towing with a 2500HD

Use this forum for technical questions regarding tow vehicles.

Moderators: Mike Clay, Olbird

Post Reply
mac's bird
Posts: 29
Joined: Wed May 28, 2014 5:07 pm
Location: Missouri Liberty
Cardinal Owners: Cardinal fifth wheel 3850RL
Location: Missouri Liberty

towing with a 2500HD

Post by mac's bird »

I have just ordered a new 3850RL. I have a GMC 2500HD I hope it will be a big enough truck to handle it. I was pulling a 37 foot fifth wheel and I didn't even know it was there. The book say's it can pull a 17,800 fifth wheel. I know a dually would be better, just hoping I don't have to go to that.
snoking

Re: towing with a 2500HD

Post by snoking »

Pin weight is going to kill you! Fully loaded you will be looking at 3200 to 3400 pin weight.

Depending on the year of your truck, you have only 9200 GVWR, but the rear axle weight is another problem even if you look past the GVWR of the truck. Mike will be along to tell you why he upgraded to a dually! Chris
mac's bird
Posts: 29
Joined: Wed May 28, 2014 5:07 pm
Location: Missouri Liberty
Cardinal Owners: Cardinal fifth wheel 3850RL
Location: Missouri Liberty

Re: towing with a 2500HD

Post by mac's bird »

mac's bird wrote:I have just ordered a new 3850RL. I have a GMC 2500HD I hope it will be a big enough truck to handle it. I was pulling a 37 foot fifth wheel and I didn't even know it was there. The book say's it can pull a 17,800 fifth wheel. I know a dually would be better, just hoping I don't have to go to that.
My GVWR is 10000 and rear axle is 6200. payload is 4212. all this is Greek to me.
User avatar
UT Cardinal
Posts: 22
Joined: Mon Jul 09, 2012 5:43 pm
Location: Utah Mapleton,
Cardinal Owners: 3030RS
Location: Utah Mapleton

Re: towing with a 2500HD

Post by UT Cardinal »

I have a 3030RS (which is smaller than your 3850) and towed with a 2010 Chevy 2500HD. I was always on the ragged edge of being over capacity & was generally over with the pin weight (rear axle). The pickup had plenty of power & the transmission was smooth. I travelled many miles over & through the Rockies with no problems; however, I always had an uneasy feeling knowing I was over weight. Being an engineer, this used to grind on me at night. I bit the bullet and upgraded to the one ton. I sleep a lot better now!

BTW - I loved my Chevy - this new Ford is really phenomenal. I just got back from a 3600 mile trip and was extremely pleased. (However, I do not like the 26 gal fuel tank.)
2013 Cardinal 3030RS
2014 F-350 Lariat crew cab, short box
Husky 26K sliding hitch
Cummings Onan 5500 generator
Winegard SK 3005 satellite dish
*************************************

2014 - 25 camping days
2013 - 10 camping days
2012 - 10 camping days
mac's bird
Posts: 29
Joined: Wed May 28, 2014 5:07 pm
Location: Missouri Liberty
Cardinal Owners: Cardinal fifth wheel 3850RL
Location: Missouri Liberty

Re: towing with a 2500HD

Post by mac's bird »

[quote="I see what you are saying. I wonder why GMC would say you can pull up to 17,800. I would think they would be setting their self's up for a law suit.
snoking

Re: towing with a 2500HD

Post by snoking »

viewtopic.php?f=23&t=8828&hilit=white+rabbit

Here is the truck Mike bought to tow a similar trailer. Chris
mac's bird
Posts: 29
Joined: Wed May 28, 2014 5:07 pm
Location: Missouri Liberty
Cardinal Owners: Cardinal fifth wheel 3850RL
Location: Missouri Liberty

Re: towing with a 2500HD

Post by mac's bird »

snoking wrote:viewtopic.php?f=23&t=8828&hilit=white+rabbit

Here is the truck Mike bought to tow a similar trailer. Chris
I guess I don't have a choice but to give it a try.
snoking

Re: towing with a 2500HD

Post by snoking »

Well weigh the rear axle with the trailer with the trailer loaded and in tow. If over 6200 pounds you will be over loading the tires. Rickson 19.5" rims and tires are one way around that issue. You may need air bags also.

Chris
mac's bird
Posts: 29
Joined: Wed May 28, 2014 5:07 pm
Location: Missouri Liberty
Cardinal Owners: Cardinal fifth wheel 3850RL
Location: Missouri Liberty

Re: towing with a 2500HD

Post by mac's bird »

snoking wrote:Well weigh the rear axle with the trailer with the trailer loaded and in tow. If over 6200 pounds you will be over loading the tires. Rickson 19.5" rims and tires are one way around that issue. You may need air bags also.

