Need help understanding Truck Capabilities

In 2001 I purchased a 2001 Silverado 1500 HD Crew Cab 4x4 for the specific purpose of adding a slide-in truck camper. I was soon discouraged when all the camper dealers told me that my “1/2 ton” truck was not capable of carrying any of their units available in 2001.

That just shows the "lack of" knowledge of the camper dealers..Silicone gets the same bad rap on the internet as 1/2 ton trucks do, yet Bigfoot uses silicone on there campers as well as countless RV dealers for repair..

GM gives your HD 1500 a 6K rear axle rating, which is definitely more from the manufacturer of the axle as my Sterling(Ford) axle is...My F-350 DRW with a Lance 9.6 TC loaded ready to camp, weighs 6K even on the rear axle when I last weighed, out of curiosity..

Your not going to have any problems with a TC on your HD 1500 truck,within reason..Guys around here think an AF-811 is just fine on a 3/4 ton truck when it actually overloads a newer 3500 DRW in GVWR..Double standard..YES...

Your truck is a rare find, so enjoy it and don't listen to the nay sayers about 1/2 ton trucks,they are wrong about most of them but especially wrong about the HD version truck campers and towing with it

Enjoy just about any 8'6" TC on that truck.