Weights and capacities - Sierra 2500HD D/A

blt2ski wrote:
Are we looking at this from a legal, or a rvnet wt police standpoint?

If a legal, you would have potentially upwards of 20K you can gross your truck at, not that I would recomend this. Going to axel limits is also not too much of an issue, ie over gvwr. Did that with my family of 6 on board two different trucks. Going over gcwr is nothing more than a warrenty issue, so over under, no big.

I was also over gcwr in my last truck by typically 4K lbs, but it did better performance wise than the previous truck with the correct gcwr.....In fact, I have had a few rigs with lower gcwr's than others, and did better pulling etc..... so gcwr in my boat any how, is nothing more than a warrenty/performance factor, where you do not know the performance specs, nor will you ever.

I personally will not tow more than 2x the grawr of the truck. For your rig, that would be 12-13K lbs, as long as I can stay under the axel wt ratings. Many on here thru the years have loaded there DA 2500's upwards of 16K of 5w, pulled great, but bottomed out the rear suspension in dips, going over speed bumps etc. I would suggest you stay at 5500 or less, other wise you will also bottom out at times.

Reality, there is only what you feel is best. Legally, an LEO can pull you over, and if they feel the need to, can sit you at the side of the road. Weight WILL NOT be one of them. This is from being pulled over, taking classes on what is and not legal for using pickups in commercial settings, which personal use has to, and gets the same rules and laws to follow.

Marty

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Forget that MFG. magical Tow Rating of 17,500#
You will reach trucks GVWR, RAWR and REAR Tire Load Capacity long before ever reaching that Tow Rating (way too many caveats in the fine print).

You have a 2500 truck......
You have a 10,000 GVWR
You have a 6200 RAWR

You need to look at a 13K GVWR 5vr (MAX) as the pin weight will be 2600# which will place you at your trucks ratings.

OR forget about those ratings and have at it.

KD4UPL wrote:
I'd load it up to the GCWR or over. I run trucks over all the time with no problems. GVWR I would also run right up to the rating and over. I ignore GVWR and look at axle and tire ratings. That's how it was done when I was a commercial truck driver. If it works for the trucking industry it will work with an RV.
Going by your rear axle rating you could carry about 3,000 pounds of pin weight. However, the 11.5" AAM axle in your truck is rated by AAM at just over 10,000 pounds. If you add 19.5" wheels and tires and either upgrade the springs or add airbags you could carry much more weight in the rear.
If you're going to spend the money on wheel, tires, springs, air bags, etc. You would probably be better off just trading the truck for a dually.
In my own '05 Chevy dually I normally tow up to 16,000 pounds the rear receiver (aftermarket) while the truck may weigh up to 10,000. This is for work pulling equipment trailers and hauling tools. When I use this truck for RVing I put my TC on the back. The truck with family and camper and pulling my boat weighs about 13,500. The GVWR is 11,400 but I'm not over the tire or axle ratings. I have driven many thousands of miles safely this way.
There are, however, a lot of people who will swear I'm going to kill someone. What they don't realize is that many many "hotshot" type truck drivers haul this way legally with dually pick-ups all day long and go thru scales, DOT checks, etc.

Second Chance wrote:
I have another thread going over on the 5th wheel forum as my wife and I contemplate retirement (2nd time around) and we consider going full-time (or most-time) in a fifth wheel. ken56 has a good thread going on this forum started earlier today about weights and capacities on his '14 Silverado 1500. I also pulled my truck across the scales yesterday on the way home. Here's the combination of the results and the specs from the manuals and stickers:

2013 GMC Sierra 2500HD Crew Cab SLT, Duramax/Allison
Rating Spec Scales* Reserve Capacity
GCWR 24,500 7,520 16,980
GVWR 10,000 7,520 2,480
GAWR FRT 5,200 4,440 760
GAWR RR 6,200 3,080 3,120
Tires 6,390 3,080 3,310

Max 5th wheel 17,400
Max pin 3,000

* Includes:
Fuel 255
Driver 208
Undercover tonneau 90

I estimate that removing the tonneau and installing a slider hitch would net another 160 lbs. and I'd need to figure in my wife and miscellaneous stuff that would get thrown in the truck, as well.

The question is this: how close to the remaining 16,980 GCWR and 2,480 on the GVWR (although there are 3,120 lbs. remaining for the rear axle) would you go? I grew up in an earlier day and time with a father and grandfather that would advocate not pushing the limits on equipment. I also used to fly a lot (in the '70s before there were computers and apps to do things for you) and with that mode of transportation, if you didn't calculate your weights and density altitude numbers, it could cost you your life - not just break something on the truck or void the warranty. How about you? Would you stay a certain percent under the calculations or would you consider fivers that would take you right up to the numbers? Am I looking at the right numbers or would you see it a different way? I value your input.

Rob