2012 GMC Sierra / Size of TT?? (NEWBIE)

When you're talking length, do you mean the ball-to-bumper measurement, or the model designation? Example - our 21FBS measures 26-1/2' ball to bumper. Getting a trailer with any amount of room under 30' overall will be hard.

Towing capacity isn't the only number to consider especially on a 1/2-ton. You also need to look at the payload capacity and start adding up all the stuff you may be bringing. Is it just DW and you, or do you have kids in the cab? Hauling a generator and / or firewood? Bicycles? And then the tongue weight and weight of the hitch. Any time I see a "1/2-ton crew cab" I figure that by the time DW, 2-3 kids, and all the stuff that's thrown in the truck bed gets added up that family will be over the payload limit.

I see you're in Ontario which is relatively flat. Do you plan to stay local, or is there a trip to the Rockies in your future? A trailer that tows OK on the flatlands gets to be a real dog in mountains.

Dry weights listed in a brochure are fictional. Figure you'll go 300# or more over that weight when you pick it up and weigh it.

Our trailer works for us. It's small but has a deep slide that adds room for those rainy days. No couch, but we use some reclining folding lawn chairs for lounging around. DW was happy to see the manufacturer worked a fair amount of storage into the floor plan. And since many campgrounds we go to can be tight and shallow the short length works for me.

The longest we've spent in it was a week but with our previous smaller hybrid we've done 2-week trips. OK, it's a bit tight but we use the TT as a base camp and are gone most of the day.

About 11 months ago I completed an 8 month-8,000 miles-32 state towing trip with my 2011 Crew Cab Silverado w/the 5.3. and a 5,500 pound 29 foot travel trailer. There are PLENTY of ULTRA LIGHT choices you have. Keep the dry weight less than 6,000 pounds and one to NO SLIDES. Those things weigh 300 pounds a piece.

As an aside-I put an additional 10,000 miles on the truck "touring the sites". I had ZERO issues with truck and trailer. No even a flat tire.

PM me if you need any further help since I have actually done what your looking to do.

One of the best things to do first, is to load up the truck with everything you would want to load in it when taking a trip, and with a full gas tank, go weigh the truck at a cat scale with your wife in the passenger seat! Include coolers (packed ready to go if possible), firewood (if you will take that), etc. This will give you your loaded truck weight, before trailer tongue weight. Now subtract your loaded truck weight from the gvwr (7000lbs maybe???) of the truck, to find available payload left.

A slightly easier, but not an exact way is to look at the driver door jamb for the yellow payload sticker. It will state "All passengers and cargo not to exceed "????"lbs". Subtract you and your wifes weight to start, then maybe estimate what you would load in the bed.

Another question- do you have anything additional added to the truck? Like a truck topper, spray in bed liner, step bars, etc...? All these items subtract from the amount listed on the payload sticker.

Your truck has the 6spd tranny, correct? Then the "5.3/3.42 say fuel economy" is not true! With the 6spd tranny, it is actually like a 4spd tranny with 4.56 gears!!!! So power wise, you are fine! I know this pulling a ~ 7500lb trailer with that exact combo in a '10 Silverado 1500 ccsb 4x4 5.3/6spd/3.42, though that has been here in MI, so not mountain towing!!!

The ONLY reason we now have a 2500HD is due to payload, which will be the limiting factor with your truck. We carried the coolers and firewood (when we take it) in the trailer due to actually being just over gvwr by about 200lbs. We were under the axle ratings though! We did have a cab high topper, spray in bed liner, step bars, which all "ate up" some of the available payload! So now the coolers/ firewood ride in the truck bed without any issues!!! Plus we are a family of four (lightweight for now as we have 10yro twins who are growing!)

One other thing to keep an eye on is the factory round tube hitch! On our '10, it would actually twist a little when hooking up the wd (weight distribution) hitch- hooking up the bars. That was with a little higher tongue weight (tw), almost 900lbs. Hitch was rated for 1100lbs I think???

Our old trailer was about 25', new trailer is about 30'. Didn't notice much difference between the two towing with the 1500.

Depending on the trailer layout you are looking at, I would estimate you should be ok with a trailer that has a "dry tongue weight" of maybe up to 600lbs. Loaded ready to camp this could easily be 900lbs or so. This is dependent on the accessories you have added to the truck, and what you may load in to the truck bed. If no accessories, then maybe up to 800lbs dry tw depending on what you will load in the truck bed. These amount are just guesstimates not know what you and your wife weigh, or what you will load in the truck bed!

Good luck!
Chris

My brother pulls a 26', approx 6100lbs with that set up and does so easily.

Buy one you are capable of handling and like romore says I'd drop the weight. I have a Chevy 2500HD with a Duramax and my trailer only weighs 10 K and it is all I want to haul around with it and I have airbags, a Reese dual Cam and Michelin LT 16 in tires on my TT. Go to a dealer and try a trailer, Look at Airstreams, light, easy to pull with 1/2 ton, expensive and worth it as they keep resale value.

I would guess that most guys on this site do not get the correct trailer the first time .
I would buy a new used from the original owner from craigslist .
I am on my 4th and last which was a downsize from the 2 previous .
With a 1 /2 ton I would only consider a maximum 23 foot .
The length of the lever starts coming into play as you get longer .
The 23 footer has the same bathroom , stove , furnace , refer , holding tanks , propane , batteries , bed as the 27 footer .
It is way more enjoyable to tow the shorter trailer at highway speeds on 2 lane roads .

That truck is really going to struggle with 9600lb tagging along regardless of what the manual says. The 5.3 and 3.42 gears say fuel economy, not pulling power. If momma wants a larger trailer go for it by all means, not all of us have that luxury, but do consider a truck that is more suitable. The 5.3 might work with lower gearing but a 6.0 would be better. You can't have too much tow vehicle but you certainly can have too little.
Our first trailer was within the published rating for our then truck but the initial trip told us otherwise.

The 22 to 25 Ft units are good for those weekend trips, but if you are on the road for a few weeks, those few extra feet really are nice. Thus a 26 to 28 FT unit would work. Pay attention to your trailers STATED empty weight, as those extra pounds can add up quickly. Propane/ water/ food/ clothing, and all of those extra things you will carry with you. As for trailer brands, most all are good, but even the so called best ones have mfg faults. Pick out the one that will serve you in your needs. RV shows are a good place to start.
Good Hunting.
OH, some parks have limits to the trailer size, but you should be good at 28'.