towing with a chevy traverse

What size are the holding tanks and water tank? A full 40 gallon water tank will weigh in around 350lbs itself. Personally I wouldn't attempt it. For a 5200lb towing capacity, I would be looking in the unloaded (dry weight) range of under 3750. By time you add options, gear, fluids and etc, you will be at that capacity in no time. Just because it says you can tow 5200lbs, doesn't mean you need to go all the way to it. Go the smallest and leightest you can and you will be much happier in the long run.

My GMC Envoy had a hard time with a 19ft TT on the hills here in Ohio, and my Silverado with 5.3 v8 could barely get up the mountains in West Virginia with a 17ft hybrid TT. I don't think you have enough tow vehicle. After working in a Chevrolet dealership for 12 years, my humble opinion is the tow rating on the Traverse was for marketing only, to make people think it was as good as the Trailblazer it replaced. Keep in mind the Trailblazer was built on a truck chassis, and the Traverse is not.

is the 4200lbs. number from the brochure/website OR from the actual yellow weight sticker on the trailer?
if it's not the yellow sticker number, you can add about 400lbs. for normal so-called "options" that nearly all trailers have. i.e.- spare tire, oven, microwave, awning, air cond. and so on.
so you're at 4600lbs.

now, say your wife weighs 150lbs., which is what the 5200 number is based on being the only thing in the Traverse. before you add the weight of the battery, propane, water and your cargo, you have to subtract your weight and any cargo in the Traverse from the 5200 number.
meaning meaning if you weigh 175 and you've got 25lbs. of cargo, then your towing capacity is now down to 5000lbs.

so, now you only have 400lbs. for battery, water, propane and cargo or you'll be over the Traverse's towing capacity.

can you do it, i guess you could if you only camped in Iowa or Florida. but if you're talking about mountains, then i would definitely advise against it, if you plan on keeping the Traverse for a while.

spikez wrote:
Would you mind expanding on the "no".

I think he means, you need more tow vehicle. I agree.
Time you get the TT, and the TV loaded. You will be over weight.

Secondly. Your tow capacity rating may NOT take into consideration the frontal area of the trailer. So it could actually be less.

Another thing, and you will need to check you owner's guide, or GM to find out. You will need a Weight Distrabuting Hitch to tow the 5200lbs. There is a chance your FWD based Traverse cannot use a WDH. Only GM can tell you that. But many FWD vehicles cannot.

Would you mind expanding on the "no".

No

NO

with Weight Distrubation and brake controller you should be ok. THe important number on your keystone is thhe gvwr. Because by the time you load it up with all your stuff you dont want to go over gvwr and want gvwr to match your Traverse. Also make sure the Traverse has a transmission cooler but having a tow package I would say it does.