Gmc 1500

[Dan Vitale]

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

[chasmatt]

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.

[wildwest450]

It's the pin weight that really matters, i'd bet it's at or over your cargo capacity.

[Dan Vitale]

Thank you for your responses. The owners manual says yes. But I trust the people on the road who know better.

[wildwest450]

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.

Is that the truck or trailers manual? RV mfgs are completely unreliable on all thing safety related.

[Dan Vitale]

GMC owners manual states 7900 trailer weight, 1500 pin weight. So the specs allow it, but I still worry.

[RVNevada]

Dan, Once you start adding people, gas, food, water,clothes, propane, and cooking items etc, the camper and truck get's added weight quick,

[DesertRat]

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.

[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

[Tobler Creek]

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

Dan, I forgot to add, My dealer said " sure, you'r truck will pull it, No problem!! Jim

[The Owl]

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.

[acdii]

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.

[Pick1014]

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.