Max Bumper Pull Weight

[Desert Racer]

I have a 2004 GMC 2500HD Crew Cab Shortbed 4x4. The truck has 295 BFG All Terrian (load range D) and Airbags.
My new Race trailer is a 28' triple axle bumper pull, with built in tool box, genset, air compressor, 50 gallon water, 50 gallon fuel etc, etc, etc. (I'm going to weigh it this week)
I'm estimating the trailer weighs about 14,000lbs fully loaded.....is this too much? I need to upgrade my trailer hitch..correct? I might purchase a 2006 3500 long bed - Dually? - I'd rather not.
I'd like to get everyones thoughts.

[tanker]

Max trailer weight for the factory hitch receiver is 12,000lbs. with a weight distributing hitch set up. Take a look at the label on your receiver. Your truck is good for pulling a 15,900lb trailer. I would highly recomend a proper hitch with a rating exceeding what your going to tow. I went with a reese receiver rated at 14,000lbs. weight distributing, and a max tongue weight of 1,700 lbs weight distributing. Don't fool yourself by trying to get by with less hitch. Compare the factory receiver to a Reese/Titan receiver. This setup requires a 2-1/2" square shank hitch head, and go with the dual cam "HP" high performance sway control for maximum control.
Bumper pull trailers are subject to sway, and you can loose control in adverse conditions very easily. I know it happened to me 3 years ago, not fun at all, as I almost lost the truck and trailer. :eek:
Wheelbase of the tow vehicle plays an important part in towing safety, ie; the longer the wheelbase the better control you have against sway.
Hope this helps, smile.gif

[Desert Racer]

Thank You Tanker...

I'm going to upgrade to a 15,000lb hitch and maximize the sway bars. - We'll see how that works.

jg

[BarryD]

In my opinion you need to find out the real weight of the trailer loaded and ready to go. Any cargo in the bed will take away from your towing capacity.

If it's really 14K then you are over and should re-think your trailer. Going to a 3500 isn't going to give you more towing capacity. Does the trailer have brakes?

You might want to look at a 5th wheel trailer. I personally wouldn't try to pull a 14K trailer with my truck.

Good Luck

[tanker]

I agree with Barry about getting your weights. Go to a truck stop and you can get front axle, rear axle, trailer tandem/tridem weight and total. This way you know where you are at, and can adjust as needed. What you load in the truck bed will affect the weights. I did mine with 132 gallons of fuel, two generators, tool box, plus other itmes, my wife, myself, and the trailer loaded, including a full tank of water. I'm still ok for more on each axle set, so I'm under. That is another reason I bought a 3500 single rear wheel truck in lieu of the 2500, for the extra weight I carry. I did not want dual rear wheels for a number of reasons ideal to me.
No question about more stability with a set of dual rear tires on a 3500. smile.gif

[Rocinante]

I agree with Tanker RE: 12,000 factory hitch. I pull a 11,500 TT, and upon return from a 11,500 mile trip from Alaska, I experienced almost total hitch failure. Almost all of the welds on the hitch were cracked. I replaced it with a heaver load carrying hitch. I am lucky that at least one weld remained when I got home. As far as sway is concerned, I had a Reese with double anti-sway bars on it and still had problems with sway. I ordered a Hensley Arrow hitch and have never - ever, under any conditions had any sway what-so-ever! This hitch is costly, but is well worth the money, I would never pull another trailer with out one. It comes with prepaid shipping, mine had a 6 month no questions asked return guarantee, and a lifetime guarantee. I have had to have a couple of Clovis pins replaced because I lost one, I called them and the sent new ones out, no questions asked. smile.gif

[jamman65]

Hello, I installed a putman hitch on my truck it rated for 15000/1500 & 17000/1700 with weight dist. I have air bags w/auto level valve & air compersor, works great. Got a good deal on line.

[Desert Racer]

Do you guys have the website or telephone number for the upgraded Hitches?
Is it a 21/2" square shank?

