[Gulfstream]

Hello to everyone!

This is my first post on this forum. I have been a long time reader of all of the great information here and it has helped me shop for my new Duramax diesel truck. I have decided on an '07 Silverado 3500HD 4WD Crew Cab Long Box with, literally, every option I think is available. The MSRP is over $55K (ouch!!).

But today the dealer (I haven't formally committed with the dealer to purchase the truck, yet!) told me something that I don't really think is true in regards to the towing capacity of the 3500.

He said that the tow rating of the 3500 was 16300 lbs for a fifth wheel trailer but that if you were towing a trailer with trailer brakes that you could tow a much heavier trailer even a heavy as 23k and that this was a GM approved method for increasing the towable weight.

He said the logic behind what he was saying was that the tow rating of 16300 lbs. was how much the 3500 could tow and SAFELY stop even if the trailer had no trailer brakes. Therefore, if you add trailer brakes you could safely tow a heck-of-a-lot more weight. And as he was saying this he had the agreement of 2 other salesmen and the general manager of the dealership (they sounded like the amen section).

I told him that I thought the manufacturer’s tow rating was the maximum allowable trailer weight you could tow regardless of whether or not the trailer had it's own braking system.

Now I know the 3500 will tow a heavier trailer BUT is what is the real truth?

How much can you really safely tow and be within the manufacturer’s guidelines?

Thanks to all!!