I'm thinking about getting the biggest LQ that Trials West makes with a 3H.  I think the trailer empty will be around 10K and loaded will be in the 14K range.

I have a 2004 Chevy Duramax 4 X 4 shortbed 2500 HD.  I'm going to make the truck a 3500 by adding some springs in the rearend.  I'm going to put the "edge juice with attitude" in my truck.  They say that you should put a 4" exhaust on the truck to keep the exhaust gas temps down.  They also say that the "Banks" exhaust is the best to use. 

I've got a buddy that has the "edge" on his 01 duramax and has loved it with no problems at all.  I'm going to get mine done next week.   Actually I'm going to do it myself.  I should be able to do the exhaust and edge for around 1300 and I just got a quote from a shop where it was going to cost me 2200 plus tax!!!!!!!!  My buddy said it was very easy to install yourself and for 900 I'm going to. 

The "attitude" part of the edge is actually a monitor/gauges that will automatically watch your temps so they don't get to high.  I would think that if you had the attitude you wouldn't have to get the exhause since it will back your power down if it gets to hot.  The only downside is once your truck gets to hot your power will be useless until the truck does cool down.  The question is how often will the exhaust actually help you? 

I really think that any power enhancements that you give your truck are going to create higher exhaust gas temps and you won't be able to utilize the power of the chip without the exhaust.  But you probably won't blow your truck up if you use the edge with attitude since it will monitor your temps. 

Later,

Chad

That isn't a question that can be answered like you are going to want.

All trailers have different starting weights and thus you'll need to acccount for this in your LQ weight.  It comes down to what you are safely capable of towing depending not only on your engine but your rear-end, your springs and most importantly your experience.

You'll need to be VERY careful with any answers you get here due to the lack of information you have given out.  Brand A 10'LQ may be only 5,000 lbs. while another brand and set of options could be 8,000 lbs, or more...

If you are thinking about this seriously you should be calling and visiting conversion companies BEFORE ordering your trailer.  I have seen many people buy a trailer and they can "make the payments" only to get it and then realize they'll be needing a new truck too...so are new truck payments in your future? 

If not you should be going to the source (LQ conversion companies) and put in in writing, in your sales contract that if your truck can not handle the weight/length of your new trailer the sale is null and void.

I have a 3 horse Aluminum gooseneck.  Mine has a Jackknife couch and a bathroom on the main floor. So it's probably an 8' shortwall. Overall the trailer box is 24'.  My trailer weighs 7500lbs empty.  Add horses, saddles, water, camp gear etc it probably goes 11,500 to 12,000  My 2003 F350 weighs 7200 lbs with me driving.  So combined I'm 19,200

Ford specs shows my truck's towing rating at 15,500 for the 5th wheel type of trailers. So 12,000 is within that limit. I couldn't spot the Gross Combined rating, but Im pretty sure I'm with in that also.

My truck is stock. No chip. It pulls the above load OK. I do feel the trailer on grades, and if I get behind a slow semi, there is no pulling out into the fast lane to get around him. But I can easily pull 55-60 mph over 7% grades.  Your Duramax should be close.

Be careful with the chip. The hard part is no plugging in the chip, it's drilling a tapping the Pyro and changing out the exhaust.

I have a 4 horse with an 8' short wall (16' long wall for the horse stalls and rear tack) and hay rack. According to my MSO (Manufacturer's Statement of Origin) it's weight is 5365 pounds. This is the wieght BEFORE any living quarters. On the MSO's the weight listed is before the LQ are installed, since most manufacturers do not do their own living quarters. So once you get the weight of the trailer, you need to go to whoever is going to put in your LQ and ask them what the weight will be after what you want is installed. Average weight of LQ is about 2500 pounds, but depending on what you want, can go up to 3000 pounds. I am doiong my own LQ, so I can do whatever I need to cut back on my weight (like my cabinets will not have a back wall, and I am using wallpaper on the already existing walls).

If you want a couch that turns into a sleeper and a bathroom, I would go with at least an 8' short wall. I am putting that in mine, but with 2 adults and 2 kids, I wish I went with an 8' wide or a 10' short wall. According my trailer manufacturer, adding 1 foot = 300 pounds to the trailer, not including the LQ.