Chris
thank's for your input.
User avatar
Mike Clay
Council, Administrator
Posts: 13245
Joined: Mon Mar 13, 2006 8:53 am
Location: Oregon Gresham
Cardinal Owners: 2016 3850RL Estate
Skype ID: Mike-Clay
Location: Oregon Gresham

Re: towing with a 2500HD

Post by Mike Clay »

Well I am sorry to tell you this but you will be over loaded on a 3/4 ton truck. My 1 ton single rear wheel truck was over loaded on the rear wheels not to mention how unstable it was. You are going to find that is a big heavy trailer. My pin is 3,600 lbs and the trailer is pushing 16,000 lbs.
Mike, Susanna & Rudy
2016 3850RL Estate "Proto Grigio"
2019 Silverado 3500HD Dually D/A 4x4 LTZ
My dreams are too big for my wallet
Rallies attended - 32

Nights camping in 2013:159 2014:269 2015:Full Timers
User avatar
mike & linda
Posts: 142
Joined: Sat Jun 23, 2007 6:45 pm
Location: Georgia Dacula
Cardinal Owners: 2013 3030RS
Location: Georgia Dacula

Re: towing with a 2500HD

Post by mike & linda »

I have a f250 and I added air bags. It really made a difference for me.
2006 F250 PSD CC
2013 3030RS 5er (The Load & Go}
DW & #1 Son
snoking

Re: towing with a 2500HD

Post by snoking »

mike & linda wrote:I have a f250 and I added air bags. It really made a difference for me.


Air bags will not help the OP if he is overloading his rear tires! A lot of the new Cardinals have the axle moved back which creates more pin weight. OP stated his RGAWR was 6200. If you subtract Mikes 3600 pin weight from that, then the truck would have to weigh less that 2600 on the rear axle ready to tow, which is not going to happen. A new Dodge SRW 3500 with a 7000 lb RGAWR would handle it, but I do not know the ratings of the Ford 350 SRW or the GM 3500 SRW. Any of the duallies will handle it fine.

The other issue is you have a truck that weighs 7400-8000 pounds. Add 3600 of pin weight and you will be between 11,000 and 11,600 on a truck with a 10,000 GVWR.

Like I said earlier, OP can bag it and install Rickson 19.5" rims and tires, which solves the most pressing issue of being over the tire ratings.

Chris
User avatar
Mike Clay
Council, Administrator
Posts: 13245
Joined: Mon Mar 13, 2006 8:53 am
Location: Oregon Gresham
Cardinal Owners: 2016 3850RL Estate
Skype ID: Mike-Clay
Location: Oregon Gresham

Re: towing with a 2500HD

Post by Mike Clay »

My srw one ton would have been within specs but I also had a 50 gallon in bed transfer flow tank that added 500 lbs so over the tire max it went. I had more problems with the trailer feeling really top heavy while towing. I know after buying this trailer the last thing I wanted to do is buy a new truck.

The spec sheet Forest River shows on their site is wrong. These models come out of the factory all day at 13,300 lbs and more depending on options. The length is just a couple inches under 42 feet. The industry measures from the center of the pin to the rear cap not counting the ladder.
Mike, Susanna & Rudy
2016 3850RL Estate "Proto Grigio"
2019 Silverado 3500HD Dually D/A 4x4 LTZ
My dreams are too big for my wallet
Rallies attended - 32

Nights camping in 2013:159 2014:269 2015:Full Timers
mac's bird
Posts: 29
Joined: Wed May 28, 2014 5:07 pm
Location: Missouri Liberty
Cardinal Owners: Cardinal fifth wheel 3850RL
Location: Missouri Liberty

Re: towing with a 2500HD

Post by mac's bird »

Mike Clay wrote:My srw one ton would have been within specs but I also had a 50 gallon in bed transfer flow tank that added 500 lbs so over the tire max it went. I had more problems with the trailer feeling really top heavy while towing. I know after buying this trailer the last thing I wanted to do is buy a new truck.

The spec sheet Forest River shows on their site is wrong. These models come out of the factory all day at 13,300 lbs and more depending on options. The length is just a couple inches under 42 feet. The industry measures from the center of the pin to the rear cap not counting the ladder.
I wonder if I added another leaf to my rear springs if that would be enough.
snoking

Re: towing with a 2500HD

Post by snoking »

mac's bird wrote:
I wonder if I added another leaf to my rear springs if that would be enough.
What does that do for your tires? Which are the weakest link! What year is your truck? Chris
Post Reply