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Ajax106's avatar
Ajax106
Explorer
Jun 30, 2014

I need your expertize...

Hi, this is my first post. And we just purchased our first camper/Toy Hauler this past Saturday. Brought it home with my 2012 Chevy Silverado 1500, and almost positive I need something bigger? The truck was really straining under the load!

We purchased a 2012 Dutchmen Rubicon. Here are the specs...

Length (ft/m) 24.67 / 7.5
Width (in/mm) 102 / 2590.8
Height (in/mm) 145 / 3683
Length (ft/ft) 24
Length (ft/in) 8
Dry Weight (lbs/kg) 5510 / 2499.3
Payload Capacity (lbs/kgs) 3490 / 1583.1
Hitch Weight (lbs/kgs) 861 / 390.5

Plus, we have two motorcycles that we want to bring along. Topped off they are a combined weight of 1460 lbs. I purchased the weight distribution system as well.


Looking at a 2011 Chevy Silverado 2500HD 4x4. Here are the specs for it...

Engine, Vortec 6.0L Variable Valve Timing V8 SFI (360 hp [268.4 kW] @ 5400 rpm, 380 lb-ft of torque [513.0 N-m] @ 4200 rpm) with (E63) fleetside pickup box; (322 hp [240.1 kW] @ 4400 rpm, 380 lb-ft of torque [513.0 N-m] @ 4200 rpm) with (ZW9) pickup box delete
Transmission, 6-speed automatic, heavy-duty, electronically controlled with overdrive and tow/haul mode (Requires (L96) Vortec 6.0L V8 SFI engine.)
Rear axle, 3.73 ratio


Can someone tell me if this truck is capable of towing this set up? The more I read, the more confused I become! Its all quite overwhelming to be honest!

Any advice you can give would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance,
Chuck
Toy Haulers

20 Replies

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  • Ajax106's avatar
    Ajax106
    Explorer
    Jul 01, 2014
    JIMNLIN wrote:
    OP asks wrote:
    Looking at a 2011 Chevy Silverado 2500HD 4x4. Here are the specs for it...

    Engine, Vortec 6.0L Variable Valve Timing V8 SFI (360 hp [268.4 kW] @ 5400 rpm, 380 lb-ft of torque [513.0 N-m] @ 4200 rpm) with (E63) fleetside pickup box; (322 hp [240.1 kW] @ 4400 rpm, 380 lb-ft of torque [513.0 N-m] @ 4200 rpm) with (ZW9) pickup box delete
    Transmission, 6-speed automatic, heavy-duty, electronically controlled with overdrive and tow/haul mode (Requires (L96) Vortec 6.0L V8 SFI engine.)
    Rear axle, 3.73 ratio


    Can someone tell me if this truck is capable of towing this set up? The more I read, the more confused I become! Its all quite overwhelming to be honest!

    Any advice you can give would be greatly appreciated!


    Great match for your 9000 lb GVWR toy hauler. The 1500 5.3 is simply over matched with a 9000 lb GVWR trailer if it has the wrong gear selection and not set up properly.

    Towing guide shows a '11 2500 chevy 6.0 3.73 can tow from 9300 lbs to 10200 lbs all depending on cab selections/4wd vs 2wd/etc.

    Same truck with a 4.10 gears can tow up to 13k-14k lbs.

    Both gear selections in the 2500 truck will have the same payload as both have the same RAWR/tire load ratings.


    Thank you. This is the info I was looking for. This the one I'm looking at is an Ext cab.
    Thanks to everyone else that has replied as well! Again, this is all new to us. I had told the dealer where we bought the TH that I wanted to be sure that my truck would pull this before buying it? Of course, he said I would have no problem? That's my fault for not doing enough research. But as I said, the more I read and research the more confused I become?
  • fj12ryder's avatar
    fj12ryder
    Explorer III
    Jul 01, 2014
    Sorry Clay, I thought you were referring to what he has now rather than what he was thinking of buying.
  • JIMNLIN's avatar
    JIMNLIN
    Explorer III
    Jul 01, 2014
    OP asks wrote:
    Looking at a 2011 Chevy Silverado 2500HD 4x4. Here are the specs for it...

