2012 GMC Sierra / Size of TT?? (NEWBIE)
Looking for opinions from some experienced people. Have a 2012 GMC Sierra 4x4 Ext.Cab. 143.5 WB, 5.3 L, 3.42 gears, with tow package.. Manual States That I Can Pull 9600 lbs. Wife Wants a Big Trailer...
Forum Discussion
Lots of engineer types on this board obsess over every ounce.
Open the driver door of your truck. The label will say weight of passenger and cargo should never exceed xxxx or language to that effect. Figure every thing that is going to go into the truck,do not forget the hitch system will weigh about 80#. Subtract all that weight from xxxx, the remainder is your cargo and tongue weight capacity.
Look at the maximum loaded weight of the trailer ,sticker located usually on left front corner. Tongue weight will be 10 to 15% of that.
Do not exceed!
Take the max towing rating with a grain of salt. My first TV had an advertised rating of 6700#. I was towing about 5k. The truck did fine on the level, hills and headwinds not so good. When the ratings are computed they do not take into account frontal area wind resistance.
Matching a truck and trailer is not the mathematical problem some make it out to be,just use common sense and don't push the limits.
Open the driver door of your truck. The label will say weight of passenger and cargo should never exceed xxxx or language to that effect. Figure every thing that is going to go into the truck,do not forget the hitch system will weigh about 80#. Subtract all that weight from xxxx, the remainder is your cargo and tongue weight capacity.
Look at the maximum loaded weight of the trailer ,sticker located usually on left front corner. Tongue weight will be 10 to 15% of that.
Do not exceed!
Take the max towing rating with a grain of salt. My first TV had an advertised rating of 6700#. I was towing about 5k. The truck did fine on the level, hills and headwinds not so good. When the ratings are computed they do not take into account frontal area wind resistance.
Matching a truck and trailer is not the mathematical problem some make it out to be,just use common sense and don't push the limits.
