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Originally Posted by HDFAN
We already have a 2005 Chevy 2500HD 4x4 diesel to tow with.
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That will be sufficient for a light-weight fifth wheel.
In order to determine exactly what your truck is safely capable of hauling, load it up like it would be for any trip with a full tank of fuel, you and all the people, pets, and gear that will normally travel in the truck and get it weighed. If you do not already have a fifth wheel hitch installed in your truck, add 200# to this weight.
Once you have the actual loaded weight of your truck, subtract that number from the truck's GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating)...that will be the maximum *loaded* weight of any fifth wheel you should be pulling (as I said above, think GVWR of the fiver, not dry weight).
Now subtract the actual loaded weight of your truck from it's GVWR...that will the the maximum hitch weight your truck can safely handle (assume 20% of the fiver's GVWR as a loaded hitch weight).
Now that you know the weight (GVWR) of the fifth wheel you can safely pull, you will be in a position to go out and shop. DO NOT, under any circumstances, pay any attention to the sales person when they tell you that you can pull anything on their lot with your truck. Since you've done the math, YOU will KNOW what weight you can pull!