We are currently looking into a GMC 1500 Sierra or Chevy 1500. We want the max trailing package but the websites are so confusing. The trailer we are looking to pull weighs 8100lbs dry. It is impossible to find a truck here with the 3.73 axel ratio. We would have to get the 3.42, even when I try to build and price directly from the website I can't get the 3.73 ratio to be an option. Do you think the 3.42 ratio is sufficient to pull it. They have a 9,600lb max trailering capacity.

No. And I am not one of the weight police guys who thinks you need a dually to tow a pop up. 8100 lbs dry is going to be much heavier once you add food, pots and pans, tools, equipment, etc. Could weigh in excess of 1000 lbs more or even 1500 lbs more. For your truck you also have to add the weight of a hitch. Now everyone is going to tell you to add a driver, fuel, passengers, more gear in the bed and they are sort of right. My truck's capacity takes into account a full tank of gas. Many also include about 150 lbs for the driver. Look at the cargo capacity rating. You have to figure about 15% of the weight is going to be on the tongue. So you are already looking at about 1200+ lbs of tongue weight.

Modern 1/2 tons can do a lot, but a 8,100lbs dry TT is not something I would consider towing with a 1/2 ton. Get a 2500 or 3500 SRW, whichever is cheaper as they are nearly the same. Max tow rating is the GCWR minus curb weight minus 150lbs for a driver. So every pound the truck has in passengers, gear, hitch, bed liner, floor mats, etc detracts from the max towing capacity. It's very very rare to be able to tow at max tow capacity, it means a trailer with just enough tongue weight to stay withing the 10-15% and not exceed GVWR and no passengers or anything in the truck/bed.

With any 1/2 ton, I would not match it up with any travel trailer exceeding 6500 loaded. A 6500 TT will have a tongue weight of around 13 percent or 850 lbs. Add a 150 lb WD hitch, 300 lbs passengers, 300 lbs stuff in bed; then you are putting about 1500 lbs onto the truck. Most half ton trucks have a payload of 1500 lbs or less. Do yourself a favor and ignore the tow rating listed by truck manufacturers. You will exceed payload long before you exceed the tow rating of a truck. Tow ratings are when towing boats or other trailers with light tongue weights. With travel trailers, a minimum 13 percent tongue weight is necessary to keep trailer sway under control. Also, don't let a truck or rv salesperson tell you the half ton truck will tow anything.

I thought it would be pushing it. I see so many people pulling these huge campers with the same truck and I am thinking how can it be, because I know I have been trying to find one with the 3.73 axel ration so we can get to the 11,500lbs capacity but they are nearly impossible to find in the NYC area.

There are all the naysayers who always say you need a 1T dually to tow anything, then you have folks like me who routinely tow 10K with a Chevrolet 1500, here in the western mountains. Yes you can get the 3.73 but you need to order the NHT package to get it. With the NHT package, your trailer weight is upped to 12K, just make sure you get the model with 2K± carry capacity. If the latest and greatest don't have what you want, I know for a fact that 2011 & 2012 GM twins have the NHT and it comes with the 6.2L engine and the 3.73 rear, so think gently used for a TV. BTW, I am getting 20+ mpg with 1K in the bed, on the highway at 55-60mph.

So confused with tow capacities | Good Sam Community

blt2ski
Moderator
Aug 19, 2014
A family of 5 that weighs maybe 400 lbs. Heck, my ex and I weigh that much. Much less when my boys were 9, daughters were 7 and 4! Probably another 150-200 between them.

You better go to a 2500 with 2400-2500 lbs of payload minimum. UNLESS< you are all under 5.5' or there abouts. I'm 6', my sons are now still shorter than me at 5'16", daughters are 5'8" and 5'10". My ex is in middle of daughters in height.

Your 2 yr old, probably is 50+ lbs, INCLUDING the car seat. Also include books, food etc you need to keep the kids quiet etc. So they are NOT what there bathroom scale wt is, probably at least 25-20 lbs above that wt, including you and spouse. Do not forget her PURSE!!!!!

Marty
ksss
Explorer
Aug 19, 2014
I will share a saying that would seem to be applicable here.

