fifth wheel trailer towing

Billy Harper · 02-22-2009, 02:19 PM

anyone tow large fifth wheel trailers with single axle duramax ?

Thurston · 02-22-2009, 03:50 PM

I tow a 38ft ATC with 1ft extra height, with a 2500 HD 4x4 Duramax crew cab long bed, and it tow just fine. The weight of the aluminum trailer fully loaded matches the weight limits of the truck real close. All that being said, the only thing the truck really needs more of is BETTER BRAKES. I would not want to tow anything heaver unless I had a 1 ton dullie, which I believe has larger brakes.

Dragsinger · 02-22-2009, 04:26 PM

Billy,

I tow a 40 foot Vintage with living quarters, race supplies, and a 3000 pound door car. My truck is a 2006 GMC single wheel, two wheel drive, DuraMax With 52,000 miles it is untouched,[of course regular maintenance] factory original, including the factory tires. The performance is completely satisfactory.

The power of a DuraMax is very impressive. Set the cruise at your desire travel speed and relax. NOTE; cruise control setting is necessary, otherwise you run the risk of speeding tickets.

Of course, the trailer has brakes on all three axles so stopping as never been an issue.

Chuck Beach · 02-23-2009, 08:09 AM

Never ....

FrankM · 02-23-2009, 09:36 AM

I have a 2007 new body 2500HD Duramax with tow package. I tow a fifth wheel camper, 40ft long "factory weight" aprox. 11000lbs with no problems. Optimum speed is at about 60-65 miles an hour and average about 12.5 mpg. The only thing I don't like is the brakes are a bit weak on the truck, need to make sure the trailer brakes are properly adjusted. Other than that I love it.

art leong · 02-23-2009, 03:56 PM

Have you weighed the trailer loaded? My truck and trailer is 31,000 pounds wet ready to go to a race.
I have a Ford F550 chassis cab (Fontaine conversion).
I was complaining about the fuel mileage. Now 9.5 mpg at 60 mph. Till I got it weighed. Now I understand fully and am very happy with the 4.88 rear, the 19.5 inch wheels, and the overall hugeness of the truck.
At 60 mph I'm turning 2,400 rpm's Not very good for mileage, but my trans temps and my egt's are well within parameters.

Rick Blake · 02-23-2009, 04:22 PM

I tow a 50' Gooseneck Living Quarters with a 2007 Duramax Allison 3500 series Classic Dually and it tows awesome, I'm also approx 30,000# loaded and get betwen 8-9 mpg @ 68-70 mph depending on head-winds, worst has been 7mpg and best 10mpg.

art leong · 02-23-2009, 05:41 PM

I think a lot of people don't realize how much these long, extended height, living quaters trailers weigh.
Coupled with a loaded pickup truck. it's a lot of weight to move or stop.
I definetly would not want to have a single rear wheel with mine. Come to think of it neither would the people in front of, or along side me on the interstate.

Mike Pearson · 02-23-2009, 05:42 PM

Billy,

Check the load rating on your tires. You probably have load range E tires. They are only good for about 2500 lbs each or about 5000 lbs on your rear axle. My 40 ft goose puts about 8500 on the rear axle when loaded. That kind of weight would be way over the tires capacity. The truck would be unstable and tire life would be very short. If you want a large trailer you need a dually as a minimum.I would not attempt to tow with a single wheel truck.

Bill Pomponi · 02-24-2009, 10:36 AM

Billy,

Towed both cars in the Goldrush 48 ft fifth wheel with the 2001- 3500 crew cab dualley w/the Duramax and Allison 5 speed and got best 11.2 MPG !!. Total weight loaded was 22,756 #. Towed great just had to leave a little extra room for braking. You definitely need the dual wheels, 1 ton, long bed for good stability on the highways

02-22-2009, 02:19 PM	#1
Billy Harper Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 277 Likes: 76 Liked 138 Times in 22 Posts	fifth wheel trailer towing anyone tow large fifth wheel trailers with single axle duramax ? __________________ BILLY HARPER

02-22-2009, 03:50 PM	#2
Thurston Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 22 Likes: 1 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: fifth wheel trailer towing I tow a 38ft ATC with 1ft extra height, with a 2500 HD 4x4 Duramax crew cab long bed, and it tow just fine. The weight of the aluminum trailer fully loaded matches the weight limits of the truck real close. All that being said, the only thing the truck really needs more of is BETTER BRAKES. I would not want to tow anything heaver unless I had a 1 ton dullie, which I believe has larger brakes.

