Good video, but on your results page line 7 and line 11 should be the same number 953 lbs. On line 7 to get available gross vehicle weight you would also have to include the deduction of the tongue hitch weight. ( 3,095 - 2,142 = 953)
Great job. Always great to see when the guy with the F150 or 1500 says here hold my beer and I can show you that my truck will tow that 44' DRV just fine! In the sue happy world we live in here, if you were to get in an accident and injure someone or worse, the attorneys would have field day if you were overweight for the tow vehicle. One other item, validity of the drivers license as well. For example with your setup, you would need a non-commercial class A license to tow your rig here in Texas if you were a resident here. Texas uses the GVWR of the truck plus the GVWR of the trailer, and if the total of those two exceed 26,000 lbs you are required to have the non-commercial class A. So your example you have 12,100 + 14,995 = 27,095 lbs. Many insurance companies will NOT pay anything if you don't have the correct license class for your setup. Its another exclusion in many policies in the fine print. Just something to keep in mind. Many states don't have this specific restriction like Texas does for its residents, so you need to know your laws in the state as well when it comes to towing larger trailers.
You are definitely right that if you were to get into an accident and it was found that you are violating tow metrics, you'd be in some serious trouble. Great information about the license! That is something I often forget about. We're in California and any 5th wheel with a GVWR exceeding 15,000 lbs requires a non-commercial class A license. Our GVWR is 14,995. So we're good there. I think when Brinkley was designing their 5th wheel they specifically kept it under 15,000 lbs GVWR for states that had weight restrictions like that.
@@InterstateExplorers It is interesting topic which some states just don't seem to be clear. For example, in Arkansas the law states a CDL is required for a commercial vehicle with a combined weight over 26,001. Some people have argued (okay...discussed) that as long as it is your personal RV then you don't need a CDL at all. I have seen where someone actually contacted the State Police via email and got a response stating RVs do NOT require a Class A CDL in Arkansas. I used to live in Texas and in Texas I think you can apply for a Non-commercial Class A license that is required for combined weight over 26,001 lbs. when the trailer is over 10,000 lbs. I think the test is less stringent than for Class A CDL but only rumors I have heard. Very confusing indeed.
Calculator looks like a handy tool but I'd add a buffer to the hitch weight which is likely much closer to 3000lbs (if not over) once you have some stuff in the trailer.
Very good information was planning on getting a fithwheel camper and towing it with my 99 half ton after I finish restoring it now I may have to go another route thank you for the information even though I'm a truck driver I know about weight distribution and placement and axle length
If you know your trucks GVWR, max payload, trailer empty weight, trailer GVWR and one very important factor, your Gross Tire Rating located on the tire’s sidewall you can figure these important factors out. Truck stops have CAT Scales for weighing large vehicles and the scale is broken down into individual sections so that an individual axle weight may be accurately calculated. The pickup truck’s steer tires won’t be over weight, but the truck’s rear axle may very well be over weight. Your trailer axle weight will also be listed. I weighed my truck and 5er empty, and then again full of our cargo with passengers. It’s that easy! Sway: your going to have some sway depending on weather and traffic conditions where larger vehicles like semi trucks travel because of the volume of air they displace as they travel down the road. I’d strongly suggest that you install air bags to assist in handling the extra weight and they are an excellent way to combat the sway-just remember to NOT link them when you’re installing the air feed lines. You must have them on their own individual feed lines or the pressure of one bag will travel into the other air bag during sway.
Thanks for the comment! Great information about the scales, Gross Tire Rating, sway, and air bags. Good stuff. I'm going to make a follow up video with more metric information.
@@InterstateExplorers you’re most welcome. After 4-years in the military, I drove semi-trucks for 32 years. My wife and I are traveling in our Alliance 370FB. My 1-ton (SRW) Ram powered by a Cummins diesel gets the job done well. I get plenty of criticism from people who have never pulled trailers commercially. I’ve pulled everything imaginable with one exception; nuclear. I’ve been to Prudoe Bay-Deadhorse, Alaska a dozen times in my semi-truck. Maine is the only State I have yet visit. My pickup was originally purchased to pull 5er’s from the manufacturer to dealers and I loved the work. It dried up quickly after the Covid fear subsided. We’re jumping around enjoying our freedoms now!
I appreciate the knowledge from a professional with as much towing experience as you. I only started towing in 2021 and have made a lot of mistakes and have learned a lot along the way! One of these summers I want to tow our trailer up to Alaska. Not sure I'll make it up all the way to Prudhoe bay though! That's a long haul. Maine is awesome! We went last summer, one of my favorite states!
