Too much trailer?

timskiwannacamp wrote:
Looking at Laredo 298RE 7120# LW. Have Silverado 1500 5.3 W/ trailering pkg, HD cooling pkg, integrated brake controller, 3.42 rear end. I feel we are too close to maxing out capacity or already over. Would appreciate thoughts and suggestions. Thanks in advance.

Not enough info for a good response or if just looking for confirmation
of what you want to hear...you will get that in spades...but note that
there is only one person responsible for the setup (gets the ticket)
and that is the driver (which may not be the OP)

Gather the specifications (limits and ratings) for 'your' TV and
either learn how that system works, and/or post them here for advice/opinions

GVWR of both TV and trailer
GAWR, both front and rear
GCWR

actually go out and weigh your TV both empty and fully loaded. Axle
by axle. That is the only way to know where you are in reference to
your TV's specifications

Then do the simple math figuring out the 'true' max trailer weight rating...MTWR

lanerd wrote:

TomG2 wrote:
The rear axle ratio is the least of your worries if you have the six speed transmission. It is easy with the six speed to pick a gear that gives you the rpm's you want at any road speed. Your real problem is payload with a relatively heavy trailer and a half ton pickup. You will hate driving an overloaded vehicle, no matter what gear you are in.

X2

X3. Which transmission do you have?

-- Rob

Gear range 4 on the 6L80 automatic has a ratio of 1.152, which when multiplied by the 3.42 will give you an effective rear axle ratio of 3.94. It would mean that if the tow vehicle is equipped with the 6 speed automatic then the 3.42 is quite alright. You would still have to drive in 4th gear or lower.

If your truck is equipped with the 4L60 4 speed automatic then a 3.73 rear axle would be a better choice.

My recommendation is load the truck up like you're camping and go get weighed. Make an educated decision (even if it's to exceed your ratings):
What Can I Tow?

NOT too much trailer.
NOT enough truck.

i have a 2012 chev 1500 with the 5.3 and the 3.42 gears pulling a 30 foot tt with a gvw of 7500 and usually pulling down the road around 6600 pounds. the power is ok i run in 4th gear around 105 kph around 3000 rpm. its not great in the hills as ive been down to 75-80 kph in 2nd gear around 4500to 4800 rpm but its got lots of power there so dont need to go slower then that. but over all its rated 2000 pounds higher towing capacity then my other truck dodge hemi 1500 but it has the 5 speed and 3.55 gears that hurt it but they are in the same ballpark. my next truck will be a 3/4 ton gas where i feel would be good to about 10000 pounds. o yeah i think im 1680 payload on my truck and with this setup with the normal stuff in the box and wife and son i was 200 pounds away from max payload.

You should post your payload rating from the door jamb on your truck. You will more than likely exceed it by a good margin. You won't be the first or last to do that, and is your choice.

timskiwannacamp wrote:
Yellow sticker says 1880# capacity - puts it at 9000 total - rating on truck is 9500 which puts us in danger area if my math is correct

do you have to stuff 1880 lbs. of stuff in?
bumpy

Yellow sticker says 1880# capacity - puts it at 9000 total - rating on truck is 9500 which puts us in danger area if my math is correct

TomG2 wrote:
The rear axle ratio is the least of your worries if you have the six speed transmission. It is easy with the six speed to pick a gear that gives you the rpm's you want at any road speed. Your real problem is payload with a relatively heavy trailer and a half ton pickup. You will hate driving an overloaded vehicle, no matter what gear you are in.

X2