No doubt the 2500 won't have any problems pulling a 17000 lb trailer as it has the same 6.6 Dmax/Allison as the 3500 trucks.
A 2500 truck problems like some are saying is those smaller 6600 rawr. Rawr (rear axle weight rating) is the lessor of the rear spring pack.....tires....wheels.
You have the truck so drop by a set of CAT scales weigh your trucks separate front and rear axle. Subtract rear axle scale weight from 6600 and this gives you how much load (pin weight/hitch/other gear in the bed) the truck can safely carry. ?Some folks upgrade their 3/4 or one ton srw trucks wheels/tires and rear suspension to carry the load.
?Looking at GM ordering guide
gm ordering guide gives all the weight and tow specs for each GM truck configuration. It also has a weights calculator which gives the trucks actual gross weight and front and rear axle payloads for a specific configured truck which includes std and optional equipment. This is a holy bible if you will for GM LDT trucks specs.
Weigh your trucks axles.
