I'm doing some research on the usage and towing capacities for heavy duty trucks. I would like to know the maximum weights that are being towed by these trucks and the type of towing conditions (hills, off-road, highway, speed, etc.) they are used for. If you have experience towing boats, cars, cattle, campers, or anything BIG, please let me know.

I know this request isn't very intersting but I would really appreicate any information. Thanks!

Frosty, welcome aboard! I tow a 37.5 foot 5th wheel toy hauler that weighs about 14,500 lbs when fully loded. I tow it with my 2003 GMC 2500HD crew-cab short-bed 4x4 and it pulls it beautifully. I may upgrade to a dually for the extra stability and pin-weight capacity, but I love the way it tows.

Well, I'm nowhere near the maximum towing capacity for 5th wheels for my truck. However, I'm right at the truck's payload capacity with my pin weight, so I couldn't really go bigger. The GVWR is our limiting factor, far more than the drivetrain capacity. Our 5th wheel weighs 10K empty and has a GVWR of 12K+, and we have been loaded close to it's max on one trip, while most times we are closer to 11K. The Duramax/Allison handles the load easily, rarely downshifting on the moderate grades and having power to spare when downshifting to 4th.

My fifth wheel is 13,000lbs, tongue weight it 2600, have no problem towing at all. Was pulling with 01 2500hd 6.0 and it struggled as I was way over its max rating of 10k, it still did a good job, dumped it for the 01 D/A. The Max/Allison combo does a nice job. The small fuel tank on the short box doesn't help. Get about 14.5 on the HWY at 70MPH with my LLY and 11 with my LB7.):h

My 28' flat deck tri-axle weighs in @ 7000# I then add 15,000# of hay. Pull it with my 2004.5 3500 running juice w/attitude on level 2. I'm able to pull it at posted limits with little or no problems. I'm more concerned about being able to stop the additional 22,000#, so I don't mind being passed by the people running over the posted limit. The truck only shows any stress in heavy winds and/or long steep hills(up and down). I do have to watch the engine temps in the summer even though I'm only @ 3400 ft elevation, but then again I'm GCVW 30,000#+.

Thanks for the information everyone. I appreciate it.

Heavy_D

I too tow a 38 foot Toy Hauler fully loaded 100 gallons of water, 30 gallons of fuel 3 500 HO Polaris Sportsman it weighs 15K or so. Tows great especially with the Juice in level 2.


03 2500 HD D/A CC/SB LT White Juiced;)

See Sig!

Frosty,

If you talk to some people... you would have no problem towing 25,000 or 30,000 worth of trailer and maybe 5,000 or 10,000 in the bed of your truck....

Pete

I posted a thread earlier this week titled "Who ya talking to?" specifically for post like yours. Unless I missed something we have absolutely no idea of your driving or towing experience in order to give you a "safe" answer on how much you should be towing with your truck. Heck, I didn't even see what kind of truck you have! ):h

Please take a moment to read my earlier post and advise us of your driving/towing expertise. Guys that are towing heavy at 15klbs, even heavier at 30k+ lbs, are doing so based upon their driving skills and abilities, not yours! Once we know your driving skill we can best recommend to you safe towing limits. Safety first!

Oh yeah, on edit just wanted to clarify these are "light duty trucks". JJ :)

i have a dump trailor with 14000 gvwr , i went up to the quarry to get a load of stone my gcw was just shy of 30000 i have a 04.5 lly d/a 3500 crew cab dual wheels 4x4 with a bw goose neck hitch, on the way home with the load ,went down a 6 percent grade for 3 miles the allision downshifted nice the brakes got a little hot kept my prodigy around 5 i was impressed how the truck handled the weight. 3 or 4 other times i had over 26000 pounds gcw on the scale the truck had no problems breaking or swaying . the engine took it with ease going up grades, going up singel lane curvey roads.

i pull a fifth that weighs 14,000 and a trailer behind it that wieghs about 5000. total weight of about 27000lbs. it works the truck prety good but have never had any problems. this is on mountain grades which sometimes pulls the truck down to 30mph.