02-22-2009, 04:26 PM	#3
Dragsinger VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Liberty City [East Texas] Posts: 1,760 Likes: 5 Liked 99 Times in 60 Posts	Re: fifth wheel trailer towing Billy, I tow a 40 foot Vintage with living quarters, race supplies, and a 3000 pound door car. My truck is a 2006 GMC single wheel, two wheel drive, DuraMax With 52,000 miles it is untouched,[of course regular maintenance] factory original, including the factory tires. The performance is completely satisfactory. The power of a DuraMax is very impressive. Set the cruise at your desire travel speed and relax. NOTE; cruise control setting is necessary, otherwise you run the risk of speeding tickets. Of course, the trailer has brakes on all three axles so stopping as never been an issue. __________________ Larry Woodfin 471W

02-23-2009, 08:09 AM	#4
Chuck Beach Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Delaware, Ohio Posts: 664 Likes: 12 Liked 58 Times in 13 Posts	Re: fifth wheel trailer towing Never .... __________________ Chuck Beach 3340 STK

02-23-2009, 09:36 AM	#5
FrankM Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 98 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 2 Posts	Re: fifth wheel trailer towing I have a 2007 new body 2500HD Duramax with tow package. I tow a fifth wheel camper, 40ft long "factory weight" aprox. 11000lbs with no problems. Optimum speed is at about 60-65 miles an hour and average about 12.5 mpg. The only thing I don't like is the brakes are a bit weak on the truck, need to make sure the trailer brakes are properly adjusted. Other than that I love it.

02-23-2009, 03:56 PM	#6
art leong VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Richmond Hill, Georgia Posts: 2,003 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: fifth wheel trailer towing Have you weighed the trailer loaded? My truck and trailer is 31,000 pounds wet ready to go to a race. I have a Ford F550 chassis cab (Fontaine conversion). I was complaining about the fuel mileage. Now 9.5 mpg at 60 mph. Till I got it weighed. Now I understand fully and am very happy with the 4.88 rear, the 19.5 inch wheels, and the overall hugeness of the truck. At 60 mph I'm turning 2,400 rpm's Not very good for mileage, but my trans temps and my egt's are well within parameters. __________________ Art Leong 2095 SS

02-23-2009, 04:22 PM	#7
Rick Blake Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: SW FLORIDA Posts: 208 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: fifth wheel trailer towing I tow a 50' Gooseneck Living Quarters with a 2007 Duramax Allison 3500 series Classic Dually and it tows awesome, I'm also approx 30,000# loaded and get betwen 8-9 mpg @ 68-70 mph depending on head-winds, worst has been 7mpg and best 10mpg. __________________ Rick Blake 2395 SG, SC, SP

02-23-2009, 05:41 PM	#8
art leong VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Richmond Hill, Georgia Posts: 2,003 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: fifth wheel trailer towing I think a lot of people don't realize how much these long, extended height, living quaters trailers weigh. Coupled with a loaded pickup truck. it's a lot of weight to move or stop. I definetly would not want to have a single rear wheel with mine. Come to think of it neither would the people in front of, or along side me on the interstate. __________________ Art Leong 2095 SS

02-23-2009, 05:42 PM	#9
Mike Pearson VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,444 Likes: 613 Liked 1,916 Times in 574 Posts	Re: fifth wheel trailer towing Billy, Check the load rating on your tires. You probably have load range E tires. They are only good for about 2500 lbs each or about 5000 lbs on your rear axle. My 40 ft goose puts about 8500 on the rear axle when loaded. That kind of weight would be way over the tires capacity. The truck would be unstable and tire life would be very short. If you want a large trailer you need a dually as a minimum.I would not attempt to tow with a single wheel truck. __________________ Mike Pearson 2485 SS

02-24-2009, 10:36 AM	#10
Bill Pomponi Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: North Granby, Connecticut Posts: 212 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: fifth wheel trailer towing Billy, Towed both cars in the Goldrush 48 ft fifth wheel with the 2001- 3500 crew cab dualley w/the Duramax and Allison 5 speed and got best 11.2 MPG !!. Total weight loaded was 22,756 #. Towed great just had to leave a little extra room for braking. You definitely need the dual wheels, 1 ton, long bed for good stability on the highways

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