Reality check - 2006 Chevy 2500

[S4cruiser]

First post and diving in head first...

We are in the very early discussions with DW’s parents on a 5er. A key point is whether we use my current truck as the TV or need to upgrade (equals more money). I’ve had my 2500 for almost 12 years and it’s been rock solid. It’s the extd cab short bed 4x4 with D/A and only 120k miles.

I’ve done a considerable amount of towing with a 24’ car trailer and it handles that load just fine.

I know one of my limiting factors is the GVWR of 9200lbs and as a result are considering 5er’s on the lighter side. One model we like based on the floor plan of two separate bedrooms spaces is the Cougar 32bhs - https://www.keystonerv.com/fifth-wheels/cougar-half-ton/floorplans/32bhs-fifth-wheel/ This is something we would plan to leave at a specific campsite/location for a while vs towing it around every weekend.

I know there is no substitute for hooking it up and hitting the scales...but for those with more experience then me (everyone here)...is something like the above model / weight going to be doable and an enjoyable tow or should I be looking to nut-up and price in upgrading to a DRW truck?

[ol_Bombero-JC]

S4cruiser wrote:
First post and diving in head first...

We are in the very early discussions with DW’s parents on a 5er. A key point is whether we use my current truck as the TV or need to upgrade (equals more money). I’ve had my 2500 for almost 12 years and it’s been rock solid. It’s the extd cab short bed 4x4 with D/A and only 120k miles.

I’ve done a considerable amount of towing with a 24’ car trailer and it handles that load just fine.

I know one of my limiting factors is the GVWR of 9200lbs and as a result are considering 5er’s on the lighter side. One model we like based on the floor plan of two separate bedrooms spaces is the Cougar 32bhs - https://www.keystonerv.com/fifth-wheels/cougar-half-ton/floorplans/32bhs-fifth-wheel/ This is something we would plan to leave at a specific campsite/location for a while vs towing it around every weekend.

I know there is no substitute for hooking it up and hitting the scales...but for those with more experience then me (everyone here)...is something like the above model / weight going to be doable and an enjoyable tow or should I be looking to nut-up and price in upgrading to a DRW truck?

First poster:

For your subject - try the Tow Vehicle forum (here) as well as the Toy Hauler Forum. There will be brand "loyalists" in/on each - "mine is best", etc. Sooooooo....go to any of the......

*Brand* specific forums for gas and/or diesel. Internet search will bring up several for whatever brand you want info on!

Usually sections for year/s, engines, and trannys, etc.

Check what *owners* are saying and check the "help" sections for folks with problems.

Roll on!

~

[Veebyes]

Fisher Bill wrote:

Veebyes wrote:
Apparently 2006 was a good model year for the Silverado. 220,000 miles on my 3500 dually, most of them pulling a heavy 5er, & we are still going strong. It gets what it likes, fresh oil every 3000 miles & almost an open checkbook when it comes to preventative maintenance.

X2, but even though the 6.6 diesel can run several hundred thousand miles the components don't have that long to live, eventually things like starters, brake boosters and other things will fail but like mentioned before, keep them maintained and they'll rum for a million miles.

Is your 2006 a gasser or Diesel?

The Isusu diesel. Isusu has a pretty good reputation in the marine application where an engine pretty much spends it's entire life going uphill. The water resistance never eases up. The faster you want to go, the more resistance. No such thing as cruising at a low RPM never mind a downhill grade.

[Fisher_Bill]

Veebyes wrote:
Apparently 2006 was a good model year for the Silverado. 220,000 miles on my 3500 dually, most of them pulling a heavy 5er, & we are still going strong. It gets what it likes, fresh oil every 3000 miles & almost an open checkbook when it comes to preventative maintenance.

X2, but even though the 6.6 diesel can run several hundred thousand miles the components don't have that long to live, eventually things like starters, brake boosters and other things will fail but like mentioned before, keep them maintained and they'll rum for a million miles.

Is your 2006 a gasser or Diesel?

[Veebyes]

Dave H M wrote:

FlatBroke wrote:

Veebyes wrote:
Apparently 2006 was a good model year for the Silverado. 220,000 miles on my 3500 dually, most of them pulling a heavy 5er, & we are still going strong. It gets what it likes, fresh oil every 3000 miles & almost an open checkbook when it comes to preventative maintenance.

Can I have your used oil? 😉

Lets be fair now and I will flip ;you for the used oil. 😉

Yeah I know, I have a very pampered truck. As a 2006 I feel like one of the old guys in the CG. Where have all of the others gone?

[Dave_H_M]

FlatBroke wrote:

Veebyes wrote:
Apparently 2006 was a good model year for the Silverado. 220,000 miles on my 3500 dually, most of them pulling a heavy 5er, & we are still going strong. It gets what it likes, fresh oil every 3000 miles & almost an open checkbook when it comes to preventative maintenance.

