Seeking Opinions for a newbie

[CPG1962]

First post in the forum!!

We are jumping head first into the travel and camping life in preparing for my retirement (in just a few months). We plan on visiting all the western US National Parks plus Alaska and possibly parts of Canada. The first problem encountered was locating a truck and now which to choose. I do want the 2022 GMC Denali 3500 Diesel SRW standard bed however have concerns the single wheel may not be enough. The single wheel is rated max payload is 5334, 29700 GVWR, a curb weight of 6766 while the long bed payload is 5078, 29700, and 7172. The standard bed is not available in the diesel dually (the best I can tell) and the rated max payload for long bed is 6828, 40000 GVWR, a curb weight of 7172. We are looking at either the 310GKR (UVW 12100, GVWR 15000 Hitch weight 2350) or the 345GKR (UVW 13200, GVWR 16800 Hitch weight 2604). We would also like to add the washer/dryer and possible a dishwasher.

Bottom line, can I safely and comfortably pull the 345GKR with the 2022 GMC Denali 3500 Diesel SRW standard bed or do I need to jump up to a dually? How about the 310GKR?

Opinions are GREATLY appreciated.

[JKellerJr]

First thing is ignore those max payload numbers. They “max” meaning stripped down, etc. real world payload numbers on a SRW will be in mid/high 3xxx range, maybe low 4’s best case. Also those numbers have to include everything loaded in the truck. Passengers, pets, cargo, etc.

If you want to stay within those numbers especially with a washer and dryer in the front you’ll most likely need a DRW unless you load light.

Edit: the 310 should work. You still need to pay attention to what you carry but it is somewhat lighter.

[FT4NOW]

Welcome to the forum. One thing to keep in mind are those advertised payloads are for base model or chassis trucks. A Denali trim level with a diesel engine will probably be closer to 3700 - 4000 lbs for payload depending what the GVWR of the truck is.

Also keep in mind anything you add to the truck after it came off the line, including people and hitch reduces the payload by that amount.

A typical 5th wheel hitch is almost 200lbs.

There are plenty of people on this forum with a 310, so hopefully they chime in and can tell you what their loaded for travel pin weight is. The advertised pin weights are also typically lower than fully loaded pin weights.

If you can make a DRW work for you, then I'd recommend it. If your stuck on SRW, make sure you find the exact numbers by looking at the payload sticker on the truck you want to purchase and see if it all works out.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[xrated]

First post in the forum!!

We are jumping head first into the travel and camping life in preparing for my retirement (in just a few months). We plan on visiting all the western US National Parks plus Alaska and possibly parts of Canada. The first problem encountered was locating a truck and now which to choose. I do want the 2022 GMC Denali 3500 Diesel SRW standard bed however have concerns I the single wheel may not be enough. The single wheel is rated max payload is 5334, 29700 GVWR, a curb weight of 6766 while the long bed payload is 5078, 29700, and 7172. The standard bed is not available in the diesel dually (the best I can tell) and the rated max payload is 6828, 40000 GVWR, a curb weight of 7172. We are looking at either the 310GKR (UVW 12100, GVWR 15000 Hitch weight 2350) or the 345GKR (UVW 13200, GVWR 16800 Hitch weight 2604). We would also like to add the washer/dryer and possible a dishwasher in both.

Bottom line, can I safely and comfortably pull the 345GKR with the 2022 GMC Denali 3500 Diesel SRW standard bed or do I need to jump up to a dually? How about the 310GKR?

Opinions are GREATLY appreciated.

Several things to mention here. First, NEVER be tricked by the manufacturer's max payload weight numbers. That is a totally stripped down truck, a base model with zero options on it and a gasoline motor...unless it specifically states that it is for the diesel. You will ALWAYS need to go by the actual payload sticker number for the truck. And that number will vary wildly based on two door or 4 door truck, 2WD vs. 4WD, bed length, option packages (loaded up with everything or stripped down mode) and gasoline vs. diesel engine. I can guarantee you that the SRW 3500 Denali Diesel will NOT have anywhere close to 5334 lbs of payload. A more likely number will be in the mid to upper 3000s......3600 lbs.....maybe 3800 lbs of payload. And the weight of that truck will be much more than 6766 lbs. You are likely, depending on how it is equipped, to be looking at a truck weight, with the diesel engine. in the 7800 lb range....quite possibly a bit more...maybe 8000 lbs. And as far as the Dually diesel, my F350 Dually weighed in at close to 8800 lbs when new, with a payload number of 5270 lbs and a GVWR of 14,000 lbs

The next issue for you....The advertised pin weight of the trailer is when the trailer is totally empty. It will nothing but go up and up as you load your stuff in it. A trailer with a GVWR of 15,000 lbs is going to put at LEAST 3000 lbs of pin weight on the truck (20% of the trailer weight) A trailer with a GVWR of 16,800 lbs will put a pin weight down on the truck of at least 3360 lb of pin weight. MOST 5th Wheel Camping trailers will be even higher than the 20% I mentioned, but will almost NEVER be less than 20%. So obviously if the percentage number is higher, so will you pin weight be higher.

