2014 Chevy Silverado 1500

This is actually my favorite trailer (but may go a little shorter due to liking state parks):

http://www.cruiserrv.com/products/shadow-cruiser/floorplans/item/s-314tsb

Hitch Weight (lbs) 725
Dry Weight (lbs) 6,290
Cargo Capacity (lbs) 3235

However, I am reluctant to go to the 2500 due to gas costs (it would be a day to day commuter...45 miles/185 days per year)

awoodwaring wrote:
This is actually my favorite trailer (but may go a little shorter due to liking state parks):

http://www.cruiserrv.com/products/shadow-cruiser/floorplans/item/s-314tsb

Hitch Weight (lbs) 725
Dry Weight (lbs) 6,290
Cargo Capacity (lbs) 3235

However, I am reluctant to go to the 2500 due to gas costs (it would be a day to day commuter...45 miles/185 days per year)

I think that would work for you if you pack light. Stay under 8500lbs loaded.

awoodwaring wrote:
This is actually my favorite trailer (but may go a little shorter due to liking state parks):

http://www.cruiserrv.com/products/shadow-cruiser/floorplans/item/s-314tsb

Hitch Weight (lbs) 725
Dry Weight (lbs) 6,290
Cargo Capacity (lbs) 3235

However, I am reluctant to go to the 2500 due to gas costs (it would be a day to day commuter...45 miles/185 days per year)

Unless you literally pack your entire house I can't see how you could pack 3,200 lbs of gear. (assuming you are not a full-timer). With my wife and 4 kids age 15 to 2 we load about 1,200 lbs, which includes 36 gallons of water (about 300 lbs.). I would say you would be fine with that trailer and probably would by > 8,000 lbs. loaded. With 2,000 lbs payload I personally wouldn't worry.

CKNSLS wrote:
That's too much trailer for that truck.

Very informative post.....Care to elaborate as to how YOU know this?

awoodwaring wrote:
Looking at trying to tow a 30BHS (type) travel trailer. Most of these types of trailers are coming in with a loaded weight of 9600 lbs (give or take).

My eyes are starting to gloss over on the TV. If it lists max conventional trailering...does that mean Chevy has done the math and I can be safe with any trailer fully loaded at 9800 lbs??

Will the 3.42 axle ratio work for proposed trailer?

Specs on the 2014 Chevy 1500 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 engine 2WD (crew cab, short box)
Trailering & Payload
Curb Weight 5042 lbs
Max Payload 2007 lbs
Max GVWR 7200 lbs

Max Conventional Trailering, 3.42 Rear Axle 9800 lbs

GCWR, 3.42 Rear Axle 15000 lbs

Spring Axle Capacity 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 engine 2WD
Front Gross Axle Weight Rating 3650 lbs
Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating 3950 lbs

OP.. One of my best friends has this exact truck. 2014 2wd CC 5.3 v8 with full tow package minus towing mirrors with cloth seats power options. He doesn't have navigation. I looked at his payload sticker and it's about 1780 lbs. which I thought was pretty impressive.

I would not be afraid to pull 800-1000 lb tongue weight with this truck. I would be happier happier around 700-800 lbs of tongue weight though.

I'd be careful with how I loaded it and enjoy it. I pulled similar weight for 2 years before I "upgraded" to a dually. I did that to carry my golf cart in the bed and get a crew cab..

Thanks!

Jeremiah

I will disagree with the majority and say "it depends".

That truck will be what I would call 'marginal' for that load, but it will be doable if you plan short local trips. However, if you plan cross country trips or those that involve mountain grades, it'll be under powered IMO.

Wow. What kind of bunkhouse are you looking at that weighs that much? My 30' Apex is 4811lbs dry. Loaded, Ready to camp it is less than 6000lbs. There is absolutely no excuse for loading that much stuff in to a TT. There isn't anywhere to put all that******any way.

For those of you that think I'm crazy. Yes a scale was involved. The TT was loaded with pots, pans, silverware, cups, blankets, towels, bedding, blankets, 10 folding chairs, 2 folding tables, a grill, awning matt, and campstove, Some food, a dining fly, a huge cooler, Griddle, and some clothes. Along with stove , TV, and cooler stands.

What else could a camper possible need?

If mileage is your concern here is food for thought. My F250 PSD gets the same mileage as my last 1500 GMC with the 5.3 V8. I average 15.6 daily driving (mix of highway and city) and get 18.5 to 19 on the highway running 75. Diesel is more than gas, about 30 cents a gallon here, and that equals about $6 everytime I fill up with 20 gallons. Those are the main reasons I went with a 3/4 ton diesel instead of a 1/2 ton gas when I bought this truck. We had planned on buying a 5er to, that played into it as well.
I would at least suggest you price the larger truck with the options you want before you buy. For me the 1/2 ton gas 4WD was around $2000 less than the 3/4 ton diesel 4WD. I was comparing GMC 1/2 tons to Ford 3/4 tons, so that had a little to do with it.
Just something to think about. It's a lot easier to buy big enough the first time than upgrade a year or so later.
P.S. The diesel blows the 1/2 ton out of the water pulling anything. I get 14.5 highway pulling a 21 foot bass boat 75 down the highway and the 1/2 ton got 10 on a good day.

ib516 wrote:
I will disagree with the majority and say "it depends".

That truck will be what I would call 'marginal' for that load, but it will be doable if you plan short local trips. However, if you plan cross country trips or those that involve mountain grades, it'll be under powered IMO.

We do long, cross country trips. Well, about 3 weeks long.

Terryallan wrote:
Wow. What kind of bunkhouse are you looking at that weighs that much? My 30' Apex is 4811lbs dry. Loaded, Ready to camp it is less than 6000lbs. There is absolutely no excuse for loading that much stuff in to a TT. There isn't anywhere to put all that******any way.

For those of you that think I'm crazy. Yes a scale was involved. The TT was loaded with pots, pans, silverware, cups, blankets, towels, bedding, blankets, 10 folding chairs, 2 folding tables, a grill, awning matt, and campstove, Some food, a dining fly, a huge cooler, Griddle, and some clothes. Along with stove , TV, and cooler stands.

What else could a camper possible need?

Most of the ones I looked at gave an approximate 9600 lb fully loaded weigh, like the Shadow Cruiser I listed above.