dreamer wrote:
I'm thinking about a 2007-2010 GMC Sierra 1500, crew cab, 4x4 for a toad. It will do everything I need to do and is in my price range. Does anyone use one for a toad and have any insight or opinion about this truck? Anything to look out for, any of those years better or worse? Easy to tow, etc? Thanks.
dreamer.
Dreamer,
Well Sir, we tow an '11 GMC Sierra 1500 Extended Cab, 4x4 with a 6.5' bed. It works flawless. Our coach is an '04 Itasca Horizon 36GD with the C-7 330HP CAT and Allison MH3000 trans. The coach does great with that in behind it. And, on many of our trips, we carry an '08 Honda GL 1800 Goldwing in the back of it. We use the "Rampage" lift to get the bike into the back which, also works flawless.
Now, the truck weighs exactly 5300 lbs, the bike, right at 900 lbs. and the lift/carrier, close to 275-300 lbs. So, we're running down the road with close to 6500 lbs. following us. The tow bar we're using is rated at, 7500 lbs. Now, that's much not lee-way in terms of additional strength but, it's working fine and get's inspected on a very frequent basis.
So, yep, depending on what your coach is and it's engine, you should have no issues towing your new pickup. As you might already know, just make sure the model you pick IS FLAT TOWABLE! And of course, that can be confirmed by simply checking into the owners manual of the model/year you're considering. It will tell you in that manual, step by step procedures for "Dinghy" towing or, behind a motor home.
There's no need to tell you the procedures for setting it up to tow, find the truck first and then, like stated, read the manual and follow that year/models procedures. Ours does slow us on some grades but, so did our previous toad, an '11 Honda CRV EX-L All Wheel Drive. It's the nature of the beast.
I did the base plate install on the truck and, for the most part, it doesn't get much simpler than what I needed to do for the install. I then did the wiring for the lights. I'm one of those that utilizes the stock tail lights as toad lights. That way, the trucks tail lights act the exact same way when towing it, as they do when someone's driving it. And, it's seriously simple to do it that way. If you'd like help in that matter, PM me and I'd be glad to help. Good luck in your hunt for your new truck and toad.
Scott
