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bernercamper's avatar
bernercamper
Explorer
May 12, 2017

What weight TT for a '99 Suburban 1500 TV? UPDATE sold Sub

I'm completely new to all this - dh grew up with a pop-up and loves to tent camp but if I'm going to come along it must be something hard sided with a bathroom and a refrigerator!

We own a 1999 Suburban 1500 LS... the original purchase paperwork says it has the upgraded tow package and transmission cooler. I've looked in the manual and still not sure what I should be looking for as an upper limit with regards to tow weight. Could someone give me some guidelines?

I'm guessing our best rv would be a travel trailer. Haven't really considered anything else yet. I guess that's for another post though.

I'm slowly working my way through the sticky but I'm excited and want to buy something asap! There are no rv dealers nearby to ask. Do I go to the Chevy dealer with questions about hitches?

Oh we also have four little kids 10 and under, and we might bring a 60 pound dog along occasionally... My dh and I are about 150lbs each. And we have a couple teens around 150 each too, thought I don't think they'd be along as much or they might take a separate vehicle.

So what should be my upper limit? Or is it not that simple? And I'm lost on the tongue weight discussion but hopefully I'll learn.

Thanks so much,
Marie
  • Campfire_Time's avatar
    Campfire_Time
    Explorer
    May 12, 2017
    bernercamper wrote:


    I have such an aversion to canvas that I think I'd rather buy a new vehicle before using an rv with canvas slide outs.


    I can certainly understand that. We had mold issues with a pop-up years ago that I didn't quite dry out good enough. A real hassle to clean.

    I do think you might want to go look at hybrids and understand what the bunk ends are really made of. It's vinyl covered canvas, not straight up canvas. At least any of them made in the last 15 years are. Not at all like older pop-ups or canvas tents. Very easy to deal with. Dry off with a towel if needed, or quickly dry after returning home when packing in the rain.

    The hybrid in my sig is our second. The first was an '03 that we owned for 10 years. No leaks or any other issues for that matter.

    Either way, what ever you do you'll have a lot of fun and so will your kids.
  • Matt_Colie's avatar
    Matt_Colie
    Explorer II
    May 12, 2017
    Berner,


    First, Get the TV weighed a scrap yard, grain bin or truck stop. With the kids and dog. Now you know how close you are to GVW.

    Before you do anything rash, look at what you find available in the TT market. Used will save you a lot, but used with water damage may cost you a lot more. Even if the seller says the water leakage was repaired, there can be very serious damage to any of the stick and staple boxes in short order. If it close to where I think you will be. You will want to add both a Load Equalizing Hitch and a brake controller for the trailer brakes. While these may be expensive, we are still way below the cost of any motorhome worth having. (And inspections and emissions and registrations..)

    The most important part of any towing gear is between the drivers ears. If you are going to two any where, have a plan and never push the weather.

    When (ok-if) you get a TT and get it set up to tow, Find a large lot and practice backing the trailer into a slot. When that gets really boring, take the trailer home and camp at least one night in your driveway. You will instantly learn a lot.

    Matt
  • bernercamper's avatar
    bernercamper
    Explorer
    May 12, 2017
    Maybe I should scrap the idea of a TT and look at smaller motorized rv?

    DH wants light tow weight and short length. He's nervous about anything close to 30'. I need my own bed and chair and table. Maybe a camper. But I fear we have too many kids and the youngers are too young to tent by themselves yet.

    ETA I'm looking at ford e250 or e350 passenger vans. I'm hoping they can tow more than what I own?
  • bernercamper's avatar
    bernercamper
    Explorer
    May 12, 2017
    I think the gvwr includes a full tank of gas (44lbs) and person...

    dh and I are 300 together, 4 kids right now are 200 total but of course that will increase. Dog won't be on every trip but 50 pounds plus 20 of food... belongings I have no idea. Guess I'll weigh next time we pack up to go somewhere.

    I have such an aversion to canvas that I think I'd rather buy a new vehicle before using an rv with canvas slide outs.
  • bernercamper's avatar
    bernercamper
    Explorer
    May 12, 2017
    Well I'll paste the info from the doorjamb sticker and the manual...

    gvwr 6800lbs
    gvwr frt 3400
    gvwr rr 3968

    heavy duty trailering equipment
    rear axle 3.42 ratio
    hd aux transmission cooling system

    c-1500 2wd suburban 5.7l 3.42 max trailer wt 5,500lbs.

    edited to add: rear bumper says max tongue weight 500 lbs, max trailer weight 5000 lbs!
  • Lwiddis's avatar
    Lwiddis
    Explorer II
    May 12, 2017
    Think positive, Burner! What is the payload capacity of the Sub? How much weight will you carry in the Sub minus 150 pounds?
  • WNYBob's avatar
    WNYBob
    Explorer
    May 12, 2017
    Since you are coming from a pop-up, look at small Hybrids.
  • bernercamper's avatar
    bernercamper
    Explorer
    May 12, 2017
    Ugh that's not what I wanted to hear! We love this suburban bc it only has 125k miles...

    But I agree. We used to have a Ford e150 that we loved. Maybe we could trade for one of those but I'm guessing it would need to be the e250 version.
  • donn0128's avatar
    donn0128
    Explorer II
    May 12, 2017
    Sadly 1500 Suburbans can already be overloaded by just loading with passangers. You really really need to load your family up plus what ever you would normally have for a trip and drive across a set of scales. Then look on the drivers door post for the GVWR tag. Subtract one from the other. Thats how much payload you have. A 99 Subbie is likely going to have nearly zero payload. You might first start looking for a bit newer 2500 burb before starting on the trailer search.
  • Trackrig's avatar
    Trackrig
    Explorer II
    May 12, 2017
    Others will come along with more detailed info, but the four kids and all of their related paraphernalia inside of suburban putting weight on the rear axle will severely take away from what's left of the overall weight carrying capacity for the trailer hitch. And of course don't forget the dog's weight and his 20#s of dog food for the trip.

    I think subs are great vehicles, only you really need the 3/4T version. I know you've got a lot of expenses with the four kids, but with all of the weight you're going to have to buy a small trailer which they're going to rapidly outgrow. If there's any way possible, I'd try to trade the 1/2T for a 3/4T so you're not so limited on trailer choices.

    Have fun.

    Bill

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