks scare you as there are smaller 5ers out here that any 1500 trucks can safely handle.
"good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" ............ Will Rogers
'03 2500 QC Dodge/Cummins HO 3.73 6 speed manual Jacobs Westach
'97 Park Avanue 28' 5er 11200 gvwr two slides
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Mike_LA
US Gulf Coast
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I tow with a '06 Chevy 1500 Crew Cab 4X4, 5'8" bed. I installed a PullRite SuperGlide auto sliding hitch to clear the cab. Had enough clearance to mount a 4 place bike rack on the pin box. 90° turns with no problems. I've read where others didn't need the slider hitch with this bed length, but I didn't want to take a chance. Besides, I found a "Never Installed" SuperGlide at 1/3 the price of retail.
Mike
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smkettner
Southern California
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Gross weight under 8000 will be far better. Superglide hitch should work fine.
2001 F150 SuperCrew
2006 Keystone Springdale 249FWBHLS
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gmcsmoke
Butler
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in on page one
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Jayco-noslide
Galesburg,Il., USA
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Too much weight for a half-ton generally speaking. You would need the numerically higher axle ratio and the bigger 6L. engine and even then, 30 ft. is too big. We have for years towed a 25 footer (no slide-outs; 5,200 lbs. dry wt.) with a half-ton Chevy, ext. cab, 6 ft 6 in. short box with the 3.71 rear-end. It's an OK set up but there really isn't much reserve power or braking ability. Our truck is only rated to tow about 7,500 lbs. As for the 5-8 bed, I've seen folks doing that with a slider hitch but I think it would be marginal.
Jayco-noslide
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