Weight of 2018 Duramax & 2016 XLR 340 AMP

[Tim Coltrain]

I thought I would share some weight numbers with you guys. Maybe I can help you figure you're own weight or give you a guess. I had a 2012 Duramax Single axle 2500, then traded for a 2018 Duramax 2500 single axle. I went up to gain additional HP & TQ for mountain runs. I have been very satisfied. I have been coming to Tennessee Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg my whole life. We started camping last year in Tennessee. This is our second trip to Pigeon Forge Tenn camping but our first using new truck. Before I left home I filled up my generator tank 25 gallons (x 8.3=207.5 pounds), I have a spare tank for ATV's of 30 gallons (x 8.3=249 pounds), I filled my fresh water tank of 102 gallons (x 8.3=846.6 Pounds), and in our garage a 1996 Club Car golf cart (675 Total pounds (Dry Weight 495 plus batteries at 30#'s each for 180#'s). And other stuff & cloths & food and stuff + weight. These are the numbers I was looking for to determine if I was within weight or out of weight. You be the judge. But before I give you those numbers the 2018 Duramax pulled with ease with no problems.


Here are those numbers.

2018 Duramax 2500 using a Companion 5 th wheel set up in back of truck & Pulling a 2016 XLR Thunderbolt Camper with Weight together =26360#'s. This is a 5th wheel Camper.

Steer Axle 5040#'s
Drive Axle 6580#'s
Trailer Axle 14740#'s


Separated Camper by itself.
2018 Duramax Diesel 2500 Single Axle 8900#'s
2016 XLR Thunderbolt 340AMP (40'4") =17460

2016 XLR Thunderbolt Sticker Weight 16636#'s


It appears with all that I was only 824 pounds over.

By going over that much do you believe I have problem?????????


Now on a return note. When we return home I'll have dumped that 102 gallons so I want have 846.5 pounds. So I'll be under the rated weight of trailer. Give me your thoughts. Thanks

Hope my numbers help you.

thanks Tim Coltrain
Camping in Pigeon Forge Tennessee

[jgroff]

I think going over a little with an hd is not that big of a deal but me personally I would be concerned about going over the gvwr of your Trailer and especially 1620 lbs over the gvwr of your truck. You would be over the gvwr of single rear wheel 3500 just my 2 cents.

[Jay2504]

Is the Thunderbolt “sticker weight” the max for the camper or is it the shipped empty weight? How much cargo weight is your truck rated for? Isn’t the weight not on the camper axles count for the truck not the camper? If that’s the case you are ok on the camper. Jay

[Tim Coltrain]

I forgot to add the 2018 Chevrolet Duramax 2500 is good for 18,100#s

My Max for truck is 18,100. The weight of camper was 17,460. So as for as truck I'm 640#'s to the good. The camper is rated for 16636, and I'm carrying 17460 or over 824. When I go home I'll be 25 less to the good. I will not have any water going home. You still think I'm pushing it with that extra 824 pounds. The real trick for me is next time I take a trip do I go without water, or is there ways to get water while traveling?


Tim Coltrain

[SuicideSaints]

With all these numbers you are missing the “payload” rating of the truck. This is arguably the most important number. Compare payload to pin weight.

[Jay2504]

The way your numbers look, the pin weight is 2720 pounds. If I am figure it right almost 16 percent. I still believe that the camper itself is not overloaded with a 16,636 max weight because 2720 is not that n the camper it’s on the truck. You are under the max towing rating, but like others here it’s the cargo capacity that we need to know. It should be on the drivers door with a picture of a tire on the sticker. Jay

[Tim Coltrain]

I installed these on camper to justify additional welght.

[jgroff]

What size axles are on the trailer ?

[Tim Coltrain]

7000 each.

[jgroff]

Crazy. You have 21000 lb in axle but have such a low gvwr. I wouldn't be worried about the trailer then. Payload and gvwr of your truck would still be my sticking point. My opinion is you are way over on them. But it really comes down to your comfort level with it and if you are ok with being over those specs for your truck.

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by Jay2504

The way your numbers look, the pin weight is 2720 pounds. If I am figure it right almost 16 percent. I still believe that the camper itself is not overloaded with a 16,636 max weight because 2720 is not that n the camper it’s on the truck.

That’s not how I’ve ever understood trailer weight. It is axle weight + pin weight to get to the total.

[ependydad]

Now, I’ll tell my tale of woe. My camper has 2x7,000lb axles and a GVWR of 15,825. It is NOT an XLR nor even a toy hauler.

I typically run about 16,500-16,800 depending on amount of waters carried. Of that, approximate 13,800 is on the axles. The remaining is carried by pin weight (right about 3,000 lbs).

When I did individual wheel weights, I found that one of my wheels was overweight and 2 others were with 100 lbs of being maxed out. I upgraded rims and tires to 17.5” rims and LR H or J tires. The tires are commercial trailer tires.

I fulltimed for nearly 2 years with this upgraded setup with nary an issue.

Until recently- about a month ago, I talked about it here on the forum, but recently went through near catastrophic non-impact frame damage. I’m slow when I tow, careful with curbs, and typically avoid extreme back-ins where the camper is harshly angled to the truck.

The couple of things I attribute it to are:
- extensive travel
- running over GVWR
- crappy frame

Personally, I would do everything in my power not to tow 850 lbs overweight. In fact, we are actively purging from the camper to get back underweight.

[340xlr]

Originally Posted by jgroff

Crazy. You have 21000 lb in axle but have such a low gvwr. I wouldn't be worried about the trailer then. Payload and gvwr of your truck would still be my sticking point. My opinion is you are way over on them. But it really comes down to your comfort level with it and if you are ok with being over those specs for your truck.

340 amp is a tandem axle bud. I have the same camper, but upgraded to a dually. Pulls so nice now. I'm no newb at towing either. I too upgraded to the g614 tires. I like peace of mind when traveling with my two kids.

[Lvn2tvl]

Originally Posted by ependydad

That’s not how I’ve ever understood trailer weight. It is axle weight + pin weight to get to the total.

X2 right on the mark

[Leroy2u]

I think your Ok, However I don't see the reason to haul so much water in? Is there no opportunity to fill at your destination?

[Tim Coltrain]

Another Update
Cut back on several items.
New weight Front Axle 4960, Rear Axle 6600, Camper 13,820, total weight 25,380. I got all weights down except 400 on rear axle. Truck pulls great. Had truck serviced today with no issues.

[FrankG]

Chevrolet gives you front and rear axle not to exceed numbers along with a not to exceed 5th wheel weight number. Not exceeding any of these 3 numbers and you are good to go. Staying under the gross trailer weight rating is also a good idea.