@@InterstateExplorers You won’t want to take your RV up the haul road because it’s way too rough. Travel during the summer is extremely rough because of the potholes. The road is a washboard. During the winter, it’s smoother because of the ice & snow filling in the potholes and ruts. The commercial traffic is heavy at times and you’ll end up pissing a lot of truck drivers off. It’s more of an adventure one would take a Jeep on, not an RV. A trip up and back would more-than-likely beat up your RV. The mountain hills, steep descents and the extreme conditions won’t be friendly and they’re definitely not forgettable. It’s not a trip for the faint of heart. I’ve heard of many grown men who were experienced truck drivers break down and cry like babies…no joke!
Pretty good video but you did leave out a pretty important number and that’s Rear Gross Axle Weight. That number for your 3500 SRW truck is 7,250 pounds. That’s a number that you don’t ever want to exceed. Also I don’t think you adjusted your hitch weight based off the GTW. The hitch weight will be a percentage of the GTW and based off your UTW and manufacturer stated hitch weight your fifth wheel has an 18% hitch/pin weight. Now you’re right, that will vary based on how you load cargo in the trailer. Stuff in the nose of the trailer and essentially forward of the axles will increase it and stuff behind the axles will decrease it. As long as you’re not exceeding your trucks RGAW then having too much tongue weight is far better than not having enough. But using your trailers roughly 18% number and then your GTW your hitch weight will be over 2,500 pounds. Again that’s an estimate and like you said that can be changed by how the trailer is loaded. A good rule of thumb when selecting a trailer and tow vehicle is to take the GVWR of the trailer and multiply that number by the percentage of hitch weight for that trailer to give you an idea of a potential max hitch weight. Your trailer would be 2,692 pounds of hitch weight. Going back to the RGAW your truck has a max hitch weight listed too. This is exclusive to GM (as is the towing sticker) but that number listed will ensure that you don’t exceed the rear axle rating. Ultimately going to a CAT scale and weighing your truck and trailer is the only way to truly know your weights. But using spreadsheets like this with educated guesses is a good start and will ensure that you’re most likely not overloaded.
Thank you for the detailed feedback! This is great information! Like you said, this spreadsheet is a good starting point, but it's always good to verify with a CAT scale. I'm going to make a follow-up video with more numbers.
We are always leery of dealers, and salespeople, most of them just want to make a sale to make money asap. Some don’t own a rv travel trailer or 5th wheeler. So it’s our responsibility to do our own research before we buy. When we got our travel trailer, we were very lucky that we had a salesman that owned a travel trailer and 5th wheel in the past. But we still made sure we did our own research before buying it. Main thing is, you have the right truck for whatever you tow.
It's better to have too much truck than too little. That was our mistake on our first RV and it led us to dangerous conditions. Run your own numbers, educate yourself, and you'll be just fine!
I'm trying to learn these calculations and have a question about the propane tanks. Will the size of the tank make a difference and are they calculated when empty or full in your calculator?
Yes the size of the propane tanks and whether they are filled will make a difference. The calculator calculates a full propane tank that weighs 37 lbs each. That being said, since propane tanks do not weigh that much, they will make a minimal difference when calculating.
I have purchased a Z3100 and am expecting delivery in a few weeks. Truck looking at, 2500HD with a payload capacity of only 2958 with GVWR of 11350, GCWR of 27,500 and curb weight of 8392. I have completed your chart and added the weights and estimated 1000 pounds in the fifth wheel. With these numbers, how can I still have 354 available payload capacity when the fifth wheel hitch weight of 2142 is already close to my payload number of 2958? What am I missing?
Thanks for the comment and questions! When calculating payload capacity, make sure that you include the 2142 hitch weight, the weight of all people in the vehicle (you plus passengers), the weight of any cargo in the truck, and also don't forget about your hitch in the bed of your truck. Ours weighs 287 lbs. Also keep in mind that payload is also affected by how the weight in the trailer is distributed. This is not reflected in the calculator. With a 2500 series truck, you're likely going to be overloaded in payload or just barely under when you tow the Z3100. While it is technically possible to tow a Z3100 with a 2500 series, a lot of people in the Brinkley groups suggest a 3500 series truck. Is your 2500 gas or diesel? Both have different tow metrics and a gas truck may be unable to tow a Brinkley.
