Fifth Wheel and 2500 Chevy Truck

there's a ton of 31-34ft FW's with around 12000lb GVWR or less that would be borderline on your GVWR but within the GCWR and GAWR of your truck. I'm sure you'll end up slightly over on the GVWR though. My experience is that it will tow quite nice as the hardware is pretty much the same as a 3500 SRW anyways.

I look at my setup and i'm very close on the GVWR numbers, it tows extremely well, feels very well matched for the truck.

2009 2500 6.0, 3.73 with 3250 payload (2wd). 2015 Jayco Eagle HT 27RLTS. Truck does the job. Went on 1300 miles trip (NC-Va-TN ) thru mountains and truck did work but never really strained. Jayco pulls easy and smooth. I have not weighed the truck or trailer but had no problem stopping.

You could also look at Reflection 27RL or 29RS by Grand Design both around 31ft
Three slides with GVW around 10000lb and pin weight 1500lb.
Milt

I have a 2012 GMC(basically same truck) but Diesel and pull a 31ft (12K GVWR)5er Toyhauler. I never crunched numbers but can tell you from first hand experience the truck handles the load just fine. I don't not run airbags (or feel I need to) and truck sits perfectly level and tows great. Never a white knuckle moment...

Just a quick add. The advice on pin weight is all good. As far as a 5er, look at the Open Range "LIGHT" models. Nice features and weight is down where you want it. Designed to pull behind a half ton like a F-150.

And other lines have "LIGHT" models that are well equiped and the weight is where you want it. Would pull nice with your 2500

Yep, looking good. This is the target of my next 5th wheel - 32' range or so. There sure are a lot of 37' floor plans that I like but the 32' range 5th is a much better fit with a 2500. You "could" go larger and stay within the #s of your truck but it's a constant thing on your mind. Camping is supposed to be worry free :)

You will be fine. Just watch the pin weight. 20 percent of a fiver gvwr is the correct way to estimate the correct rig to meet your available payload.

I have a 2003 GMC 2500HD 6.0 pulling a 2014 Rockwood 8281WS. I took it to the scales this summer to see where I was on the weights. Dry weight for fifth wheel is 8019 lbs. I first weighed with full tank of gas, me, the wife, and two kids. Then I weighed with fifth wheel ready to go camp.

Truck
Front axle: 3600
Rear axle: 3060
Total: 6660

Truck and fifth wheel
Front axle: 3660
Rear axle: 5200
Fifth wheel: 7040
Total: 15,900

Truck rating
Front axle: 4670
Rear axle: 6084
GCWR: 16,000

I am right at the limit for GCWR and still have 800lbs to spare on payload. It will hit high RPMS(3500-4000)on the hills. I don't push the truck too hard. And only gets 8 mpg but does what I need it to.

I have the same truck (2012) and tow a Eagle HT 28.5 (34')

Tows easy, engine works in the hills. For the amount of miles I tow the Gas Engine does the job, next truck will be a diesel.

Good Luck

I had a 2014 Silverado gas 2500 and it was fine on flat lands but struggled on the hills. My FW is 34 ft. Now I have a 3500 diesel, np.