Help with new truck

[Dave A]

Originally Posted by BigToe

Hey guys, new everything here. Never towed fifth wheel and never even owned anything but 1/2 ton truck. I always bunked in dads camper my entire life but he passed last October so I’m now in the truck/camper buying mode.

I’m looking at a new Chevy 2500 gasser as I dont plan on towing more than 3-4 times a year on hunting/family excursions and it will be my daily driver between those times. I drive maybe 10 miles a day so was told diesel wouldn’t be a good option for me. My question is with the below specs how heavy of a trailer should I be looking for. I’m sure there’s a lot to it but if someone can put me in the ballpark I’d appreciate it. Nothing worse than plunking down 50-60k on a truck that wont be sufficient. That said,

2500HD...6.6 gasser...LT with fifth wheel package.
GVWR - 10650
GCWR - 24000
RGAWR - 6600
Curb weight - 7258
Payload - 3392
Fifth wheel TWR - 16620
Max tongue wt - 2490

Can estimate occupants plus cargo at roughly 1000 lbs including hitch.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

My 5th wheel weighs 16,000 lbs just almost exactly. There are 12,000 lbs on the axles and 4,000 lbs on the hitch. Verified numbers from a CAT scale. It does have a generator up front which I'm sure adds to the weight of the hitch. Your truck wouldn't even be close with that size 5th wheel!

[OneReallyOldGuy]

You’re talking about a whole lot of money for something you claim you’ll use “3 or 4 times a year.” Have you thought about renting an RV for your excursions? Having never pulled a 5’er you might be much more comfortable driving a class C motor home. Might be worth your while to give it a try before committing a hundred grand on a rig.
If you still want a 5’er that’s great, welcome to the club. I suggest you go to a few RV shows and pick your trailer then buy a truck that has the capacity to haul it safely.
Phil

[BigToe]

3-4 extended trips as I only have 4 weeks vacation per year. That doesn’t mean I won’t go to local lakes and camp weekends all summer.

[Notanlines]

What Phil said is the correct way: "Pick your trailer then buy a truck that has the capacity to haul it safely." Old timers know this to be true. Sometimes it takes a couple RV's and trucks before you wise up.