Towing with Silverado...am I delusional?

eichacsj wrote:
27 foot TT your half ton will do that. A 2500 and 3500 is the same drive train so you should do a 1 ton. But gas would easily handle that, unless you are looking for an excuse to buy a diesel then you get to spend 8k more.

If you want a diesel get one, but a 27 foot TT wouldn't be the reason :-)

If a gas motor, there is a difference in drivetrain besides the spring pack (unless it has changed recently). The gas 2500 has the 10.5" axle, the 3500 gets the 11.5" axle just like both diesel (2500 & 3500) models.

Grub,

What does your loaded tt weigh, maybe 8000, possibly as much as 8500lbs on the high end? With the cart, and family, the 6.0/6spd with the 4.10's will be more than enough. If you are looking at brand new trucks, then the 4.10's are the only gear choice (last I knew). If slightly used, make sure you get a new enough truck with the 6spd trans and it has the 4.10's.

Payload wise it would probably be better to only look at a 3500 for the extra payload (more is better within reason, right??? Lol). Also gives a little more payload cushion in the event there is a new trailer in the future.

For a comparison, our current '13- 2500HD (2750lbs payload per the yellow sticker) with a topper, 1400lb tw, some firewood (~300lbs) in the bed, cooler, few other things (can't recall exactly), the truck weight was about 8800lbs, with a 9500lb gvwr. That was only my wife and I, missing maybe 130lbs for our twin boys. I have added some trailer mods since, but figure when loaded up for our big trip we are close to the gvwr of the truck, but plenty of axle rating left. Will weigh the rig once the tt is paroled from winter hibernation.

Good luck in your new truck quest!!!

Talking to the truck salesman is like playing the lotto. Chance of him/her knowing what all is involved in finding the correct tv for a given trailer is slim. They will probably look at the "tow rating" compared to the loaded (or even unloaded) trailer weight, and say, "You are just fine!".