Anyone towing 17k GVWR 5er with 2004 GMC Sierra 3500?

[ToddD]

Dually, crew cab, 4x4, LLY Duramax engine, Alison trans.

Very difficult to determine what tow capacity is and permissible pin weight for this model.

Can anyone comment on specs and if this generation TV is up to the task of pulling a 16.7k GVWR 5er?

Thanks.

[ToddD]

topjimmy wrote:
Yes you will be overweight I had a 2004 LB7 (basically the same as the 2005 LLY specs) 3500 Dually and the max as I remember was 14.5K and it did O.K. but struggled going up the bigger hills and overheated some so went and traded for a 2007 LBZ Dually and they the are rated for 16.5K and have more power and the 6 speed Allison Also do not forget LLY's had a Overheating problem because of a restricted turbo mouthpiece which can be solved pretty easy but anyway yes you can do it but you will be overloaded do yourself a favor and a least step up to a 2006-2007 LBZ Dually they are much better choice for what you are looking at

Interesting, my manual states my trailer limit is 16,500lbs. I also have the Alison trans.

Anyway, so far what I am seeing here is that as long as I am at or under 22,000lbs GCVR with a max 3500lbs pin weight, I am within spec and technically legal. I guess a trip to the scales to tell me my "regular" truck weight is next so I can see what I have left over for the trailer out of the 22k total.

Whether or not I like how quickly it pulls is another topic, but it sounds like I would be ok, but with no reserve.

[topjimmy]

Yes you will be overweight I had a 2004 LB7 (basically the same as the 2005 LLY specs) 3500 Dually and the max as I remember was 14.5K and it did O.K. but struggled going up the bigger hills and overheated some so went and traded for a 2007 LBZ Dually and they the are rated for 16.3K and have more power and the 6 speed Allison Also do not forget LLY's had a Overheating problem because of a restricted turbo mouthpiece which can be solved pretty easy but anyway yes you can do it but you will be overloaded do yourself a favor and a least step up to a 2006-2007 LBZ Dually they are much better choice for what you are looking at

[ToddD]

Thanks, everyone.

Dug up my original owners manual, and found the following within:

Max trailer weight for 6.6 Diesel Dually is 16,500lbs
GCWR is 22,000lbs
Max pin weight is 3,500lbs

GVWR for the truck is 11,400lbs, 4,800lbs front axle, 8,550lbs rear axle.

So, if max trailer weight is 16,500 and GCWR is 22,000, does that mean my truck weighs 5,500 "dry"? Seems light to me.

And I assume that GCWR would include people on board, so how can anyone even be in the truck with a 16,500 trailer attached? That would mean the truck is even lighter than 5,500lbs, right?

Confused.

[Old-Biscuit]

Certification/Tire Load Label Information on pg. 8

12,000# MAX Tow rating------22,000# GCVWR (Pg. 33)

Pages 1-50 good info
fifthwheelst.com/documents/gmc/2004_gmc_sierra_owners.pdf2004 GMC Sierra 3500


MAX Tow Rating is derived using a BASE Model with 150# driver and 20# cargo

Actual weight of truck loaded up camp ready (passengers, stuff in truck, stuff in truck bed, hitch and pin weight) deducted from GCVWR is what the actual max tow is....provided you do not exceed trucks RAWR/Rear Tire Max Load Ratings

Wet pin weight is at minimum 20% of actual trailer weight.


Example:
My 07 3500 SRW is rated at MAX Tow of 16,300 with GCVWR 23K
I tow a 14K 5vr (Scaled weight 13,873#) which puts truck right at RAWR, under Rear Tire Max Load Rating and under GCVW

Any heavier 5vr and I would exceed RAWR
My GCVWR 23,000 minus GVWR 7980 ==== max tow 15020 but I am AT RAWR with just under 14K 5vr.

[Halmfamily]

Our 08 in Sig is rated at 15500 FW towing. I'm at 14600 lbs and it tows great.

[azdryheat]

Sad to say your 2004 is maxed at 14,900 pounds but none of the other truck makers were any better. If you were to upgrade to a newer truck you'r be towing more. My 2013 dually Duramax is rated for a 22,500 5th wheel and it's payload is 5,000 pounds. My 19,000 pound toy hauler puts 3500 pounds on the pin.

[donn0128]

Again, RAWR, FAWR, GVWR will all be listed on the tag on the drivers door post.
Took me all of 30 seconds to get to the 2004 TL towing ratings. Follow down to the GM/Chevrolet ratings, look near the bottom you will find 3500 listing with the D/A. The bottom one is when you look at the foot notes is a dually crew cab 4X4. If yours is not that configuration, you will have to look until you find your configuration. There is trailer towing ratings and another set of numbers for fifth wheel ratings.

[ToddD]

Sorry for the newb questions, but where are you finding these ratings on Trailer Life website? I've poked around there and not seeing them. Where would I find rear axle weight rating? Vehicle is currently not on site.

[donn0128]

Had a 2004 2500HD and back then its GVWR was 9200 pounds. As I remember that year duallies were only rated at about 11,000. But you have the truck, go outside, open the drivers door and look. Check online for the 2004 trailer life tow ratings. It should offer you some insite.

I just looked and according to TL ypur truck has a 14,500 pound fifth wheel towing rating.

Remember, a 17K fiver is going to dump around 4000 pounds directly over the axle. Possibly exceeding your truck RAWR.

[ToddD]

Interesting, various sources online state 23500 GCVR for dually.

Do you happen to know curb weight for this truck (not GVWR)?

Thanks.

[donn0128]

You should have a 11,000 GVWR and around 21,000 GCWR.
Permissable pin weight? Scaled ready to camp weight subtracted from the GVWR as listed on the drivers door post.