Did I order the wrong truck for a 5th wheel?

[Mykwong]

Just a little feed back from my perspective. I bought a new 2019 2500 CC SB Limited last year before buying a new 5th wheel. Door sticker 1800+ Payload. (my mistake) The 5th wheel pin weight dry was under the limit. However once I started adding up all of the gear, hitch two passengers and two dogs, I knew I would be exceeding the 2500 payload limits. I could have bought a lighter 5th wheel, but the DW had her heart set on a Grand Design Reflection. DW wins everytime! After two short trips we decided to move up to the 3500. Bit the bullet lesson learned. Our 1st trip with the 3500 is next week. Sold at a small loss, however it's like I leased a truck for a year.

Ride wise unloaded the 3500 is not as smooth as 2500. Jury is still out on MPG, I'm hoping like the 2500 it will get better as it gets broken in. Ride quality is still better than my neighbors half ton Toyota. Just for piece of mind it was all worth it.

 

[Rich]

Just a little feed back from my perspective. I bought a new 2019 2500 CC SB Limited last year before buying a new 5th wheel. Door sticker 1800+ Payload. (my mistake) The 5th wheel pin weight dry was under the limit. However once I started adding up all of the gear, hitch two passengers and two dogs, I knew I would be exceeding the 2500 payload limits. I could have bought a lighter 5th wheel, but the DW had her heart set on a Grand Design Reflection. DW wins everytime! After two short trips we decided to move up to the 3500. Bit the bullet lesson learned. Our 1st trip with the 3500 is next week. Sold at a small loss, however it's like I leased a truck for a year.

Ride wise unloaded the 3500 is not as smooth as 2500. Jury is still out on MPG, I'm hoping like the 2500 it will get better as it gets broken in. Ride quality is still better than my neighbors half ton Toyota. Just for piece of mind it was all worth it.

MY mpg are not even close comparing the 2500 to 3500. The 2500 got double the mileage that this 3500 gets, easily

 

[Dr__Bob]

Regardless of what the “legal” carrying capacity is, I regularly carry 5th wheels over 14,000lbs with 90 gallons of fuel and 500lbs of hitches and tools in the bed. As long as the rating of the tires is not exceeded, DOT doesn’t care one iota as long as I am not over my registered weight. These numbers provided by the manufacturer seem real low to protect them from liability. Fire retardant suit is on, flame me now. On a side note, I do have air bags to level and control the load.

A bit off-topic, but this place is pretty tame compared to some of the 5th wheel fora (or, shudder, facebook groups). Yikes. There the flame wars challenge the California fire status!

 

[Brutal_HO]

This travel trailer weighed 13,200lbs empty with a tongue weight of 1,920lbs. Hate pull them but someone has to do it.

Wow, nothing like pulling a house size brick huh?

 

[Brutal_HO]

MY mpg are not even close comparing the 2500 to 3500. The 2500 got double the mileage that this 3500 gets, easily

So did mine, but that's apples and oranges comparing 5.9L pre-emissions, or even pre-DEF 6.7L trucks to an HO tow beast.

 

[sevenized]

@Jay D I had the same dilemma, 2500 for comfort, or 3500 for keeping towing options open later on down the road. This Youtube video convinced me to go with the 3500: 2500 vs 3500. The point is, the 2500 will probably do just fine, but IF something bad happens, you and your insurance company will very quickly regret you not having a properly rated truck.

As for comfort, Interestingly enough, my test drives in both the 2500 & 3500 weren't much different in ride quality. When I took delivery of the 3500, she had 90 psi in all 4 tires and the ride was horrible. dropping down the factory tires to 45 psi in the front, and 40 in the rear made a substantial difference (just daily driving - towing, I raised the psi's into the 60's). After leveling with new springs and 35's the ride got even better. I have the factory air assist, and there is a way to adjust the sensors to further improve the ride.

Don't roll the dice, do it right the first time.

I also have the 3500 with factory air. What leveling springs and shocks did you use? These factory air trucks ride great but I haven’t found much for leveling kits for them. Carli sells a 3 inch front 1 inch rear kit but all I want is to level it.


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[Rich]

So did mine, but that's apples and oranges comparing 5.9L pre-emissions, or even pre-DEF 6.7L trucks to an HO tow beast.

Your right, both were are 6.7 but that big hohd 400 horses and 1000 'lbs makes a wee bit of difference in fuel .

 

[jerryw1000]

These numbers provided by the manufacturer seem real low to protect them from liability. Fire retardant suit is on, flame me now. On a side note, I do have air bags to level and control the load.

