Help! What can we tow?

that is a lot to ask your drive train to pull. you need a bigger truck,

yeah, we were thinking is was pushing the limits. just needed some veteran advice. thanks for all the help! i forgot to mention we were towing the Rpod with my FJ Cruiser. :) just figured, bigger truck, bigger trailer! our second choice was this http://www.forestriverinc.com/TravelTrailers/Wildwood/default.aspx?model=wood&page=floorplandetails&floorplanid=4556&RVType=trailers#prettyPhoto which the Husband is happy with, but i really liked that big closet in the 29'. :) i think we could manage the 2 foot difference safely. isn't this Truck supposed to be able haul a trailer full of Clydesdale's!? ha! thanks for the welcome notes! we will post pics soon!

downtheroad wrote:
Here is a direct link:....LINK CLICK

You are asking a lot from your truck...probably too much.
35+ footer with a GVWR of around 11,000 lbs. Dry hitch of almost 900 lbs.
Hopefully others will be more encouraging, but I think you are in 2500/250 territory.

and...Welcome to the Forum.

X2, way to much trailer for a 1/2 ton even empty and especially if you think pulling an RPod is scary. If your keeping that truck I would suggest you keep the TT GVWR 7,000# or less. If you get a properly equipped 3/4 ton truck then that trailer would be fine.

A couple of reviews I saw on the subject. You likely won't be happy towing that large of a rig with the 1500.
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Hauling and Towing

When properly equipped, the Silverado 1500 can tow up to 12,000 pounds and haul up to 2,108 pounds, which is good for the class. Reviewers say the V6-powered Silverado has plenty of power for towing 5,500-pound trailers. Some reviewers say the 5.3-liter V8-powered Silverado could use a bit more power and a firmer suspension after towing a 9,000-pound trailer. As a result, they say anyone needing to tow closer to the max tow rating may be better served by a heavy-duty pickup truck. One reviewer says that the six-speed transmission is not geared optimally for trailering, and notes that power lags at times. With a half ton of cargo in the bed, reviewers say that the rear of the truck squats minimally.

"We got to drive Silverados with 1,000-pound boxes in the bed, which gave us the opportunity to see how the chassis dealt with heavier payloads. Although we would have liked some kind of load-leveling capability, the visual ‘squat’ to the trucks was minimal and the handling and rear-end control on our drive routes were well within our comfort zones." -- PickupTrucks.com

"The 4.3-liter generates 285 hp and 305 lb-ft of torque. While towing a 5500-pound camper using a trailer hitch, the Silverado never hesitated. It accelerated quickly and the integrated trailer sway controls, which use the truck's anti-lock brakes, helped steady the trailer down the windy Texan roads." -- Motor Trend

"Later, we towed a skid steer on a flatbed that checked in around 9000 pounds, and only then did the 5.3 feel a bit overmatched and the suspension a little too soft. Yes, the Silverado can handle a load this heavy (some Silverados will be rated to tow 11,500 pounds) but it felt like a job better suited to a heavy-duty pickup." -- Popular Mechanics

"But despite the pull of the Silverado's huskier new engines, we've noticed that there's still too big a gap between the transmission's gear ratios when towing." -- Edmunds

Sure, you'll get down the road, but I'll bet you exceed every other weight rating your truck has... ;)

I wouldn't tow that rig with my #7700 GVWR 13 F150.. Sure, it would get down the road, but how much fun would it be towing it??? Not very much IMO..

For me, that's what is going to matter the most to me.. I want my seat time to be an enjoyable time as much as when I get to my destination.. If I'm all stressed out because I'm maxed out on my tow vehicle, what's the point of going??

Anyway, if you need that large of an RV then you should also get the TV to do the job and not just "get it down the road"... ;)

Good luck!

Mitch

That trailer has an 11000# GVWR with a low 11% tongue weight.
Even so, if you loaded it to the full you are looking at 1200# on the hitch. Even loading halfway to capacity you will have over 1000# hitch weight.
Add that to the people, stuff and dogs in the truck and I suspect you will be well over truck GVWR.
I'm going to suggest that is probably too much trailer for that truck.
What is your "occupant and cargo" rating off the label by the driver's door?

Here is a direct link:....LINK CLICK

You are asking a lot from your truck...probably too much.
35+ footer with a GVWR of around 11,000 lbs. Dry hitch of almost 900 lbs.
Hopefully others will be more encouraging, but I think you are in 2500/250 territory.

and...Welcome to the Forum.