2003 Gmc 2500hd Enough Truck
 

Ok, Looking At A Late Model 42 Fountain With Twins, I Have A 2500hd With 6.0 And 410 Gears, Do I Have Enough Truck To Pull This Boat. Thanks In Advance.

Re: 2003 Gmc 2500hd Enough Truck
 

The GVWR is 9,200 pounds with a maximum trailer weight of around 10,000 pounds depending on crew cab/ext. cab/4WD. Not sure how much a 42 Fountain weighs but I'm guessing you'll be struggling at best. I've got the 6.0L in a 2002 but with 3.73 gears...pulling my 25 Eliminator it barely knows it's back there. I've got a custom ECM program, high flow intake kit (UPD), and a Gibson cat-back exhaust...synthetic everything fluids/oils/lubes. Love the truck...the 6.0L cold-engine knock is annoying but haven't had a single problem with the truck since I've owned it! I'm guessing that the HD will pull it, but braking/legal issues might be pushing the limits. With that size of boat you will want the biggest tow vehicle you can afford...obviously the duramax/allison combo would be better than the gasser. Currently a standard hitch allows 12,000 towing even with the diesel...5th wheel/gooseneck goes up to a max of 15,900 pounds. Let us know what you decide.

Re: 2003 Gmc 2500hd Enough Truck
 

DAVE, I ALSO HAVE THE ECM PROGRAMMER ,HIGH FLOW K&N INTAKE AND EXHAUST. I HAVE OWNED AND PULLED A 38TOPGUN AND IT PULLED FINE, JUST DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE 42. THANKS

Re: 2003 Gmc 2500hd Enough Truck
 

Just looked at Fountain's website...the 42 Lightning weighs 10,300 dry and holds a capacity of 249 gallons of fuel. Sooo....at 6.25pounds per gallon that's an additional 1,556.25 pounds or a total weight of 11,856.25 pounds...if you have less than 143.75 pounds of boating "stuff" you put in your boat (including the head/fresh water), you will be fine towing it with the 2500HD(if it's gooseneck/5th wheel)!!!!!!!!!! :D :D :D Don't expect miracles when you try to tow something that heavy...it will do it, but just like anything...treat it right and it will treat you right (usually...except the boat itself).

Re: 2003 Gmc 2500hd Enough Truck
 

I think you will be fine for local tows, however, you are going to wish you had the Duramax or at least the 8.1L V8 for anything over 30 minutes/30 miles.

Do you have the longbed/crewcab? The more wheelbase the better. That 42 is going to have quite the long towed load. You are going to feel sway. I would invest in rear airbags for the truck regardless, and electric over hydraulic brakes would be a nice add on for the trailer.

I pull 12K lbs (loaded 37AT) with an 8.1L/4 spd Auto in my 2500 Avalanche (same as 2500 Suburban). I would not want to pull with anything less than said setup.

I am willing to bet boat, trailer, fuel, gear, etc, you are going to be WAY over you legal GVWR and trailer towing limit. You may think this is not a big deal, but after an accident, your insurance company will write you off before you can say "I'm in good hands" when they find out you did not have a proper/rated/legal setup. Also, don't forget the CLASS-III hitch factory on your truck is only rated for pulling 7500 lbs Weight Carrying. You need a full Weight Distributing setup (as I have) to pull the 12K lbs for the WD rating. I would also upgrade to a Putnam XDR Class-V hitch.

Check out this thread; both pages:
http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...ig+heavy+hitch

Re: 2003 Gmc 2500hd Enough Truck
 

Forgot the trailer at 1500-2000 lbs. alone.

Re: 2003 Gmc 2500hd Enough Truck
 

SYDWAYZ, YES THIS A CREWCAB AND I WILL INSTALL AIRBAGS.THANKS SCOTT

Re: 2003 Gmc 2500hd Enough Truck
 

Thanks Sydwayz,

The extra 143# can be used for an ultra lightweight aluminum trailer :D :eek:

Re: 2003 Gmc 2500hd Enough Truck
 

May could get away with a few sheets of plywood and rope instead of a trailer for 143 lbs.

