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06-06-2016, 01:45 PM
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#1
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New Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Adirondacks
Posts: 3
New York
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Gmc 1500
Hi folks,
I'm new here. I would like to purchase a Dutchmen 240 5th wheel. I can't afford a 3/4 ton right now. I have a 2012 GMC 1500 with trailer package and 5.3 V8. The 240 weighs 6400. Any thoughts? Anyone here tow a small 5th wheel with a half ton? I want a 5th wheel but I want to be safe.
Thanks,
Dan
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06-06-2016, 03:05 PM
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#2
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New Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Liberty Lake
Posts: 8
Washington
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Half ton towable 5th wheels are an industry myth. By the time you add up the weight of the passengers, gear, hitch, etc. you will have exceeded the payload capacity of the pickup. The only safe way to tow a half ton towable 5th wheel is with a 3/4 ton pickup.
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Charlie Matthews
Liberty Lake, WA
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06-06-2016, 03:16 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Sparta
Posts: 1,726
Tennessee
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It's the pin weight that really matters, i'd bet it's at or over your cargo capacity.
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2014 Aerolite 213 RBSL
2016 Chevrolet Colorado
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06-06-2016, 03:26 PM
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#4
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New Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Adirondacks
Posts: 3
New York
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Thank you for your responses. The owners manual says yes. But I trust the people on the road who know better.
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06-06-2016, 03:49 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Sparta
Posts: 1,726
Tennessee
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan Vitale
Thank you for your responses. The owners manual says yes. But I trust the people on the road who know better.
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Is that the truck or trailers manual? RV mfgs are completely unreliable on all thing safety related.
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2014 Aerolite 213 RBSL
2016 Chevrolet Colorado
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06-06-2016, 03:51 PM
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#6
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New Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Adirondacks
Posts: 3
New York
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GMC owners manual states 7900 trailer weight, 1500 pin weight. So the specs allow it, but I still worry.
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06-06-2016, 11:25 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Minden
Posts: 708
Nevada
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Dan, Once you start adding people, gas, food, water,clothes, propane, and cooking items etc, the camper and truck get's added weight quick,
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Rich and Angela, Lab Dogs, Ruben, Ace
2015 Voltage V3895
2006 Lance Truck Camper 1181
2019 GMC 3500HD 4X4 CC DRW LB Bags Husky 26K Hitch Can Am Commander 1000 ATV
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06-07-2016, 03:58 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Desert Hot Springs
Posts: 1,761
California
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Dan
As it looks like you don't own a RV now to get your feet wet I'd stick to a travel trailer. Find a nice used one to save $$. My brother has a 1/2 ton Tecoma & tows a 26' TT that has a slide. Weights in at 4700 lbs empty. Has towed it as far as Yellowstone from here in the desert of So. Cal.
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Mike
2002 42' Monaco Signature Triple Crown tow 2014 F-150
2014 Voltage V3605 Sold 5/3/17
2012 F-350 6.7l CC 4X4, Sold 10/10/17
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08-02-2016, 01:42 PM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Juliette
Posts: 15
Georgia
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GMC 1500 315 Horse
We had a 08 GMC 4x4 w/ tow pkg and I sure did like it but she was not enough to pull our 06 26 foot Denali. We would come up to the slightest grade and it would jump in passing gear. Out west it worked very hard and at times was not sure if it would make to the crest of the mountain. I told my wife when we return home I planned to find a Diesel. I bought a used Ford 250 because I could not find a 2500 Gm truck we both liked. I think you need a stronger truck for towing. Regards, Jim
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08-02-2016, 03:32 PM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Juliette
Posts: 15
Georgia
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tobler Creek
We had a 08 GMC 4x4 w/ tow pkg and I sure did like it but she was not enough to pull our 06 26 foot Denali. We would come up to the slightest grade and it would jump in passing gear. Out west it worked very hard and at times was not sure if it would make to the crest of the mountain. I told my wife when we return home I planned to find a Diesel. I bought a used Ford 250 because I could not find a 2500 Gm truck we both liked. I think you need a stronger truck for towing. Regards, Jim
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Dan, I forgot to add, My dealer said " sure, you'r truck will pull it, No problem!! Jim
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08-03-2016, 12:30 AM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: EAGLE
Posts: 39
Idaho
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I have to agree with everything that has been said. Keep in mind just because you "can do" something doesn't always mean you should. I have a 2012 Ram 1500 and I tow an Aspen Trail 1900. That trailer has a "dry weight" of 4,152lbs and I know every pound of it's behind me. I most always run dry so the extra weight is just in supplies and gear, which I don't carry a lot of. That said, I have seen, or should say, I have passed a few 1/2 tons with smaller 5th wheels on and they had some white knuckles. I would say find a nice travel trailer and learn the ropes. Good luck.
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08-07-2016, 11:43 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Capron
Posts: 413
Illinois
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First thing to do. Look for the yellow lawyer tag on the drivers door that spells out the payload capacity. Next, load the truck up with the passengers and gear you plan to take with and go weigh it at a CAT or similar scale. There is also a tag with GVWR and GAWR. Subtract the scales weight reading from the GVWR, and the front and rear axle weights from the GAWR.
That is your actual payload you have left for a trailer. Forget how much you can tow, and focus on how much weight your truck can take before going over any of those ratings.
Now when looking for a trailer, you have an idea of Tongue/pin weights for the trailer of interest.
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08-26-2016, 07:29 PM
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#13
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New Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: MERIDIAN
Posts: 1
Idaho
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Hey Desert Rat. Is your brother towing a 4700 lb tt with a Tacoma, or was that a mix up for a Tundra, just wandering as im new and of course the rv dealer says my sequoia will be fine towing a 5600 lb. dry tt. of course ive got a wdh and prodigy brake control. I just hope I can enjoy this tow after its somewhat loaded. It did really well towing home from the dealership, much better than I had anticipated. But of course that was empty and only me in the tow vehicle.
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