Towing with a 1/2 ton

Hi All,

Wife and I were looking to get a trailer a couple years back, but ended up as part owners of a house in Lake Tahoe, which meant no trailer. So, I bought a new 2015 Chevy Silverado 1500 instead of a 2500 or 3500 series. Well, now we are back in the market for a trailer...but we are stuck with the 1500. Getting a full size right now is not economically feasible. When we are ready to trade in our 05 Avalanche (no, not the 2500 unfortunately) we will be getting a full size truck, but for now it is what it is.

Important TV Specs:
2015 Chevy Silverado 1500 Z-71 Midnight Edition
5600 lb truck (with Z-71 / LTZ options)--- 7100 Lb GVWR = 1500lb payload (per chevy for crew cab, reg bed model)
9100 lb tow rating
5.3L / 3.42
Hitch that is rated to 1200lbs (I think, it is over 1000 at minumum)
Have wiring and will be installing a TB controller and using a Reese dual cam WD hitch (unless another better option?).
GCWR AND GAWR will be no where near reached.

What we are thinking...

New-ish (2010 or later) TT with GVWR of 7000# or less
26 feet or less (I like maneuverability)

It seems like TV payload is my biggest limiting factor, so...

800 lb hitch weight (wouldn't the WD hitch remove some tongue weight also?) +

wife, kids me 210 lbs (510 lbs total- 300 lbs already considered for driver and passenger for 1500 model GVWR)

= total passenger / trailer weight on truck of 1010 lbs.

Then subtract weight of gas and WD hitch off remaining 490 lbs of GVWR leaves me little payload on the TV, if any. But GCWR, tow capacity, AND rear GAWR will all be well under limits.

With a trailer loaded to 7000lbs, a full ton under tow rating, and under on GCWR, and TV GVWR, and rear GAWR could my truck handle this safely and comfortably?

I have read enough to know that all the paper numbers in the world mean nothing, and that hitching up and testing weight at a scale is the only way to be certain. But at least the paper numbers give me an idea...can't test trailer weight until we have a trailer!

Thanks ahead of time. This forum has already helped a lot even though I have yet to post anything! Let me know if I forgot anything.

P.S. the TT will be used for weekend trips on mostly flatland, occasional trips across the mountains into Nevada, Oregon. No cross country trips, not going full time.

Thanks

Ryan

Tow Vehicles

31 Replies

falconbrother
Explorer II
Apr 12, 2017
There's no shortage of 26 foot trailers well under 6000 pounds. You will be fine. We just bought a 27 foot, at under 5500 pounds with a super slide.
TurnThePage
Explorer
Apr 12, 2017
Travel'n'Wrestle wrote:
deltabravo wrote:
Travel'n'Wrestle wrote:
... So, I bought a new 2015 Chevy Silverado 1500 instead of a 2500 or 3500 series. ..... Getting a full size right now is not economically feasible. When we are ready to trade in our 05 Avalanche (no, not the 2500 unfortunately) we will be getting a full size truck, but for now it is what it is.

Both of your current rigs are full size trucks, just not HD style trucks

The new one is capable of towing the size rig you want to tow.
If it has "P" style tires and not LT tires, upgrading to LT might be a good idea.

We have Goodyear Duratrac 265/65R18. On Goodyear's page it doesn't say specifically that the tire is an LT, but I would assume it's an LT tire? Max load is 2601 lbs at 51 psi. Sound like LT?
No. That's a P rated tire, not LT. However, pump 'em up to 51 lbs and give 'em a try first.
Travel_n_Wrestl
Explorer
Apr 12, 2017
deltabravo wrote:
Travel'n'Wrestle wrote:
... So, I bought a new 2015 Chevy Silverado 1500 instead of a 2500 or 3500 series. ..... Getting a full size right now is not economically feasible. When we are ready to trade in our 05 Avalanche (no, not the 2500 unfortunately) we will be getting a full size truck, but for now it is what it is.

Both of your current rigs are full size trucks, just not HD style trucks

The new one is capable of towing the size rig you want to tow.
If it has "P" style tires and not LT tires, upgrading to LT might be a good idea.

We have Goodyear Duratrac 265/65R18. On Goodyear's page it doesn't say specifically that the tire is an LT, but I would assume it's an LT tire? Max load is 2601 lbs at 51 psi. Sound like LT?
goducks10
Explorer
Apr 08, 2017
If you have to worry about whether the fuel tank is full or not, you don't have enough truck.
Or if it gets really bad mpg then you're okay sooner. :)
spud1957
Explorer
Apr 08, 2017
SoundGuy wrote:
spud1957 wrote:
I wouldn't consider the weight of fuel.

Disagree completely. What you want to know is your truck's worst case real world base weight as it sits there ready to be hitched to a trailer. That "worst case" is with a full tank of gas. ;)

Lets agree to disagree.

That quote is out of context. As I said; if you need to be concerned about the weight of fuel putting you over your CCC? You need to reconsider your decision.
SoundGuy
Explorer
Apr 08, 2017
spud1957 wrote:
I wouldn't consider the weight of fuel.

Disagree completely. What you want to know is your truck's worst case real world base weight as it sits there ready to be hitched to a trailer. That "worst case" is with a full tank of gas. ;)
samsontdog
Explorer
Apr 08, 2017
I towed with a short bed half ton with the 5.7 eng Chev for just over 20,000 miles and the tranny went out. Did a great job towing a 26 ft TT just over 6,200
pounds. I bought a 3/4 ton and never towed with a 1/2 ton since. They have made many improvements since then
bluepost
Explorer
Apr 08, 2017
You will be fine. Look at the Crossroad Sunset trail SS264BH and SS271RL. 30 ft units with a slide that weight 5200-5300 empty, 7600 gross. You would be towing at 750 lbs tongue weight at 6200 lbs (1000 lbs of stuff) and 12% tongue weight.

Get a tongue scale, run math when new and when ready to camp, then once a year after that or before big trips loaded up. It will tow better properly loaded. Keep the weight about 12% and low and centered over the axles to prevent porpoising.
kw_00
Explorer
Apr 08, 2017
The truck that you have will be fine pulling within it rated load. I pulled 6500lbs with an older 5.3 and 3.42 gears for a few years when we stated out camping 12 years ago. I simply went to a gas 3/4 ton cause we moved up in campers. There's nothing wrong with a 1/2 ton, and yes yours is a full sized truck, pulling a camper within its rated capacity. If ur worried about the numbers then u may need to look at a 3/4 ton gas, but honestly ur truck will pull an nice small camper with no issues. Despite what you read, all trucks have limitations. Buy the camper that fits your needs within the trucks capability and have fun.
Grit_dog
Navigator III
Apr 08, 2017
donn0128 wrote:
Look at RPods or something similar.

Weight cops show up by the third post! Good job Donno!!

To OP, keep the trailer 7-8k or less and you'll have a good match. No it won't fly up he mountain like a diesel but will be sufficient.