Tow Vehicle Question

[Roorider]

Hi there. New to this forum. Although we do not currently own a Grand Design product, we are seriously looking at upgrading our current fifth wheel to a Solitude 310. I'm getting conflicting opinions on whether our current truck will be sufficient to tow the Solitude 310.
We currently own a 2014 GMC 2500HD 4X4 with a 6.0 liter gas V8. GM lists our fifth wheel towing capacity at 17,800 lbs.. Our hitch is a 16K dual pivot Husky.
We are snowbirds and travel to Florida for the winters and have not had any problems towing our current 35 foot fifth wheel but the Solitude is 5 inches wider and 2,000 lbs. heavier than what we currently own. I would like to eventually upgrade to a 3500 Duramax diesel but that may not be for a year or two.
Anyone have thoughts on whether our current set up will give us any problems towing the Solitude 310?
Thanks in advance for your responses.

Roorider

[CWSWine]

Below is a 310GK lighty loaded for a weekend trip. I loaded for 30 days trip, switch out mattress, tray in the basement (90 pounds) and my axle weights went to 6800 pounds within 200 pounds of my max axle weights on 1 ton diesel turck.

Specs of a 310GK-R weighted at a CAT scale on 30 Oct 2016
Status from Grand Design Website.
UVW 12,100
Dry Pin Weight 2350
From Grand Design Weight Sheet that came with my 5er and has my VIN listed on the top of the sheet.
GVWR 15,000
GAWR (Per Axle) 7,000
UVW 12226 (Matches Sticker on 5er)
Hitch Weight 2392
Left (Street Side) 5326
Right (Curb Side) 4508
Cargo Carrying Capacity 2714
Truck Specs
Ford F350 Diesel SuperCab 143” Wheel Base 6.5 foot bed.
B&W Campion Hitch non slider
Web Spec 4080 Payload
Yellow Door Sticker 3744
GVWR 11,500
Rear Axle Ratings 7,000
Front Axle Ratings 5,200
GCWR 22,500
Tow Rating 15,900
Truck ONLY Weight Cat Scales
Front Axle Weight - 4740
Rear Axle Weight - 3480
Total Weight 8220
Cat Scale With 5er Hooked up
Steering Axle - 5000lbs
Drive Axle 6320
Trailer Axle 10,520
Gross Combine Weight 21,840
Bottom Line
Truck Weight (Truck Only) 8220
Truck Weight (Hitched) 11,320
Camper Weight 13,620
Pin Weight 3,100
Pin Weight Percentage 22.8%
2392 Factory Pin Weight 3100 scale weight increase of 708 pounds
12,226 Factory UVW 13,600 Cat Scale Weight increase of 1374 lbs
Over 50% of the 1374 pounds loaded went to pin weight
Just goes to show how much weight is loaded forward of the axle
Factory Scale weighs of 2392 pin and 12,226 UVW = 19.6 percent pin weight
Cat Scale Weights 13600 GVW and 3100 pin = 22.8 percent pin percentage or increase of 3.2 Percent over Dry percentage
I’m within 180 pounds of my GVWR of my trucks 11,500 GVWR. We were loaded for a week long trip and we are not full timers.

[Second Chance]

Despite the listed empty pin weight on the 310, it will likely be in the 3,200 - 3,400 lb. range when loaded. Light duty trucks - especially 1/2- and 3/4-ton trucks usually run out of payload WAY before they reach the listed "Max Towing Capacity." In my opinion, the 310 is an F350/3500HD trailer. One way to know for sure is to fuel up your truck, put the hitch in it, load all passengers and other items you would travel with and head for the nearest CAT scales. Get separate weights for the front (steer) and rear (drive) axles. Subtract the actual rear axle weight from the RAWR (rear axle weight rating) on the door sticker to find your actual remaining payload. If it's not at least 23% of the GVWR of the 310, it's not enough truck.

