|
|
03-12-2019, 11:20 AM
|
#1
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Raleigh
Posts: 125
M.O.C. #23622
|
GMC 2500HD Towing Capacity Question
My wife and I are considering purchasing a 2019 Keystone Montana 3121RL.
We have a 2003 GMC Sierra 2500HD Duramax Diesel, with auto transmission, Crew Cab, 6.5' bed and around 70,000 miles.
I want to know if this truck is adequate to pull this fifth wheel rig. I am a 'newbie' at towing something this big.
On-Line available Montana Specs:
Dry Wt. Camper = 12,014 lbs.
Payload Cap. of Camper = 4366 lb.
GVWR of camper = 16, 380 lb.
Hitch wt. of camper = 2385 lb.
From the Truck Owner's Manual:
6.6L V8 Diesel
Axle Ratio = 3.73
Maximum Trailer Weight = 15, 400 lbs.
GCWR = 22,000 lbs.
|
|
|
03-12-2019, 11:53 AM
|
#2
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Bastrop
Posts: 2,892
M.O.C. #20753
|
Welcome to the forum!!
Your hitch/pin weight is 2385 unloaded.
I am betting your carrying capacity of your truck is about 2600 (you can look at your driver's side door to verify) that leaves you 215 pounds for you, your wife, fuel, hitch and anything you want to put in your camper.
So you will be overweight.
Here is some good reading on the subject.
http://www.trailerlife.com/tech/qa/d...PfKWIoOtW2tW4A
__________________
Mocha, one-eyed toothless, hurricane survivor, Pirate dog
2019 20th Anniversary Edition 3701LK
B&W 20K for Ford OEM Puck
2018 Ford F-350 Lariat CCLB PSD DRW KJ5CQH
|
|
|
03-12-2019, 11:53 AM
|
#3
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Omaha
Posts: 143
M.O.C. #21598
|
The hitch weight of the camper is the dry weight. What does the yellow door sticker say your cargo weight is? Most likely you are at or over that number before loading anything in the truck or camper. and now we weight for all the opinions.
__________________
2017 HC 345RL
2015 F-250
|
|
|
03-12-2019, 11:59 AM
|
#4
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Fowler
Posts: 414
M.O.C. #12748
|
Welcome to the forum John. Yes, your truck will safely handle your trailer with room to spare. We have virtually the same trailer, 2013 3100RL and pull it with a 2004 Chevy crew cab short box which is the same truck as yours. Mine is an early 2004 which means that it is prior to the emissions laws that went to effect for anything built after January 1, 2014. The only modification I made to the truck was to install a set of Timbren overloads to eliminate sag which began to show up after several years of towing due to spring fatigue. The truck and trailer ride level with the Timbrens. We are snowbirds and use ours about 6 months out of the year and we have never approached the GVWR of the trailer and I weigh it frequently on the truck scales of the trucking company I work for occasionally. You don't need to carry your whole house to live comfortably. Hook it up and enjoy!
|
|
|
03-12-2019, 01:33 PM
|
#5
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: home base IL, OTR anywhere
Posts: 534
M.O.C. #19382
|
Overconfidence will kill you sooner or later. Simply put, you need a more capable truck to tow the trailer you seek. Sure, your 2500 can pull the trailer. but you doing so by exceeding the mfr rating for the truck if you load up that trailer. As it stands you legitimately would not be able to carry much of anything in that trailer with that truck as your tow vehicle. You invite a catastrophic failure and probably when you will be least able to cope with it. Don't heed your ego... be safe. Look for a smaller or lighter trailer or get a more capable truck. It's that simple.
__________________
2017 RAM 3500 Laramie CCLB Dually CTD Aisin, OEM auto level rear air-ride, B&W hitch
2020 3813MS Legacy Cobalt FBP, MORryde 8K IS & pinbox, PI EMS,DIY mods by in-house "craftsman", RV security system Mk1 Beagle Alerter
|
|
|
03-12-2019, 02:12 PM
|
#6
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Tacoma
Posts: 1,567
M.O.C. #20475
|
When is the to towing (WAR) going to start?
__________________
Bob & Carol Washington St
2017 HC HM352RL 2018 Dodge 3500 laramie CC LB 4x4
Curt Q25 with puck system, Factory air bags
Happy Trails
|
|
|
03-12-2019, 02:29 PM
|
#7
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Mesa az
Posts: 2,977
M.O.C. #5651
|
I had a 2004 Silverado 2500hd diesel. I am pretty sure it's max weight capacity was 9200. The newer ones - 2012 (my new one) could come in either 9200 or 10000, I am pretty sure. So the limit on the 2004 was actually the tires on the rear. My standard LT tires could handle 3040 if memory is correct. x2 = 6080 lb on rear axle. I had a 2980 and I was at 6074 on rear axle. The hitch weight (weighed) was around 2400. BUT the truck limit was 9200 and I exceeded that by around 400.
So yes, you WILL be overweight with your bigger rig.
Now I wasn't too concerned about the 400 over, since on those models the only difference between them and 3500 was an extra spring. So I added air bags. Still was technically overweight tho. I certainly would not run 1000 lb over the truck limit tho.
Strangely the 3500s increase payload by 1000 or 1500 lb and only cost about $1500 more. I goofed and got another 2500 because I thought it would cost $3-5000 more for the 3500.
