Doing a bit of checking with the 5th wheel experts (you guys)..........

*********** Weekend Warrior SL3005

http://www.warriormfg.com/9super-lite.htm
Type: 5th
Axle Weight: 5630 lb.
Axles: 2
Hitch Weight: 1395 lb.
GVWR: 11000 lb.
Payload: 3975 lb.
Fresh Water: 100 gal.
Grey Water: 30 gal.
Black Water: 30 gal.

**********According to the 2500HD Manual:

Max Trailer Weight: 15400 lb
GCWR: 22,000

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That seems (at least to me, from my almost zero experience using 5th wheels), to be the max size of trailer that I can buy from Weekend Warrior brand.... is this a correct assessment?

Or should I ask: what is the largest, highest quality, live-in 5th wheel that I can buy to haul with my 2500HD 4x4 LMM?

Definitely not limiting myself to the Weekend Warrior brand, if there are some other recommendations available......

Thanks fellas,

I pull a 38 ft Forest River 5th wheel with my 08 2500 crew cab with no problems it weights 16000 loaded. The only supension mod I have is air bags in the rear that helps with the ride a good bit. So I think you will be fine!!

There's a difference between what the truck can haul if it is asked to, and what it is LEGALLY permitted to haul. Notwithstanding the fact that lots of owners haul trailers which exceed the maximum allowable specs, if you want to be LEGAL, you need to follow the weight tables and maximum pin weights in the Duramax manual.

Wow.... sounds good.

To those that haul above the GM-specified limit (which may be a bit puny, knowing a little bit about GM's safety margins), can we go 18000lbs with a 5th wheel on a 2500HD? That's actually the one I want.... Maybe with an extra tranny cooler and such?

FYI - Gotta stick without the dually for the next few years, until I purchase land around here to park it...... so I'm limited to the 2 rear wheel setup for now........

Thankfully I listen to the red fella on my shoulder: I'm not concerned about legal weight, etc etc.

I'm thinking entirely about hauling to the engineering limits that won't f*** my truck up (brakes, suspension, tranny) etc etc. I'm very happy to break every legal tactic in the book, if it means I can haul a huge load quite effectively without having towing-mechanical-paranoia of breaking my LMM into little pieces.... (note the exaggeration :)

and I won't be moving this load all the time. probably only once every two years for a long trip , as I move about the West Coast from job to job....

Here's a link to GM's trailering guide:

http://www.chevrolet.com/trailering/

Wouldn't bother me at all to put 18K behind mine. If that's the rig you want, go for it.

You might double-check because I have heard that - in a accident- your insurance company will argue that you are beyond your limits for your vehicle - thus they refuse to pay for any damages. I pull a 5th wheel = 34' KV Durango (3 slides) with no problems & they have a toy hauler in their line. http://www.kz-rv.com/ Their's is called a INFERNO & the largest one they have is 42.5' & it weights 18k. Their website = http://www.kz-rv.com/ That would be beyond the limits,I believe for a 3/4 ton D/A. Howard

I pull a 38' fifth wheel. It has GVW of 16,000 lbs. I do not have it loaded to the max. therefore I am within the limits of GM recommended weights. 22K GCW. I am a bit over on my pin weight, so I have added airbags to level things out and it also provides better handling due to the weight distribution on the TV being a bit better. I have been towing this rig since last September with no problems whatsoever. I am not sure that I would want to pull any heavier with my truck. I have had to do a couple panic stops, due to cars cutting me off, etc. It did very well, but any more weight would have increased the pucker factor considerably.
I know the weight police are going to be all over this thread, in short order. Talking about stopping power of a 1ton dually verses 3/4 ton SRW, but I have done a bit of research and all of the part numbers for 2500HD brake components (brake discs, brake pads, etc.) are indentical, so I do not believe that a 1 ton gives you any advantage regarding stopping or safety over a 2500HD. The only thing you achieve with a 1 ton, is a slight increase (500-1000lb) in GCW and a slight increase in pin weight capacity. Most of the additional payload is eaten up by the weight of the components used in the 1 ton dually.
Keep in mind that this is mostly the opinion of an old Jarhead, with a few facts thrown in for good measure, but I have done considerable research and with the proper attitude and extra vigilance that is required when towing, you should be fine with anything up to around 16k GVW trailer. But the same caution and vigilance is required no matter what vehicle you tow with or what load you pull behind it.
Fred

I have an 08 2500 with a 6 inch lift and 35" tires, and air bags. No problem with 33 foot weekend warrior around 16,000 lbs loaded. It handles the weight fine but to go heavier, I would go with a 1 ton .

