Silverado 1500 & Travel Trailer

APT wrote:

I have never heard of that "rule". The "20% rule" is more common but that is not a rule either. Towing a 9600 pound loaded RV with a family onboard will put 99% of half tons on the market over GVWR and rear axle ratings. That is to say that tow rating and GCWR are almost worthless for these 8k+ tow rated half tons.

That "rule" (and note I used quotes because nothing is hard and fast) is used by a lot of folks on the boards here, as is the "20% rule". Note I said to use it as a starting point, not a hard and fast decision making point. Which is exactly why I cautioned about guessing. But your point is well taken. The problem with a 9600# trailer is that the tongue weight will be well over the rated tongue weight of the truck. Even an 8000# trailer is probably going to be over the rated tongue capacity. I'm not so sure about axle rating, I think the late model 1/2 tons are a lot better than older models, which would explain the higher payload numbers. I never looked at my axle rating because I'm so far away from the other maximum numbers, and we don't really carry anything except bikes occasionally.