__________________
Tom and Gail
2013 Mountaineer 362
2012 Silverado 2500
|
|
|
03-12-2019, 02:34 PM
|
#8
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Raleigh
Posts: 125
M.O.C. #23622
|
Hahaha.
|
|
|
03-12-2019, 02:44 PM
|
#9
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Raleigh
Posts: 125
M.O.C. #23622
|
There is no 'yellow' sticker on my truck's driver side door, but there is a white one and here is some of the information contained on that sticker:
GVWR: 4173KG (9200LB)
GAWR FRT: 2000KG (4410LB)
GAWR RR: 2760KG (6084 LB)
And this means....?
|
|
|
03-12-2019, 02:49 PM
|
#10
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Mesa az
Posts: 2,977
M.O.C. #5651
|
FRT = front axle
The 9200 is full max allowed weight of truck including load. By the way, wife and I weigh around 400 lb, your fuel is about 6x25 gallons = 150 lb. Hitch = 75-150 lb. So before you start you are around 650-700 lb of load. THEN add in the hitch weight.
__________________
Tom and Gail
2013 Mountaineer 362
2012 Silverado 2500
|
|
|
03-12-2019, 03:01 PM
|
#11
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Grand Rapids
Posts: 1,896
M.O.C. #9561
|
the simple answers: yes you will be overweight. but can you pull the trailer, the answer is yes. Lots of 3/4 ton trucks are pulling this type of load.
It will be your choice of what you want regarding the power and etc. It is all about what you can afford.
|
|
|
03-12-2019, 03:12 PM
|
#12
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Raleigh
Posts: 125
M.O.C. #23622
|
Just checked the info on the sidewall of the tires on our truck. These are the same tires that were on the truck when I bought it from the original owner not too long ago. He pulled a fifth wheel and will call him to see what weight info he may recall from his coach.
This is the tire info: MICHELIN LT245 / 75R16, Load Rating E
Max Load Rating Single, 3042 LBS @80psi
|
|
|
03-12-2019, 03:16 PM
|
#13
|
Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: dunnellon
Posts: 50
M.O.C. #19170
|
Sure, you can tow it....but can you stop it safely in the event of a blowout or to avoid an accident that you came upon unexpectedly? For safety sake, for you and wife, and everyone else on the road, you really ought to strongly consider a dually for something that heavy. Makes life SO much easier...and safer! Good luck.
|
|
|
03-12-2019, 03:25 PM
|
#14
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Arlington
Posts: 1,523
M.O.C. #18081
|
Somewhere there is a line of PIP lawyers that are just salivating at a new potential revenue stream.
__________________
SOB
2015 Volvo VNL780 D13, iShift, 32k ET air hitch, Idle Free LiFePO4 APU
16.8KWhr LiFePO4, 2.52 kw solar, 10kva Victron split phase
|
|
|
03-12-2019, 03:27 PM
|
#15
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Raleigh
Posts: 125
M.O.C. #23622
|
Learning a lot this afternoon. Didn't realize this truck was not capable of safely towing this load. Really appreciate all the good info I have received. Came out of the nuclear industry and it's all about safety. So, there you go. Best be shopping for a different coach. At least it will be cheaper, hopefully.
|
|
|
03-12-2019, 03:34 PM
|
#16
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Raleigh
Posts: 125
M.O.C. #23622
|
I'm not going to be a part of that stream.
|
|
|
03-12-2019, 04:52 PM
|
#17
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Raleigh
Posts: 125
M.O.C. #23622
|
So, I did speak to the previous owner of our truck. He was towing a 25-ft. all aluminum fifth wheel with only one slide. His dry weight for the camper was 6080 lb and a hitch weight of 750 - 950 lb. had a 12,000lb capacity fifth wheel hitch. Pretty light set-up. Towing that rig down the road was easy.
|
|
|
03-12-2019, 05:13 PM
|
#18
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Salem
Posts: 7,597
M.O.C. #2283
|
You already have your truck. Why don’t you pull your camper and see how it feels. If you feel safe try it if not trade. The only difference between a 2500 and a 3500 SRW is the 3500 has an extra spring leaf. Every thing else is the same, the frame the breaks the front end every thing.
There are far too many 3/4 ton trucks pulling fifth wheel campers for all of them to be unsafe, including mine.
Lynwood
|
|
|
03-12-2019, 05:51 PM
|
#19
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Carson City
Posts: 2,017
M.O.C. #21963
|
Welcome to the forum! Congratulations, you struck an artery right away. You have heard both sides of an issue that we all like to speak our opinions about. Good for you for doing research. It sounds like you understand safety. Hopefully you didn't run those nukes beyond specs like some load their trucks.
__________________
2016 3160, Legacy, Sailuns, Splendide 2100 xc vented, 1 1/2" axle lift blocks, disk brakes. 2014 Ram 3500 SRW SWB 4X4 6.7 Aisin Mega Cab, EBC slotted disks and brakes, Titan fuel tank.
|
|
|
03-12-2019, 05:51 PM
|
#20
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Haysville
Posts: 107
M.O.C. #21399
|
John, i have a 2500 pulling 3121 and with no major issues. My payload is 3013. We are over weigh just not for sure how much. Will run it over a cat scale this year, to find out just how much.
will upgrade to DRW in the future
__________________
Brian and Tambra
Haysville
2018 - 3121RL - 2016 Ram 2500 6.4/4.10
|
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|