Max Towing With Chevrolet 2500HD 2004

[tylertown]

Hello, I currently have a 2500hd Chevrolet with the 6.0 and 4.10 diff, 4x4 short bed extended cab. I have a 8000lb mini excavator I need to haul around from job to job and have a bumper pull trailer now that does fine but.. I am wanting to purchase a 4x4 tractor with a loader in the spring maybe a 35 or 40hp range. and a few attachments to haul to the job just a guess I wouldn't think a tractor that size would weigh more than 4000lbs with attachments on it. That is 12,000lbs already on my 6.0 with 4.10s and have been looking at a 32ft gooseneck trailer to move both pieces of equipment with attachments all at once so no double dragging. I figure a trailer with 10k axles would weigh about 4000lbs by it self.. depending on the make of trailer I reckon... would my 6.0 be able to handle something like this or should I go back to the old drawing board? really hate making more than one trip. because I lose a good bit of money but my truck is paid for and don't want to get another truck.

 

[Dingeryote]

You should be fine.

Gooseneck or not.

We frequently pull 12-14,000 with our 03' 2500HD, on a pintle hitch. The 6.0 does fine unless things get hilly.
It's definately noticeable, but with reasonable attention you should be fine.
Dont cheap out on the trailer brakes.

The Gooseneck would give you a good margin to play with.

 

[tylertown]

You should be fine.

Gooseneck or not.

We frequently pull 12-14,000 with our 03' 2500HD, on a pintle hitch. The 6.0 does fine unless things get hilly.
It's definately noticeable, but with reasonable attention you should be fine.
Dont cheap out on the trailer brakes.

The Gooseneck would give you a good margin to play with.

Thanks for the comment. Im not worried about the gooseneck with the mini on it just when I add the tractor with loader and grader. its not to hilly where im from but I was just wondering about the trans and I really like my 6.0 gasser, very strong I can get my mini and bumper trailer up to 70 mph with half petal but tack on another 8000lbs and im not sure I don't want to hurt it. just wondering if anyone does this with theirs... other websites suggest don't haul over 12,000lbs but those people most likely have never done it or seen it done. just read it some where else.. does the pintle hitch do a lot of beating and banging on your truck? I saw a few trailers for sale with a pintle hitch that were 30' and was interested in them but I will have quite a bit of tongue weight with a set up like Im wanting. how much tongue weight are yall pushing with yours?

thanks

 

[mikehaugen]

I think a 32' gooseneck trailer with 10k axles will weigh quite a bit more than 4000 lbs, my guess is more like 5000 or 5500. Also the tractor you are talking about could approach 5000 pretty easily if you have a loader and attachments. You are looking more in the 18-19000lb range I would bet. Best thing is to do some reasearch and find out more exact numbers.

Btw... the 12k that you are hearing is probably the factory spec. tow rating for that truck.

Does it matter what anyone here says anyway? Last time you posted a question like this and everyone told you "no", you did it anyway.

 

[tylertown]

I think a 32' gooseneck trailer with 10k axles will weigh quite a bit more than 4000 lbs, my guess is more like 5000 or 5500. Also the tractor you are talking about could approach 5000 pretty easily if you have a loader and attachments. You are looking more in the 18-19000lb range I would bet. Best thing is to do some reasearch and find out more exact numbers.

Btw... the 12k that you are hearing is probably the factory spec. tow rating for that truck.

Does it matter what anyone here says anyway? Last time you posted a question like this and everyone told you "no", you did it anyway.

I think your right about the numbers mike thanks for the comment. yes the information I gather from this site helps me make my decisions. The last pull I made was a one time thing. only because I am just getting started with my business and I bought the wagon before the horse if you know what I mean. if you had been there with me and knew where I had to go and how far you would probably have a different opinion on that situation. I know the picture you imagined when reading a post like that sounded terribly bad but I felt I was able to do it. I have done quite a bit of hauling with bigger trucks and heavier loads from a previous employer I just did what I had to do. but back to what you said. yes I appreciate any information I am relayed on this website. this website is the best I have found for getting real world information on just about everything. Tons of experienced people

 

[RedNeckRacin]

I would be leary of that GN weight even at the upper suggested weights. Just for reference, my 20+5 moritz 14.5k trailer weighs 5400lbs per the factory literature. Its pretty accurate after making a trip to the scrap yard a month or so ago with it. That 32' tandem dual goose is going to weigh north of 7klbs unless its an appalachian paper mache (sp?) model. I'm not being dicouraging to much, but I used to haul my 12klb deere around behind a 1 ton SRW cummins, and boy was it sluggish. There were some hills that I barely topped at 40mph because I couldn't get a run for it.

 

[tcartwri]

It would be very very marginal. I agree the trailer weight would approach ~21K and for reference we used an F550 with 5.30 gears to tow 24K. Throttle on the firewall all the time...

If it was a one time deal, back road midnight run... maybe.

 

[MikePA]

Hello, I currently have a 2500hd Chevrolet with the 6.0 and 4.10 diff, 4x4 short bed extended cab. I have a 8000lb mini excavator I need to haul around from job to job and have a bumper pull trailer now that does fine but.. I am wanting to purchase a 4x4 tractor with a loader in the spring maybe a 35 or 40hp range. and a few attachments to haul to the job just a guess I wouldn't think a tractor that size would weigh more than 4000lbs with attachments on it. That is 12,000lbs already on my 6.0 with 4.10s and have been looking at a 32ft gooseneck trailer to move both pieces of equipment with attachments all at once so no double dragging. I figure a trailer with 10k axles would weigh about 4000lbs by it self.. depending on the make of trailer I reckon... would my 6.0 be able to handle something like this or should I go back to the old drawing board? really hate making more than one trip. because I lose a good bit of money but my truck is paid for and don't want to get another truck.

This.

Also take into consideration the other people on the road. If you cause, or are involved in, an accident, with an overloaded truck/trailer, it will cost you more than just 'a good bit of money'.

It sounds like your business is growing, so it's time to upgrade.

 

[PhilY]

I have family in OH and my BIL mentioned how he had a guy with a Sierra 2500HD gasser with the 4.10 that kept coming in every 6mos or so to get trans work done as it would keep on slipping. After taking care of them a couple of times, he learned that they had been pulling grain wagons and the sort with loads in the mid to upper 20K's. The area down there is very hilly, so hopefully this gives you a bit of a baseline.

 

[The Fred]

Does it matter what anyone here says anyway? Last time you posted a question like this and everyone told you "no", you did it anyway.

Mike that's not really fair^^^^^^^^^

I wouldn't post here but I have 2 Chevy trucks, a 2008 2500HD 6.0 and a 2007 Duramax LMM that I haul a mini excavator 9,000lbs on a trailer that weighs 5500lbs. empty. It's a bumper pull and what a chore to haul the thing with the 6 liter gasser. I would bet a gooseneck would handle the load better but your little gas engine and 4 speed 4L80E transmission will get a wicked workout. The later 6 peed transmissions are geared much better for towing, and have a very low 1st gear. The other thing about towing with a gas engine is that your engine control module will dictate 11 to 1 air/fuel ratio to protect the catalytic converter, this will absolutely kill your fuel mileage.

Anyway the only way to find out is to try it yourself. Anyone can put in their opinions but ultimately it's your decision and your money spent, good or bad.

Regards and good luck, Fred