Can I tow it? 2500HD content

So I bought a camper: a 2009 Heartland Big Country 3550TSL. It is 38' overall and has a fifth wheel hook-up. My truck is a 2001 Chevrolet 2500HD, 8.1 with tune, Allison, 4.10 gears, and 4x4. the configuration is an extra-cab with a short box; you may have seen it at the Challenge. The camper UVW is 16,200 lbs. The information is confusing, but I have seen this trailer pulled by a 3/4-ton. I am looking for information from someone who is savvy on this topic. BTW, I plan to buy some helper springs or airbags for the back. I would just like some solid information on what I would like to accomplish.

-Les

http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/ab219/fastasleep_photos/photo-1.jpg

Oh yeah, before you tell yourself, "Self, this dumbass bought something he couldn't even tow", know that I bought it for a song.

-Les

"This dumbass is singing a song about a house he wants to drag around with a poor little truck!"

I had a 2001 2500HD long bed 2WD. It was one of the best towing animals I ever had.

Silverados (with duallys) can have a towing capacity up to 15,900 when towing a 5th wheel. Your 4WD and the short wheelbase reduce it's towing capacity. The trans and gearing are a big plus, but I don't think the motor changes the rating at all. I believe your truck is rated for 12,000 lbs. towing.

The UVW is a little deceptive. That's the kerb weight (empty). When you add water, septic, stuff in the fridge, gear, luggage, etc., you're gonna be a lot heavier.

I would usually counsel against it, but in this case (because I know the driver and the truck) I might make an exception. It's really about how far you are going to tow it, how regularly, and how aware you will be with loading it.

If you are asking if you can drag it home, sure. If you are asking if you can make a mobile track pit beast out of it and load it down with tools and engines dragging it to racetracks all over the country, probably not.

Paul, you are on the right track......I didn't need this, obviously. But I was told a few days ago about an opportunity that I needed to take on in Texas and I jumped on it. The motive wasn't to "get away for a little while", but to swallow more responsibility, to help the company, and to add a line-item on my list of creds. I am pulling it there and dropping it at the park and pulling it back. That is all. I plan to sell once I am back (or done with the assignment while there), but that is it. I am really enjoying learning about these! I will buy another that fits my needs after this assignment has ended, it is just that I got such a deal on this that I could not NOT buy.
I do have a Kodiak 6500 at my Dad's house. 6.6 with an Allison, but I would have to get that back to Georgia to use it. I would rather use my DD to tug it around, even if it isn't all that graceful. Like I said, I am going to add helper springs or airbags. BTW, did your 2500 have an 8.1?

-Les

No. I had the 6.0.

I don't think that changes the tow rating. It's gonna have more to do with brakes, gearing, and balance (crosswinds, overall dynamics, etc).

Haul it empty, and keep the speed down and you'll be OK. Wind resistance and cross winds on that fella are gonna be an itch with a capital B.

What are you doing in Texas?

I've got an upcoming project in Dallas.

I am doing 6 projects (4 and 2) for one customer and taking a break to do an installation for a customer on 1 project....it is near Dallas (Greenville). you?

-Les

Just make sure the A/C works well.......

It's hot down here.

• Rob

In reply to fastasleep:

Dismantling a company. Hostile takeovers are part of what I do.

But I'd much rather work with you doing installs!

You will be ok if you keep the speed down. We pulled a stacker race trailer with Living quarters, two cars tools and supplies across upstate ny with a gas powered 2500hd for a friend who lost the turbo in his dually. It was completely over loaded at something like 14800 for the trailer alone but you would never have known it. We got about 3 mpg though. Should have used my duramax... but it has no 5th wheel setup - so we made due.

A/C works well, plus I have two of those 12,000BTU LG stand-alone A/C units just in case!

-Les

Use the Kodiac or get a newer dually rated to tow the load. The liability alone isn't worth it imo.

Actually, Cotton makes an excellent point.

This is a business trip, right?

The liability ain't worth it.

Helper springs are not your biggest liability, not even close. Stopping power and crosswinds.

IIRC, the 2500HD with the 8.1 and 4.10's had the highest capability in the entire GM truck catalog. It matched the Duramax, and was actually more than the dually's (presumably because DRW's add weight, which was taken off of the listed capacity, though I'd call BS on that). The 4x4 was rated a few hundred less than the 2WD though. IIRC the highest configuration was 15,900# on a 5th wheel.

I'd rather have more wheelbase than you're working with, but it should be fine. I do find it odd that a camper manufacturer would make a trailer that is heavier than even the biggest pickup truck capacity. People don't tow these behind Class 8's.

EDIT - http://www.trailerlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Trailer-Life-Towing-Guide-2001.pdf

Looks like yours is rated for 15,500# on a 5th wheel.

In reply to DILYSI Dave:

The 15,900 was a dually rating.

SVreX wrote: In reply to DILYSI Dave: The 15,900 was a dually rating.

For 2001...
2500 standard cab long bed 8.1 = 15,900
3500 standard cab long bed 8.1 = 15,700

Hmmm- I may be mistaken.

Les, by far the easiest way is to call a dealer with your VIN.

Heartland's website show a dry weight of 11780 pounds for that RV and a loaded weight of 15500. If Dave's numbers are correct, you should be good to go. I sure wouldn't want to feed it. My Father's 04 Dodge diesel only gets about 12MPG towing his 35' camper. That probably puts you at about 5mpg towing that beast.

With something that heavy, be careful not to exceed 26000 lbs GVW. I think that so long as everything on the truck is cooled appropriately(might want to upgrade the trans cooler, etc.), and the back tires are rated for it, it should handle it fine.

Another issue may be getting clearance with the short bed and the fifth wheel. I looked into this once with a fifth wheel trailer and my short bed Dodge and it required some sort of extension to clear the cab.

In reply to Toyman01:

Dave's numbers may be correct, but not for a 4x4 short bed. I am sure of that.

Check with the dealer, Les.

don't they put this info right on the doorjam sticker? i know they have the GVWR on that sticker...

I've never seen towing capacity on the door jam.

But will it blend?

Not being an expert on towing, but having towed something that was very close to or probably slightly exceeded a vehicle's towing capacity before, I would say as long as you watch your speed, you'll be ok. Also, terrain makes a difference. If you have hills and you're towing 4K above your weight limit...that might get hairy.