Warning newb question

why_fly_high wrote:
I apologize if this is asked regularly but want to use my own numbers to understand things the best I can.

We want to get a travel trailer to pull with our 2015 Tahoe. The tow capacity is not an issue. We are looking at trailers well under that limit of 8300lbs. I am trying to get my head around the vehicle capacity limit.

My vehicle has a useable load limit of 1554lbs.

My family of 2 adults and 2 teenage boys weigh 640lbs
a full tank of gas weighs 140lbs.
our 2 dogs together weigh combined 80lbs
weight distribution hitch 100lbs
misc stuff in car: 50lbs
Total: 1,010lbs

Would that not leave me with a maximum tongue weight allowed of 544lbs?

Thanks!

Im a chevy guy and know what you got. Your Tahoe is the same capacity of my silverado.

If your door says 1554 then with a full tank and you in the truck you will be close to that. And thats after you go to scales and go by your axle rate like I do/did..

Example. My payload stickers says 1470. At scale with me in truck 200 pounds and about 210 lbs of fuel (34 gal tank) My payload left was 1450.

3750 lbs rear axles weight from sticker on door minus 2300 lb scale weight = 1450 lbs.

With that said I too have wife, 3 kids, and stuff.

Family weighs an additional 465 lbs. Minus 1450 = 985 lb left for TW.

So my goal was to get the lightest tongue weight trailer I could find that was a bunkhouse.. I chose the coachmen 261bh because I didn't want a slide and because I got it for 12,900 out the door.

http://www.coachmenrv.com/product-details.aspx?LineID=338&ModelID=2193#Main

So lets talk reality.

541 lb advertised TW. Yes thats what it was empty. Coachmen is pretty accurate there. After I loaded my stuff from old camper into new, filled propane, and added second battery my scale TW was now 740lbs..

985 minus 740 = 245lbs.

After I transfer some weight to front of truck and trailer with WD hitch I have a bit more leeway. about 160 lbs more or so..

So I have about 400lb wiggle room...

Thats probably what I carry in food, clothes and stuff in bed of truck to push it up there to my limit. Pluse carrying some water on board. 15 gallons in the campers holding tank so we can have bathroom breaks..

********Moral of the story> Get the lightest TW you can. Because with your truck you will be at your limit very quickly. Youll be sorry if you start with a 700-800 lbs TW for sure.

Also the start dryweight get the lightest you can. I started @ 4730 lbs. Trailer fully loaded about 5500 lbs. I have 1000 lbs buffer to run with tanks fuller if needed because coachmans have around 2200 lbs capacity for stuff.

Total GVW 7000 lbs.

Youll have a nice ride and tow.

Last thing. Are those coil springs on your truck with that magnetic shocks?

Id advise to change the bump stops to sumosprings. Because you will have sag. I have leaf spring and got sag. Sumos took care of it. Its a cheap way out for now. If you need something better there are other options.

https://www.supersprings.com/shop/SSR-204-40/

I seriously considered this coachmen with slides. Same weight as mine.

IMO I wouldnt go bigger then this.. Its all about your payload and TW...

This RV example..

585 tw
4880 lbs
2100 CCC capacity.
50gal fresh water
35x35 grey and black...





http://www.coachmenrv.com/product-details.aspx?LineID=62&ModelID=292#Main

Video on 288bhs apex..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tc8RQUk35M