The next point to consider.....when you look at the trailer pin weight numbers, and whether or not a certain truck can handle/haul that much weight, there is some more numbers to take into consideration.....all the other "stuff". You also have to add up the weight of the hitch, passengers, and anything/everything else that goes in/on the truck. Will you have a toolbox in the bed of the truck? How about extra fuel? A flip top cover? Will you be carrying firewood or other things? It all adds up and is all counted against the truck's available payload numbers.

Example for you: 345GKR GVWR of 16,800 lbs = pin weight of 3360+ lbs. 5ver hitch weight...175 to 200 lbs. truckbed toolbox with tools, etc...maybe 200 lbs....passenger weight that is above the weight allowance from the GMC...100 lbs? 150 lbs? So in adding up some of those numbers, which is a conservative estimate and yours may likely be higher....3360 + 200 + 200 + maybe another 100 = 3860 lbs! Now the question then becomes...what does the payload sticker in the truck say that you have for payload capacity? I guarantee that it won't be 5334! I hope this helps....let us know.

[huntr70]

The Denali model will have the lowest cargo capacity of anything since it has the most "stuff" on it.

You will need to see the actual truck payload sticker.

As said before, don't believe published numbers, they all change when an actual truck is built.

[attaboy]

First post in the forum!!

We are jumping head first into the travel and camping life in preparing for my retirement (in just a few months). We plan on visiting all the western US National Parks plus Alaska and possibly parts of Canada. The first problem encountered was locating a truck and now which to choose. I do want the 2022 GMC Denali 3500 Diesel SRW standard bed however have concerns the single wheel may not be enough. The single wheel is rated max payload is 5334, 29700 GVWR, a curb weight of 6766 while the long bed payload is 5078, 29700, and 7172. The standard bed is not available in the diesel dually (the best I can tell) and the rated max payload for long bed is 6828, 40000 GVWR, a curb weight of 7172. We are looking at either the 310GKR (UVW 12100, GVWR 15000 Hitch weight 2350) or the 345GKR (UVW 13200, GVWR 16800 Hitch weight 2604). We would also like to add the washer/dryer and possible a dishwasher.

Bottom line, can I safely and comfortably pull the 345GKR with the 2022 GMC Denali 3500 Diesel SRW standard bed or do I need to jump up to a dually? How about the 310GKR?

Opinions are GREATLY appreciated.

Just my opinion:
When you specify towing safely and comfortably with the two trailers you indicated, buy a Dually.
We travel with a Ram 3500 SRW and I would not pull your 2 trailer options, the 310 might work but not comfortably and safely
in adverse conditions. What is considered comfortable and safe varies from person to person.

Bob A.

[CPG1962]

Hello folks,

I appreciate all the feedback. I have decided to purchase the DRW 3500 Diesel. Knowing I will be well within the safety/comfort window, no matter if I had preferred the single wheel, the decision is simple.

Thank you very much!

[LMagelitz]

Hello folks,

I appreciate all the feedback. I have decided to purchase the DRW 3500 Diesel. Knowing I will be well within the safety/comfort window, no matter if I had preferred the single wheel, the decision is simple.

Thank you very much!

I just went thru your decision a few months ago getting ready for retirement…thought SRW would surely be ok until I totaled up numbers. We went with an F450 DRW.

[ajg617]

Same here - put the cart before the horse. Very few options in 2020. In fairness, it was my commuting vehicle and I still work part-time at a location where I have to dodge steel hedgehogs and bollards which are not always placed in friendly locations. Tough enough with a LB let alone a dually. Still, we'll see what the scales show.

[LMagelitz]

Same here - put the cart before the horse. Very few options in 2020. In fairness, it was my commuting vehicle and I still work part-time at a location where I have to dodge steel hedgehogs and bollards which are not always placed in friendly locations. Tough enough with a LB let alone a dually. Still, we'll see what the scales show.

You should be able to make it work with a 310…it’s just a little close. I’m wanting to put an aux fuel tank and QD6000 genny in the back of the truck, so that pretty much nixes anything but a dually in my case.