Gooseneck vs. 5th Wheel Towing Capacity for 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Diesel 4x4

Question

Question:

Hi, My Silverado 2500HD Diesel 4x4 lists Max Towing load values for 1 conventional towing and 2 5th Wheel towing. Ive always inferred that the gooseneck max load values are just the same thing as the 5th wheel max values,... But my question here is: Are the Weight Distribution System max load values also the same thing as the 5th Wheel max load values... And is this fairly well accepted to where if I am stopped and checked while pulling a trailer load that is within the 5th Wheel max limits and my weight distribution system is properly set up to where both pickup axles are within their listed gross weight limits, then should I be legally OK from a max load standpoint? Otherwise, I will seek to significantly invest in a gooseneck boat trailer fairly expensive for pulling my heavy boat in the Florida Keys where you do get stopped and checked ... Because like many, I really prefer to not have a dually pick-up towing solution, as it would also have to double as my daily driver. Thanks.

asked by: Gary M

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Expert Reply:

Sometimes a truck's towing capacity for gooseneck trailers may differ from those for 5th wheels. This is usually a function of the specific hitches installed rather than an actual difference in towing capability for the two types of trailers.

Trailer weight capacity for bumper pull towing with a hitch receiver that is rated for use with weight distribution will not necessarily be the same as the gooseneck and 5th wheel ratings due to hitch differences. A Class V receiver hitch like # C15302 from Curt carries a 2400-lb tongue weight (TW) rating and a 16K trailer weight rating. Rated trailer weight capacity increase with use of weight distribution to 17K-lbs.

The surest way to determine your truck's towing capacity is to check the door jamb sticker. Find the GCWR (gross combined weight rating) which is the most the truck and any trailer together can weigh. Then from that subtract the trucks actual weight. The difference is the vehicle's absolute maximum towing capacity regardless of the type of trailer towed.

Keep in mind that a particular gooseneck, 5th wheel or receiver hitch may be rated lower or higher than the vehicle. In such cases always the lower value determines overall capacity.

expert reply by: Adam R

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Answer 1

As long as the bed in your truck is longer than 6 feet you could get away with using a slider hitch. If your bed is shorter than 6 feet you will need to go with a Sidewinder to give you the necessary clearance to make tight turns. I did some…

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Answer 2

Yes, it will. The Pull-Rite Super Glide 5th Wheel Hitch mounts on industry standard rails which is exactly what the Adapter Rails for Curt 5th Wheel Hitch item #C88KR provide. This adapter will drop right down into the puck system of the Ford OEM…

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Answer 3

Only way you'll have turning clearance with your 2004 Chevy Silverado 2500HD is with a slider fifth wheel hitch. The big draw back to gooseneck hitches is the short bed application where you need turning clearance and they don't have a way to…

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Answer 4

It sounds like your bags aren't installed properly if one of them is angled. There are two alignment holes that the bag can install into on the top mounting bracket. It is possible that the wrong one was used for your bags and that is why the bag…

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Answer 5

Hey Dave, yes, I can definitely help with that. For the Curt Rail Kit #C16429-204 you will torque all 1/2" hardware to 110 ft-lbs, and all 5/8" hardware to 210 ft-lbs. The U-bolts are 75 ft-lbs. I have provided a screenshot, as well as a…

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Answer 6

The brake controller I recommend for your 2004 Chevy 2500 is the Prodigy P3 part #90195 because this brake controller senses the amount of braking your tow vehicle is applying and puts a proportional amount of braking on the trailer's brakes. It…

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Answer 7

If the Pullrite Superglide is an ISR style fifth wheel hitch which is designed for the rails that the Curt kit part #C16411-204 provides this will work. But there are two types of rails Pullrite designs their hitches for with one of them being for…

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Answer 8

The Curt A16 hitch part #C16520-16026 weighs 196 lbs. You should note that a fifth wheel hitch does not count as tongue weight since it is actually carried in the bed of the truck over the rear axle and not at the rear of the vehicle at the bumper…

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Answer 9

Fifth wheel hitches are rated pretty conservatively which means that when picking one out based on capacity you don't have to go overkill with the capacity. A 16k fifth wheel hitch would easily have more than enough capacity for a 14k trailer. So…

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Answer 10

Kenny, those bolts for the B&W Companion 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch #BWRVK3500-5W should be torqued to 40 ft. lbs. Also, the pivot arms would need to be torqued to 80 ft. lbs, the draw down bolt should be tighten to 60 ft.lbs and the arms should be…

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Answer 11

The difference between the Class II and Class III hitches has to do with their Gross Trailer Weight (GTW), their Tongue Weight (TW), and their Hitch Receiver Size. Class II trailer hitch receivers have a 1-1/4 inch receiver and can be rated up to…

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Answer 12

A 4-Way trailer connector has the basic lighting functions only; running lights, left turn signal and brake lights, right turn signal and brake lights, and ground. A 7-Way has these functions and a 12 volt circuit, a circuit for electric trailer…

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