Trailer weight/advice needed
- Thread starter deerefan
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deerefan
Veteran Member
14k lbs on gooseneck is the capacity
WM75Guy
Elite Member
I am talking from a practical sense, not a legal sense in that you may be over the ratings by a few hundred pounds. If it was me, I would pass. Nothing worse than to spend all your time on a trip dealing with vehicle issues. Can your truck pull it - maybe. Only way to know is to test it before getting on the road for a long trip. You are going to be close to or past the truck's capacity to carry the weight and pull it at a decent speed, especially if you hit a grade. Even with trailer brakes set correctly stopping will be a challenge. You don't have the exhaust brake like I have on the Duramax, which helps a great deal.
According to the 2015 Chevrolet towing guide the trailer GVWR is just above what the truck is rated for. Living quarters trailers are heavy but I doubt you will max it to the 14,400# GVWR even with 3 horses and tack, unless you are hauling warmbloods or draft horses. Take it to the scales and get an empty weight on the trailer. You should be able to determine the weight of the horses, tack, and supplies to get a gross weight. Don't forget to have the water tanks full when you weight the trailer. Every gallon will add 8.33#.
I agree there is not much V on the front so you will have to be careful backing or making turns or you are going to damage the cab and trailer. Our Sundowners had enough V that I could almost get it at 90 degrees if I needed to get in a tight spot with our 2017 GMC 2400HD Crew Cab and standard bed. That trailer and a standard bed will be a little more tricky. Again, test it before you hit the road.
I would also be worried that the kingpin weight is going to cause the truck to be overloaded for total weight and on the rear. Having a light front end is an issue driving. Your picture shows the truck GVWR at 9200# and the rear at 6200#. Living quarter trailers are tongue heavy. If the loaded trailer weights 12,000#, that would be a max of 3,000# kingpin weight (25%). I would bet that the kingpin weight would be at or over that, especially without the horses in the back to balance the load. If you only have a total of 3000# of weight the truck can carry, that doesn't leave room for passengers and fuel. Again, something to check before the trip.
"Fifth-wheel or gooseneck kingpin weight should be 15% to 25% of total loaded trailer weight. The addition of trailer kingpin weight cannot cause vehicle to exceed Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (RGAWR) or Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). These ratings can be found on the certification label located on the driver door or doorframe."
According to the 2015 Chevrolet towing guide the trailer GVWR is just above what the truck is rated for. Living quarters trailers are heavy but I doubt you will max it to the 14,400# GVWR even with 3 horses and tack, unless you are hauling warmbloods or draft horses. Take it to the scales and get an empty weight on the trailer. You should be able to determine the weight of the horses, tack, and supplies to get a gross weight. Don't forget to have the water tanks full when you weight the trailer. Every gallon will add 8.33#.
I agree there is not much V on the front so you will have to be careful backing or making turns or you are going to damage the cab and trailer. Our Sundowners had enough V that I could almost get it at 90 degrees if I needed to get in a tight spot with our 2017 GMC 2400HD Crew Cab and standard bed. That trailer and a standard bed will be a little more tricky. Again, test it before you hit the road.
I would also be worried that the kingpin weight is going to cause the truck to be overloaded for total weight and on the rear. Having a light front end is an issue driving. Your picture shows the truck GVWR at 9200# and the rear at 6200#. Living quarter trailers are tongue heavy. If the loaded trailer weights 12,000#, that would be a max of 3,000# kingpin weight (25%). I would bet that the kingpin weight would be at or over that, especially without the horses in the back to balance the load. If you only have a total of 3000# of weight the truck can carry, that doesn't leave room for passengers and fuel. Again, something to check before the trip.
"Fifth-wheel or gooseneck kingpin weight should be 15% to 25% of total loaded trailer weight. The addition of trailer kingpin weight cannot cause vehicle to exceed Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (RGAWR) or Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). These ratings can be found on the certification label located on the driver door or doorframe."
Rockbadchild
Elite Member
to me all these stickers doesn't specify the towing capacity when I googled your truck it says that the Fifth wheel pulling capacity is 14800 lb and you trailer gross weight is 14400 lb that's with 3 horses inside (total allowable weight) so if you only look at the towing capacity you are ok...
GVWR” (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating); the GVWR refers to the maximum weight a vehicle is designed to carry including the net weight of the vehicle with accessories, plus the weight of passengers, fuels, and cargo
GVWR” (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating); the GVWR refers to the maximum weight a vehicle is designed to carry including the net weight of the vehicle with accessories, plus the weight of passengers, fuels, and cargo
LD1
Epic Contributor
Without knowing the trailer weight and pin weight its hard to say. But I think it will be just fine. My ONLY concern is the shortbed truck with a gooseneck.
But seriously, you have a MODERN 250hd truck and are only asking about a 14k GN trailer. Id say no problem at all.
You truck is ALOT more capable than even a 1-ton truck of the 1990's era. Your truck has a 14k tow rating and I doubt the trailer will ever be loaded to that amount.
And the mfg "tow ratings" are just guidelines. Not a legally enforceable #. What is enforceable is the GVWR's, GAWR's, And tire/hitch ratings.
A '16 dodge, crew cab 4x4 cummins p/u has a tow rating of 25k. I have the same truck but in cab and chassis form with a flat bed. My "listed" tow rating is only 18k. Go figure. The p/u box is allowed to tow more than a commercial truck....lol
But seriously, you have a MODERN 250hd truck and are only asking about a 14k GN trailer. Id say no problem at all.
You truck is ALOT more capable than even a 1-ton truck of the 1990's era. Your truck has a 14k tow rating and I doubt the trailer will ever be loaded to that amount.
And the mfg "tow ratings" are just guidelines. Not a legally enforceable #. What is enforceable is the GVWR's, GAWR's, And tire/hitch ratings.
A '16 dodge, crew cab 4x4 cummins p/u has a tow rating of 25k. I have the same truck but in cab and chassis form with a flat bed. My "listed" tow rating is only 18k. Go figure. The p/u box is allowed to tow more than a commercial truck....lol
RandyT
Elite Member
Not totally true. court cases would say otherwise. At least in civil court.
I think imo if you have some defensive driving skills, are comfortable with pulling trailers, and don't speed/ tailgate, you should be fine biggest thing I learned was ability to stop safely. Interesting thing I also learned the 2016 3/4 ton gasser has a max gcwr truck/ trailer of around 21k the 6.6 diesel gcwr is a little over 25k same chassis configuration. Personally I've bumper pulled well over 14k on a 6.6 3/4 ton with exhaust brake pulling a 17k max gvwr deckover, I run my loads tongue heavy but installed airbags on rear axle to compensate for squat, and never go over 65 mph, on freeways. So sue me.
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Lineman North Florida
Elite Member
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- Farmtrac 360 DTC with FEL & John Deere 5093E with FEL ,Kubota SVL 75-2
I have the same truck as you do and wouldn't hesitate to pull that trailer all day long, check your electric brakes everytime you hook it up and as someone said earlier a little common sense driving will get you where you need to go everytime.
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deerefan
Veteran Member
Thankfully the truck came equipped with factory electric brakes. They work well pulling our 3 horse bumper pull. This truck, power wise, reminds me of our 93 Chevy 1 ton we had on our family farm. It had a 454 with 4.11 gears (maybe 3.73, can’t remember). Pulled our stock trailer well, held 6-7 full grown bulls/heifers. Probably around 13k lbs or so. It was extended cab, 2wd with an auto transmission. We got 285k miles out of that truck, pulling 60-70% of the time.