Sorry Scott, gotta keep the atmosphere light. Good luck.


I edited my above post with more info.

Re: 2003 Gmc 2500hd Enough Truck
 

One of my buddies used to pull his 2000 Fountain 42 with this exact truck. He had no problems and pulled back and forth from Florida to Oklahoma. He eventually got the Duramax which is night and day. His name is "Michael Ward" on the board if you wish to contact him.

Re: 2003 Gmc 2500hd Enough Truck
 

you gotta watch the GM tow ratings........my 6.5 diesel Sub is only rated to tow 7500 with the diesel but with a 454 it is rated to pull 10,000.......so the truck itself can handle it.........its an engine power thing........wonder what the tow rating of that truck is with the dmax instead of the 6 litre..........doug

Re: 2003 Gmc 2500hd Enough Truck
 

Yeah, I wonder too. :rolleyes: Now if they would just build it I would be the first to find out! :mad:

Re: 2003 Gmc 2500hd Enough Truck
 

short, accurate answer...


NO!

your looking at 13-14,000 lbs on a trailer with fuel.
NOT GOOD with a 6.0.

Re: 2003 Gmc 2500hd Enough Truck
 

I had a friend out in California that bought three 2500 HD's with the 6.0L's for him concrete company, They pull pumps with them eveywhere they go. The pumps weigh anywhere from 4 to 10k doending on what size unit it is. He caled me from a job one Sunday and asked if I could do him a favor and drag one fo his pumps to the job for him, I used one of his trucks, what a slug!!! On the way home he pulled me up the Camarillo grade in California in a dump truck with a pup trailer grossed out at 80k, that's pretty sad. After about 2 months he tok a huge hit and traded all three trucks in on 2500HD's with Duramax's, what a difference. I am a Devout Ford guy and drive a 6.0 PSD myself but I gott admit I did take a seriuos look at the Duramax before I bought my latest truck and had a hard time not buying one.

Re: 2003 Gmc 2500hd Enough Truck
 

plain and simple "NO" 8.1 or D-Max!!!!!!

Re: 2003 Gmc 2500hd Enough Truck
 

I completely agree. Why they haven't put the D-Max in the Suburban, Avalanche, and H-2 is beyond me. I think they would sell like crazy.

Re: 2003 Gmc 2500hd Enough Truck
 

I know they dont have a dmax in the Sub.........what I meant was, I wonder what the tow rating of your 2500hd is when you have a dmax installed instead of your 6.0L

Re: 2003 Gmc 2500hd Enough Truck
 

soccer mom's don't need diesels in their H2's... :D :drink:

Re: 2003 Gmc 2500hd Enough Truck
 

have to wait for a new platform, the existing chassis would need major surgery at the firewall and tunnel to accomodate.

remember the present truck/sport ute lines were in place before the Max, and there was some question how much more than the former dimal >2% of the diesel market GM would win back.

so now the Dmax/Alli is a crazy success (and for good reason), now the lines will be re-tooled around more availability.

simple really.

Re: 2003 Gmc 2500hd Enough Truck
 

what about a 38 fever? is this still to much boat for this truck?

Re: 2003 Gmc 2500hd Enough Truck
 

38 Fever weighs less than a 38 Top Gun which you have already pulled. The truck can handle it.

Wannabe

Re: 2003 Gmc 2500hd Enough Truck
 

I have a 03 GMC Crew 2WD Diesel and thought is was nice. Two weeks ago I used an 05 GMC 1500 5.3 (3.73 gears)to tow my boat to the gas station. GMC says the truck can pull 8300 lbs and the boat (32 Sunsation Mid Cabin) weighs 6600 lbs dry so I figure with the trailer and fuel it is right at the max tow ability of the 05. TOTAL DISASTER, abs was going off everytime I hit the brakes and the truck was getting pushed around by the boat. I covered about 3 miles each way and couldn't believe the difference. I own 4 GMC's currently and love the trucks but the 2500 DD is the only thing to tow with. Didn't realize how good I had it until I tried another truck. I prefer driving the 5.3 around town, it is quiet, smooth and burns rubber down the block but the diesel is the better all around truck.

