3/4 ton or 1 ton truck?

[Maryfberry]

I drive a 2024 Chevrolet 2500HD gas truck single axle 4x4 and tow package. It has to serve as my every day vehicle and my tow vehicle.
Am I going to be in trouble if I buy a Montana High Country 37 foot 2025 331RL 5th wheel at 12,217 lbs dry weight?

This is for straight highways and byways use. No Boondocking.

My truck dealer says no, surprisingly, and the trailer dealership says no. Not sure I trust either of them. The truck dealer, in particular, has no experience hauling such a heavy trailer, and the trailer dealership says obviously just wants to sell a trailer.

Thanks for any helpful insights.

 

[LeftOverParts]

Picture shows specs for a 2026. Assuming 2025 weights are similar, your GVWR is shipping weight + carrying capacity so it’s going to be around 16,580 lbs. (You probably won’t fully load it but the 16,580 number is a starting point to est what your truck might be required to carry).

From there you can est pin weight. For example, 20% of 16,580 lbs is 3,316 lbs. (Some use a higher %). Then add people, hitch, and truck cargo to know how many lbs your truck will be carrying.

What’s the payload sticker (usually in the driver door jam) show for max payload? Might stir things up but to be safe/legal, that payload number shouldn’t be exceeded.

You should also be aware of your trucks total towing weight capacity.

 

[jsb5717]

You should always just do the math on the rated payload for your specific truck up against the total weight you'll be putting on it. Generally speaking it seems you'd be better off with a 1 ton, but the math will confirm what you really need.

If you can get to a scales and get a real loaded pin weight for your trailer then you'll know where to start. If not, then use 23% of the GVWR of the trailer. Then add the hitch, people, and other gear weight to see what the total weight requirement will be. Your truck's posted cargo capacity needs to be higher than that total weight. Your truck's specific cargo capacity is on the yellow sticker inside the driver door jamb.

 

[BB_TX]

Good advice above. You need to know the payload rating of the truck of interest. Payload is the total weight of everything you load on/in the truck including the weight of the trailer pin, the hitch, the people, and everything you put in the truck for travel and fun. It will add up to a lot of weight.

And the actual trailer hitch weight will be quite a bit above the listed empty hitch weight by the time you load up the trailer with camping supplies, cooking and dining equipment, food, water, clothes, bedding, power cords, hoses, and everything else we all carry whether we actually need it all or not.

Will you be traveling in flat country? Or mountains? If lots of mountain travel a diesel may be the better choice. But many get by with the big gassers.

I drove an F350 crew cab long bed SRW diesel for towing and as my daily driver. Loved it, except for parking in tight parking lots.

 

[432bartman]

The only real question is what is your load weight for the back of the truck? You most likely will need bags or it's gonna squat pretty good.

 

[LeftOverParts]

Here are some example calculations to see if the trailer you're considering will be compatible with your truck. IMO, the max payload on your truck sticker should be greater than the number at the far right. Again, keep in mind these are examples and your specific weights and results may be different.

First row back-calculates the pin ratio using GVWR. Next two rows show pin based on 2 different ratios using GVWR. Last row is based on a reduced cargo load. All truck loads use same the values.

The weight specs and floorplan of our 3231CK is similar to the 331RL you're considering - the last row is an example based on how we load our trailer and the pin is pretty close to what the trailer scaled.

 

[Cat320]

A gas 3/4 ton has more ''carrying capacity" than the diesel because it does not have the diesel engine and it heavy weight. The weakness of the gasser is the lower GCWR due to the weaker engine.

 

[Spartacus]

So you didn't tell us the payload of your truck, but I figure around 3800-4000lbs.

 

[JWood422]

So you didn't tell us the payload of your truck, but I figure around 3800-4000lbs.

My same truck’s payload is 3472 lbs.

 

[DABOO77]

When in doubt always error on the side of caution. Years ago I had a 2500 Duramax and it pulled and large fifth wheel close to max load just fine. I upgraded to airbags and made it better, handling, braking, steering and headlights back on the road. The opportunity came up to upgrade my truck to a DRW Duramax crew cab and will never go back to a single wheel truck while pulling a trailer. The capability of the truck + the handling is just that much better. I did blow an inside duel tire a few years ago, was not a big deal. Heard it pop and kept complete control without a life ending fight. If you can afford it, buy a dually and don't look back as they say. Safe travels.

