Another towing question: 3500HD for 35' Fuzion Toy Hauler

[Steelfeathers]

I plan to purchase a 35' Fuzion Toy Hauler (dual axle) in the near future. Here's the weight specs:
Hitch Weight 2,850 lbs Dry Weight 12,045 lbs Cargo Weight 4,455 lbs

Was wanting the GMC 2500HD/Duramax, but according to the brochure it won't handle the weight.

Looking at the 3500HD (Denali) SRW. The stats show it should be OK
Maximum Trailering w/5th wheel or gooseneck 16,800

I really don't want to go the dually route, but looks like probably I need to.

Any thoughts/things I've missed, guys?

[RickandJanice]

Allot of people out there are towing these larger 5th wheels with single wheel axles but I would not recommend it. The heavier weight and higher profile will cause allot of instability on single rear wheel trucks. Single rear wheel trucks also have less braking power. Either way, this size trailer will require a one ton truck at the minimum just due to pin weight, GVWR of the trailer and GCWR of the truck and trailer.

[Steelfeathers]

I appreciate your advice. Makes good sense.

[rotaxman]

Once you pull with a dually you will wonder why you didn't get one sooner. I have several friends that said they would never go to a dually but they are driving them now and say they will never go back.

As always good camping
Joyce and Jerry

[wingnut60]

Dry weight + cargo weight = Gross Vehicle Weight = 16500. Potential pin weight of 3300lbs. What does the 3500 SRW list for rear axle capacity, and how much is on the axle before adding the pin weight. This is where you may be overloaded, not max towing capacity.
Joe

[Steelfeathers]

"Published Stats"

Wet T Hauler - 16500

3500 DRW GVWR 13,000
Max Payload (driver+cargo) 5703
Max Trailering (5th wheel) 22,300
Rear Axle/Spring Capacity 9375

[Cheif 2]

Go with a dually. I towed a similar weight 5'r with a single 2500 Dodge back in 2003. Never again. You could feel the camper pushing the rear of the truck when on curves. If I was to have had a tire go down I would have probably lost control. Went with a dually after that truck and have never looked back. A huge improvment and much, much safer.

[Steelfeathers]

I am sure that the 1 ton dually is my choice. Thanks to you and everyone for the sound advice!!

[mhs4771]

Check the fine print at the bottom of the GM towing charts. There's a disclaimer about Max pin weight. I believe the 3500 SRW max is 3000 Lbs and the 3500 DRW is 3500 Lbs. So you can be within all the other specs, but over on the GM max for pin weight. Dually is the only way to go.

[wingnut60]

The max pin weight on a 3500 dually is 3500lbs? That leaves out most all the DRV trailers?
Joe

[Motor31]

The max pin weight on a 3500 dually is 3500lbs? That leaves out most all the DRV trailers?
Joe

You really need to go review the results of the actual scale weights that stripit published in the drv forum. The above statement would not be a surprise to you if you had. He found that 100% of the SRW trucks towing drv units were overweight. The majority (IIRC) of DRW 1 ton trucks were also overweight.

He has multiple years of actual scale data in a database format to indicate those findings. Scale data gained through weighing each wheel not just by axle of both the trucks and trailers.