2021 2500HD AT4 SB Towing Capacity Math

[smealio]

New member and AT4 owner and I am utterly confused.

Every piece of reference material online and on GMC states that the towing capacity for the 2500HD AT4 Duramax is 18.5k yet my door jam states that my conventional towing capacity is 17870k and GN/5ER is 11.5k

This makes zero sense to me. The GCVW is 26k, GVWR is 10k…so i can ball hitch 16k but only fifth wheel 11.5k?

I am missing something. I am on R17s (stock) maybe that is the difference maker and I need to upgrade?

I’m either event, I am looking at 3500s but from what I have read SRW 3500s aren’t that much of an improvement to tow cap.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

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[gemarsh]

Your reference that you are seeing that gm puts out is for a plain Jane. A person has to deduct for all the weight your truck is optioned with. Hence your lack of door jamb weight rating.

 

[smealio]

I found my answer in the 2021 trailering guide. So they apparently make a lesser GVWR fleet vehicle that must have less support in the bed. This is utter BS because the dealer flat out sold it to me under the presumption I would be towing.

Looks like I’ll be going back to the dealer.

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[gemarsh]

I was not aware of a AT4 hd fleet vehicle. I looked at the brochure and could not find that reference.

Bed support has nothing to do with with the gooseneck hitch. It's all frame. I have learned the 2500/3500 all use the same frame.

You can option out a truck with a lower GCVW rating on the sticker to avoid certain dot regulations.

 

[fcodxdart]

I was not aware of a AT4 hd fleet vehicle. I looked at the brochure and could not find that reference.

Bed support has nothing to do with with the gooseneck hitch. It's all frame. I have learned the 2500/3500 all use the same frame.

You can option out a truck with a lower GCVW rating on the sticker to avoid certain dot regulations.

In regards to the frame. According to a few sources the frame is not the same with standard 2500. If you get a 2500 with max tow package then the frame becomes the same. There is about 400-500lbs of difference from what I've been told. There are additionals struts and supports with max tow.

 

[Ohiost90]

I found my answer in the 2021 trailering guide. So they apparently make a lesser GVWR fleet vehicle that must have less support in the bed. This is utter BS because the dealer flat out sold it to me under the presumption I would be towing.

Looks like I’ll be going back to the dealer.

Site Maintenance

one can get a "lowered" GVWR to 10K. useful for those in some situations that tax/license based on GVWR. I've never seen anything about those vehicles having components being downgraded for that number. Note that the MAX Towing package that came out in '23 (or was it '24) is completely different. In those cases, the frame(and i belive other components) are upgraded to a 3500 spec.

 

[Ohiost90]

New member and AT4 owner and I am utterly confused.

Every piece of reference material online and on GMC states that the towing capacity for the 2500HD AT4 Duramax is 18.5k yet my door jam states that my conventional towing capacity is 17870k and GN/5ER is 11.5k

This makes zero sense to me. The GCVW is 26k, GVWR is 10k…so i can ball hitch 16k but only fifth wheel 11.5k?

I am missing something. I am on R17s (stock) maybe that is the difference maker and I need to upgrade?

I’m either event, I am looking at 3500s but from what I have read SRW 3500s aren’t that much of an improvement to tow cap.

Any help would be appreciated.

Your numbers do seem odd...my 5th wheel numbers are 2k higher than conventional

 

[ironworker40]

Post a picture of your towing tag.