 

[jsb5717]

When in doubt always error on the side of caution. Years ago I had a 2500 Duramax and it pulled and large fifth wheel close to max load just fine. I upgraded to airbags and made it better, handling, braking, steering and headlights back on the road. The opportunity came up to upgrade my truck to a DRW Duramax crew cab and will never go back to a single wheel truck while pulling a trailer. The capability of the truck + the handling is just that much better. I did blow an inside duel tire a few years ago, was not a big deal. Heard it pop and kept complete control without a life ending fight. If you can afford it, buy a dually and don't look back as they say. Safe travels.

Ditto that. You can't go wrong with more truck. So many are trying to get by with a truck that is under rated for the job at hand. I avoided the "dually" conversation for years. I just didn't think I wanted one. After some high wind towing experiences I finally made the decision to gain more stability. Now that I have a dually I honestly don't know what took me so long. The entire towing experience is so much more relaxing...even with strong winds. It's hard to explain to someone who is doing just "fine" with their SRW setup just how much better it can be...especially if you tow with a short bed truck as I did for years. But now that I've towed with a dually I'll not go back either.

 

[BiggarView]

I drive a 2024 Chevrolet 2500HD gas truck single axle 4x4 and tow package. It has to serve as my every day vehicle and my tow vehicle.
Am I going to be in trouble if I buy a Montana High Country 37 foot 2025 331RL 5th wheel at 12,217 lbs dry weight?

This is for straight highways and byways use. No Boondocking.

My truck dealer says no, surprisingly, and the trailer dealership says no. Not sure I trust either of them. The truck dealer, in particular, has no experience hauling such a heavy trailer, and the trailer dealership says obviously just wants to sell a trailer.

Thanks for any helpful insights.

Whatever truck you use to tow, the first number to use is the payload limit for the truck, then the trailer towing weight. It is most likely you will exceed payload numbers before towing limits. Also remember that factory tow specs for your truck reflect ideal towing conditions that give misleading abilities. Towing a 5er RV is definitely not ideal towing conditions (high frontal profile, lighter weight for a give length, higher center of gravity, shorter wheel base for a given trailer length) That said, sure you "can" tow the trailer even with that truck, but "should" you? I'd look at a one ton truck probably with a diesel engine, at fully loaded towing weight.. probably a dually. But it comes with added costs, insurance, fuel, maintenance, however you can't beat it for peace of mind towing. You also mention highway/byway driving... You can say you are careful driver by what about the other guy? The more tires on the ground the better you ability to stop if need be. JMHO.

 

[Abbert55]

It is always best to pull with more truck than trailer. A DRW 1 ton is safer than a single wheel truck. Too many times, I have seen trucks and trailers destroyed by overloading either vehicle's GVWR.

 

[Cat320]

As has been noted before, "pulling" is not the problem. The 3/4 will pull fine and within it's limits and GCWR. What it cannot handle is the heavy pin weight (and all the associated gear and equipment.)

 

[mlh]

If you should decide to buy a new Chevy 3500. Chevy has a much upgraded Dmax engine. It has 510 HP and 1150 torque. Every thing about this engine has been upgraded. Not only the power but the cooling fuel efficiency the turbo. The transmission is upgraqded everything is upgraded.
This should be an improvement for an already great truck. It should be out as a 2026 model. It should be worth waiting on.
Lynwood

 

[Dfb]

A gas 3/4 ton has more ''carrying capacity" than the diesel because it does not have the diesel engine and it heavy weight. The weakness of the gasser is the lower GCWR due to the weaker engine.

May be true.. However, the gas cannot pull what a diesel pulls...

 

[Dfb]

That Trailer is way too much for a 3/4 ton truck.. One ton Dually...

 

[DutchmenSport]

Once you've been in 1-ton, dually, diesel territory, very few people ever go back. There's a reason why.

 

[Laura&Jerry]

Your truck dealer and trailer dealer ARE CORRECT! you will exceed max for your truck, especially when you load up your trailer. You don't need a dually, but I would seriously look at an upgrade to a 1 ton. If not able to do that then make extra effort to keep the weight of what you put in the truck and 5th wheel to a minimum. "Beefing" up the suspension with airbags might help but still may not work. Anyone wanting to tow a 5th wheel should always look for a diesel over a gas truck any day. More torque, better fuel economy and a longer lasting truck with a diesel. And then there is the stopping power. If ever in an accident and law enforcement finds out you were overloaded or your truck is underrated for the load, you could get cited and insurance could deny a claim.

 

[Mark77]

If you are going by the numbers, you need for sure a SRW 1 ton. Would I pull it with my 3/4 ton Ram / Cummins... probably. I exceed my payload with the Montana I have now by over 1000# and have pulled it safely for probably 10K miles. That being said, if you are worried about payload and it will be bothering you every mile you tow, I would go with a 1 ton truck.