2014 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD Duramax Towing 2015 Grand Design Solitude 325X 5th Wheel

Question:

We have a 2014 Chevy 2500 HD Crew Cab SB 4WD Duramax, we are looking at a 2015 Grand Design Solitude 325X 5th Wheel. We do not want to go over our Max GVWR or payload on axle. The 5th wheel dry weight is 11,700 lbs and est hitch weight is 2,490 lbs, max GVWR on 5th wheel is 15,000 lbs. Will this put us over our truck tow capacity?

asked by: Kelly

Expert Reply:

The Chevrolet website lists the maximum 5th wheel towing capacity of the 2500 HD Duramax Crew Cab standard box 4WD truck as 15,800-lbs but it is always best to check your vehicle's owner's manual to confirm the capacity for your specific truck. If your trailer's GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) is 15K, then the truck will have just enough capacity.

I suggest you choose a higher-rated hitch since hitches rated over 15K will give you the chance to have enhanced features not found on lower-rated hitches and will provide a safety margin. I also suggest you go for a custom install kit that will reduce the amount of install time and drilling as compared to a universal install kit. The link provided will show you all custom install kit hitch set ups for your truck. These are all slider hitches suitable for your 6-1/2-foot bed.

I suggest the Curt A16 # C16521 with install kit # C16411-204. Please see the linked video.This is a round tube slider (round tubes tend to have less binding issues compared to square tube sliders) and it features a 2-jaw locking system to grip your king pin and cushioned 360-degree pivoting head for easier hitching. The cushioned head will deliver better ride quality by absorbing some of the road bumps.

I also linked an article on 5th wheel hitch installations that may be helpful to you.

expert reply by: Adam R