Towing in the extreme: My 2014 1500 & 33’ 5th Wheel RV

redwngr · February 6, 2015

Max 5th wheel for 2014 TK15753 w/3.73 is only 11,200.

Of course, it doesn't matter until you get the loaded scale weights.

Have you verified the GVWR (and axle ratings) on the door jam sticker? (it's hard to see, because it's so low on the B pillar)

Isriam · February 6, 2015

i hate reading and seeing threads like this. everyone thinks they know better than the owner, and owners do some stupid stuff that makes me scared to drive near them. it doesn't matter who's side you're on there is always an opinion. He's under the towing capacity and if he can prove it, then its only your opinion he's a dangerous or bad driver. outside of that its not our job to arrest him or give him a fine. but i'd sure never post something like this to a forum because you'll get eaten alive.

load it up and tow it. at least you calculated more than the average weekend warrior.

calgator73 · February 7, 2015

Max 5th wheel for 2014 TK15753 w/3.73 is only 11,200.

Of course, it doesn't matter until you get the loaded scale weights.

Have you verified the GVWR (and axle ratings) on the door jam sticker? (it's hard to see, because it's so low on the B pillar)

2014 values would have him over gvwr by almost 1k and rgawr by 400. I've never seen an rv or truck that matched the literature.

DenaliDually · February 7, 2015

i hate reading and seeing threads like this. everyone thinks they know better than the owner, and owners do some stupid stuff that makes me scared to drive near them. it doesn't matter who's side you're on there is always an opinion. He's under the towing capacity and if he can prove it, then its only your opinion he's a dangerous or bad driver. outside of that its not our job to arrest him or give him a fine. but i'd sure never post something like this to a forum because you'll get eaten alive.

load it up and tow it. at least you calculated more than the average weekend warrior.

Just load and go huh? Wow.

I saw one of these jack knifed and killed a couple 2 or 3 weeks ago in perfect driving conditions in florida on a straight away on I95. I'm not trying to be a dick here but people can get really hurt bc of that "weekend warrior" mentality. It's all good till something unforseen like a smuck cutting you off puts you in a ditch and you have 10k lbs behind you. I do appreciate the OPs effort in figuring it out and my frustration is not him in particular, rather others who wing it. I drive a dually and a fleet of gooseneck all year from all ends of the country and I see enough that it scares me.

2015 Denali 3500 DRW, Michelin ltx, 4x4

calgator73 · February 7, 2015

I pull heavy as well...not on purpose though..truck came in 500lbs heavy and the trailer tw was off almost 200. Just trying to go safely.

nards444 · February 7, 2015

Yes. Usually full tank in US, 90% full in Europe.

Yup, happens all the time on the internet. In reality, somebody suing needs to prove "gross negligence" on his part. The burden of proof is on them. With the jury knowing "under the newest rating system" mechanically identical trucks are actually 300 lbs under the limit, good luck doing that. Ambulance chasers chase ambulances they know they can catch. In real life this is never going to happen.

Again, because of that 300 lbs? What form of common sense are you applying?

Agreed the internet inspires worst case scenarios. And yes burden of proof is always on the plantiff. Assuming worst case scenario you crash and burn go to court, your defense is going to be but my truck is just like the 2015 model, lol, come on man. Not trying to present a doomsday scenario, but scoff at the idea that there is no risk is foolish. If I were to be hit by somebody and it was determined to be there fault and negligence is involved with somebody being hurt bad or killed in my vehicle, which towing is negligent in my mind, I would take them for everything they are worth. And when we go to go court and your lawyer is foolish enough to say well its just like a 15, yeah good luck with that.

300 or no 300lbs dinking around with worrying about whether your under weight or the wife having to leave her coach purse at home for weekend to make weight, isn't common sense. Can the truck do it, sure it can, will something happen chances are no, can something happen due to the truck not being able to handle it, yes. Is there the chance of being sued due to negligence in a bad crash, its possible, the truck is clearly going to bust payload and the fact the guy thinks he only has 600lbs of junk in his trailer is faulty logic as well.

Why not just get the right tool for the job, but im guessing your the guy that uses a channel locks on everything, because it can do it.

calgator73 · February 7, 2015

Rv dealers and truck salesmen always try to screw us over. Hard to order a truck or trailer in absolute confidence. I did both and almost got completely screwed in the process.

Imcrazy · February 7, 2015

Personally I'd get a bigger truck or a smaller trailer.

kstruckcountry · February 7, 2015

All I'll say is I'd personally never buy any half ton that had a hitch in the bed.

Rated for it or not an HD would handle it much better and more safely. Anywhere windy or hilly your pickup will be miserable.

Jon A · February 7, 2015

I would take them for everything they are worth. And when we go to go court and your lawyer is foolish enough to say well its just like a 15, yeah good luck with that.

So you want to take everything a guy owns from him because he was carrying 300 lbs too much. First, my opinion of you just dropped a couple more notches. Second, I'll repeat--good luck with that. Thankfully, it's not quite that easy in this country (yet, anyway) to separate a man from his net worth just because you want to.

You act as if legal precedents are somehow overwhelmingly on your side. If that's the case, please do provide examples that show you're right. Please provide an example of one single case in which a guy was sued and lost everything due to being 300 lbs over payload but doing nothing else wrong. If you have a long list of examples, you must be right.

If you cannot find a single instance of this ever happening in the history of the United States of America...ever...then that's a clue you're in fantasy land. It just doesn't happen in the real world. 1000+ lbs overweight, going 80+ MPH while drunk on bald tires...yeah, you'll get some money from that guy's insurance company. But that's not what we're talking about here.

Jon A · February 7, 2015

I suppose if you don't leave your state there's not a problem. States are definatly different when it comes to general enforcemnt. DOT is there to make money and if they think your overweight they will use portable scales and write you a ticket usually around a thousand bucks. Not over weight, not a problem. Over weight, pay. And again,

True, all states are different. So, enforcement of what? What weight are they checking you against? Here, what's on your registration is what you paid for. That's it.

And again, IF an accident were to occur most DOT officers will investigate a 1500 and a 33' trailer. If there a death, it will be weighed. If your over, your done.

And if he was under weight but traveling 3 MPH over the speed limit would the same happen?

You should go to a truck stop and get one of these. No offense, but....

By my math, your GVW is 13820. I'm not aware of any version of the 2015 3500 with a GVWR more than 13,500 lbs. Are you overweight?

Also, depending upon how much stuff you have in the TV vs. what is tongue weight, that trailer must be well over 26000 lbs. I'm not aware of any GM 2015 3500 with a trailer weight rating over 23,000.

Was this a different vehicle or was your trailer more than 3,000 lbs over weight?

bdbake01 · February 7, 2015

The OP has a good bit of wisdom here.

Jon A · February 7, 2015

Ahh, a little fresh air and good reasoning.

Doin' my best. I do agree with a couple big things that have been said. Actually weighing your rig. That way you can make a more informed decision knowing what you're really doing. Also, tires! I'd go E rated for what you're doing (or even a lot less). Yes, this is actually something HPD will check, but more importantly they will add a real amount of safety. And when inflated to 60+ psi will improve the handling of the rig.

DenaliDually · February 7, 2015

My axel weights are in spec and the truck is Apportioned Plated so it's a higher gross. Kinda sucks bc you need a CDL to drive it even without a trailer.....