The GMC has been great with no issues so far! We've towed in some windy conditions and thunderstorm downpours. No trailer sway at all. The only downside is a little bit of chucking on some bumpy interstates. Only suggestion I have is to make sure you have steps on the side to get into the truck as it's a big climb into the cab! The gooseneck conversion is very popular option. We met a couple with a GMC 3500 and Brinkley Z3100 and they had upgraded to the gooseneck and said there was no chucking. We've been happy with the current set up, but may switch to the gooseneck in the future.
How do you like the B&W Companion slider hitch? We have the same hitch for our z3100. Our tow vehicle is similar to yours...a 2022 Ford F350 Tremor (Fords AT4 lol). So far no complaints PS we loved Margaritaville at Lake Lanier! Our next trip is to Pigeon Forge in a couple of weeks
The hitch has been great so far! Only minor complaint is a little bit of chucking on some bumpy interstates. We've only had to use the slider part of it one time when we had to do some really tight maneuvering backing into a tight storage spot. We stayed on the other side of the Smokies in Cherokee (Pigeon Forge was sold out) and Margaritaville was great! Safe travels!
@@kylek1223I know a lot of people have switched to a gooseneck set up. I met a couple that switched to the gooseneck and said great things. I am not at that point yet, but maybe down the road.
Best towing rating guide video on RUclips. Bar none
Wow! Thank you so much for the comment!
Great work ! New sub 😊
Thanks for the sub!
Really appreciate your calculator and the time you spent creating it
Have a GREAT summer
Thank you! I'm glad the calculator is helpful to you. Have an amazing summer filled with memorable experiences and lots of camping!
Wow, THIS is the video I needed. Thank you so much. You’re an instant subscribe!❤
Thank you for comment! I'm glad you found the video helpful :)
Good video, but on your results page line 7 and line 11 should be the same number 953 lbs. On line 7 to get available gross vehicle weight you would also have to include the deduction of the tongue hitch weight. ( 3,095 - 2,142 = 953)
Awesom video, thank you with all the metrics. Love the Brinkley too.❤
Thank you! Hopefully trying to help people make sense of all those towing numbers. The Brinkley has been great so far, we love it!
Great video. I'm going to save this to share with others. Awesome collection of useful information.
Thank you so much! Glad you found it helpful!
Thank you for this, you often get conflicting information from truck and rv dealers.
You never know if the dealers have ever towed anything/own an RV. It's important to do your own math and research before purchasing!
@@InterstateExplorers totally agree, but having a tool now to do the math is awesome!!
@@NymsView Glad the video and calculator are helpful!
Great info. thank you!
No problem, thanks for watching :)
Great job. Always great to see when the guy with the F150 or 1500 says here hold my beer and I can show you that my truck will tow that 44' DRV just fine! In the sue happy world we live in here, if you were to get in an accident and injure someone or worse, the attorneys would have field day if you were overweight for the tow vehicle.
One other item, validity of the drivers license as well. For example with your setup, you would need a non-commercial class A license to tow your rig here in Texas if you were a resident here. Texas uses the GVWR of the truck plus the GVWR of the trailer, and if the total of those two exceed 26,000 lbs you are required to have the non-commercial class A. So your example you have 12,100 + 14,995 = 27,095 lbs. Many insurance companies will NOT pay anything if you don't have the correct license class for your setup. Its another exclusion in many policies in the fine print. Just something to keep in mind. Many states don't have this specific restriction like Texas does for its residents, so you need to know your laws in the state as well when it comes to towing larger trailers.
You are definitely right that if you were to get into an accident and it was found that you are violating tow metrics, you'd be in some serious trouble.
Great information about the license! That is something I often forget about. We're in California and any 5th wheel with a GVWR exceeding 15,000 lbs requires a non-commercial class A license. Our GVWR is 14,995. So we're good there. I think when Brinkley was designing their 5th wheel they specifically kept it under 15,000 lbs GVWR for states that had weight restrictions like that.
@@InterstateExplorers It is interesting topic which some states just don't seem to be clear. For example, in Arkansas the law states a CDL is required for a commercial vehicle with a combined weight over 26,001. Some people have argued (okay...discussed) that as long as it is your personal RV then you don't need a CDL at all. I have seen where someone actually contacted the State Police via email and got a response stating RVs do NOT require a Class A CDL in Arkansas. I used to live in Texas and in Texas I think you can apply for a Non-commercial Class A license that is required for combined weight over 26,001 lbs. when the trailer is over 10,000 lbs. I think the test is less stringent than for Class A CDL but only rumors I have heard. Very confusing indeed.
Calculator looks like a handy tool but I'd add a buffer to the hitch weight which is likely much closer to 3000lbs (if not over) once you have some stuff in the trailer.