Rob

[Roorider]

Thanks for the reply.
I'm going to load up our truck this week as if we are going south for the winter and go weigh it. I think I can get a better idea from the weights if we can pull the Solitude or not.
Thanks

[howson]

Hi there. New to this forum. Although we do not currently own a Grand Design product, we are seriously looking at upgrading our current fifth wheel to a Solitude 310. I'm getting conflicting opinions on whether our current truck will be sufficient to tow the Solitude 310.
We currently own a 2014 GMC 2500HD 4X4 with a 6.0 liter gas V8. GM lists our fifth wheel towing capacity at 17,800 lbs.. Our hitch is a 16K dual pivot Husky.
We are snowbirds and travel to Florida for the winters and have not had any problems towing our current 35 foot fifth wheel but the Solitude is 5 inches wider and 2,000 lbs. heavier than what we currently own. I would like to eventually upgrade to a 3500 Duramax diesel but that may not be for a year or two.
Anyone have thoughts on whether our current set up will give us any problems towing the Solitude 310?
Thanks in advance for your responses.

Roorider

I suggest you check out the tools in the REFERENCE LIBRARY. Two threads in particular should interest you:

https://www.mygrandrv.com/fo...ity-Calculator

and

https://www.mygrandrv.com/fo...ns-Spreadsheet

Once you're comfortable with using the calculators in these threads you'll be very capable of making your own informed decision for your (and your family's) safety.

[jasonl78]

I'd double check your actual towing capacity. 17,800 seems more like gross combined with a 6.0L gas engine.

[Roorider]

Thanks. Will definitely check them out

[Roorider]

GMC Sierra 2500HD Denali 2500HD - Sierra 2500HD Denali 2500HD

EmailPDFWord Add This

Product Information Specifications
NEW FOR 2014
Bi-fuel compressed natural gas fuel system / 6.0L V-8 bi-fuel engine available on 2500HD crew cab
4.10 axle standard with gas models, with 3.73 ratio optional
Available spray-on bed liner
PRODUCT INFORMATION
2014 GMC SIERRA 2500HD AND 3500HD TRUCKS WORK HARD WITH STYLE

GMC Sierra 2500HD and 3500HD trucks work hard – and do it with unmistakable GMC style, with capabilities that include:

Standard trailering capability of 13,000 pounds (5,897 kg) for 2500HD and 3500HD
2500HD maximum payload of 4,212 pounds (1,910 kg) with the available Performance Package on regular cab long box models (2WD)
2500HD maximum conventional towing capacity of 13,000 pounds (5,897 kg)
2500HD maximum fifth-wheel towing capacity of 17,800 pounds (8,074 kg)
3500HD maximum payload of 7,222 pounds (3,276 kg)
3500HD maximum conventional towing capacity of 18,000 pounds (8,164 kg)
3500HD maximum fifth-wheel towing capacity of 23,100 pounds (10,478 k

[Second Chance]

GMC Sierra 2500HD Denali 2500HD - Sierra 2500HD Denali 2500HD

EmailPDFWord Add This

Product Information Specifications
NEW FOR 2014
Bi-fuel compressed natural gas fuel system / 6.0L V-8 bi-fuel engine available on 2500HD crew cab
4.10 axle standard with gas models, with 3.73 ratio optional
Available spray-on bed liner
PRODUCT INFORMATION
2014 GMC SIERRA 2500HD AND 3500HD TRUCKS WORK HARD WITH STYLE

GMC Sierra 2500HD and 3500HD trucks work hard – and do it with unmistakable GMC style, with capabilities that include:

Standard trailering capability of 13,000 pounds (5,897 kg) for 2500HD and 3500HD
2500HD maximum payload of 4,212 pounds (1,910 kg) with the available Performance Package on regular cab long box models (2WD)
2500HD maximum conventional towing capacity of 13,000 pounds (5,897 kg)
2500HD maximum fifth-wheel towing capacity of 17,800 pounds (8,074 kg)
3500HD maximum payload of 7,222 pounds (3,276 kg)
3500HD maximum conventional towing capacity of 18,000 pounds (8,164 kg)
3500HD maximum fifth-wheel towing capacity of 23,100 pounds (10,478 k

Reported to moderators.

[chris]

No spam. Vehicle specs.
Chris