Can I have your used oil? 😉

Lets be fair now and I will flip ;you for the used oil. 😉

[msmith1_wa]

This might help.
https://www.trailerlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Trailer-Life-Towing-Guide-2006.pdf

[mtofell1]

The 6084# is likely due to the pizza cutter stock tires. The axle itself is likely rated much higher. Check part numbers and it may be the same rear axle on the 3500 SRW for that year. I'm not advocating exceeding this rating but if you can determine the axle rating is higher and you get some higher rated tires I'd have no problem running right up to the axle limit.

Aside from your question, hang onto that 06 Duramax as long as you can. I ran that exact truck for a glorious 5+ years and still kick myself at times for selling it. That's one of the best diesels ever made.

[Veebyes]

FlatBroke wrote:

Veebyes wrote:
Apparently 2006 was a good model year for the Silverado. 220,000 miles on my 3500 dually, most of them pulling a heavy 5er, & we are still going strong. It gets what it likes, fresh oil every 3000 miles & almost an open checkbook when it comes to preventative maintenance.

Can I have your used oil? 😉

Oil is cheap "Mechanic Repellent". I change every 100 hours in my marine diesels.:)

[MFL]

Looks like you are in good shape, with rear axle wt pretty close to my guess. I think you can handle most any FW, with a loaded to camp wt of 12K or less. As to the one in question, being 1/2 ton tow able...a very few may come close, but while some may have more payload than yours, before going over GVWR, they simply don't have enough RAWR, for a FW that size.

Jerry

[S4cruiser]

Made a trip to the local cat certified scales this evening. Was me (160#) and dog (80#) in the cab, full tank of diesel and a camp chair in the bed.

Steer axle - 4140lbs
Drive axle - 2780lbs
Gross - 6920

[JIMNLIN]

A pickup truck carries its load on its RAWR....not a gvwr nor its gvwr based payload

Your 2500 GM rear axle may weigh in the 2800 lb range leaving around 3200 lbs for a in the bed payload. People/other stuff in the cab will have a small percentage on the rear axle.

Having made a living towing non rv trailers I'm always befuddled why in this day and age folks don't know their tow/haul vehicles actual front/rear separate axle weights. It a very simple thing to do.

[S4cruiser]

wiredgeorge wrote:
Inside your door jamb is a yellow sticker that will say "The combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed .... lbs." What does your sticker say. The fiver you are looking at will be about 11K lbs loaded for camping and normal real world tongue weight will be 20-25 percent of the trailer gross weight so you are looking at 2200 pin weight minimum. Compare that to your yellow sticker payload. The diesel/automatic and bigger cab and 4x4 on your truck tells me your payload may be right at 2000 lbs or perhaps less. Last, the term "half ton towable" Keystone throws around is marketing and not real world and should never be taken as true in almost any case. There are few, if any, half ton trucks capable of towing a 5th wheel safely. Head over to https://www.keystoneforums.com/forums/index.php and talk to the folks there.

This is good info and is along the lines of what I was assuming...my current truck would likely work from a GCWR but my GVWR will be over by a few hundred pounds. This is also reinforced by a lot of posts I saw in the weight sticky thread.

And yes...marketing ploy for sure regarding the half-ton moniker. They’d be better off just calling it a featherlight or something.

[S4cruiser]

bucky wrote:

S4cruiser wrote:

MFL wrote:
I would not be too concerned with GVWR. With a FW, almost all weight is on the rear axle/rear tires. I'm thinking you have a RAWR of at least 6000, so how much wt is on the rear axle right now? Lets guess 2800 plus hitch 200 still leaves 3000 for pin wt, which would handle loaded pin wt of say 2400 using the FW you are considering.

You can take your truck only, loaded with people, fuel, some gear, add 200 for hitch, and see exactly what the rear axle weighs.

Jerry

My RAWR is 6800ish. Great next step to do as you suggest...go do a weigh and see. I’ll shoot for on evening this week.

Please post a pic of your load ratings from the door jam. The 6800 lb RAWR seems awful high for a 2500. I'm seeing 6084 listed.

You’re correct...my memory isn’t what it used to be. Sigh!

[wiredgeorge]

Inside your door jamb is a yellow sticker that will say "The combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed .... lbs." What does your sticker say. The fiver you are looking at will be about 11K lbs loaded for camping and normal real world tongue weight will be 20-25 percent of the trailer gross weight so you are looking at 2200 pin weight minimum. Compare that to your yellow sticker payload. The diesel/automatic and bigger cab and 4x4 on your truck tells me your payload may be right at 2000 lbs or perhaps less. Last, the term "half ton towable" Keystone throws around is marketing and not real world and should never be taken as true in almost any case. There are few, if any, half ton trucks capable of towing a 5th wheel safely. Head over to https://www.keystoneforums.com/forums/index.php and talk to the folks there.