If I upgrade to a 1700/17000 receiver hitch (w/ sway bars), airbags, trailer brakes on all 3 axles...In your opinion, what is the Max trailer weight that I can safely tow?
Assume I have 750lbs in the bed of my truck and toungue weight of 1500lbs.

[Desert Racer]

That last sentence was misleading, I don't to "upgrade" to trailer brakes. The trailer already has brakes on all 3 axles.

[MartyB]

Most trucks of your model will wiegh in empty at about 6500-6700 lbs or so, a GVWR of 9200 lbs, leaving you will 2500-2700 lbs of payload. 1500 is HW, 750 of junque in the bed, how many passengers and their wt? While the truck is capable, you are pushing that trucks limit GVWR wise, and possibly the rear axel rating. More than likely you are over the limit of the truck, as you seem to be guessing the wts, most of us SWAG low for the most part.

Doable yes, the reality is a bigger GVWR rig should be in your future.

[Desert Racer]

OK, I weighed the empty trailer...

9,380lbs total weight
7,620lbs on the trailer wheels
1,760lbs of tongue weight

The racecar weighs 3,800lbs
Plus spares, fuel, tires, etc - 2,500lbs (Max)

That's a grand total of 15,680 lbs!!! :eek:

The car is rear engine and I will carefully pack the trailer so the tongue weight will stay under 1,700 lbs.

What are your thoughts everybody??? :confused:

I'm thinking of upgrading to a 3500 crewcab 4x4 dually with larger receiver, sway bars, etc.
Would that be enough, or do I need a 4500 or 5500??? :mad:

[DmaxMaverick]

Desert Racer

Did you weigh the actual coupler? Or did you weigh the landing gear? The weight on the landing gear will be greater than the actual tongue weight, perportionate to the distances from the axle (the fulcrum). If your landing gear is a considerable distance behind the coupler, your tongue weight will be much less. If your landing gear is attached to the "body" of the trailer, with the coupler 4' in front of it, your tongue weight can be off as much as 30-40%. If you did weigh the landing gear, you don't have to weigh again to get the tongue wieght. A little math will do it for you.

As for the truck....
You are very close to GCWR with the 2500HD (likely a little over unless you have a reg. cab/SB/2WD). Moving up to a 3500 will put you considerably overweight (heavier truck, same GCWR). Going up to a 4500+ truck would eliminate that issue. It may be easier and more cost effective to go with a lighter trailer.

[MartyB]

Payload wise, you will be ok with a DW CC, about 3000-4000 depending upon Leather vs an LS like I have ie I have 4000 lbs of free payload before adding people etc.

With a trailer that size, you may also need to look at a Frame mounted pintle hitch. As most 2 5/16 balls are good to a max 1500/15K lbs.

THe 4500 or 6500LP would be my personal choice of rigs. THe 6500 is likley lower body built than the 4500, or really close, with stronger ingine and tranny options.

ALso the DW 3500 has a GCWR of 23500 vs 22000 for the SW 2500/3500 rigs.

[Zuli]

Try looking at reese titan class v hitch 2.5 inch receiver. also reese dual cam weight bars. I use this setup,I also have air bags. My tounge weight is 1800 lbs. and pull a 31 ft. toyhauler 12000 lbs.

[Desert Racer]

On the GMC website, it shows the MAX bumper pull trailer weight to be 12,000 lbs.
I know a dually can pull much more than that....
Where is the weak link?
Is it because the trailer hitch is only rated for 12,000 lbs? By upgrading the trailer hitch, I should be able to pull more weight..correct?

[BarryD]

A dually cannot pull more thn your 2500. They rate them the same but it's should be lower for a dually.

Your going to be over weight and by quite a bit. That being said you can probably pull it but I doubt your going to be very happy. Hills are going to be tough and then there's the over-heating issue.

The stock hitch will have to go and you will most likely need Air Bags if you intend to stay with the 2500. Maybe using a second vehicle to carry the cargo?

Good Luck