Re: 2003 Gmc 2500hd Enough Truck
 

When discussions turn to towing capacity, it never ceases to amaze me that all everyone is interested in is how fast and how comfortable. No one ever asks how they handle and stop in an emergency.

I wonder how many folks have ever hooked up their rig and found a lightly travelled road to try some panic stops on.

Re: 2003 Gmc 2500hd Enough Truck
 

Here is a shot of a 47 from the factory on a HD Crew Cab
NC TO Mass No Problem :D

Re: 2003 Gmc 2500hd Enough Truck
 

You must be joking!!

Re: 2003 Gmc 2500hd Enough Truck
 

I take a 1500 GMC to pull our parasail boats (28 ft but heavy as hell) sometimes. What a POS, I can't get the boats out of the water with any fuel unless i drop into 4 low and 1st to pull up the ramp. The trailers we use are light weight (one even floated into the coast gaurd trailer at the ramp which was fun). All in all after driving a few times being pushed into intersections when braking etc, I would neve try to pull a heavy boat with an under-rated truck...you're just asking for trouble. A few miles on small roads at 30mph is fine but an interstate drive would be silly. I don't like doing it with someone elses boat or truck...if it was my own, I wouldn't even consider it.

Re: 2003 Gmc 2500hd Enough Truck
 

A 1500 GMC is AT MOST rated to tow 7500 lbs. Coming from personal experience, with a 26' "heavy as hell" Sonic weighing in at 7500 lbs loaded with fuel, trailer (also an aluminum trailer that floated), gear, tools, coolers etc., my 1500 Chevy was at its tow limit. You admittedly are pulling more than what I was towing, (8K, maybe 8500K lbs?).

Yeah, the GMC is going to struggle with that weight. Its not a piece of chit though, AND, the topic of the thread is GMC 2500HD!!!!

Re: 2003 Gmc 2500hd Enough Truck
 

I just told my comparison story to show the value of having the right truck. My 03 Crew 2500 DD has 58K miles on it an that is my personal vehicle. I own 3 additional 1500's and found that they are not up to the task of towing a heavy load even if the factory says it can do it. I just took a slow test ride to the gas station and back to see how it worked out. I love my 2500 but also am smart enough to realize that that truck can tow about 12,000 Lbs according to GM but would probably be too hairy to do on a regular basis/ for a long distance. The story with the 47 Fountain sounds a little insane for a 2500 tow vehicle but then again if I had the 47 Fountain I would have it stored somewhere and wouldn't bother towing at all. Just my 2 cents worth.................

Re: 2003 Gmc 2500hd Enough Truck
 

scottsumrall,
GM is showing a tow rating of 14,200 for a 2006 2500HD Dmax Crew Cab 4x4 & 15,400 with 2wd. The same truck with a 6000 shows 9800 4x4 & 10,100 2wd.

I think the truck will pull it but you are going to be stressing the drive train. If you are not towing lots of miles I'd keep the truck you have. The brakes are up to the task. Make sure to replace the 7,500 lbs trailer hitch.



Fred,
You need to post a picture of your truck. Did you paint all the flares?

Dan

Re: 2003 Gmc 2500hd Enough Truck
 

if your looking for a dmax i have a 2005 4x4 2500hd crewcab forsale it has 2600 miles ls trim bose stereo cap loaded all options less leather $40000.oo

Re: 2003 Gmc 2500hd Enough Truck
 

candyman, so you think this truck will pull the 42 fountain and not have any problems even on a long haul. thanks scott

Re: 2003 Gmc 2500hd Enough Truck
 

All you guys yankin stuff with out dual wheels are stupid....period!Totally full of crap and accidents waiting to happen....basically if you are over a 30 foot boat you need dual wheels...and if over 35 ...pleeeeze you need at least 350 dua;lly..3500 least or better....you guys towing with singal wheels need to be shot :D I am going to keep blasting my mouth from now on cause you do not know what your talking about with all your tow ratings....they mean nothoing in real world...totally under rated for stopping and reaction time!!! Sorry!