I towed my 33' 5thwheel with my 2500 D/A, it weighed about 13k, its max was 15k. The truck towed it easily(same engine in the 3500) I was a bit over on the tongue weight. I could feel it once in awhile if a big rig passed me. My biggest concern was stopping. when we went full time of course we loaded up the trailer, I would imagine its about 14.5k now, maybe more. I did go to a 3500 though. I can attest that the 3500 pulls better(its newer with more hp) and handles better with the trailer on than the 2500. It also stops a whole lot better with the GM break controler too.
I asked my insurance agent once about the overweight stuff, they told me the company never asks about trailer weight. I did find out that in NC to legally tow a trailer over 10k you had to have a class A regular license(not a cdl), here in NM that is not a requirement according to DMV.
If that 18k trailer you want is a triple axle which I suspect it is, your pin weight will probably not be as much as a 15-16k trailer but you will most certainly be over on gross weight....I would not do it

I'm living full time in a 35' fith wheel. It's a Cross Roads Seville, I've got mixed feelings about the camper itself, but my Wife and two big dogs (120 lb.'ers) have had little trouble adjusting to the camper lifestyle. For us a large kitchen with counterspace along with a decent size living room area was very important. The Seville has some really nice items like a 42" LCD TV, huge fridge, king size bed and 4 slide outs. The craftsman ship is shoddy, I've been constantly finding things like broken wires on the hot water heater, and poorly adjusted doors and cabinets, ect. It's a 50k $ camper with 70-80K $ features so you get what you pay for I guess.

Stripped down it weights 12k pounds but realistically with all of our junk it's in the 14-15K range. My 2500 srw LMM pulls it like a hoss, technically it's legal for that weight with the proper licensing. Check in your state as some require a different license (more $$) for anything more than the truck's GVW that's posted on the door. In WV you can pull anything you want as long you have the right license plate for it. As for being hard on other items like the brakes and trans I wouldn't worry about it. As long as you keep the stock power levels you can park this thing on a 10% grade and pull for hours at full throttle and never hurt anything. Same goes for the brakes. I pulled my camper fully loaded over the appalachian mountains complete with long grades up and 10% grades down and didn't get a peep out of anything other than just a touch a smoke out of the trailer brakes, which was remedied by backing off the brake controller and using the truck brakes more.

Yeah, if you really want to hear the weight police, read some of the RV forums. It is common legend that your insurance is no good if your are overweight. Absolutely not true. Do not spread information that you don't know to be fact.

Ok I had to help a buddy out the other day. He had a camper 5th wheel on his truck that the shipping waight was supose to be 18000# come to find out loaded the camper was over 20K. His truck started messing up and shout down on him. I had to bring the camper the rest of the 1700 miles cause his truck wouldn't do it. I have a one ton and it did very well and still got 10mpg with the load. I do this as a living and haul all the time. With the B&W rollover companion the capasity is 18K.

Moved to the Towing Section! ;)

There's a difference between what the truck can haul if it is asked to, and what it is LEGALLY permitted to haul. Notwithstanding the fact that lots of owners haul trailers which exceed the maximum allowable specs, if you want to be LEGAL, you need to follow the weight tables and maximum pin weights in the Duramax manual.

Using the word "Legally" in this circumstance is flat out WRONG and you don't know what you are talking about. There are legal limits and they are not what is printed on your door sticker. What is printed on your door sticker is for safety, and they are there as a guideline for your particular vehicle.