I have been towing a 6800lbs (fully loaded) 28' TT with a Chevy Silverado 1500; but equipped with a 6.2ltr V8 and Max Tow Package. The truck has a GCVW of 16000lbs, a towing capacity of 10,600lbs and the GVWR is 7100lbs. The truck weighs about 5100lbs with typically about 700lbs of people and camping cargo for a typical trip. Towing this trailer has been nearly unnoticeable. I have to constantly check my speed because I forget its there. We are considering purchasing a new Grand Design Imagine TT. Problem is it weighs fully loaded around 8900lbs and is 30'. I figure I would be at near the max of my towing capacity with my existing truck. I am not a full timer, only tow a few times a month for a few 100 miles and about once a year for a longer trip.I'm curious to hear if folks think I would be pushing the limits of my weight capacity?Thanks in advance-

Spend $15 at a CAT scale to get all your weights. Then you''ll know how much you can upgrade. Most half tons exceed some other vehicle rating well below tow ratings. Less than one percent of half tons built can tow 9000 pounds loaded TT with 1200 pounds of TW and not exceed receiver rating, rear axle, and GVWR.I suspect that 5100 pounds is inaccurate. I bet it's closer to 5800 pounds with 7200 pounds GVWR. Or you can check as equipped payload on the tire and loading sticker, subtract that 700 pound estimate and the rest can be trailer tongue weight.

APT wrote:Spend $15 at a CAT scale to get all your weights. Then you''ll know how much you can upgrade. Most half tons exceed some other vehicle rating well below tow ratings. Less than one percent of half tons built can tow 9000 pounds loaded TT with 1200 pounds of TW and not exceed receiver rating, rear axle, and GVWR.I suspect that 5100 pounds is inaccurate. I bet it's closer to 5800 pounds with 7200 pounds GVWR. Or you can check as equipped payload on the tire and loading sticker, subtract that 700 pound estimate and the rest can be trailer tongue weight.X2 ^^

If everything is as you say, it should tow it with no problem. If you weigh the truck fully loaded as it would be for going camping, then you will have a better idea of whether or not the new trailer will be a good fit.

OP, you failed to speak of your payload capacity. Towing capacity is just a mfg'ers sales gimmick. You will exceed your payload capacity LONG before you even come close to your towing capacity. In addition, other more important ratings are the RAWR and GVWR.You really need to know ALL the ratings and insure that NONE of them are exceeded.... and not just by guessng and saying it's "around" some weight figure.Good luckRon

Thanks folks all good points. I will weigh the truck to get exact weight. the manual says it weighs between 4900 and 5400lbs. My GVWR is 7100lbs the RAWR is 1905lbs and the max payload is 1740lbs. Let's assume (for now) truck weight is 5400lbs. The GCVW is 16000lbs. How do I put all those numbers together, what is the formula to tell how much I should tow?

Towing maximum capacity | Good Sam Community

tdp6022
Explorer
Jun 13, 2016
Thanks folks all good points. I will weigh the truck to get exact weight. the manual says it weighs between 4900 and 5400lbs. My GVWR is 7100lbs the RAWR is 1905lbs and the max payload is 1740lbs. Let's assume (for now) truck weight is 5400lbs. The GCVW is 16000lbs. How do I put all those numbers together, what is the formula to tell how much I should tow?
lanerd
Explorer II
Jun 13, 2016
OP, you failed to speak of your payload capacity. Towing capacity is just a mfg'ers sales gimmick. You will exceed your payload capacity LONG before you even come close to your towing capacity. In addition, other more important ratings are the RAWR and GVWR.

You really need to know ALL the ratings and insure that NONE of them are exceeded.... and not just by guessng and saying it's "around" some weight figure.

Good luck

Ron
wing_zealot
Explorer
Jun 13, 2016
If everything is as you say, it should tow it with no problem. If you weigh the truck fully loaded as it would be for going camping, then you will have a better idea of whether or not the new trailer will be a good fit.
Second_Chance
Explorer II
Jun 13, 2016
APT wrote:
Spend $15 at a CAT scale to get all your weights. Then you''ll know how much you can upgrade. Most half tons exceed some other vehicle rating well below tow ratings. Less than one percent of half tons built can tow 9000 pounds loaded TT with 1200 pounds of TW and not exceed receiver rating, rear axle, and GVWR.

I suspect that 5100 pounds is inaccurate. I bet it's closer to 5800 pounds with 7200 pounds GVWR. Or you can check as equipped payload on the tire and loading sticker, subtract that 700 pound estimate and the rest can be trailer tongue weight.

X2 ^^
APT
Explorer
Jun 13, 2016
Spend $15 at a CAT scale to get all your weights. Then you''ll know how much you can upgrade. Most half tons exceed some other vehicle rating well below tow ratings. Less than one percent of half tons built can tow 9000 pounds loaded TT with 1200 pounds of TW and not exceed receiver rating, rear axle, and GVWR.

I suspect that 5100 pounds is inaccurate. I bet it's closer to 5800 pounds with 7200 pounds GVWR. Or you can check as equipped payload on the tire and loading sticker, subtract that 700 pound estimate and the rest can be trailer tongue weight.

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