Some of you may remember that I bought a 2004 2500HD back in December.  I am updating the original thread http://www.horsetrailerworld.com/forum/thread-view.asp?threadid=8403&start=1 with this one.  Remember, I have a 6.0 gas, crew cab, long box with pickup camper and 3H BP trailer.

Last night, my wife and I got everything loaded for our horse camping trip this weekend.  We decided to quickly load the horses and drive down to the scale at the local ag center/scrap iron yard (I know it's odd, but they share a scale).  Here's the weights we got in lbs:

FT GAW - 3600

RR GAW - 6560

GVW - 10160

Trailer - 6880

GCW - 17040

Compare those to the ratings:

RR GAWR - 6084

GVWR - 9200

GCWR - 16000

I'm over the ratings on everything.  Those of you that said a 1 ton pickup (SRW or DRW) would be better were probably right.  But, here's my take on it all.

GAW and GVW:  I have 265/75R16 LR E tires rated for 3415 lbs ea.  I cannot find the actual weight rating on the axle, which I believe is a AAM 1050 axle.  The GAWR is obviously just double the standard tire rating of 3042.  My tires are rated for more, but I don't know how much more the axle, springs, etc are rated for.

GCW:  Being 1000 lbs over the GCWR doesn't bother me too much.  I wish more of the excess was on the trailer, though, not the pickup.

I think a weight-distributing hitch would be a good idea.  If it lightened up the tongue weight by 500 lbs to get the GAW under the GAWR, I wonder how much of that would go to the trailer and how much would go to the front axle.

Any input on all this is appreciated.

Oh, fuel mileage.  So far, empty, we've averaged around 11 mpg.  I think I drive smoothly, and I even try to drive it slower than my other vehicles.  I am excited to check the fuel mileage this weekend.  Those who claim 15+ mpg with these 6.0 gassers have to be doing something a lot different than what I'm doing.  I just don't know if they're doing it different with the foot or with the calculator.  Ha ha.

(quote): Oh, fuel mileage.  So far, empty, we've averaged around 11 mpg.  I think I drive smoothly, and I even try to drive it slower than my other vehicles.  I am excited to check the fuel mileage this weekend.  Those who claim 15+ mpg with these 6.0 gassers have to be doing something a lot different than what I'm doing.  I just don't know if they're doing it different with the foot or with the calculator.  Ha ha.

You are thinking like myself, I believe they are a little careless with the truth when it comes to 15mpg!!

2 wheel drive, regular cab, manual trans, 3.73 gears, on a stripped down plain jane truck maybe able to squeeze 15 mpg out of it......Empty!!

I got 8.4 mpg on two-lane Minnesota highways driving 55 to 65 mph.  I used overdrive, where it would pull it, and 3rd gear, otherwise.  Tow/Haul mode on.

No comments on my scale weights?

 I have a book that gives me some very basic specs- it looks to me like your limiting number for your rear axle weight rating might be the rear springs, as the springs are rated at 3042 lbs each, exactly 6,084 lbs, while the rear axles it shows that were available in the GM trucks are 6,000 lb, 7500 lb, 10,000 lb, and 11,000 lb. If I had to guess, I would think your rear axle would be the 7,500 lb axle. Keep in mind this book is not infallible, and this is my (somewhat) educated guess! You didn't say what your front axle weight rating is. This book shows independant front suspension rated at 4500 lbs, and the actual torsion bars at 2400 lbs each. So I would say you have room to move some weight forward.

As far as where the weight distributing hitch will put the weight, I don't know. I'd be interested if you install that and re-weigh your rig to see what your axle weights are. 

Where would I find such a book or info?

 I would try going to a dealer and talking to a knowledgeable truck sales person that was selling new trucks in 2003 and 2004. We used to keep a copy of of each year's data books. That way you can go back and look at them if you need to to see just what was available at the time. 

Here's something for you to read up on...... 

http://eogld.ecomm.gm.com/NASApp/mediumduty/printbook?printbooktype=weightcalc&doctype=truckselection&year=2004

I'm not sure what you wanted me to get out of that.  I did learn that cauliflower weighs 30 lbs per bu, though.

 Try this link, and then go to light duty trucks, and select your model. You can pull up ordering information on the 2007 2500's. I'll fool with it a little and see if I can get back to 2004, but this gives a fair idea of what possibilities were available when your truck was built. There was was one page in there that somewhat confirmed what my book shows- basically a 4500 lb front and 6900 lb rear axle, with the springs being a little lghter.

Anyway, here is the link. http://eogld.ecomm.gm.com/NASApp/domestic/vehiclesel.jsp?year=2007&regionID=1&divisionID=1 

 If you select  <print book> and then your model, and then specs, that will give you what you want without having to look through a bunch of the other stuff. 

Good luck!  

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