Help! Can I do this

Everybody thank you so much for all of your input, I knew I came to the right place. I appreciate all of your postings and help, we have not made a decision yet but are leaning towards buying the trailer. I'll keep you all updated

Shayne

Wow.... That just seems low for a 2007 truck these days...

Wonder what the payload sticker says for it??

Mitch

MitchF150 wrote:
Shayne k, I think you are not looking at the correct numbers for your truck..

When you say your truck has a "Towing capacity of 7500 lbs", is this what the "GVWR" is on the trucks door jamb sticker? If so, that's not it's "towing capacity"... ;)

The reason I think this is because my old 1997 F150 had a "tow capacity" of #7700... But, the trucks GVWR was only #6250..

pappcam wrote:
Even though you seem to have your numbers mixed up, it looks like you'll be fine with that pairing.---

According to page 457 of the online 2007 Silverado 1500 Owners Manual, the 5.3L 4x4 Crew cab Short bed 3.73 has a "Maximum Trailer Weight" of 7500# and CGWR of 13,000#.

Looks to me as though the "Towing capacity" (a.k.a. max trailer weight) of 7500# cited by the OP is the correct value.

Ron

Definitely you will want a WDH and sway control. With the other info, I'd do it. In fact, I tow about 5k dry, about 6k-6.5k and have a 7k TC.

No up mountain speed records, but stable and safe. Do yourself a favor and install a Prodigy proportional brake controller. Combined with propermbrakes on the trailer and when adjusted properly, can help keep your rig under control.

Do you have towing experience? How much and how heavy? That's probably as much or more important as the numbers.

Even though you seem to have your numbers mixed up, it looks like you'll be fine with that pairing. Is your truck the 4 speed automatic? That will also limit you somewhat but you should still be fine.

Shayne k, I think you are not looking at the correct numbers for your truck..

When you say your truck has a "Towing capacity of 7500 lbs", is this what the "GVWR" is on the trucks door jamb sticker? If so, that's not it's "towing capacity"... ;)

The reason I think this is because my old 1997 F150 had a "tow capacity" of #7700... But, the trucks GVWR was only #6250..

If the trailers "GVWR" is #7490 as you state and it's "dry weight" is #5240, then you have #2250 of stuff you can add to the trailer.. That's not too bad and in all reality, you'll likely be a loaded weight < #7000..

I also don't think you are reading the "Hitch Weight Capacity" of the truck either... That "#600" figure is if you don't use a WD hitch setup.. When you actually use a WD hitch setup, it's likely it's rated for at least #1100..

Without knowing any of these things for sure, since you are just quoting numbers you see plastered all over the place, I could be wrong of course, but it just sounds a bit like "noob" numbers... :) Now, I mean that in purely "fireside" talk and not busting your ba@@s at all.. :)

Just trying to make sure you are looking at the right stickers for the right things... ;)

Mitch

The hitch weight number is without WD. Should be 1k to 1200# with WD. This should be a good fit IMO.

Buy it,,, camp with it... Have fun... Your numbers look to be ok....

Shayne k wrote:
I have a 2007 new body style chevy silverado 1500
4 wheel drive
Crew cab
Short bed
Factory hitch
3.73 gears
Towing capacity of 7500 lbs

We are looking to possibly purchase
2014 fun finder 266kirb
26' tt equaling 29'10
Dry weight of 5240

First -- the maximum allowable trailer weight (MATW) is not equal to the "Towing Capacity" (TC) of 7500#.
The MATW is equal to TC - "extras"
where "extras" is the combined weight of occupants, optional equipment, after-market additions, cargo, WDH, and anything else carried in or on the TV, when loaded for camping, which was not included in the TV's curb weight.

Second -- you must consider the TV's GVWR so the combined weight of "extras" and maximum vertical load (MVL) imposed on TV by TT does not exceed the TV's maximum payload (MPL).

The above two loading constraints give two equations:
MATW = TC - "extras", and
MVL = MPL - "extras"

The maximum vertical load, MVL = p1*p2*MATW
where p1 = percentage of tongue weight (TW) carried by TV with WD applied, and p2 = TW% = TW divided by MATW.

This allows us to calculate values for MATW and "extras" which will simultaneously utilize 100% of Towing Capacity and 100% of TV's GVWR:
MATW = (TC-MPL)/(1-p1*p2), and
"extras" = (MPL-p1*p2*TC)/(1-p1*p2)

For example, with TC=7500#, MPL=1500#, p1=80%, and p2=13%:
MATW = (7500-1500)/(1-0.8*0.13) = 6000/0.896 = about 6700#, and
"extras" = (1500-0.8*0.13*7500)/0.896 = about 800#.

For this example, if the weight of "extras" is below 800#, the MATW can be greater than 6700#, and the trailer weight is limited by the GCWR. {MATW = TC-"extras"}
If the weight of "extras" is greater than 800#, the MATW must be less than 6700#, and the trailer weight is limited by the TV's GVWR. {MATW = (MPL-"extras")/(p1*p2)}

Although the published "dry weight" for the 266kirb is 5240#, a perhaps more realistic dry weight of 5555# is indicated in slide 24 of 24 on this web page.
If you have an estimate of how much cargo and liquids you will carry in the TT, then the dry weight plus that estimate will tell you what to expect for a loaded trailer weight.

If you want to tailor the above process to your own specific parameters, you will need to know or estimate the following:

TV's Towing Capacity (TC)
TV's Maximum Payload (MPL) -- This value can be found on the drivers door edge or pillar, following the statement which reads "the maximum weight of occupants and cargo should not exceed" (or something to that effect).
Weight of "extras" -- either estimated or measured. Measured value is equal to TV's loaded-for-camping GVW minus the curb weight. Curb weight is equal to GCWR-TC.
Percent of TW carried on TV (p1) -- I recommend using 80%. Others like to use 100%.
Tongue weight percentage (p2) -- I recommend using 13%.

Happy calculating,

Ron

On the surface it looks like a nice combination.

Your truck will likely have ~1500 of available cargo capacity.

The floor plan you mention is a "couples" floor plan, not a family layout. Therefore I assume it will only be yourself and one other in truck...even if both of you are pretty big ~450lbs combined that still leaves 1050lbs payload for WD hitch, tongue weight and stuff.

It's doubtful you will ever load the Travel Trailer to GVWR, but it's very realistic you will add 1000lbs of gear and 300lbs of factory options, battery(ies) and propane bringing the loaded TT too 6550lbs.

Recommended tongue weight will be 13% which = 850lbs...call it 900 lbs of tongue weight once add the WD weight.

1500 cargo capacity - (450 passengers + 858 TW + 42 WD hitch) = 150 remaining for truck bed cargo (bikes, firewood, coolers, etc)

I drive a 2500 Duramax...but wouldn't hesitate to pull your proposed combination if my estimates are in the ballpark.