    Engine, Vortec 6.0L Variable Valve Timing V8 SFI (360 hp [268.4 kW] @ 5400 rpm, 380 lb-ft of torque [513.0 N-m] @ 4200 rpm) with (E63) fleetside pickup box; (322 hp [240.1 kW] @ 4400 rpm, 380 lb-ft of torque [513.0 N-m] @ 4200 rpm) with (ZW9) pickup box delete
    Transmission, 6-speed automatic, heavy-duty, electronically controlled with overdrive and tow/haul mode (Requires (L96) Vortec 6.0L V8 SFI engine.)
    Rear axle, 3.73 ratio


    Can someone tell me if this truck is capable of towing this set up? The more I read, the more confused I become! Its all quite overwhelming to be honest!

    Any advice you can give would be greatly appreciated!


    Great match for your 9000 lb GVWR toy hauler. The 1500 5.3 is simply over matched with a 9000 lb GVWR trailer if it has the wrong gear selection and not set up properly.

    Towing guide shows a '11 2500 chevy 6.0 3.73 can tow from 9300 lbs to 10200 lbs all depending on cab selections/4wd vs 2wd/etc.

    Same truck with a 4.10 gears can tow up to 13k-14k lbs.

    Both gear selections in the 2500 truck will have the same payload as both have the same RAWR/tire load ratings.
  • BurbMan's avatar
    BurbMan
    Explorer II
    Jul 01, 2014
    Old-Biscuit wrote:

    OP stated:
    Brought it home with my 2012 Chevy Silverado 1500, and almost positive I need something bigger? The truck was really straining under the load!

    Trailer wasn't even loaded....
    Pretty much says it all


    You said it. Don't wind up like this guy.
  • Clay1969's avatar
    Clay1969
    Explorer
    Jul 01, 2014
    Old-Biscuit wrote:
    fj12ryder wrote:
    Clay1969 wrote:
    I have a similar set up (not a toy hauler, but similar lbs/truck) and from experience I can say that as long as you are not planning to break any land-speed records you will be fine. My much older truck has no problems at all holding 70-80 mph hauling our 5000lbs trailer on the flats at I can pull a modest 3 percent grade at 55mph @ 2500 rpm. Granted, I have a 5 speed and my old truck is not as advanced as the one you are looking at but the performance will be close or better. Some guys you will see will talk about their automatic 6.0's and complain about having to punch it out to 5000 rpm's to crest a hill but so far that is not my experience.

    To piggy-back what Sprink said, you could opt for a diesel but you really need to factor the mpg savings over time into what the diesel will cost extra to make the best choice. For my 4-6 trips a year, getting 5mpg more in a diesel truck did not justify paying $15,000 more for the truck up front considering what little I haul, weight-wise. But hey, everyone's needs are different so you will not go wrong either way you decide to go.

    Cheers!
    You may be pulling a 5,000 lb. trailer, but he's looking at pulling a 9,000 lb. trailer. By the time it's loaded with bikes, gear, propane, a little water, etc., it will most likely be right up against the GVWR of 9,000 lbs.


    OP stated:
    Brought it home with my 2012 Chevy Silverado 1500, and almost positive I need something bigger? The truck was really straining under the load!

    Trailer wasn't even loaded....
    Pretty much says it all


    Chevy 1500 with probably a 5.3 (or ?) is a bit different than his proposed replacement. ;)

    I have a factory 4.10 and travel light so I probably pull about only 6000lbs at most. Consider that I'm pulling less weight than the OP but I'm also about a good 60-80 less both in HP and Torque ratings than a 2011 6.0 as well.
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Jul 01, 2014
    fj12ryder wrote:
    Clay1969 wrote:
    I have a similar set up (not a toy hauler, but similar lbs/truck) and from experience I can say that as long as you are not planning to break any land-speed records you will be fine. My much older truck has no problems at all holding 70-80 mph hauling our 5000lbs trailer on the flats at I can pull a modest 3 percent grade at 55mph @ 2500 rpm. Granted, I have a 5 speed and my old truck is not as advanced as the one you are looking at but the performance will be close or better. Some guys you will see will talk about their automatic 6.0's and complain about having to punch it out to 5000 rpm's to crest a hill but so far that is not my experience.

