Newbie Tow Capacity Question
Hello All, Looking into getting a travel trailer but not completely understanding the weight ratings and how they compare to the tow vehicle's capacity. I've got a 2015 Silverado 1500 double cab...
Forum Discussion
Unloaded weight is absolutely empty, no propane tanks, no batteries, and nothing in the water/sewage tanks. Even without loading for a trip, you will go up by 200-300 pounds just mounting batteries, and propane.
Fully loaded, or gvwr is the max the springs, axles, tires, etc can safely handle according to the factory.
Some manufacturers will go with the lightest frames, springs, etc to build the unit cheaper, hence lower GVWR. on some trailers compared to other similar sized units.
Tank sizes also have a major influence on weights, water weighs 8 pounds per gallon, if the trailer has larger tanks, then it has to have heavier duty components to carry that weight.
Keep the gvwr under your trucks maximum towing capacity, preferably by 10% or so. Also with a half ton truck, as stated above, watch the tongue weight, you want 10-15% of the trailer total weight to be on the tongue for proper control and handling, ensure the trucks cargo capacity can handle that weight plus the people, toys, or whatever else you will be putting in the truck.
From a quick check, it looks like your cargo cap is right around 1950 lbs, so for a 6000 lb trailer you should have 720-900 lbs on the tongue, leaving about 1000 for people and stuff.
Happy motorin
Fully loaded, or gvwr is the max the springs, axles, tires, etc can safely handle according to the factory.
Some manufacturers will go with the lightest frames, springs, etc to build the unit cheaper, hence lower GVWR. on some trailers compared to other similar sized units.
Tank sizes also have a major influence on weights, water weighs 8 pounds per gallon, if the trailer has larger tanks, then it has to have heavier duty components to carry that weight.
Keep the gvwr under your trucks maximum towing capacity, preferably by 10% or so. Also with a half ton truck, as stated above, watch the tongue weight, you want 10-15% of the trailer total weight to be on the tongue for proper control and handling, ensure the trucks cargo capacity can handle that weight plus the people, toys, or whatever else you will be putting in the truck.
From a quick check, it looks like your cargo cap is right around 1950 lbs, so for a 6000 lb trailer you should have 720-900 lbs on the tongue, leaving about 1000 for people and stuff.
Happy motorin
