Towing long 5th wheels

[morvac]

It's been a few years since selling our Alpenlite and we are getting the itch again. We have been looking at units with bunks but most are too pin heavy to consider for my TV, I did find one (Cedar Creek 362BTS) that comes under ok, a bit over 1800 for the pin, however it's listed at 38 ft. Never towed anything that large and remember seeing a recommendation against it, but it's not in my manual that can find anyways. Just wondering if I should keep searching for a smaller unit, but seems like everything is coming up 32-38ft for decent bunk units. We don't typically tow far...8 hrs to beach once a year and the rest local within the state (WV). Thanks!

[ACZL]

I too own a Creek BH and weighed on a CAT scale, my empty pin wt is 1800, empty trailer wt is 10,800 w/max GVW of 13,800. Fully loaded (2 adults, 2 kids, cat--for a week), pin is 2,000, trailer is 12,800. With bike hitch on rear bumper, I'm 54' nose to tail. Never had a problem towing and tracks nice and straight.

OP, your fine w/ your truck and Creek weights.

[Sohio]

I went from a 29ft fifth wheel to a 39 ft one, and they both handle about the same. The 39 footer weighs more, little slower uphill, but no worries.

[720Deere]

dockmasterdave wrote:
You don't state what your tow vehicle is

It's in his profile.

Sorry, I don't go cruising the profile of everybody that posts a question.

[The_Mad_Norsky]

Milkman670 wrote:
This is from another thread " My Creek has a listed GVWR of 13,750 and I typically travel at 13,350 pounds. And my pin weight is 3000 pounds"
The trailer I bought last fall was so far out from the listed weight it was stupid. I prefer 20-25% pin weight, as for length just plan turns a little wider.

And that would present a problem for the trailer in question here.

15% used to be about the normal for pin weight, but then again, that was back in 2005 or so. Things have changed a lot since then.

20% would probably be better.

Well, I can only hope that advertised was correct in this case. If true, the trailer in question will work with the pickup mentioned here.

[Milkman670]

This is from another thread " My Creek has a listed GVWR of 13,750 and I typically travel at 13,350 pounds. And my pin weight is 3000 pounds"
The trailer I bought last fall was so far out from the listed weight it was stupid. I prefer 20-25% pin weight, as for length just plan turns a little wider.

[wandering1]

Towing long 5th wheels or heavier 5th wheels?

[The_Mad_Norsky]

No you don't need a dually.

Did I say that????? :B

Run the figures through. From the figures you gave (1862 hitch, 11810 unloaded, 13860 gvwr) then it is mathematics that show this trailer is running 15 percent hitch weight ratio (1862 divided by 11810).

At that same ratio of 15% at gvwr of 13860 the pin weight would increase to 2079 pounds.

Your vehicle weighs 6900 pounds. Whats the gross weight rating on that year of Chevy, 9200 pounds????

Just for conversation, assuming it is 9200 pounds, then 9200 minus 6900 equals 2300 pounds of cargo carrying or hitch weight capacity left in the vehicle.

So you should be just dandy.

And honestly, you would really, REALLY, need to pack in the items to load that trailer up to its gross rating.

I would bet most times you use it you would be in the middle or say 12,500 - 12,900 pound range. That's giving you about 1,000 pounds of stuff, including water tanks, to pack into that fiver.

Shoot, even at 12,900 pounds (times 15%) the hitch weight would be 1,935 pounds. Well within the capacities of your current vehicle.

Go for it and enjoy.

[morvac]

Gotcha

[Milkman670]

For that gvwr the pin weight should be around 3,000lbs which is 1ton drw territory.

[morvac]

For reference it's a 2007 Cedar Creek 362 BTS. 1862 hitch, 11810 unloaded, 13860 gvwr. My TV is a 05' chevy 2500hd, LLY ext cab. I'm roughly 6900 with myself unloaded.

[dockmasterdave]

You don't state what your tow vehicle is

It's in his profile.

[donn0128]

Believe me the best truck for that CedarCreek is going to be a dually. The 1800 pound pin weight you mentioned is dry. When loaded to travel your pin weight could swell to 3000 pounds or more.

[720Deere]

You don't state what your tow vehicle is, so I can't comment on whether the Cedar Creek is appropriate for your vehicle. As far as length goes, I moved up from a 30' fifth wheel to a 37' two years ago and can honestly say that it doesn't handle all that different. The only problem with longer trailers is the availability of sites. We used to be able to call last minute with the 30' and always find a site. Now with the longer trailer, most campgrounds in our area have a limited number of sites that accommodate larger trailers and we need to plan well in advance.

On the pin weight, I would almost be concerned to only have 1800 lbs of pine weight on such a large trailer. I had nearly that much (1600 lbs) on a 30' trailer that only weighed less than 9000 lbs fully loaded. It is much easier for the tail to wag the dog with a light pin weight. The other side of that is for the trailer to be balanced enough to have a light pin weight, the axles must be fairly forward which will make it maneuver better in tight spots.