That is a lot of trailer. Personally, I would go with a DRW. And make sure that whatever you do buy, the available payload, printed on the yellow sticker in the door jamb, is well above the pin weight of your 5th.Take the pin weight, hitch weight, add fuel, passengers and all of your load out things to make sure you do have the capacity.

The "pulling" capacity is not the number to focus on--it's payload.

Below is info I've posted before, but I see you're new so...it's probably new to you! Please take time to review it and get intimately familiar with the issues before buying a truck. (I had to buy two before I got it right--don't repeat my mistake!)

-Howard

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IMPORTANT PLANNING INFORMATION
The hitch (or pin) weights on Grand Design RVs as listed on their website (under Specifications) is usually less than what you'll experience in the real-world. The UVW (Unloaded Vehicle Weight) is usually less, too.

For planning purposes, use 15% of a bumper-pull trailer's GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) as a worst-case scenario for hitch weight. For a 5th Wheel use 25% to determine worst-case pin weight. (These numbers are from the towingplanner.com website referenced below.) The actual weight of your trailer's hitch or pin will probably be less, but if your truck can handle the worst-case scenario everything else on your tow vehicle should be within specifications (but always double-check).

VIDEOS
Keep Your Daydream's video on the topic (link originally provided by GDRV-Emily )



From the RV Safety website: https://rvacademy.com/my-class/match...ks-to-trailers

The first 12 minutes of this video by Changing Lanes! on Youtube is recommended for those considering a 5th Wheel



WEBSITES
http://towingplanner.com/

https://www.huskytow.com/towing-calculator/

http://changingears.com/rv-sec-tow-vehicle-sizing.shtml

https://catscale.com/ All you ever wanted to know about CAT scales

www.fifthwheelst.com This website has a lot of information. There are many references to the app RV Tow Check (not free).

CALCULATORS
The attached worksheet from Ford shows how to determine what you need.
Ford Towing Capability Calculator.pdf

Keep Your Daydream's spreadsheet: http://www.keepyourdaydream.com/payload/

APPS
https://rvtowcheck.com/ (This is not free.)

HITCH RATINGS: See post https://gdrvowners.com/forum/referen...-hitch-ratings

With a GVWR of 16,800lbs, yes. Your pin weight will likely exceed the payload rating of a SRW truck.

I appreciate everyone's guidance. The GD Pin weight is published at 2794 lbs. The payload capacity on the truck is published at SRW 4078 lbs and the DRW is 5607 lb. If I use the 25% rule that Howard suggested above... the GD pin would calculate at 4200 lbs (Based on the 16,800 lbs). This seems to point to the DRW. Do you veterans agree with my conclusion? I certainly appreciate the assistance in avoiding the purchase of the wrong truck.

Depending on how you load the 5th wheel, the pin weight will be close to 4,000lbs. If you add a washer, dryer and generator, you will likely be over 4,000.

But, the 3500 SRW truck probably has a payload closer to 3,800. You need to check the payload rating of the actual truck you are interested in which can be found on the driver's door. Published specs are based on stripped down two wheel drive single cab gas trucks and are typically much higher than the trucks people actually buy.

...and if Paco81012 goes nuts (like several of us here) and adds an inverter, lithium batteries, solar...it all adds up QUICKLY. It is rare to read the complaint that someone bought "too much truck".

I agree completely that the best way is to go to a dealer's lot and open doors to read that sticker. Compare to the options loaded on the truck. It will all become clear once that doggone yellow sticker is understood. (In my case it was an EXPENSIVE education.)

Thank you all for the pointers. It looks like the i'm going to be moving the highway lines closer to the back wheels of the truck in the future... LOL. DRW it will be for me... Thanks again everyone.