GMC 2500 Towing Capacity

[AKfish]

With my '03 2500HD DuraMax you're supposed to "stop counting" at 22,000lbs. GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight).

Maximum trailer weight (owner's manual) is restricted to 14,700lbs.

Chris (DiamondPilot) is on target with the comment on the weight ranges by 2W/4W, body configuration, etc.

That said; the OP's question can be answered with maybe... depends upon the weight of the trailer and the overall weight of his truck with associated toolbox, in-bed fuel tank, etc., etc.

AKfish

 

[Diamondpilot]

With my '03 2500HD DuraMax you're supposed to "stop counting" at 22,000lbs. GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight).

Maximum trailer weight (owner's manual) is restricted to 14,700lbs.

Chris (DiamondPilot) is on target with the comment on the weight ranges by 2W/4W, body configuration, etc.

That said; the OP's question can be answered with maybe... depends upon the weight of the trailer and the overall weight of his truck with associated toolbox, in-bed fuel tank, etc., etc.

AKfish

He sent me a PM back at the start of the thread and he has a 4x4 Short Bed Crew Cab. I looked it up in my book. Its the lowest possible towing combo leaving him 13,600# for 5th or GN and 13,000# for bumper pull.

Chris

 

[timswi]

I haven't studied this near as much as you guys but I see those hot shoters everyday pulling 3 car/trucks. I don't even have to do any math to figure that might be over the mfg tow ratings. However in Ohio non commercial doesn't get scrutinized like in some other states. But I've mentioned this at least a dozen times anyone who has ever attended a tractor pull or local fair has to have seen what comes in on SRW trucks pulling goosenecks. I know this doesn't make it right or legal but guy down the road has a business and he pulls way more than I do behind a 3/4T dodge cummins SRW. Has for years.
The thing I can't believe they haven't cracked down on is the reason everybody wants to use a 3/4 or 1T truck is to get by without paying the high insurnace and tags. Heck most of the time bigger trucks can be bought cheaper.

That's true...Many of the guys I know that pull excevators etc with pickups dont put signs on their trucks, the police leave "joe homeowners" alone generally...I've passed police so overloaded it was insane and they never even batted an eye.

I rented a midsize backhoe once and the rental place put it on a trailer made for a large ditch witch. The tongue weight was unbelievable. The wheels were probably at the 75% mark to the rear. My Reese was almost on the ground before I moved. Passed a police car with the front wheels amost off the ground, again, nothing.

Not saying any of this is safe. But if you know you are already in a bad place, you behave accordingly.

One guy had a small piece of plastic wrap blow out of his 5 ton dump with signs on the doors and got nailed for an unrestrained load...Some stuff makes no sense.

 

[AKfish]

That's true...Many of the guys I know that pull excevators etc with pickups dont put signs on their trucks, the police leave "joe homeowners" alone generally...I've passed police so overloaded it was insane and they never even batted an eye.

Not saying any of this is safe. But if you know you are already in a bad place, you behave accordingly.

Happens up here, too.

But... I like my house and what little I own.

And if I get in a wreck and get sued - my insurance company would be out the door so fast they'd suck the windows outta the frame - if the load was illegal!

My wife wouldn't understand at all... that I "saved a couple hundred" or it was a bigger, better excavator...

It ain't worth it!

AKfish

 

[timswi]

Happens up here, too.

But... I like my house and what little I own.

And if I get in a wreck and get sued - my insurance company would be out the door so fast they'd suck the windows outta the frame - if the load was illegal!

My wife wouldn't understand at all... that I "saved a couple hundred" or it was a bigger, better excavator...

It ain't worth it!

AKfish

Don't disagree with you..I did this stupid stuff 10 years ago when you only think about the task at hand...Too much to lose now. I'm, sadly, an upstanding citizen nowadays.

 

[jcmseven]

It would pull it fine. A great pulling truck. I do not recall seeing how much the trailer weighs, did I miss that??

John M

 

[jcmseven]

Max 5th wheel is 13,900. This means if your trailer is 4,000 pounds or less you should be fine. I am not an advocate of this, but these trucks have some buffer. My friend pulls a 32 foot toy hauler triple axle with his and with water and propane full, it is north of 15K. I would not do that because I am particular about adhering to manufacturer's recommendations, but it can be done. He has not had a problem and has done some long pulls with the combo.

John M

 

[Diamondpilot]

It would pull it fine. A great pulling truck. I do not recall seeing how much the trailer weighs, did I miss that??

John M

He is wanting to pull a 10K tractor. A 25' GN trailer will put him in around 15K total so with his truck having a 13,600# tow limit.

Chris

 

[jcmseven]

I think that is why I asked about his trailer weight. I have seen a pretty broad variation in how much those type trailers weigh. If he has one of the lighter ones he might be OK on spec weight. Regardless, the truck he has would pull the load he wants and would do it fine. I think that both you and I would prefer that he not come in over and I would not advise someone to tow beyond their legal or manufacturer's spec'd max weight, but we know folks do anyway, so the semantics of "could" v. "should" come heavily into play here. My friend with the toyhauler is over on spec weight but he pulls this trailer well and with no troubles to date, and it is a heavier combination that our OP's load. I personally would not do that, but he does so he feels as though he can. The reality here is that our OP seems unlikely to trade his $50,000+ truck to pull this tractor so he ultimately will be faced with three decisions: 1. to buy the tractor and pull it with his current combo; 2. to borrow a 3500 level truck to achieve the appropriate tow rating (perhaps) or 3. to not pull it at all. My experience has been usually either #1 or 2 happens, rarely number 3.

John

 

[AKfish]

The reality here is that our OP seems unlikely to trade his $50,000+ truck to pull this tractor so he ultimately will be faced with three decisions: 1. to buy the tractor and pull it with his current combo; 2. to borrow a 3500 level truck to achieve the appropriate tow rating (perhaps) or 3. to not pull it at all. My experience has been usually either #1 or 2 happens, rarely number 3.

John

Go with #2. Or a variation of that idea..

I bought a 28 ft. travel trailer that was located in Ohio - ~ 200 miles from Chicago. At that time, I didn't have a truck suitable to tow it (weighs just north of 8,000lbs.)

The dealership where my family (and I) have purchased trucks over the years had a number of used, 3/4 - 1 ton Dmax's on the lot.

They "rented" one of their used Dmax's to me for a week at an incredibly cheap rate. I installed a trailer brake and hit the road!

AKfish