2500HD duramax. What can it handle?

[Dmax55]

I have a 2009 GMC Sierra 2500HD Duramax EFI Live tuning, air intake, EGR delete. Wanting to buy a fifth wheel but unsure if my truck will handle it. Have a 35 ft bumper hitch currently. Looking at a Heartland Elkridge 38ft. 12900 lbs empty 2950 hitch weight. Will my truck handle it ok? My wife has a 15 Ford F-250 with 6.2 gas. Will that handle it? We are new to the fifth wheel thought process. Please help me out. Thanks.

[rhagfo]

brdprey wrote:
so from what they are saying this is a good thing.
if you reeeealllly want that 5'ver. this means you get to go look for a 4500 size truck.

that is guy stuff. if it dont work get a bigger hammer. if you cant pull it get a bigger truck.

just saw one at the dealer ......wow what a massive truck that was. kinda made me all teenage girl emotional. my wife said. oh hell no you cant have it.

i told her to give me a moment with the truck.

Any of the big three 350/3500 DRW will easily carry that 5er.

[brdprey]

so from what they are saying this is a good thing.
if you reeeealllly want that 5'ver. this means you get to go look for a 4500 size truck.

that is guy stuff. if it dont work get a bigger hammer. if you cant pull it get a bigger truck.

just saw one at the dealer ......wow what a massive truck that was. kinda made me all teenage girl emotional. my wife said. oh hell no you cant have it.

i told her to give me a moment with the truck.

[rhagfo]

JIMNLIN wrote:

rhagfo wrote:

donn0128 wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:


Bag it and add 19.5's and it will "Tow just fine" 😉

Towing is and never has been the issue. Load carrying capacity is!
The OP simply does not have enough load carrying capacity. Add on a of any sort cannot change the basic facts.

Me think Ron made the comment, tongue in cheek!! :S

Actually Rons recommendation is a very popular option with 3/4 and one ton SRW truck owners on truck camper forums and websites. Those folks know how to safely mod the trucks rear suspension for carrying 4k-6k lb tall heavy campers.
And it works great for those folks with heavy hitch loads from GN/5th wheel/pintle hitch trailers.

I know it is a popular mod for carrying a heavy load on a 3/4 and one ton SRW, but not something I think Ron would currently recommend. In fact he stated that in a later post.

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Maybe I should added "Sarcasm" to my "Wink"

Cummins12V98 wrote:
I will say I WAS of the opinion that bags don't increase capacity. On paper that is correct. But how do you explain two full leaf springs and two from the axle forward with bags giving 9,750# capacity on my 15 RAM with factory rear air ride?

Bags to carry the load and 19.5's for the capacity and lateral stability. See lots of people do it. NOT me.

[JIMNLIN]

rhagfo wrote:

donn0128 wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:


Bag it and add 19.5's and it will "Tow just fine" 😉

Towing is and never has been the issue. Load carrying capacity is!
The OP simply does not have enough load carrying capacity. Add on a of any sort cannot change the basic facts.

Me think Ron made the comment, tongue in cheek!! :S

Actually Rons recommendation is a very popular option with 3/4 and one ton SRW truck owners on truck camper forums and websites. Those folks know how to safely mod the trucks rear suspension for carrying 4k-6k lb tall heavy campers.
And it works great for those folks with heavy hitch loads from GN/5th wheel/pintle hitch trailers.

[Racine96]

You need a 1 ton truck.

[avvidclif1]

Rule of Thumb:
3/4T up to 12k GVWR
1T SRW up to 15k GVWR
Over 15k 1T Dually

And before you go ballistic I said "Rule of Thumb". There are exceptions but unless you know actual weights of TV and Pin weight on a 5th wheel you're guessing.

[rhagfo]

Parrothead Mike wrote:
See my signature. I have added Roadmaster HD suspension assistance. We tow to Florida and back and occasional outings/trips here in Michigan/midwest. One time we took it on I-24 from Chattanooga to Nashville over a medium pass and it pulled fine.

Not a real comparison to the OP desires.
2002 Chevy 2500HD Duramax - 2015 Cedar Creek Silverback 29RE
16K Huskey EZ Roller Hitch - EU2000i Honda Generator

Your GVWR is only 700# more than the OP's dry weight! Your rig is about the same as mine dry except yours has almost 4,000# of payload! It is not likely you will use all 4,000# most likely about half of it. Likely tow it at around 11,500 to 12,000#, right in line with I tow.


2015 Cedar Creek Silverback 29RE
Technical Specifications:
Length 33'-11"
Dry Weight 9,790#
Payload Capacity 3,825#
GVWR 13,615#
Hitch Weight 1,615#

[Me_Again]

2009 2500 CC SB K20743 3886 (153.0) 4x4 GVWR (9200) ) 6'6" Max tow rating (13,900)

Tires seem to be a problem. Std tire Lt245/75R16E rated to 3042 each. If it has the 17" option they are rated about the same. The stock 16" rims are only 6.5" wide and do not except 265's very well.



Chris

[Terryallan]

B.O. Plenty wrote:
Empty weight on a trailer is a meaningless number..You need to look at what it weighs fully loaded..

B.O.

Can't know that until you fully load it and take it a scale. The GVWR is also a meaningless number. But the Yellow sticker dry weight will give you a idea of what it will be loaded. A good starting place.

[Parrothead_Mike]

See my signature. I have added Roadmaster HD suspension assistance. We tow to Florida and back and occasional outings/trips here in Michigan/midwest. One time we took it on I-24 from Chattanooga to Nashville over a medium pass and it pulled fine.

[Cummins12V98]

I will say I WAS of the opinion that bags don't increase capacity. On paper that is correct. But how do you explain two full leaf springs and two from the axle forward with bags giving 9,750# capacity on my 15 RAM with factory rear air ride?

Bags to carry the load and 19.5's for the capacity and lateral stability. See lots of people do it. NOT me.

[Cummins12V98]

donn0128 wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:


Bag it and add 19.5's and it will "Tow just fine" 😉

Towing is and never has been the issue. Load carrying capacity is!
The OP simply does not have enough load carrying capacity. Add on a of any sort cannot change the basic facts.

Maybe I should added "Sarcasm" to my "Wink"

[dave17352]

I had a 2008 2500 duramax and I feel it was at its limits with the fifth wheel in my signature. It's max weight is 12k. All though I thought the rawr was higher than some suggested. But of course the tires are usually the weak point. But the overall suspension and brakes seemed to me to be pushing their limits. But the Dmax itself laughed at the challenge.

[rhagfo]

donn0128 wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:


Bag it and add 19.5's and it will "Tow just fine" 😉

Towing is and never has been the issue. Load carrying capacity is!
The OP simply does not have enough load carrying capacity. Add on a of any sort cannot change the basic facts.

Me think Ron made the comment, tongue in cheek!! :S