What do we buy?

What O.B. said....

Full timers have a tendency to run at trailers GVWR

What is the payload of your XXXX Chevy 2500 Durmax?
Payload----what is actually available after truck is loaded ready to camp (passengers/passengers stuff in cab/stuff in bed)
Trucks GVWR minus trucks actual ready to camp weight----payload available
(Taking in to consideration trucks available rear axle weight and rear tires MAX Load Rating)
The tow rating may be 15K but in the real world you will run out of payload capacity and bump up against truck GVWR long before you get to tow rating.



Sure there are quite a few 2500s towing large/heavy 5vrs with air bags, suspension products etc. but they are running over their ratings.
Otherwise they wouldn't need the air bags, suspension products etc.

Take the time to get your real weights and then do the math.
At least then you will be making an informed decision......right/wrong/indifferent but at least informed

When you figure out what your real payload capacity is then look at a trailers GVWR and take 20% of that figure----that will give you a close idea of what that trailers pin weight will be when loaded.
Is that pin weight within your available payload capacity???

My 14K 5vr puts me right at ratings on my 3500 SWR

I'd get the other one.

My trailer is 14,000 GVW and I pulled it just fine with a 2500 Duramax. My current 3500 dually isn't noticeably better. I did add airbags to the 2500 to bring the back end up about 3 inches and got rid of the stock shocks and replaced with Bilstein 5100's.

Looking to purchase a 5th wheel for fulltiming. Towing with a Chevy 2500 Duramax so have to keep within the weight rating whcih is around 15000n lbs. What is the best one to buy?

15000 pounds will have about 3000 pounds on the pin plus the weight of the hitch at around 200-250 pounds and that is a sizeable amount of weight for most three quarter ton pickup payloads. And that is before you put anything else in the truck. I would start with the payload available and then decide what to buy. The problem you may run into is finding a beautiful coach with just the right floor plan and it is heavier than what your truck wants. Fulltimers typically add twice the weight of stuff in the coach as would normally be found in just a recreational fifth wheel used occasionally.

If you want to keep the truck and don't want a smaller fifth, you might be happier in a very nice travel trailer like an Airstream or Arctic Fox. Usually the 2500 series trucks will tow more than they can carry especially the powerful diesels. Many full time in Airstreams and you can spend a quality evening checking that out on the AirForums.

15,000# 5er will have around 3-3,500# pin weight and will squish your 2500 truck. Better think smaller RV or bigger tv.