I just bought a new (to me) travel trailer and I'm in the process of getting my solar setup installed. I need help with weight issues. The trailer weighs 3500 lbs dry, and 3980 with a full load of water. I'll be pulling it with a 2004 Tahoe with a GVWR of 6800 lbs. The curb weight is 5133 lbs. I can't find the GCWR on my truck,but an online search listed it at 10,000 lbs. My question is, can I stick 4 Trojan T-105s on the tongue of this trailer and still pull it safely? That's gonna be 248 pounds, minus the 60 pounds of the Exide battery currently there, for a total of 188 pounds.Thanks for any and all advice.

JRRNeiklot wrote:I just bought a new (to me) travel trailer and I'm in the process of getting my solar setup installed. I need help with weight issues. The trailer weighs 3500 lbs dry, and 3980 with a full load of water. I'll be pulling it with a 2004 Tahoe with a GVWR of 6800 lbs. The curb weight is 5133 lbs. I can't find the GCWR on my truck,but an online search listed it at 10,000 lbs. My question is, can I stick 4 Trojan T-105s on the tongue of this trailer and still pull it safely? That's gonna be 248 pounds, minus the 60 pounds of the Exide battery currently there, for a total of 188 pounds.Thanks for any and all advice.Probably be OK as the truck can pull around 7400 - 7700 lbs.But its the weight on the rear axle that you should be concerned about..We can all guess here but the right way is to fill the truck with fuel, and all people and gear to go camping. Then get the truck weighed.Get separate axle weights. Take the axle rates from the door tag and subtract them from the scale weights.That will tell you how much payload you can put on the rear of the truck..Are you going to use a weight distribution hitch? You should IMO...

With the WD hitch you can transfer the weight around. Still get the truck weights at a scale. Better off take the trailer also.You need three weights at the scale to know exactly whats going on..Read here..http://towingplanner.com/ActualWeights/TravelTrailerCatScales

I found the correct values for my truck and camper. The above are not correct.Chevy Tahoe 4 door Z71 4wdMaximum Trailer Wt: 8200GCWR 14000Maximum tongue weight 600Max tongue weight loaded 1000Coleman 192 RDSDry Weight 3923 lbsCargo Weight 3677 lbsHitch Weight 472 lbsWill those numbers help to get a ballpark figure?Thanks.

JRRNeiklot wrote:I found the correct values for my truck and camper. The above are not correct.Chevy Tahoe 4 door Z71 4wdMaximum Trailer Wt: 8200GCWR 14000Maximum tongue weight 600Max tongue weight loaded 1000Coleman 192 RDSDry Weight 3923 lbsCargo Weight 3677 lbsHitch Weight 472 lbsWill those numbers help to get a ballpark figure?Thanks.The 4wd Tahoe 2004 only pulls 7800 lbs max if you have the 4:10 rear. 7500 with 3:73. Thats with the 5.3L. 4.8 is less..

Too much weight on tongue? | Good Sam Community

13 Replies

bartlettj
Explorer
Oct 12, 2016
I tow with an '03 Tahoe with a similar sized trailer as you 5.3L/3.73 gears, I have about 10k miles towing the combo. I have had absolutely no issues with tongue weight or rear axle capacity as long as the WDH has been adjusted to compensate. I use Costco 2GC's, which are a bit lighter than the trojans, but it works out fine. I use a prodigy P3 brake controller, it integrates with the wiring harness easily and works perfectly once set up.
JRRNeiklot
Explorer
Oct 12, 2016
mkirsch wrote:

My question is: Is there even physical room on the tongue for 4 batteries?

It will be close. I was thinking of extending the room with a box. Or I could go with 2 L16s instead.
mkirsch
Nomad II
Oct 12, 2016
From a towing stability standpoint there is no such thing as "too much tongue weight." Going over 15 percent won't cause the trailer to become unstable.

Your issue will be the limitations of the receiver on your truck's hitch, which is 1000lbs with WD if I am not mistaken.

As long as you don't exceed the 1000lbs limit of your truck's receiver you will be perfectly fine.

My question is: Is there even physical room on the tongue for 4 batteries?
JRRNeiklot
Explorer
Oct 11, 2016
Maximum Trailer Wt is 8200. It's just me and 40 pound dog, and assorted cooking and fishing gear, misc food and supplies. I don't think there has ever been 4 people in my truck. I also removed the 3rd row seating, that probably freed up 100 pounds.

I don't have the batteries yet, so I can't test it. Just wanted to know if it's going to be an issue or if I should bite the bullet and slap AGMs directly over the axle.

Thanks for the replies.
lawrosa
Explorer
Oct 11, 2016
JRRNeiklot wrote:
I'll be well under the maximum payload. I am concerned about tongue weight with the new batteries located there. Alternately, I could stick AGMs inside, they'd be right over the axles there.

How do you know youll be under your max payload?

Do you know your payload?

Putting batterys on tongue will add 188 lbs as you stated to your 500 lbs TW of the trailer.

Thats 688 lbs. Plus whatever stuff you pack in the camper.

Plus propane?

Lets say 800 lbs in all for giggles.

Then add 4 people to your truck. Say 600 lbs mor and a full tank of gas.. Would be like 1600 lbs added to the truck axles..

Whats your payload?

This is guessing is why scale is needed.

But heck put the batterys on and give it a whirl..
JRRNeiklot
Explorer
Oct 11, 2016
I'll be well under the maximum payload. I am concerned about tongue weight with the new batteries located there. Alternately, I could stick AGMs inside, they'd be right over the axles there.
lawrosa
Explorer
Oct 11, 2016
But again with a 4 door Tahoe loaded with gas and people you may have minimal payload left..

Thats why you need to weigh...

Dont go over axle weights on door tag. And check the tires and air them up to max probably. The tires carry the load...Read what max lbs rating is at what PSI...
lawrosa
Explorer
Oct 11, 2016
Tow guide 2004

http://www.trailerlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Trailer-Life-Towing-Guide-2004.pdf
lawrosa
Explorer
Oct 11, 2016
JRRNeiklot wrote:
I found the correct values for my truck and camper. The above are not correct.

Chevy Tahoe 4 door Z71 4wd

Maximum Trailer Wt: 8200
GCWR 14000
Maximum tongue weight 600
Max tongue weight loaded 1000

Coleman 192 RDS

Dry Weight 3923 lbs
Cargo Weight 3677 lbs
Hitch Weight 472 lbs

Will those numbers help to get a ballpark figure?

Thanks.

The 4wd Tahoe 2004 only pulls 7800 lbs max if you have the 4:10 rear. 7500 with 3:73. Thats with the 5.3L. 4.8 is less..
JRRNeiklot
Explorer
Oct 11, 2016
I found the correct values for my truck and camper. The above are not correct.

Chevy Tahoe 4 door Z71 4wd

Maximum Trailer Wt: 8200
GCWR 14000
Maximum tongue weight 600
Max tongue weight loaded 1000

Coleman 192 RDS

Dry Weight 3923 lbs
Cargo Weight 3677 lbs
Hitch Weight 472 lbs

Will those numbers help to get a ballpark figure?

Thanks.