The Trailerlife towing list for 2008 (brand new) list the GM (Chevy/GMC) 2500HD Duramax/Allison Crew Cab 4X4 STD Bed (6.5 feet) with the 3.73 axle has a capability of 13,600 lbs.
While 11,000 is closer to the unit's max than I am likely to be comfortable, GM seems to think that is OK. My personal position is .75 times max capability for good performance and a significant safety factor. (Personal decision only)
You should be ok if you are considering a 2008 as indicated above. Earlier years have a lower tow rating than the 08's so be careful.
Good luck,
Wife and I are both retired Army. Wife with 20 years and I with 33 years active federal service.
Tow Vehicle: 2005 Chevy Silverado 2500HD, 6.0 gasser, 4.10 rear axle and all the bells and whistles.
You want to tow a 11,000 pound fifth wheel, with aproximately 25% of 11,000 pounds will be on the hitch, so this is what will be in the truck.
250 pound hitch, 2,500 pounds hitch weight as a minimum, and because you want seating for 6, I will guess that you want to bring along at least 200 pounds of passengers.
If the cargo rating is over 3,100 pounds, you will be fine. But if it is under 3,100 pounds, you will have to have someone else bring along the other passengers. So if you really want to tow a large fifth wheel, either get the long bed with the proper cargo rating, or get a regular cab shortbed and a minivan for the passengers, wood and anything else you want to bring along.
You will certainly overload a 2500 series truck if you want the diesel option and tow a fifth wheel. Crewcab option will add another 600 pounds to the truck's empty weight, and take away that much cargo rating too.
The F-250 has a cargo rating of about 3,000 pounds regardless of cab or engines, because the GVWR goes up as you add heavy options. The F-350 has a cargo rating of about 4,000 with single rear wheels and 5,000 - 5,800 pounds with dual rear wheels. The dually F-350 can tow something much larger than what you want to tow, the F-350 SRW will meet your needs for both 600 pounds of passengers and 2,500 pound hitch weight perfectly, with another 700 pounds leftover for firewood or whatever else you want to put in the truckbed.
Fred.
Money can't buy happiness but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Porsche or Country Coach!
2000 pin weight will place a 2500HD over it's manufacturers GVWR of 9200 pounds. IF you are willing to accept 200 to 300 over then yes it will work. However a 3500 will do it without the necessity of changing tires, wheels, or adding supplemental supports.
You will be over the GVWR of the 2500HD. This is not going to be a 11,000 pound fiver with a 2000 pound hitch weight. Those are the UNLOADED weights, which are not accurate typically. Worst case assume that the trailer is 14k, and your pin weight is 20-25% of that, which is 2800-3500 pounds.
donn0128 wrote: 2000 pin weight will place a 2500HD over it's manufacturers GVWR of 9200 pounds. IF you are willing to accept 200 to 300 over then yes it will work. However a 3500 will do it without the necessity of changing tires, wheels, or adding supplemental supports.
A Crew Cab standard box 2WD D/A 2500HD LT2 weighs in (empty) at 6289# per the GM Weight Calculator (My 2005 2500Hd weighed 6250#)
That leaves a fraction over 2900# for everything that goes in the truck.
So to say a 2000# pin trailer will overload it is not QUITE true, unless you are carrying five people and load up with other stuff as well.
If the 2000# pin is empty and the pin goes up another 800# when you load 4000# of stuff in the trailer, then that is a different story.
donn0128 wrote: 2000 pin weight will place a 2500HD over it's manufacturers GVWR of 9200 pounds. IF you are willing to accept 200 to 300 over then yes it will work. However a 3500 will do it without the necessity of changing tires, wheels, or adding supplemental supports.
A Crew Cab standard box 2WD D/A 2500HD LT2 weighs in (empty) at 6289# per the GM Weight Calculator (My 2005 2500Hd weighed 6250#)
That leaves a fraction over 2900# for everything that goes in the truck.
So to say a 2000# pin trailer will overload it is not QUITE true, unless you are carrying five people and load up with other stuff as well.
If the 2000# pin is empty and the pin goes up another 800# when you load 4000# of stuff in the trailer, then that is a different story.
Regardless of what the GM weight calculator tells you I scaled my 04 D/A 4X4 extended cab ready to camp minus the trailer and it was consistently 7500 pounds, +/- 100 pounds. That included, DW,DD, me, fuel, fire wood, hitch, basically everything necessary to camp. So personally I doubt the BS that the GM web site spews out, like most everything else manufacturers print, until I verify it for myself.
donn0128 wrote: Regardless of what the GM weight calculator tells you I scaled my 04 D/A 4X4 extended cab ready to camp minus the trailer and it was consistently 7500 pounds, +/- 100 pounds. That included, DW,DD, me, fuel, fire wood, hitch, basically everything necessary to camp. So personally I doubt the BS that the GM web site spews out, like most everything else manufacturers print, until I verify it for myself.
So you have 1700# left for the pin, but that's with three people, firewood, fuel, hitch etc.
If you deduct all that stuff that you have in the truck I think you would be very surprised how accurate that calculator is.
Because if it was NOT accurate, the companies that ship GM products would be hollering plenty, as that is the weight they get paid by for moving the product to the dealers. Yup, it's the same tool, made available for us to use. I'm sure the engineers responsible for it would appreciate it being called "BS"!
It does include around 6 gallons of fuel, so unless you know exactly how much is in the tank you will be off slightly.
Mine was within 10# of being right on the money.
Your 4WD adds 285# right away. A 2WD would therefore have 2000# available. A long box adds about 200#. LT1 with power leather seats adds a few too. YMMV.
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