? about towing capabilities of a Duramax

[rickster]

I have an 07 Duramax/Allison 2500hd Crewcab 4x4, shortbox. I have used it to pull my 24' Haulmark enclosed and 24' toyhauler. I am looking at trading up to a 40' toyhauler (Gulf Stream), which is pretty heavy with a 14,000 lb. dry weight and an 18,000 lb. gross. The manual says not to exceed 22,000. I weighed the truck today and it is 7,000, which doesn't leave much left. I have talked with several dealers and they are saying the truck will handle it but I should consider putting air bags on it. The K3500's are rated at 23,500 and have the same engine/tranny but doe have a one ton axle and duallys.

I was also told the numbers in the manual are soft and the truck will handle more etc. I would like to hear from others who actually have experience along these lines, as to what they have learned and recommend.

Thanks, rickster

 

[steveo10]

it will do the job but not the best... air bags will help

if i was tolling that load it would be with a dually or a 2011+

 

[slash]

dually and air bags a 1 ton ax is much stronger in the bearings also

 

[KSH]

One thing to remember, if your using this setup for anything that makes money it will be classified as a class A CDL vehicle with all the regs that go with it.
If only for pleasure use no problems.

As for towing, it will handle it fine. We put helper springs on our trucks. If you put on air bags get the kind that are adjustable in the cab, sometimes they act like a pogo stick when your not towing.

JMO

 

[rickster]

I am going to go with the B&W flip over hitch with the companion 5th wheel assembly to set on top of it. I have had a number of folks smarter than me advise the B&W setup is as good as it gets. We farm and we may end up getting a gooseneck as well. I might also look into converting my bumper pull Haulmark sled trailer over to goose neck or 5th whell. We will also be getting the airbags with the onboard compressor.

Our truck has the 3.73 rear axle and I have had two different GM dealers advise that it is the same size axle as the 1 tons come with. They went on to say that the only difference between the 2500's and the 3500's is the suspension and the addition of dually's. The drive train is the same and air bags will address the suspension issues, but of course nothing can compensate for duals. The trailer is a triple axle (all BRAKED) and has a cushion ryde forward pin box, which should help.

Thanks for the replies, anymore out there. I do not have any experience with a bigger trailer like this. Thanks, rickster

 

[KSH]

Our truck has the 3.73 rear axle and I have had two different GM dealers advise that it is the same size axle as the 1 tons come with. They went on to say that the only difference between the 2500's and the 3500's is the suspension and the addition of dually's. The drive train is the same and air bags will address the suspension issues, but of course nothing can compensate for duals.

Dually's only raise the gross gvwr when dealing with the DOT.

On the private side it's not that important. You will just wear the tires faster with singles when towing, but have better traction on the slippery stuff.

 

[Wheel House Motorsports]

well, if your gettin airbags, getting the in cab adjustables is nice, i run em for my sled deck and if i leave them set at 40 all winter and it rides awsome with load on, but i just took everything off and hadnt aired em down, it about kicked me into the roof of the truck, adjustables are awsome especially going from big to no loads. so you dont have to mess with them as much


just my random thought on the setup.

 

[IDspud]

The air bags will help huge with handling, Your setup will be a piece of cake. We have ranchers with singles hauling 24-32,000 lb hay trailers. I have personally been loading in that range with no rear axle or frame issues for over ten years.

The truck will handle it, DOT is the only factor to be concerned with, personally have never been hastled in my Duramax, and I have hauled some pretty interesting loads.

 

[steveo10]

1ton have bigger brakes?

 

[gonehuntnpowder]

The 3/4 and 1 ton have exactly the same brakes and axles. The dually is set-up for the dual wheel hubs both front and back, but the rear axle housings are both the same. Dually may have bigger brakes in rear, I would have to pull part numbers. The only difference between 3/4 and 1 ton single wheel is 1 more leaf in rear suspension.