BurbMan wrote:
I can tell you exactly what the numbers are. Our Suburban is the LT model with all bells/whistles, so is heavy at the scale. We are 6700 lbs with full fuel and 230 lb driver (hey, I'm 6'5"!)
First a little on the tow rating...the 12,000 tow rating is based on an empty vehicle with one 150-lb driver. Every pound you add to the truck subtracts from the tow rating. If you look at the GCWR of 19,000, that is the max that the truck and trailer together can weigh. If you load the truck up to its 8600 lb limit, you can really only tow 10,400. make sense?
OK, on to the weights. So let's assume you load 700 lbs of kids in teh truck along with the 250 lb driver so 6700 + 700 = 7400 lbs. GVWR of the burb is 8600, so that leaves you 1200 lbs for hitch and tongue weight. Coincidentally that is right at what out TT weighs. With a family of 4 adults (kids grow up, ugh) we are at about 8600-8700 lbs at the scales. The trailer comes in about 8500 lbs fully loaded.
Honestly I wouldn't want to be towing any heavier with this truck. It tows great and had enough power to tackle any hill or situation that I can throw at it.
The trailer before this one was a 34' Sunnybrook with 4 bunks. Kids loved it and it weighed almost exactly the same as this one.
Without knowing the weights of the trailer you are looking at I am going to say it sounds too big for a Suburban. It will also be a bear to maneuver, those few extra feet can block you from a lot of CG spots.
Trailer mfrs post a sticker with the dry weight of the unit inside a cabinet door inside, usually under or over the sink. As a general guideline and assuming you are towing with the 2500 8.1/4.10 combo, I would look for trailers with a dry weight of around 7000 lbs. that leaves you room for 1500+ lbs of cargo in the trailer, so your loaded weight will be about 8500 lbs, that should keep your tongue weight in the 1100 lb range.
Regarding length i would stay under 35' if you can just to make it easier to maneuver. The 39' will work if its not too heavy but will limit you where you can camp. I would also encourage you to look at either a Hensley or Propride hitch (new or used). Especially driving cross-country, you will appreciate the stability of the hitch in high winds, etc.
Makes perfect sense =) Thanks! The 32'(from hitch) McKenzie we are also looking at comes in at 6750 dry weight. You feel this one too would be to big/heavy?
