Towing 15000 pounds

[JimEd]

I have a 2006 6.6 duramax on order and I am wanting to upgrade my fifth wheel camper.

The fifth wheel I want is the Raptor Toy Hauler model #3612. Total weight about 15000# including toys.

Anyone towing this with a 2500HD duramax.
I figure the truck will handle the weight but don't want to feel like it is maxed out on hills.

I am now towing about 10500# with a 6.0 (gas) 2500 and feel that I am at the limit for this truck.

[Reggie Turnage]

Jim I tow a 36' triple Axel dry wt. 14000' with an 2002 2500 HD D/A. I pulled it to Washington St. and back and did not have any problems towing or stopping it. It handles fine and I am stock except for the 265 tires. I have traded for a 3500 DW I think it will give more stabilizability and I got a great deal on it with the employee discount. But I would not be afraid to take off any where with the 2500.

[ 06-29-2005, 01:53 PM: Message edited by: Reggie Turnage ]

[BozDMAX]

Trading to the 3500 DRW will be one of the best decisions you've made. I suspect you were probably well over your Rear GAWR or tire constraints.

I would not tow 15K with a SRW truck. Yes, I know it is done all the time. Yes, the truck brakes stop the truck and the trailer brakes stop the trailer and the DMAX has more than enough power to pull the load...

But there are design limits and even with safety factors built in besides we ougt to at least TRY to stay close to them.

Weigh the combination and every axel and then compute just how far you are over your limits for tires and the axle. Now, how do you like knowing that the "old man in the cap" heading your way on the two-land is 25% OVER his tire ratings?

Scares me...

[JimEd]

Thanks for the replys. Helped me make up my mind to stay with a lighter fith wheel,Think I will make my limit 13,000#.
I prefer to be on the safe side..

[MartyB]

Something everyone forgets when towing with a 5W, you typically need some 20% of the trailer wt to be carried by the TV. So for a 13K 5W, you are looking at 2600 lbs to be carried by the truck. Does the 2500HD have this amount? if a reg cab more than likely, if an ext possibly, a crew cab, more than likely not, especially if you load either of the ext or crew cab up with people, then you may have 500-1000 lbs of payload left for the hitch, in which case, you have now overloaded the truck part.

Personally, I would reorder a 35 DW rig for what you want to pull. Power wise, no problem, but payload wise, I see problems!

[BozDMAX]

Jim - I'm with Marty:
Always buy the bigger truck! smile.gif smile.gif smile.gif

We shopped RVs for probably 3 years before we finally bought. I think a bigger factor than size of the thing is whether the floor plan will work for how you intend to use the thing. I've seen 40' models that would not work as well for us (full-timing with two teen boys) as the 34' we ended up with.