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RV-Dreams.com Home -> RV-Dreams Community Forum -> Tow Vehicles -> I Need Help with my Towing Capacity...Please
Post Info TOPIC: I Need Help with my Towing Capacity...Please
ooper al


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I Need Help with my Towing Capacity...Please
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confuseI have a 1997 GMC C 3500 Duelly Diesel...Can someone help me with what the Max 5th wheel towing weight would be??? This truck runs great..But my wife and I are full timers and becoming 5ver's...that is if I can get this rate raitio figuerd out...I don't have a manuel...so I need some help..please..( she's been telling me that for years )...shhhh. Thanks Alan



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Terry and Jo


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Alan,

Start by going to a dealer and have them look at the "data plate" on the door.  With that old of a truck, they may need to research a bit, but what you want to know is the GCVW (Gross Combined Vehicular Weight) for the truck along with the GVWR (Gross Vehicular Weight Rating).  Then, with that information, take the GVWR of any trailer of interest and add the two GVWR's together to make sure it doesn't exceed the truck's GCVW.  In my line of thinking, I'd rather have too much truck than too much trailer.

When talking to dealers, don't let them talk to you about "towing weights."  That weight rating is nothing more than a very rough estimate.  I have a Ford F450 with a GCVW of 33,000 lbs and I will guarantee that if I was towing a trailer that matched the truck's "towing weight" of 24,600 lbs, I'd be WAY OVER on GCVW.

Terry



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Terry and Jo

2010 Mobile Suites 38TKSB3
2008 Ford F450
2019 Ford Expedition Max as Tag-along or Scout

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ooper al


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Terri, thank you I have always thought of More truck thank trailer, all I know thus far is the GVWR sticker on this truck says 10,000...it is a HD truck and I have pulled 21500 on a tounge dump trailer...but this 5th wheel is a new game for me and I just want to be safe...especially with my wife along side me...

I will go to the dealer tomorrow and find out hopefully they can tell me right away, as I am starting negotiations on trailers...again any input is helpful and I'm grateful for it, Alan

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Workinrvers


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when talking to the dealer you will also want to know the GCWR (Gross Combined Vehicle Weight) which is the max weight for the combination of your truck and anything you want to load and pull.

Phil

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Phil and Rudee
http://workinrvers.blogspot.com
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ooper al


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So I go to the dealer today and they were helpful on printing out everything on my truck except the GCWR they couldn't tell me what that was So I quess I'll take it to the next level and call the Manufacture... Unless someone else can tell me what it is... The weight of the truck was 4580 which seams light but thats what the specs say I'll go to the scale for an accurate reading in the next day or two...Any more input will be appreciated..Thanks Alan

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Terry and Jo


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Alan,

If you do go to the manufacturer, take a picture of the data plate near the driver's side door and provide that to them.  That data plate (sticker) lists things like codes for different things, including the rear differential ratio, which is used to determine all the factors for the research.  When we were looking to by the used F450 we have, I had the dealer get out the books to find the code rating for that differential ratio.  In Ford's case, it was a single letter that was the code for the ratio.

Terry



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Terry and Jo

2010 Mobile Suites 38TKSB3
2008 Ford F450
2019 Ford Expedition Max as Tag-along or Scout

Our photos on Smugmug
ooper al


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Thanks Terry, I had one dealer call me today and said he found it on a web site (sound wierd ) for 13560lbs but I think he is not for certain...I appreciate the insite and will give this dealer a day or two to forward me the link he was talking about...at least he is trying, others don't seem to want to bother...I appreciate all and any input and look forward to becoming a 5ver...That For Sure...Get me the heck out of this 1985 southwind...

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