Dinghy towing Chev 1500 with gas rig
Hi all, new here and I have a question... Has anyone towed a full size pickup, specifically a late model Chev 1500 with a gas powered rig? I know the PU, 4X4 Z71, can be flat towed. My question rev...
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4CUNUSA,
Well Sir, one of the first things that you maybe should do is get the potential pickup WEIGHED! Do not, repeat, DO NOT believe what you read in the Dinghy Towing Guides put out by Trailer Life and Motorhome magazine. You need to see the ACTUAL weight you will be towing if and when you decide to.
The DTG listed our 2011 Honda CRV as 3200 lbs. Well, on a certified scale, it's topped just a hair over 3700. The DTG listed our present toad, a 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 Extended Cab 4x4 (basically the same truck as you're intending on towing) as 4875, WRONG! It hovers right at 5300 lbs.
So, while you're on the right track in terms of prepping the hitch area and more for heavy duty work, do get the actual weight so you'll be closer for your measurements and calculations. We tow that GMC without issues but, ours is an '04 Itasca Horizon 36GD with the C-7 330 HP CAT engine with the Allison MH3000 trans.
I can't tell you to "go ahead" and tow it because yep, you'll definitely be a bit over weight on towing but, not all that much. I ran our overweight for over 8,000 miles due to the fact that I CARRIED a 900 lb. Honda Goldwing on the back of it and, towed either our '04 Jeep Rubicon or, our '11 CRV Honda. The rear axle alone was right at 3,000 lbs. over weight. No one died. The back of the rig did not sag down to the ground and front did not pull wheelies like some suggested would happen if I went through with my plan to carry the bike and a lift.
But, in your case, with a gas rig, you'll not be overloading it in terms of carrying weight, just towing something a bit heavier than your rig is listed as a maximum. Can your rig do it? Most likely but, there's limits posted on these rigs for a reason. Brakes, frame, engine and transmission limitations and more. I will say that having a full sized truck for our needs as a toad, has worked out flawless. Your choice.
Scott
Well Sir, one of the first things that you maybe should do is get the potential pickup WEIGHED! Do not, repeat, DO NOT believe what you read in the Dinghy Towing Guides put out by Trailer Life and Motorhome magazine. You need to see the ACTUAL weight you will be towing if and when you decide to.
The DTG listed our 2011 Honda CRV as 3200 lbs. Well, on a certified scale, it's topped just a hair over 3700. The DTG listed our present toad, a 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 Extended Cab 4x4 (basically the same truck as you're intending on towing) as 4875, WRONG! It hovers right at 5300 lbs.
So, while you're on the right track in terms of prepping the hitch area and more for heavy duty work, do get the actual weight so you'll be closer for your measurements and calculations. We tow that GMC without issues but, ours is an '04 Itasca Horizon 36GD with the C-7 330 HP CAT engine with the Allison MH3000 trans.
I can't tell you to "go ahead" and tow it because yep, you'll definitely be a bit over weight on towing but, not all that much. I ran our overweight for over 8,000 miles due to the fact that I CARRIED a 900 lb. Honda Goldwing on the back of it and, towed either our '04 Jeep Rubicon or, our '11 CRV Honda. The rear axle alone was right at 3,000 lbs. over weight. No one died. The back of the rig did not sag down to the ground and front did not pull wheelies like some suggested would happen if I went through with my plan to carry the bike and a lift.
But, in your case, with a gas rig, you'll not be overloading it in terms of carrying weight, just towing something a bit heavier than your rig is listed as a maximum. Can your rig do it? Most likely but, there's limits posted on these rigs for a reason. Brakes, frame, engine and transmission limitations and more. I will say that having a full sized truck for our needs as a toad, has worked out flawless. Your choice.
Scott
