Tow capasity

Double your estimate of how much gear you plan to take if this is your first RV. The average RVer that has scaled weights adds over 1000 poudns of stuff. Families add more than average. Full timers add more. Couples add less.

So, let's say you start at a conservative 6000 pounds dry. That will be over 7000 pounds loaded with 900-1000 pounds of trailer tongue weights. Your receiver has a 1000 pound limit when using a weight distributing hitch, so that puts you at one limit at 7k loaded.

Another typical limit is vehicle. That needs to support the people, the cargo inside, all the entertainment while traveling, and trailer TW. If you start at 1500 pounds, family weights 500, extra cargo, dog, etc weigh 200, you only have 800 left for loaded trailer tongue weight. So take a look at your driver's door for your vehicle's as equipped payload and use your own estimates.

Also, please confirm you have the equipment for that 8200 pound tow rating. GM sells a lot of SUVs without it. You can confirm by looking at the list of RPO codes on a sticker in your glove box. You want too make sure it has GU6 and Z82.

matty1543 wrote:
Thank you, I. Thought it was pushing it, but dealers said I would be ok.

They always do. Drives me nuts.

You still have a very capable tow vehicle. Within it's limits. There are some great TTs in the 5500-6000 range. I'd start there.

When a dealer (or saleman) opens his/her mouth, they are only trying to sell you something and will tell you whatever is needed to sell you on their stuff.

As mentioned above, you need to be much more concerned with the Tahoe's "payload" capacity. It will be the first thing that will be exceeded.

Good luck

Ron

Need to find a reputable dealer

Thank you, I. Thought it was pushing it, but dealers said I would be ok.

matty1543 wrote:
Looking for a new TT, my 2010 Chevy Tahoe can tow 8,200 lbs. Can I safely tow a TT with a dry weight of 7,000 lbs? We are a family of 4 so I would say we would have about 600-800 lbs of gear not leaving much room to spare.

Thanks.

you can. But the family will have to drive separately, and carry most of the gear.

The first thing to consider is, your "payload capacity". That is located on the drivers door jamb sticker.

Keep in mind, what you can CARRY & what you can TOW are two different things.

Most folks run out of payload before they reach towing capacity.

You can not load up the Tahoe and still carry the maximum tow rating that GM published with just the empty option free Tahoe with a 154 pound driver inside it.

The GCVWR might be say 15,000 pounds (my guess based on a typical truck weight of 7,000 pounds and you stated it has a 8,200 pound towing capacity). So if the curb weight is 7,000 pounds and GVWR is 8,500, you have about 1,500 pounds to work with (check your actual weights and weight ratings) so if you have 800 pounds in additional to the empty curb weight of the Tahoe, and add 700 pounds of hitch weight, you will be at your limits. This leaves you with only about 7,200 pounds left over when the curb weight of the Tahoe is 7,800 pounds (packed with camping gear and it's 75 pound weight distribution hitch too).

So you should be looking at 6,200 pound trailers with less than 750 pounds hitch weight. Then once you add 50 gallons of water (300 pounds) and camping stuff (cookware, plates, silverware, clothing, hair dryer, and all that stuff) and 150 pounds of food and spices, you will still be under the 7,200 pounds that can be towed when there is 800 pounds of stuff inside the Tahoe.

Good luck!

Fred.

No, you would be well over 8200# with your family, hitch and supplies.