Maybe I'm just old and knuckleheaded but I'm with Aketay. If the axle don't bow and the front end stays low, I go. My biggest concern is making sure the trailer brakes work well. I'm definitely not afraid to go all the way up to the rated specs and still throw my clothes, shaving kit, and a sack of groceries in the trailer.

That's not advice......that's just don't get confused by the facts. But do what you are comfortable with. If you are a worrier then get the 3500.

 

[MikeXM]

Maybe I'm just old and knuckleheaded but I'm with Aketay. If the axle don't bow and the front end stays low, I go. My biggest concern is making sure the trailer brakes work well. I'm definitely not afraid to go all the way up to the rated specs and still throw my clothes, shaving kit, and a sack of groceries in the trailer.

That's not advice......that's just don't get confused by the facts. But do what you are comfortable with. If you are a worrier then get the 3500.

The 2500 he ordered had the air suspension. It will trigger overload alarms and might even bust if overloaded on a rough road. The air suspension is the suspension. No bag = no suspension at all... You don't want this to happen while towing a 5th wheel.
This truck is not to be overloaded.

The 3500 has a regular leaf suspension with air bags. Much safer.

 

[RVTRKN]

Look up the Axle Weight Ratings, I'll bet you'll have an extra 1000 lbs. Because I don't know the specifics of the vehicle, I'll give another example. The 2014 2500 regular cab long bed with a service bed installed and the bed removed, had a 10K GVWR, but if you added the GAWR's together it came out to 11K (5K front 6K rear) and that was on the door sticker. So after the service bed, tools and parts, it weighed 10K. HOWEVER, I recommend you go with the 3500 SRW, it'll allow you to go with the HO/Aisin, as well as higher payload.

 

[Rich]

Look up the Axle Weight Ratings, I'll bet you'll have an extra 1000 lbs. Because I don't know the specifics of the vehicle, I'll give another example. The 2014 2500 regular cab long bed with a service bed installed and the bed removed, had a 10K GVWR, but if you added the GAWR's together it came out to 11K (5K front 6K rear) and that was on the door sticker. So after the service bed, tools and parts, it weighed 10K. HOWEVER, I recommend you go with the 3500 SRW, it'll allow you to go with the HO/Aisin, as well as higher payload.

I agree, I don't ever pay attention to that pl number, there is no law that I'm aware of on being over pay load. They just look at axle rating and gvwr & gcwr. My biggest factor for making sure the numbers are within your ratings is for insurance coverage. They will hang you out to dry if they find any axle or gvwr or gcwr over your limit if heaven for bid there is a claim filed in the event of any accident. Worst case scenario I know, but it happens and you can lose everything you worked for in life with 1 bad decision.

 

[RV_Goose]

I also thought it was axle weights and gross combined that got one in trouble. I had my 2500 registered for 11k max. My 3500 is tagged at 14k max. If I bought a heavier trailer I'd up it as needed. My rear axle is rated for 9750 max.

 

[Rich]

I also thought it was axle weights and gross combined that got one in trouble. I had my 2500 registered for 11k max. My 3500 is tagged at 14k max. If I bought a heavier trailer I'd up it as needed. My rear axle is rated for 9750 max.

Yup, and thats exactly what I go by , 9750, and hope the bags don't throw an overload warning. And if they do, exactly what does that mean. I think it says that auto level is disabled. Wich to me means that it just raises up from low travel position. As long as it holds air, it can go up or down all it wants don't matter to me. But maybe I'm misunderstanding the way that works.
So I found this on pg 138 of Manuel. Whatever protection mode is, dont know.
Air Suspension Payload Protection Indicator Light — If Equipped This indicator light will illuminate to indicate that the maximum payload may have been exceeded or load leveling cannot be achieved at its current ride height. Protection Mode will automatically be selected in order to “protect” the air suspension system, air suspension adjustment is limited due to payload.

 

[Brutal_HO]

The 2500 he ordered had the air suspension. It will trigger overload alarms and might even bust if overloaded on a rough road. The air suspension is the suspension. No bag = no suspension at all... You don't want this to happen while towing a 5th wheel.
This truck is not to be overloaded.

The 3500 has a regular leaf suspension with air bags. Much safer.

I missed the air ride part.

Definitely a no-go to overload, especially a 2500.

Everyone had had their say and all points have been expressed, repeatedly here and in numerous payload threads. If I could find the beating a dead horse emoji, I'd put it up.

This thread is done before it gets out of hand.