The only experience I had with a 2500 was a 97, rated 10500 towing, and we had a 9600GVW fifth wheel that we never loaded terribly heavy. I was probably right at or maybe a little over the payload of that truck and I hated the canoe feeling ride. I had a dually before the 2500 and I went back to a dually while we still had that same 9600 GVW fiver and The improvement was night and day. I would never consider getting even close to the payload of a 2500 with a fifth wheel again. Craig