I have a 2003 SRW 3500. It is rated for a pin of about 2,500lbs and I am towing a pin of about 2,600lbs now. How much can it really handle?

 

Till it breaks!

 

Legalities aside, you are limited by your tire ratings. Of course the "legal" ratings take your tires into consideration. A dually has all the same suspension components if I'm not mistaken so...

 

Stock 245/75/16 load range E have a rating of 3,084 pounds each.. so 6,168 pounds on the rear axle. I would say you would not have a problem with a 2,600 pound pin. Best to do is take it to a weigh station and weigh it all loaded,, if you are under the 6168 pounds you will be ok.

I haul Rv campers for a living and have crossed the weigh stations in many states , and i have crossed them many times at around 6,200 pounds and never have been warned or ticketed for it.

 

yep, pretty much

 

I agree with the others. Not overloading the tires is the important thing. I have been thinking about the same issue. It works out that one of the rear tires is capable of carrying the weight of the truck and contents and therefore the pin weight should not exceed (should probably be a little less) the weight rating of the second rear tire. My tires (265/70/17) can carry a maximum load of about 3,200. The rear axle of my truck weighs almost exactly 3,200 lbs with two passenger, full tank of fuel and the fifth wheel hitch. Therefore, I feel that I do not want to exceed about 3,000# pin weight. Using this logic, your maximum pin weight would be approximately 400# less, or 2,600#, if your truck weighs the same as mine and your tires are rated to carry 3,000#.