Max Towing With Chevrolet 2500HD 2004

[msmith1wa]

I checked my 2003 owners manual for the tow ratings of the equivalent truck, I don't think GM made any changes between these years.

A 2003 model has a max trailer weight rating of 10,100 lbs. If the '04 truck is the same, it looks like you are already over the rated capacity.

If you had the 8.1l gasser with 4.10 gears or the Duramax you would have a max trailer weight rating above 15,000 for '03.

 

[Diamondpilot]

You need more truck. As mentioned you are already over the limit on a 2500 gasser 6.0

Make two trips or buy a bigger truck.

By the way, my 25+5 GN with 12K axles is 6300# empty.

Chris

 

[tylertown]

It would be very very marginal. I agree the trailer weight would approach ~21K and for reference we used an F550 with 5.30 gears to tow 24K. Throttle on the firewall all the time...

If it was a one time deal, back road midnight run... maybe.

wow.. I may just need another truck.. that doesn't sound to good haha

 

[tylertown]

You need more truck. As mentioned you are already over the limit on a 2500 gasser 6.0

Make two trips or buy a bigger truck.

By the way, my 25+5 GN with 12K axles is 6300# empty.

Chris

Thanks chris! I think two trips is the way to go. may still go with a gooseneck just to haul one machine at a time and maybe on the second trip with the tractor pick up material I will need while im at on the way. im only trying to make sure I get full use out of the trailer and truck at all times but 8000# loads on a 6000# pound trailer shouldn't be to over loaded for my truck with good trailer brakes.. from what I can tell towing with the rig I have now anyway

 

[tylertown]

I checked my 2003 owners manual for the tow ratings of the equivalent truck, I don't think GM made any changes between these years.

A 2003 model has a max trailer weight rating of 10,100 lbs. If the '04 truck is the same, it looks like you are already over the rated capacity.

If you had the 8.1l gasser with 4.10 gears or the Duramax you would have a max trailer weight rating above 15,000 for '03.

dang I almost bought an 8.1l I guess I should have. it was older but a little cheaper than the 6.0 I bought. ill have to stick to two loads then. 10k isn't very much more than what they say the half ton is rated for.. and I know those 1/2 tons don't like 10k at all

 

[tylertown]

I have family in OH and my BIL mentioned how he had a guy with a Sierra 2500HD gasser with the 4.10 that kept coming in every 6mos or so to get trans work done as it would keep on slipping. After taking care of them a couple of times, he learned that they had been pulling grain wagons and the sort with loads in the mid to upper 20K's. The area down there is very hilly, so hopefully this gives you a bit of a baseline.

Thanks yeah I think that's going to be to much for my truck. 20k is quite a bit of weight or a 2500 don't want to spend money on trans work. just the other day I saw an 2010ish f250 ext short bed hauling a 32 footer with a skidsteer on the front and a mini ex on the back. both machines looked to be over the 8000lb mark and his truck was squatted down really bad but he was making progress. but if he got on the high way and dot caught up with him I bet it would be bad. I believe if you to somewhere in the 20k range GVWR + GTWR a CDL is required in this state.

 

[tylertown]

Mike that's not really fair^^^^^^^^^

I wouldn't post here but I have 2 Chevy trucks, a 2008 2500HD 6.0 and a 2007 Duramax LMM that I haul a mini excavator 9,000lbs on a trailer that weighs 5500lbs. empty. It's a bumper pull and what a chore to haul the thing with the 6 liter gasser. I would bet a gooseneck would handle the load better but your little gas engine and 4 speed 4L80E transmission will get a wicked workout. The later 6 peed transmissions are geared much better for towing, and have a very low 1st gear. The other thing about towing with a gas engine is that your engine control module will dictate 11 to 1 air/fuel ratio to protect the catalytic converter, this will absolutely kill your fuel mileage.

Anyway the only way to find out is to try it yourself. Anyone can put in their opinions but ultimately it's your decision and your money spent, good or bad.

Regards and good luck, Fred

Thanks Fred. im not sure my truck will handle 20k I need to get some accurate numbers. im just ball parking right now. my 6litre hauls my mini ex and trailer right now with ease I figure im at the 10k mark right now. half throttle gets it to 70mph decently quick up an entrance ramp only down side is the weight of the truck. trailer likes to push me over bumps and curbs. hoping the gooseneck will offset some of that shoving. I have towed a gooseneck a lot with a 1 ton 08 ford with the 6.4 I believe and pulled around 16k with it no problems at all. it wouldn't beat and bang like a bumper pull. thanks for the comment fred! like the signature too lol

 

[tylertown]

This is the trailer I think im going to go with I like the replacing 6 tires instead of eight and its 30ft Page 12-01: 21K GN Top Tube Railing Triple Axle Low Boy Equipment Trailer they say it weighs about 4400# my machine is 8000# That's only 12,500# if those numbers are accurate I personally don't think that to be that bad of a haul. Two machines would be rough on it though but if I make the mini ex load first and come back and get tractor and other misc equipment another i don't think i would touch anywhere close to 12,500 with the rest of the trailer space covered up if needed...

Thanks

Also what do yall think of this brand and manufacturer? good trailers or no? i only want to buy one gooseneck trailer when i do. next step would be a tractor trailer if i get any bigger haha.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Thanks Fred. im not sure my truck will handle 20k I need to get some accurate numbers. im just ball parking right now. my 6litre hauls my mini ex and trailer right now with ease I figure im at the 10k mark right now. half throttle gets it to 70mph decently quick up an entrance ramp only down side is the weight of the truck. trailer likes to push me over bumps and curbs. hoping the gooseneck will offset some of that shoving. I have towed a gooseneck a lot with a 1 ton 08 ford with the 6.4 I believe and pulled around 16k with it no problems at all. it wouldn't beat and bang like a bumper pull. thanks for the comment fred! like the signature too lol

Thats a whole different animal. Twice the motor, way better tranny, and trailer.

Problem with a GN and a minimal truck like yours is just the weight of the trailer alone. A 12K GN is twice as heavy as a Bumper Pull.

I would stick with the trailer you have unless you are ready to upgrade to a 1 ton diesel or heavier.

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

Remember, you must subtract the trailers empty weight from the gvwr. So a 21K trailer will yield a 17K payload.

Chris