2500 Suburban towing 31' Travel Trailer

I am sure APT will be here soon. The weak link will be the 1k receiver rating.

However, there was somebody here in MI that posted they borrowed a similiar trailer and towed it for 3 weeks without a WDH.

As for the 6.0 and 6sp, it will do fine. It will not be the fastest. Every time I see a 8.1 Burb for sale I dream over getting it, and then realize that my 60% fuel economy improvement for 90% of my driving is way better.

Tom,

Welcome and congrats on buying a tt!!!

Some mentioned the yellow payload sticker in the drivers door jamb of the 'Burb, post that info when you get a chance. This amount, "All passengers/ occupants and cargo must not exceed XXXXlbs" is what you should stay under for anything in the 'Burb: as it states, all passengers: how much does the family weigh?, cargo : iPad, iPods, coolers, firewood, tools, any added accessories after the truck left the factory, the wdh (weight distribution hitch), AND the tw (tongue weight)!. Depending on family weight, I would guess you will be ok with a 2500 'Burb.

The one limitation you have with the 'Burb is the max wdh weight of the receiver hitch! It is ONLY 1000lbs as you posted, due to being part of the crumple zone of the rear bumper. The "brochure dry hitch weight" is a fantasy number. From everything I have found, the 937lb tw you listed does not include the propane tanks or battery on the tongue! For that trailer I would guess it is 2-30lb tanks, if so, plus the battery add an additional ~160lbs to the tw before you even load the trailer. And the majority of the weight that is loaded in the front pass through (and under the queen bed) will go in the tongue as well! Our trailer has a "brochure dry hitch (tw)" of 920lbs (right around there), almost the same as your trailer's "dry hitch", and the same floorplan. Loaded we have about 1400lbs tw! And that was with an empty fresh water tank and empty black/ grey tanks. We are probably a little heavy in the pass through compared to some, but the weight adds up very quickly! And you will be about 1100lbs before loading the trailer with anything.

For a safe and stable tow, you generally need/want 12-15% tw, based on the loaded trailer weight. A lower tw (than the 12-15%) can and usually causes the trailer to sway.

All the other specs you probably will be fine, unless the family weight is on the high side or you want to take a cord of firewood with you. Just the darn hitch is the limiting factor.

The Reese HP Dual Cam, Reese Sc (hitch head has a little more adjustment than the Equal-I-Zer, very similar design), and the Equal-I-Zer 4 Way systems are very good wd hitches with integrated sway control.

Hopefully APT will post up his knowledge of the 'Burb since he has one himself. There has been a link for info posted where someone had the hitch reinforced to carry a higher tw. But that is removing the crumple zone.

Good luck!

We also have the Equalizer E2 hitch and love it! Pulls a 2014 Keystone 285RLS Bullet 30 ft TT Easy to hook up and makes big difference in weight distribution and anti sway.. About 500 bucks.

twxsby89 wrote:
Y'all like that Equql-i-zer hitch? That's the one I'm looking at. Looks easy.

We have it and like it. Works real well on our F150 and 35' rig. Very easy to hook up.

If you can swing it, try to arrange one night with full hookups someplace close to the dealer (at the dealer?) so you are sure how everything sets up and works .... better to get initial uncertainties out off the way before heading west ...

Thanks all, I'll be back with more questions, I'm sure.
The plan is to take delivery first week of December, and store it until Christmas Morning. I'll wake up early, go get it, and park it in front of the house. Surprise the kids, and tell them to pack, we're going to San Diego on the 26th to see the Grandparents.

I like the theory of the Equalizer, but ended up getting the Reese Pro SC since it seemed more robust, and has the trunnion bars and the brake pad "landing area". Don't really know how they compare cost-wise

Y'all like that Equql-i-zer hitch? That's the one I'm looking at. Looks easy.

Don't forget to add in the weight for people,water, gear. You're going to be pretty close to max rating of tv.

I would load it up and weigh it.

As previously said, it will do the job if it has the factory tow package (or aftermarket equivalent), but I see a heavier vehicle tow vehicle in your future. Your trailer is going to have plenty of tongue weight which is going to max out the carrying capacity of the 'Burb. Since you are buying a bunkhouse, I assume you have kids, and that means lots of people and their stuff. You will be OK to start, but you should be looking at a one ton van with a big gasser or diesel ....