southern_chevy

iTrader: (9)

Well I work construction and am always moving (currently in North Dakota) And I have been looking at campers a lot. What ever I get I will be pulling it with the truck in my sig. So everything I have been looking at is in the 30' range and 5500-7000# range. Truck has 6.0l and 4.10s with add a leafs so it should pull a little better and squat a little less then stock. Max tow weight on the sticker is 8500 I think. I have been looking at sway controls and load levelers as well. But what would be the main concerns with a trailer that long and heavy? Also is there any main benefits from a fifth wheel over pumper pull as far as how the weight is carried?

whippled 8.1l build

personaly i like my 34ft fifth wheel for turning radius. with the fifth wheel the load on the truck is put directly over the rear axle instead of behind it and i do like the way it sits with it. if you want to go hitch mount do the load leveling kit and youll prob have no need for the helper springs. from all the campers i have looked at the fifth wheels have alot more room inside because the hitch is built more or less into the front bedroom.

guese it more or less comes down to what you like about the camper and if you truck can get it up a hill.

zz454Chevelle67

I tow a 29 foot travel trailer and sometimes a car hauler, if you are still running a 4L60 transmission it probably won't live very long at least mine didn't, I killed 6 of them.

1slow01Z71

iTrader: (36)

Fifth wheels tow a lot better, even over a wd and sway setup. Load range E tires make a huge difference in helping sway and just general stability. Atleast get a big trans cooler.

Isak81

Definately go with a fifth wheel. They are alot easier to keep straight and dont wobble as easy. A local trailer company actually has a small bumper pull-to-fifthwheel adapter for their delivery trucks.

southern_chevy

iTrader: (9)

Well I already have a 40k cooler and yes stock 60e. I have a built one that's getting checked over but it's 1500 miles away at home. Tires are E load range that are on it. I have pulled goosenecks and pumped pulls before just nothing that large as far as catching wind. Guess ill start leaning more towards a fifth wheel then.

jszklany

iTrader: (1)

Plenty of people pull trailers that big. It's a lot of weight but with sway bars and load equalizers you will feel fine.

pknowles

iTrader: (1)

I know it's not popular to say, but these trucks are way more capable then they are rated. 20 years ago most of us where towing big trailers with Vortec 350's barely making 250hp or even those old TBI 350's with super crappy brakes. Some had 7.4's and 6.5's, but the 6.5's had similar tow ratings to the 350's. If your 6L sings at 4k rpm going up a hill it's no big deal. Use good fluids, change them often, and enjoy your trailer. I tow regularly with my 6L and it has more then 300k miles. Stills runs great.

Bgbldodge

I’ve towed that weight of camper with a 5.3 half ton many times. It won’t hold overdrive at 70mph on flat ground but it’ll pull it with no sweat.