2500HD Towing

I tow my 37' R-Vision Toy Hauler with my 2005 2500. I took it to the scale once it was loaded with everything but food and my Harley Trike. I had less than 5,100 pounds on my drive wheels. I do not remember what I grossed out at but it was right around 22,000 pounds, which would put to Toy Hauler at approx 14,400 pounds as the truck is right at 7,600 pounds when ready to tow.

My Truck has done fine and I have towed as much as 500 miles in one day. The only mountains (or Hills to some) were in Northern Georgia and it did fine running in Tow Haul in OD with the cruise control set at 63-65 mph.

Would I rather have a Dually, you bet but my truck is fine for now. It has Air Bags Plus Helper Springs and the tires and rims are good for at least 3,700 pounds each.

Before any of the WP jump in, my DW is a Insurance Agent for many years and I am covered.

garry owen wrote:
PERSONALLY i would go for it. that D M is a towing animal (mine is any way)

i tow a 3 axle fs3000 W W that grosses out at 13000 and change. 100+ gal fresh water tank, 25 gal fuel station, and 2 40# propane bottles(gen set is 4000 on propane)

with all our riding gear, food and water supplies, and all the other equipment you tend to gather. we haul 2 polars 550 X 2 sportsman in the hauler and about half the time a sportsman 500 HO in the back of the pu

i have an equalizer hitch and haven't had a minuets problem.

also have a 4 axle boat trailer that runs 16000 and change that have towed back and forth to lake mead in nevada 5 times now, 2000 mile round trip, with no problems.

Really..... a 40' hauler with a SRW. You say go for it because that is what you own.

Hook up a big 5er to a dually and a SRW and you will see a difference when a semi passes you at 70mph.

GT Roach wrote:

thinkpt wrote:
You will be fine on your rear axle weight rating. From the manufacturer(not GM) your rear axle Weight rating is 10,400#. The 2500 and 3500 have exactly the same parts except for one overload spring in the rear and different wheels and tires. Frame, brakes, motor, tranny all are the same if duramax. Your tires and rims are the weak point. Upgrade those and you are from a weight point fine compared to a 3500. You may like a dually better though
with that big a trailer. Let the flaming begin.

10,400lbs for a 3/4ton rear axle?

Yeah, the 2500/3500 SRW and DRW all use the big AAM 11.5" axle which is rated at the 10k-11k range. The 2500 truck has 6084 RAWR which includes tires/wheels and springs.

The newer 3500 SRW has a 7050 RAWR with 3500 lb rated tires and wheels and spring packs.

The 3500 DRW now has a 9375 RAWR with four tires and wheels and huge spring packs.

The OPs 2500 will need 3500 + lb rated tires and wheels and suspension help to = the SRW. Lots of truck camper folks are upgrading to 19.5" wheels and tires for carrying 4k-5k campers on their 2500/3500 SRW trucks.

I've pulled 18k-22k GN flatdeck trailers with one ton DRW trucks. IMO at some point a 15k+ tandem axle trailer can push the backend of a SRW truck around. If that happens its time for a DRW truck.

PERSONALLY i would go for it. that D M is a towing animal (mine is any way)

i tow a 3 axle fs3000 W W that grosses out at 13000 and change. 100+ gal fresh water tank, 25 gal fuel station, and 2 40# propane bottles(gen set is 4000 on propane)

with all our riding gear, food and water supplies, and all the other equipment you tend to gather. we haul 2 polars 550 X 2 sportsman in the hauler and about half the time a sportsman 500 HO in the back of the pu

i have an equalizer hitch and haven't had a minuets problem.

also have a 4 axle boat trailer that runs 16000 and change that have towed back and forth to lake mead in nevada 5 times now, 2000 mile round trip, with no problems.

thinkpt wrote:
You will be fine on your rear axle weight rating. From the manufacturer(not GM) your rear axle Weight rating is 10,400#. The 2500 and 3500 have exactly the same parts except for one overload spring in the rear and different wheels and tires. Frame, brakes, motor, tranny all are the same if duramax. Your tires and rims are the weak point. Upgrade those and you are from a weight point fine compared to a 3500. You may like a dually better though
with that big a trailer. Let the flaming begin.

10,400lbs for a 3/4ton rear axle?

In the end how much will a spring a wheel upgrade cost vs. trading in for the correct truck?:h 16K is a lot for any SRW truck. 16K is dually territory.:S

cutty72 wrote:

tmm2good wrote:

skybry wrote:
2500 3:73 rear end, 3500 4:10 rear end.

huh ? Diesel..they are both 3:73

I've never understood that argument.
Ok, so you have a lower rear end. Yup, you can now accelerate faster.
It doesn't affect the load carrying ability of the vehicle at all.

Maybe not the load carrying, but the tow rating is certainly affected by gear ratio.

You will be fine on your rear axle weight rating. From the manufacturer(not GM) your rear axle Weight rating is 10,400#. The 2500 and 3500 have exactly the same parts except for one overload spring in the rear and different wheels and tires. Frame, brakes, motor, tranny all are the same if duramax. Your tires and rims are the weak point. Upgrade those and you are from a weight point fine compared to a 3500. You may like a dually better though with that big a trailer. Let the flaming begin.

tmm2good wrote:

skybry wrote:
2500 3:73 rear end, 3500 4:10 rear end.

huh ? Diesel..they are both 3:73

I've never understood that argument.
Ok, so you have a lower rear end. Yup, you can now accelerate faster.
It doesn't affect the load carrying ability of the vehicle at all.

skybry wrote:
2500 3:73 rear end, 3500 4:10 rear end.

huh ? Diesel..they are both 3:73