Trailer Length/Weight Recommendations
I know this is probably the most frequently asked questions around... But I would like some advice from a few different sources. I will be towing with a 2002 Chevy Avalanche Z71 1500 4WD. Based on...
Forum Discussion
To the OP I'm a few days late to the conversation but thought you might want a different perspective. I own a 2003 Avalanche 4x4, had 3.73 gears but I put I. 4.10's to help out. I have pull a 25ft Innsbruck that weight about 7k ready to camp. I have the Equalizer hitch and driven this combo all over MN, taken it out to Yellowstone and South Dakota. Never once felt out of control or have any trailer sway and I never felt like the truck was over matched. The 5.3 is a good engine like small block gassers it likes to rev to get its power. I put the trans in 3, (not OD), click the tow haul button and let it go. The engine is happy anywhere between 3k and 4K rpm. Some say that's too loud and for them it may be, but it does not hurt the engine, I'm currently at just about ver 150k on the odometer!!
A few points to consider, as a few have mentioned payload is your limiting factor, as a rule I don't like to load anything I the bed of the truck except wheel chocks and some hand tools, maybe 50lbs. Everything goes int the trailer as with 4.10's my combo weight is good up to 14k. So I have capacity in the trailer if loaded correctly. I try to load everything over the axels. Coolers bikes games etc. I put some stuff aft axels, but want to maintain adequate tougne weights. We camp at full hook up sites so we don't haul water, never made sense to me anyway, if we don't get full hook up we can get water at the campsite so you are not hauling far. In MN you cannot haul firewood across county boarders due to Emrald Ash borer and Dutch Elm disease. This means we have to buy wood at the campsite but saves on weight.
In the cab it's me, wifey, and my son a growing 8th grader and sometimes a friend. So a little more weight than you but not much. Overall I would not hesitate to pull 7k rolling with Av. What that means to you is your decision but factor in an additional 1-1.5k in add on weight to the listed dry weight.
I've been to the scale a number of times, trailer consistently comes in at 7-7.2k total combined weight of about 13-13.5k. The only weight I am over is the rear axel rating and it's between 50-150lbs. I've decided I can live with that.
I did put in 4.10's over the installed 3.73's, mainly to help truck stay in 3rd gear on hills. It also gives me a little more acceleration on the on ramps and off the the stop lights, (you'll never win any races towing a RV).
You make the call it's all you are comfortable with, but I will say the MOST gray area in towing is one driver's subjective experience vs another's. Your experience is the only things that matters!!
Enjoy RV'ing!!
A few points to consider, as a few have mentioned payload is your limiting factor, as a rule I don't like to load anything I the bed of the truck except wheel chocks and some hand tools, maybe 50lbs. Everything goes int the trailer as with 4.10's my combo weight is good up to 14k. So I have capacity in the trailer if loaded correctly. I try to load everything over the axels. Coolers bikes games etc. I put some stuff aft axels, but want to maintain adequate tougne weights. We camp at full hook up sites so we don't haul water, never made sense to me anyway, if we don't get full hook up we can get water at the campsite so you are not hauling far. In MN you cannot haul firewood across county boarders due to Emrald Ash borer and Dutch Elm disease. This means we have to buy wood at the campsite but saves on weight.
In the cab it's me, wifey, and my son a growing 8th grader and sometimes a friend. So a little more weight than you but not much. Overall I would not hesitate to pull 7k rolling with Av. What that means to you is your decision but factor in an additional 1-1.5k in add on weight to the listed dry weight.
I've been to the scale a number of times, trailer consistently comes in at 7-7.2k total combined weight of about 13-13.5k. The only weight I am over is the rear axel rating and it's between 50-150lbs. I've decided I can live with that.
I did put in 4.10's over the installed 3.73's, mainly to help truck stay in 3rd gear on hills. It also gives me a little more acceleration on the on ramps and off the the stop lights, (you'll never win any races towing a RV).
You make the call it's all you are comfortable with, but I will say the MOST gray area in towing is one driver's subjective experience vs another's. Your experience is the only things that matters!!
Enjoy RV'ing!!