    To piggy-back what Sprink said, you could opt for a diesel but you really need to factor the mpg savings over time into what the diesel will cost extra to make the best choice. For my 4-6 trips a year, getting 5mpg more in a diesel truck did not justify paying $15,000 more for the truck up front considering what little I haul, weight-wise. But hey, everyone's needs are different so you will not go wrong either way you decide to go.

    Cheers!
    You may be pulling a 5,000 lb. trailer, but he's looking at pulling a 9,000 lb. trailer. By the time it's loaded with bikes, gear, propane, a little water, etc., it will most likely be right up against the GVWR of 9,000 lbs.


    OP stated:
    Brought it home with my 2012 Chevy Silverado 1500, and almost positive I need something bigger? The truck was really straining under the load!

    Trailer wasn't even loaded....
    Pretty much says it all
  • fj12ryder's avatar
    fj12ryder
    Explorer III
    Jul 01, 2014
    Clay1969 wrote:
    I have a similar set up (not a toy hauler, but similar lbs/truck) and from experience I can say that as long as you are not planning to break any land-speed records you will be fine. My much older truck has no problems at all holding 70-80 mph hauling our 5000lbs trailer on the flats at I can pull a modest 3 percent grade at 55mph @ 2500 rpm. Granted, I have a 5 speed and my old truck is not as advanced as the one you are looking at but the performance will be close or better. Some guys you will see will talk about their automatic 6.0's and complain about having to punch it out to 5000 rpm's to crest a hill but so far that is not my experience.

    To piggy-back what Sprink said, you could opt for a diesel but you really need to factor the mpg savings over time into what the diesel will cost extra to make the best choice. For my 4-6 trips a year, getting 5mpg more in a diesel truck did not justify paying $15,000 more for the truck up front considering what little I haul, weight-wise. But hey, everyone's needs are different so you will not go wrong either way you decide to go.

    Cheers!
    You may be pulling a 5,000 lb. trailer, but he's looking at pulling a 9,000 lb. trailer. By the time it's loaded with bikes, gear, propane, a little water, etc., it will most likely be right up against the GVWR of 9,000 lbs.
  • Clay1969's avatar
    Clay1969
    Explorer
    Jul 01, 2014
    I have a similar set up (not a toy hauler, but similar lbs/truck) and from experience I can say that as long as you are not planning to break any land-speed records you will be fine. My much older truck has no problems at all holding 70-80 mph hauling our 5000lbs trailer on the flats at I can pull a modest 3 percent grade at 55mph @ 2500 rpm. Granted, I have a 5 speed and my old truck is not as advanced as the one you are looking at but the performance will be close or better. Some guys you will see will talk about their automatic 6.0's and complain about having to punch it out to 5000 rpm's to crest a hill but so far that is not my experience.

    To piggy-back what Sprink said, you could opt for a diesel but you really need to factor the mpg savings over time into what the diesel will cost extra to make the best choice. For my 4-6 trips a year, getting 5mpg more in a diesel truck did not justify paying $15,000 more for the truck up front considering what little I haul, weight-wise. But hey, everyone's needs are different so you will not go wrong either way you decide to go.

    Cheers!
  • therink's avatar
    therink
    Explorer
    Jul 01, 2014
    That truck is capable but I would not recommend 3:73 axle with the 6.0 and Towing heavier loads. 4:10 axle makes a big difference, especially on the hills and the mpg loss is negligible. Keep in mind you will be hard pressed to find a 3:73 new or used. They are few and far between used and I know I had had to factory order my current and last Silverado to get the truck I wanted with 4:10 gears.

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