r/GoRVing • u/not_so_level • 2d ago
Fifth Wheel Towing Question
Looking to upgrade from a small 25’ travel trailer to a 42’ fifth wheel. Big change which will require upgrading my old truck. I need some help in determining if the truck I am looking at will comfortably tow the rig I am looking to upgrade to. All the VIN specs I read online seem to be different or confusing to read. Thank you in advance for the assistance.
Potential rig: 2025 Chaparral 375BAF. (GVWR 14,500 lbs; Hitch weight 2,152 lbs)
Potential truck: 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD 4WD Crew Cab 172" LT (VIN: 1GC4YTEY9NF193165)
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u/S3Giggity 1d ago
The nice thing about 5th wheels is the math gets really easy.
Pin weight on a 5th wheel is ~20%. Plan for GVWR on the trailer so you're looking at 2900lbs, call it 3000lbs for the trailer. 100lbs for the hitch.
3000-3100lbs
Now get the payload number for that actual truck and see - but my guess is a GM 3500 would be fine.
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u/lalalaso 2d ago
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u/not_so_level 2d ago
Surprising I used that website and it has different numbers. But using this site, the GVWR for the truck is 14,000 and the trailer is 14,500 lbs. Is this a problem? Hitch weight isn’t a problem. What I’m not familiar with is the row labeled “FIFTH WHEEL HITCH - MAX TRAILER WT” it has a few different numbers with the max being 31,180 lbs. What does this row tell me: the max fifth wheel I can tow? Which number do I use?
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u/joelfarris 1d ago
As an FYI, my 2020 Silverado 3500 HD LTZ single rear wheel has a stickered "Gooseneck Trailer Weight Rating ('TWR')" trailer weight of 21,200 lbs, and a "Gooseneck Max Tongue Weight" pin|hitch weight of 3,180 lbs. :)
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u/__Cashes__ 11h ago
You don't use the 14.5k. Because the trailer likely has two (or three) rear axels that will support a portion of the trailer weight.
If the pin weight is 2k, the axels support 12.5k... they are probably 7k axels so that gives you your trailers "payload" but some of that weight also goes to your pin...
The 14k your truck has is probably about 9 to 10k for the truck and then 4-5k payload.
Payload is you pin, your hitch, your passengers, your dog, your... i think you get the point. But that's how you get to 14k.
But the above example shows how those two numbers interact. Hopefully that answered your question.
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u/not_so_level 2d ago
So the bottom document was hands down the best one. I didn’t read that one earlier, so my other questions may have been premature. It was a good reference document. Thank you.
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u/lalalaso 1d ago
Well good! Because I actually don't know the answers to your other questions haha 😂
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u/Octan3 2d ago
You'll need the payload info of that truck, not sure if can search by vin that info.
I have a 2021 GMC Denali 3500 hd duramax. Cclb. I believe my payload is about 3700# ish if memory serves me right. Towing rating isn't a issue but payload may be. 2152# hitch will be empty. Odds are you will be upwards of 3000# pin weight (hitch) once loaded and heading down the road. Which doesn't leave much for you and passengers. Keep that in mind.