Tow vehicle for 5er

2000 Chevy? NO dont do it. The only real motor available would be the 454 gas motor. They were gas hogs. If your going that old, then your best choice would be a 5.9L Cummins Dodge manual trans.

The newer trucks tow much better because they also brake better with their engine brakes. It's stopping power that really controls how you go downhills, and that is the critical question IMHO. When you go downhill, you have to rely only on your engine to slow you down, because if you think the brakes will, they might fade away. Choose wisely with that weight behind you, there is nothing quite like trying to slow down on a steep downhill section of the road.

Yes, I am for sure getting a dually. Where my confusion comes in is GCWR. Not being able to find good info on that. I have seen info on trucks that are listed with a GCWR of 16,000LBS. the numbers don't seem right.
Just for information sake, I will be looking at a 2000 Chevy 3500 dually. Would a truck like that be good to tow a 15,000LB 5er? Is my main concern here pin weight??.

I'm pulling our 14600lb FW with our 2008 GMC 3500 DRW. Purchased the truck used four years ago for $28000 With 98000 miles. Still going strong with only having to replace the number 8 glow plug last winter. Shop around, it took me two years to find this truck.

IMHO on a ten year old truck you should be looking at a dually. Newer trucks upped the ratings numbers and with a two or three year old truck you might get by with a SRW. Heck a properly equipped 1500 could tow a 15,000 pound load. The issue with fifth wheels is pin weight. Accepted number for fivers is pin weight equals approx 20% of the trailers true weight. Lacking that, then lets assume your 15K fiver is GVWR. So..... that would give you a pin weight of around 3,000 pounds+/-. Can a SRW handle that much? As another example a ten year old 3500SRW Dodge Ram decently equipped will scale around 8000 pounds ready to travel, and have a GVWR of 10,000 pounds. You do the math and decide.

I agree that a 1 ton SRW is all that is required. An older Ram would work....an '06 or newer Duramax would work better and an '11 or newer Powerstroke or '13 and newer Cummins would be a huge improvement.

I would suggest a 1 ton diesel, with a transmission having at least 5 speeds, with capability of engine braking going downhill. My tv is not a dually, my 5er is about the size of yours, no problems with handling.