Yes good point. Hitch weight will definitely be higher once the trailer is loaded.
Very good information was planning on getting a fithwheel camper and towing it with my 99 half ton after I finish restoring it now I may have to go another route thank you for the information even though I'm a truck driver I know about weight distribution and placement and axle length
Thanks! A half ton truck might have a tough time safely towing a fifth wheel, unless your fifth wheel is light and low hitch weight. Safe travels!
LOVE YOUR BRINKLEY!!! I've got one also!
Thank you! We love it a lot and it's been great so far! Congrats on your Brinkley and safe travels :)
Good vid. Unfortunately, as with almost everything . . . those who need to watch, read, and understand; they'll never be bothered.
100% Thanks for the comment!
If you know your trucks GVWR, max payload, trailer empty weight, trailer GVWR and one very important factor, your Gross Tire Rating located on the tire’s sidewall you can figure these important factors out. Truck stops have CAT Scales for weighing large vehicles and the scale is broken down into individual sections so that an individual axle weight may be accurately calculated. The pickup truck’s steer tires won’t be over weight, but the truck’s rear axle may very well be over weight. Your trailer axle weight will also be listed. I weighed my truck and 5er empty, and then again full of our cargo with passengers. It’s that easy!
Sway: your going to have some sway depending on weather and traffic conditions where larger vehicles like semi trucks travel because of the volume of air they displace as they travel down the road. I’d strongly suggest that you install air bags to assist in handling the extra weight and they are an excellent way to combat the sway-just remember to NOT link them when you’re installing the air feed lines. You must have them on their own individual feed lines or the pressure of one bag will travel into the other air bag during sway.
Thanks for the comment! Great information about the scales, Gross Tire Rating, sway, and air bags. Good stuff. I'm going to make a follow up video with more metric information.
@@InterstateExplorers you’re most welcome. After 4-years in the military, I drove semi-trucks for 32 years. My wife and I are traveling in our Alliance 370FB. My 1-ton (SRW) Ram powered by a Cummins diesel gets the job done well. I get plenty of criticism from people who have never pulled trailers commercially. I’ve pulled everything imaginable with one exception; nuclear. I’ve been to Prudoe Bay-Deadhorse, Alaska a dozen times in my semi-truck. Maine is the only State I have yet visit. My pickup was originally purchased to pull 5er’s from the manufacturer to dealers and I loved the work. It dried up quickly after the Covid fear subsided. We’re jumping around enjoying our freedoms now!
I appreciate the knowledge from a professional with as much towing experience as you. I only started towing in 2021 and have made a lot of mistakes and have learned a lot along the way! One of these summers I want to tow our trailer up to Alaska. Not sure I'll make it up all the way to Prudhoe bay though! That's a long haul. Maine is awesome! We went last summer, one of my favorite states!
@@InterstateExplorers You won’t want to take your RV up the haul road because it’s way too rough. Travel during the summer is extremely rough because of the potholes. The road is a washboard. During the winter, it’s smoother because of the ice & snow filling in the potholes and ruts. The commercial traffic is heavy at times and you’ll end up pissing a lot of truck drivers off. It’s more of an adventure one would take a Jeep on, not an RV. A trip up and back would more-than-likely beat up your RV. The mountain hills, steep descents and the extreme conditions won’t be friendly and they’re definitely not forgettable. It’s not a trip for the faint of heart. I’ve heard of many grown men who were experienced truck drivers break down and cry like babies…no joke!
@@bemyers123Wow great info! Maybe not taking the RV then!
Pretty good video but you did leave out a pretty important number and that’s Rear Gross Axle Weight. That number for your 3500 SRW truck is 7,250 pounds. That’s a number that you don’t ever want to exceed.
Also I don’t think you adjusted your hitch weight based off the GTW. The hitch weight will be a percentage of the GTW and based off your UTW and manufacturer stated hitch weight your fifth wheel has an 18% hitch/pin weight. Now you’re right, that will vary based on how you load cargo in the trailer. Stuff in the nose of the trailer and essentially forward of the axles will increase it and stuff behind the axles will decrease it. As long as you’re not exceeding your trucks RGAW then having too much tongue weight is far better than not having enough. But using your trailers roughly 18% number and then your GTW your hitch weight will be over 2,500 pounds. Again that’s an estimate and like you said that can be changed by how the trailer is loaded.
A good rule of thumb when selecting a trailer and tow vehicle is to take the GVWR of the trailer and multiply that number by the percentage of hitch weight for that trailer to give you an idea of a potential max hitch weight. Your trailer would be 2,692 pounds of hitch weight. Going back to the RGAW your truck has a max hitch weight listed too. This is exclusive to GM (as is the towing sticker) but that number listed will ensure that you don’t exceed the rear axle rating.
