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Towing a 40’ weekend warrior 4005 flt.

Windowman
Explorer
Explorer
OK I’m getting mixed reviews on towing my trailer. I have a 98 2500 Chevy diesel but I don’t plan on hauling it with that since I’m getting rid of it but I’m considering either another 2500 HD or 3500 Can I use a 3-4 ton pull the trailer safely or should I be looking at a 1 ton truck instead?
I’ve been pulling trailers all my life I also drove transfer trucks so I’m not new to towing.
31 REPLIES 31

HTElectrical
Explorer
Explorer
Windowman wrote:
I’m looking at a used Chevrolet 3500 dually with an 8.1 in it. I would like to keep a diesel but my budget right now wouldn’t allow it and I don’t think my 2500 diesel would fit or be too much for me to convert it.


Since you are going with an older truck, you will need a dually, and I do not think you will be happy with a Gas powered truck, Diesel would be preferred.
2007 Duramax, Cognito 7"-9" Lift,

HTElectrical
Explorer
Explorer
rhagfo wrote:
HTElectrical wrote:
2022 Crew Cab, Standard Bed 4WD, 6.6L Duramax Turbo-Diesel V8 engine:

Max GCWR = 29,700 Single, Dual 40,000

Max Conventional Trailering 20,000 Single, 20,000 Dual

Max Payload 5,343 Single, 6,838 Dual

GVWR 12,100 Single, 14,000 Dual

Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating 7,250 Single, 10,500 Dual


You DO NOT NEED A DUALLY to safely, comfortably, or any other matter tow that trailer!!!!!!!!!!


Well it seems you are picking and choosing your numbers, a Diesel DRW will not have a 6,838# payload.
14,000 - 6,838 = 7,162 that is one stripped down gas DRW.


I took those numbers directly from the GM website. I picked the heavier truck Crew Cab.
2007 Duramax, Cognito 7"-9" Lift,

Grit_dog
Nomad III
Nomad III
The question I have is what did you tow it with already? You said "your trailer" so presumably you own said trailer...
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5” turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold

Grit_dog
Nomad III
Nomad III
Windowman wrote:
I’m looking at a used Chevrolet 3500 dually with an 8.1 in it. I would like to keep a diesel but my budget right now wouldn’t allow it and I don’t think my 2500 diesel would fit or be too much for me to convert it.


Your "2500 diesel", if it's in perfect mechanical shape, might get that size a trailer up to about 50mph downhill with a wind behind it...
But I wouldn't take it down a big hill...unless you have a clear runout at the bottom!
The 8.1 Alli will pull it better than the ole 6.5 Turdbo Diesel, but still be sucking sidewalk.

Not sure how you "pulled trailers all your life including transfer pups" and have these conceptual questions, but every 40' WW I've seen is a triple axle behemoth. Not suitable to tow safely or with any efficiency behind anything other than a diesel, from this century. Preferably a dually.
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5” turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold

valhalla360
Nomad II
Nomad II
Windowman wrote:
I’m looking at a used Chevrolet 3500 dually with an 8.1 in it. I would like to keep a diesel but my budget right now wouldn’t allow it and I don’t think my 2500 diesel would fit or be too much for me to convert it.


I was assuming you were going diesel with an 18k GVWR trailer.

Depends on the year, cab style and fit out...the 2021 (6.6 not 8.1) max out at around 17k.

The 2022 diesel jumps you up to at least 21k tow rating (payload still needs a check but likely OK with a dually)

Check your specific truck build but I would be surprised if you have an 18k tow rating on an older truck. More importantly, I would expect it to be a miserable towing experience.
Tammy & Mike
Ford F250 V10
2021 Gray Wolf
Gemini Catamaran 34'
Full Time spliting time between boat and RV

Windowman
Explorer
Explorer
I’m looking at a used Chevrolet 3500 dually with an 8.1 in it. I would like to keep a diesel but my budget right now wouldn’t allow it and I don’t think my 2500 diesel would fit or be too much for me to convert it.

valhalla360
Nomad II
Nomad II
Looking online, the trailer has a GVWR of 18,000lb. That means the pin weight of around 3800-4600lb.

Tow rating, you should be fine.

Payload is where you are likely to run out with a 3/4ton or a SRW 1 ton. There is a sticker on the door panel that lists the payload for a truck.

So if you are at say 4500lb pin weight you need to add:
- 200lb for the hitch
- Passengers...a family of 4 can easily add 500-600lb
- Bolt on accessories (running boards, brush guards, etc...) say 200lb
- Gear stowed in truck...say 300lb
- At 18k, you will want the diesel which will add maybe 700lb

That totals up to around 6400lb of payload used...which is squarely in dually range.
- Even if you travel solo and keep the other loads minimized, staying within the SRW 1 ton payload is going to be iffy.

