The Dreaded 1/2 Ton Towing Question

Ok, not really but kind of. I currently have a 2012 GMC Sierra Crew Cab 1500. The truck is paid off and a 3/4 ton is not in the cards for me at least for the time being.

I currently pull a 1999 25ft Bunk House TT (just sold it) and it pulls and handles it fine. I will attach specs below.

Since we just sold our old TT we are looking at new ones and I'm trying to stay around the same weight but fell in love with one that's about 500lbs heavier dry. Long story short I wanted to get the experts opinions on the TV and TT's below.

I should also state that we stay pretty local and usually only travel about 100-150 miles one way. I do go to the mountains and accept that I will not win any races going up there. That being said I added a larger trany cooler and everything stays well within range.

I know it comes down to payload and all the other weight ratings.

Current TV
2012 GMC Sierra CC - 5.3 and 3.42 gears
Tow Rating 9600 lbs (I know this will never happen in the real world)
Payload - 1590
GVWR 7000, GAWR for each axel is 3950
Loaded full of fuel and the family is - 5960
I have load range E tires, p3 break controller and will be upgrading to a Blue Ox Sway Pro

OLD TT That Towed Well
1999 Komfort Bunkhouse 25 ft (28 Tongue to bumper)
UVW - 5731
GVWR - 7620
Loaded - 6640lbs with mostly everything except food, beer and clothes ( I only cat scaled it this way and never had a chance once we were fully loaded up) Guessing I was closer to 6900.

Possible New Rig - Open Range UT2802BH
UVW - 5765-actual dry weight from the sticker on the door was 6300.
GVWR - 7450
28 foot box, 31 from pin to bumper

We absolutely love this trailer and it is our #1 choice. If I add 1000 lbs to the stickered dry weight it would put me at 7300lbs or approximately 600-700 lbs heavier than what I was previously towing.

Good combo? Horrible combo? OK combo?

P.S. I know a 3/4 and 1 ton will always tow better, but apparently they make those things out of gold now and I can't afford one and as I said the truck is paid off.

Thanks in advance for your feedback

Tow Vehicles

67 Replies

SAR_Tracker
Explorer
Jan 23, 2018
Sure, you can tow it.

But can you stop it with any reason of control? TT brakes will have to be in tip-top condition and adjustment to work properly with your truck.
donn0128
Explorer II
Jan 23, 2018
Although slower I really dont see weight being an issue. Length IMHO is going to be your biggest worry. The light weight truck, combined with probably still P metric tires, combined with 250SQFT sail behind you could get you into some seriously bad situations in a hurry. I would not attempt it strictly for length.
Ruger3739
Explorer
Jan 23, 2018
Walaby wrote:
Think, from what I see, it's not a good idea. Not sure I totally understand everything you're trying to rationalize, but here's my take.

Available payload remaining after full fuel and passengers is 1040 lbs.

Tongue weight for new TT you are considering, loaded as you indicate would be ~1022 lbs at 14% of your anticipated weight of 7300 lbs. Add about 60-75 lbs for the hitch (possibly up to 100 lbs) and you are over your payload, albeit not horribly over.

What Im not sure I understand (and it is kinda late in the evening), your second post says when you weight your setup, you had 6640 on your TV axles. What you need to tell us is how much on your rear axles. If your rear axle GAWR is 3950, you cannot exceed that.. you can't add both axle ratings and then just stay within the sum. Each GAWR needs to be met stand alone.

So, get your truck weighed, loaded, ready to camp, and get the actual axle weight for each axle. Subtract that from the rear GAWR and that will tell you how much weight you have available for tongue weight and hitch. Figure 100lbs for the hitch (to be a tad conservative), and 14% of trailer weight for tongue weight.

I think you will find you will exceed the GAWR, and probably, also exceed the overall payload.

I had a 2011 GMC Sierra CC 1500, and I towed a trailer that, loaded up was probably 6500 lbs (if I recall correctly). I would not have wanted to go to 7000. My TT towed well but I still believe I was pretty much maxed out, and didn't want to go further.

Mike

My TV ready to camp with the WD hitch installed was 5960. Rear axle without trailer attached was 2520lbs

With my old trailer hooked up and WD engaged my rear axel was at 3180lbs
Earl_E
Explorer
Jan 23, 2018
Doesn't sound like any big deal. I'D go for it.
Walaby
Explorer II
Jan 23, 2018
Think, from what I see, it's not a good idea. Not sure I totally understand everything you're trying to rationalize, but here's my take.

Available payload remaining after full fuel and passengers is 1040 lbs.

Tongue weight for new TT you are considering, loaded as you indicate would be ~1022 lbs at 14% of your anticipated weight of 7300 lbs. Add about 60-75 lbs for the hitch (possibly up to 100 lbs) and you are over your payload, albeit not horribly over.

What Im not sure I understand (and it is kinda late in the evening), your second post says when you weight your setup, you had 6640 on your TV axles. What you need to tell us is how much on your rear axles. If your rear axle GAWR is 3950, you cannot exceed that.. you can't add both axle ratings and then just stay within the sum. Each GAWR needs to be met stand alone.

So, get your truck weighed, loaded, ready to camp, and get the actual axle weight for each axle. Subtract that from the rear GAWR and that will tell you how much weight you have available for tongue weight and hitch. Figure 100lbs for the hitch (to be a tad conservative), and 14% of trailer weight for tongue weight.

I think you will find you will exceed the GAWR, and probably, also exceed the overall payload.

I had a 2011 GMC Sierra CC 1500, and I towed a trailer that, loaded up was probably 6500 lbs (if I recall correctly). I would not have wanted to go to 7000. My TT towed well but I still believe I was pretty much maxed out, and didn't want to go further.

Mike
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Jan 23, 2018
From experience, you will not notice the 600bs more weight. If worse comes to worse you could swap gears to 3.73. But I would tow it as is first.
Ruger3739
Explorer
Jan 23, 2018
I forgot to mention when I weighed my set up I had 6640 on my TV axles or 360 pounds of payload left.

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The Dreaded 1/2 Ton Towing Question

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