Ultimately going to a CAT scale and weighing your truck and trailer is the only way to truly know your weights. But using spreadsheets like this with educated guesses is a good start and will ensure that you’re most likely not overloaded.
Thank you for the detailed feedback! This is great information! Like you said, this spreadsheet is a good starting point, but it's always good to verify with a CAT scale. I'm going to make a follow-up video with more numbers.
@@InterstateExplorers you’re welcome. You have a very nice setup.
Thanks!
We are always leery of dealers, and salespeople, most of them just want to make a sale to make money asap. Some don’t own a rv travel trailer or 5th wheeler. So it’s our responsibility to do our own research before we buy. When we got our travel trailer, we were very lucky that we had a salesman that owned a travel trailer and 5th wheel in the past. But we still made sure we did our own research before buying it. Main thing is, you have the right truck for whatever you tow.
It's better to have too much truck than too little. That was our mistake on our first RV and it led us to dangerous conditions. Run your own numbers, educate yourself, and you'll be just fine!
I'm trying to learn these calculations and have a question about the propane tanks. Will the size of the tank make a difference and are they calculated when empty or full in your calculator?
Yes the size of the propane tanks and whether they are filled will make a difference. The calculator calculates a full propane tank that weighs 37 lbs each.
That being said, since propane tanks do not weigh that much, they will make a minimal difference when calculating.
I have purchased a Z3100 and am expecting delivery in a few weeks. Truck looking at, 2500HD with a payload capacity of only 2958 with GVWR of 11350, GCWR of 27,500 and curb weight of 8392. I have completed your chart and added the weights and estimated 1000 pounds in the fifth wheel. With these numbers, how can I still have 354 available payload capacity when the fifth wheel hitch weight of 2142 is already close to my payload number of 2958? What am I missing?
Thanks for the comment and questions! When calculating payload capacity, make sure that you include the 2142 hitch weight, the weight of all people in the vehicle (you plus passengers), the weight of any cargo in the truck, and also don't forget about your hitch in the bed of your truck. Ours weighs 287 lbs. Also keep in mind that payload is also affected by how the weight in the trailer is distributed. This is not reflected in the calculator.
With a 2500 series truck, you're likely going to be overloaded in payload or just barely under when you tow the Z3100. While it is technically possible to tow a Z3100 with a 2500 series, a lot of people in the Brinkley groups suggest a 3500 series truck. Is your 2500 gas or diesel? Both have different tow metrics and a gas truck may be unable to tow a Brinkley.
Unable to open file?
It does work correctly so I'd assume you are trying to open it without an associated application.
It's a google sheet, so you'll need gmail account to access it
How do you like the GMC AT4 pulling the Z3100? We’re looking at buying the same setup.
Any downsides or suggestions you might have?
Also plan to use the GenY gooseneck conversion.
The GMC has been great with no issues so far! We've towed in some windy conditions and thunderstorm downpours. No trailer sway at all. The only downside is a little bit of chucking on some bumpy interstates. Only suggestion I have is to make sure you have steps on the side to get into the truck as it's a big climb into the cab!
The gooseneck conversion is very popular option. We met a couple with a GMC 3500 and Brinkley Z3100 and they had upgraded to the gooseneck and said there was no chucking. We've been happy with the current set up, but may switch to the gooseneck in the future.
Yeah don’t trust dealers, but hopefully it was a Honest mistake. P.S. LOVE THE BRINKLEY ❤
Yes probably just an honest mistake! We've been loving the Brinkley so far!
How do you like the B&W Companion slider hitch?
We have the same hitch for our z3100. Our tow vehicle is similar to yours...a 2022 Ford F350 Tremor (Fords AT4 lol). So far no complaints
PS we loved Margaritaville at Lake Lanier! Our next trip is to Pigeon Forge in a couple of weeks
The hitch has been great so far! Only minor complaint is a little bit of chucking on some bumpy interstates. We've only had to use the slider part of it one time when we had to do some really tight maneuvering backing into a tight storage spot.
We stayed on the other side of the Smokies in Cherokee (Pigeon Forge was sold out) and Margaritaville was great! Safe travels!
@InterstateExplorers I've noticed a wee bit of chucking as well. Thinking about a different pinbox setup?
@@kylek1223I know a lot of people have switched to a gooseneck set up. I met a couple that switched to the gooseneck and said great things. I am not at that point yet, but maybe down the road.