Keep in mind the post above is pretty much a unicorn truck where the available payload is absolutely maxed out by getting the most stripped down possible truck. Get the luxury harley/lariat/platinum and that can eat up a few hundred pounds of payload.
Tammy & Mike
Ford F250 V10
2021 Gray Wolf
Gemini Catamaran 34'
Full Time spliting time between boat and RV

rhagfo
Explorer III
Explorer III
HTElectrical wrote:
2022 Crew Cab, Standard Bed 4WD, 6.6L Duramax Turbo-Diesel V8 engine:

Max GCWR = 29,700 Single, Dual 40,000

Max Conventional Trailering 20,000 Single, 20,000 Dual

Max Payload 5,343 Single, 6,838 Dual

GVWR 12,100 Single, 14,000 Dual

Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating 7,250 Single, 10,500 Dual


You DO NOT NEED A DUALLY to safely, comfortably, or any other matter tow that trailer!!!!!!!!!!


Well it seems you are picking and choosing your numbers, a Diesel DRW will not have a 6,838# payload.
14,000 - 6,838 = 7,162 that is one stripped down gas DRW.
Russ & Paula the Beagle Belle.
2016 Ram Laramie 3500 Aisin DRW 4X4 Long bed.
2005 Copper Canyon 293 FWSLS, 32' GVWR 12,360#

"Visit and Enjoy Oregon State Parks"

HTElectrical
Explorer
Explorer
2022 Crew Cab, Standard Bed 4WD, 6.6L Duramax Turbo-Diesel V8 engine:

Max GCWR = 29,700 Single, Dual 40,000

Max Conventional Trailering 20,000 Single, 20,000 Dual

Max Payload 5,343 Single, 6,838 Dual

GVWR 12,100 Single, 14,000 Dual

Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating 7,250 Single, 10,500 Dual


You DO NOT NEED A DUALLY to safely, comfortably, or any other matter tow that trailer!!!!!!!!!!
2007 Duramax, Cognito 7"-9" Lift,

arhayes
Explorer
Explorer
Agree with Russ. On a 40’ TH, you may find an SRT 1 ton might appear to pull it okay, but not actually have the pin weight capacity. My 43’ TH has a 4000+ lb pin weight when loaded which, at least in 2014, required 1T DRW. It’s been our daily driver for almost 8 years now.
Alan and Kathleen
2015 Grand Design Momentum 380TH (RVD2)
2014 F350 6.7L Diesel DRW (Stormtrooper)
2012 Honda Goldwing NAVI/ABS (Land Speeder)

rhagfo
Explorer III
Explorer III
ford truck guy wrote:
Windowman wrote:
OK I’ve been looking at someone turns ones just single wheel in the back and then I glanced at a dually is that gonna really matter I prefer single tire just because I do drive the truck a lot without the trader but I’m not set on it


SRW also come in 1 ton

While true, they have nowhere near the payload capacity, nor the safety factor as a DRW. Our DRW is our daily driver and really don’t have an issue. One gets use to the hips and parking ..
Russ & Paula the Beagle Belle.
2016 Ram Laramie 3500 Aisin DRW 4X4 Long bed.
2005 Copper Canyon 293 FWSLS, 32' GVWR 12,360#

"Visit and Enjoy Oregon State Parks"

Nv_Guy
Explorer III
Explorer III
As been said, Weekend Warriors are heavy (I speak from experience here), so if you can deal with it, go for the dually, but SRW will probably work.

Windowman wrote:
OK I’ve been looking at someone turns ones just single wheel in the back and then I glanced at a dually is that gonna really matter I prefer single tire just because I do drive the truck a lot without the trader but I’m not set on it


SRW also come in 1 ton
Me-Her-the kids
2020 Ford F350 SD 6.7
2020 Redwood 3991RD Garnet

souraider
Explorer
Explorer
Weekend Warriors were notorious for extremely heavy trailers, which were always understated by WW. I would imagine a 40 foot Full Throttle model would need a dually...at least that's what I would be looking at.
'17 F350 STX 6.7
'15 Stealth WA2313
'20 Can Am Maverick Sport 1000R

Windowman
Explorer
Explorer
OK I’ve been looking at someone turns ones just single wheel in the back and then I glanced at a dually is that gonna really matter I prefer single tire just because I do drive the truck a lot without the trader but I’m not set on it