"A lot can always do a little, but a little can never do a lot".
bigcitypopo
Explorer
Aug 19, 2014
TomG2 wrote:
I had a 2009 2500HD and went to a 2012 Silerado 1500 to pull a 7,000 pound trailer. I am back to a 2013 2500HD and glad of it. You can save what money it cost me to experiment if you listen to the folks on here. (Not the ones who say that a half ton is worthless or the ones who say a F-150/1500 is good to tow over 10,000 pounds)

Solid advice,

I towed my current trailer with an F150 EB, the truck did great, but I was very close to limits all the time on long trips.... Opportunity struck and I upgraded to by RAM 2500. Wow, what a difference. I loved my ford, but I am at greater ease towing with my 2500.

I logged a ton of miles towing with my F150, it was very capable... But now there is no worries as even fully loaded I scale with 7-800 lbs of payload to Spare.... On top of that my truck is heavier.... No chance of the tail wagging the dog.
Mr_Beebo
Explorer
Aug 19, 2014
I have had 1/2 tons and 3/4 tons. I think a lot of folks believe what they have is good enough because that is all they know. My 1/2 tons have pulled 6K trailers/campers in the past, and the did ok for the most part. I now drive my 2500 and with larger loads, am more relaxed, safer, and in more control. I'm a contractor though, so my towing truck is my work truck. That might not be practical for the suburbanite or daily commuter that needs a little more than 12mpg.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Aug 19, 2014
Take it from me I was told my setup with WDH and sway control was fine. NOT!!!!!!! We rolled over completely and the trailer separated not a fun experience. Soft tires and soft suspension are to blame and someone telling me my setup was fine.

Get MORE TRUCK THAN YOU NEED with a TT.
oceanluver
Explorer
Aug 19, 2014
We are a family of 5 right now we probably weigh in at about 400lbs in total right now but our kids are little (9,7 and 2).
blt2ski
Moderator
Aug 19, 2014
How many are in your family? if you are 6 like me, granted my kids are over 20 and do not come with me, but when they were adult sized teens, we weighed in at 1200-1300 lbs. Add in HW of a 10K trailer at 1000-1500 lbs, and you have dang near 3000 lbs of payload needed! MORE than many 25 series trucks have payload, most sw 35's have the payload. Duallies no issues, may even have room for bikes etc in the bed!

Which TV works best is based on payload, payload, and payload! DO NOT worry about tow ratings per say. Get the rig with the payload that will carry your family, other odds and ends that need to be carried by the TV, add in HW, and you should be good to go.

I towed a 6500-7000 lb TT with a 9200 GVWR 3500 GM. I typically was in the 9000-9500 lbs range. Under axel limits, but over manufacture gvwr. I will NOT disCUSS my gcwr. This thing was really low. Yeah I was 25-30% over, but I NEVER had a white knuckle experience with it! THat includes coming down Timberline in 50 mph winds, 10% grade, and SNOWING! 2-3" of compact snow and ice on the road too!

Marty
azwildcat99
Explorer
Aug 19, 2014
oceanluver wrote:
Do you think a TT with a dry weight of 7300lbs is good for a 1500?

Our trailer has a dry weight of 6500lbs and a 9k gvwr. I upgraded to my current truck from a 2007 1500 CC with the 5.3 and 3.73 4sp. I did so not because it was underpowered, but because I was over the gvwr and gcwr once we loaded it for camping. I also had that tail wagging the dog feeling. I was level and driving straight but was making corrections all the time. With my current setup it is very stable, a big difference. And the power bump ain't so bad either ;-)

Good luck with your decision.
tomman58
Explorer
Aug 19, 2014
Ocean, seems like you are not getting it. You get over even 6000# you are exceeding the truck IMHO. You and your family need to rethink as the brakes, trans, rear end of the 250 are far more forgiving than a 1500.
I've towed for no less than 40+ tears and a 1/2 ton is a 1/2 ton and no more.
You need to get a 250 and enjoy the fact that you have done the right thing and your family will be considerable safer!
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Aug 19, 2014
TomG2 wrote:
I had a 2009 2500HD and went to a 2012 Silerado 1500 to pull a 7,000 pound trailer. I am back to a 2013 2500HD and glad of it. You can save what money it cost me to experiment if you listen to the folks on here.

I would listen to this Man!