Towing Capacity for 4500 & 5500

[jgolden]

What is the Max towing capacity (bumper pull & 5th wheel) for the 4500 and 5500?

[MartyB]

Actual lbs to pull will depend upon the base wt with people less 26000 lbs, max GCWR of those trucks because of the allison 1000 in the 4500 and the 2100 in the 5500's.

Bumper pull you can go to 15K or so with a few recievers out there, or a pintle hitch frame mounted. 5W will be about the same, as one of those trucks will wiegh in at about 8-12K lbs depending upon the cab, 4wd vs 2wd yadda yadda.

Depending upon how much you need to pull, a GM 6500/7500 or other manufactures class 6/7 rigs would be better for much more than 15k or so, due to better tranny, axle gear, and engine combos.

[Posm]

So to be legal in the eyes of the trial lawyers, you can not pull any more with a 4500 than a 3500.
We all know that the medium duty trucks can safley pull 1/2 again more than a 3500, but I would hate to be put in that position in front of a trial, post-accident.

[JoeyD]

Max weight depends on your lic and what your registered for.

[dandy2]

We have a 36' 5th wheel weighing 16,000# with about 3,000# pin weight. We want a safe and stable tow vehicle and we prefer Duramax Allison.

Anyone with safety and experience in this environment?

Advise solicited.:confused:

dan

[Mark Rinker]

I tow large cruiser boats with a C4500 coast to coast. Bought this 2004 rig used with only 20K miles back in May, have added another 22K towing miles on so far this summer. Most of the stuff is roughly the weight of your trailer, or slightly less. This trip is a 30' Carver aft cabin, 11'6" wide, and 14' 2" tall. A big wind brake! Its a 55-60 mph trip anyway, due to the overdimensional load, so I have learned to be patient.

The C4500 or C5500 would be safe and stable, per your requirements. I really like the Allison grade braking plus the exhaust braking - saves alot on brake wear and tear. Stopping safely is never an issue.

However, the Allison and deep gears don't make these trucks very quick to accelerate, or mileage champs on the road. You'd average about 8-10mpg depending on how fast you expect to go.

Depends alot on what you have to spend, and how much you'll use it. Personally, I see another rig in sight with more gears...if I intend to regularly haul boats weighing more than 14K, with tall profiles like this one.

I'd demo one before buying. You might love it. You might not. They are 'function over form' trucks. No adjustment to any passenger seats - fixed, rigid. My chair was upgraded by the original owner, and it saves my back. Factory air chairs are junk. Empty ride is harsh.

[dandy2]

Thank all of you for your commens and experiences. ;)

After looking at the alternatives, we believe it wise to go back to the 3500HD D/A. The dually is rated for 16,600# and appears to be suitable. Air bags will be added.

Further comments are appreciated.

dan

[Mark Rinker]

You'll undoubtedly give up legal weight carrying capacity and braking capability with the 3500 dually, but gain a truck that you can use the other 340 days of the year when not in front of the 5-er.

Certainly the C4500/C5500 line has its place. Mating the Allison to a huge, heavy, bulky commercial truck rearend with deep gears disguises the Duramax/Allison combo we've all come to love with consistantly low mileage and lack luster power for lack of enough gears to motivate big heavy, wind-catching loads.

I think a K3500 would have outperformed my C4500 yesterday where I needed it most, coming across ND and MT with aforementioned load, into a stiff headwind. The C4500 struggled to maintain 60 mph at times and was constantly downshifting, revving to 2800+ rpms, well out of peak torque range. So, you slow down, let it upshift, find peak torque, and settle in at 56mph until the wind dies down. Argh. All while delivering 6-7mpg.

Braking and load carrying capacity are the redeeming qualities of the medium duty chassis, IMO.

[DmaxMaverick]

Thank all of you for your commens and experiences. ;)

After looking at the alternatives, we believe it wise to go back to the 3500HD D/A. The dually is rated for 16,600# and appears to be suitable. Air bags will be added.

Further comments are appreciated.

dan


Keep in mind, the 16.6K capacity is the maximum for the truck line. Cab, powertrain, options, chassis modifications and loading will reduce this, sometimes considerably. Be sure to read the fine print on the exact model you are looking at.

Want to know what you can really tow, legally?
Take the base, unladen weight of the truck, add weight of: 3/4 tank fuel, additional tank and fuel (if applicable), airbag system, passengers, entertainment equipment, pets, luggage, food/beverages, gear, tools, hitch equipment, accessories, dirt, bumper stickers, and anything else you can think of that will be on the truck at any time while towing. Subtract that from the GVWR to give you the maximum trailer hitch/pin weight. Subtract that from the GCWR to give you the maximum trailer weight. Unless you travel with your skinny self in your underwear, 1/4 tank fuel, no travel snacks or beverages, allow not one bird to drop on you, and your 5th wheel hitch is weightless, it will be considerably less than 16,600#'s.

Also, there is no 3500HD. Only a 3500 SRW or DRW. The 3500HD's went away with the GMT-400's.

[Mark Rinker]

Dandy2 - I was thinking about this post/thread yesterday while running the 8% grades in BC, Canada with my 16K# load in tow. Some observations:


16K# towed behind my C4500 pushed enough to overcome the grade braking of the Allison on an 8% grade. Meaning you are accelerating without additional braking.
Exhaust brake brings things back into range. Downhill speed can be managed. Conventional and trailer brakes not needed to control roll.My advice if you go forward with your 3500 purchase:


Always keep you braking system in tip-top shape. Invest at replacement time in high quality rotors and shoes. We have a set of Okibono (sp?) ceramic pads and high buck rotors in the 2002 K2500. The set before from NAPA was junk and pads exploded/rotors delaminated at under 40K miles.
Consider adding an aftermarket exhaust brake. These things work great to scrub off speed without wear and tear on your brake parts.
Consider all mountainous travel carefully and approach with caution. Cool weather preferred...

[Calgary]

Question? Does an aftermarket exhaust brake have any long term negative effect on the Allison transmission?

Which make of exhaust brake would be the best choice for my 2007 3500 DA?

[Mark Rinker]

I don't see how it would have any negative effect - plus, they are factory installed in the C4500s and its the same transmission.

Don't know best brand for the 3500. Might be interesting to see what a GM factory unit sells for, and if your local GM medium duty truck center would install one?

Banks sells one.

http://www.performanceproducts4trucks.com/productpage.aspx?pid=107097&name=Banks+Exhaust+Brake+System+for+GM+6.6L+Durama x&type=20&pmake=GMC&pmodel=SIERRA%202500&referer=1469&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=Froogle&utm_campaign=PP_Froogle

Heres one for '06 and '07s

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/PAC-Exhaust-Brake-For-2006-2007-GM-DURAMAX-LLY-LBZ_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ42605QQihZ002QQitem Z120166795934QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

If you tow heavy and run the mountains, you'll LOVE an exhaust brake. :)