Manufacturer GVWR's are usually a poor indicator of actual load capacity, especially when talking about 3/4 tons or 2500's. You can find the specs guide for your vehicle, but I know in my case my 2006 F250 is identical in every way to an F350 (because of the way my F250 was spec'd). So I use the GVWR for the F350 when I consider how much I can safely load onto my F250. However, legal may be another issue. But just because something is not legal doesn't mean it's not safe. Some 3/4 ton's may not be the same though, so everyone needs to look into it for themselves.
I'm very much in agreement with the above post and the others that share the debatable realities of GVWR (R="
rating" as we all know) vs. actual GVW, GAWR, tire capacity, and other important factors. Each owner must decide what they are comfortable with regarding actual, real-world, rolling GVW. It's a good bet that many slide-in camper owners, even the popup style that are popular with backcountry travelers, are flirting with or over their GVWR depending on the truck and/or camper. Customers are arguably mislead, intentionally or not, by some manufactures listing the base, shell model starting camper weights. The built-out and heavily-optioned interiors add much weight.
Personally, as long as my rig is up to the task– tires, brakes, springs,
driver, I'm very okay with being above the GVWR. Of course how much over matters, double is too much
. When loaded for a long trip I tend to bring enough to be self-contained and self-supporting for a couple weeks or more, which means full water and extra water, fuel, food, an armored truck, etc., so I'm never light even in my utility vehicle with RTT.
Loaded like this for a big trip recently in May I was 11,200# heading out of town, which is 1,200 over the GVWR of 10,000 on my Ram, with very nice and balanced gross-axle-weights of 5,400 front and 5,800 rear [under the GAWRs and well below the capacity of my tires]. Not to be overly cavalier about the ratings, but manufacturers have reasons to keep ratings at or below certain numbers [commercial truck and marketing separations, liability, etc.,++] 9,999/10,000 being a big number to stay at/below on the lighter, heavy-duty trucks (2500/F-250).
New trucks get better and more capable all the time, and frankly I'm more concerned about the average-joe driver's ability to drive heavily loaded rigs [or trailers] than I am the machines. My expirence over the past year with my '14 Ram 2500, stock coil springs at each corner, is that it drives and handles extremely well, including real-world emergency braking and avoidance tests with cows and deer on the roadway at night. The OE tires and brakes are far superior with more capacity than the '96 F-350 I sold after buying the '14 Ram.
In the end, Hallmark was probably correct, your G.M. 2500 will likely handle the camper well/fine...but your GVWR is a different matter. Enjoy your new camper!
