Forum Discussion

Z3Driver's avatar
Z3Driver
Explorer
Dec 13, 2013

Trailer under 7000 lbs GVWR?

We have a 2011 Silverado with a GVWR of 7000 lbs. We're looking for a travel trailer in the 27-30 foot range. Seeking a resource where we can search brands/models by GVWR or recommendations on specific brands/models. Prefer pre-owned of recent vintage. Only two persons traveling with no toys to haul.

Thanks!

Larry and Jill
  • DW & I are happy with the TT in my sig, 4700# empty. The North Trail 22FBS is a few feet longer with a couch.
  • Check out the Coachmen Apex TTs. They have several floorplans that are lightweight. Make sure you find out if the length includes the tongue/bumper or just the box. The tongue/bumper add around another 3 feet.
  • You do not offer more details on you TV. I have a 2012 Silverado 5.7 with Towing Package, pull a Rockwood 2703, 6,200 dry weight, with no problems, as long as you do not want to speed. We bought it a couple months ago, and put over 1,000 miles with no problems. My 2cents.
  • Since you're up north, my first suggestion would be to spend some time online at RVWholesalers. Their pricing is excellent and you may find that your budget will allow for a brand new. In any event, you can use the website as a tool for seeing a lot of manufacturers/brands/models without having to drive all over the world. They do not post prices, but will email they to you. You can guestimate about a 30% discount off MSRP.

    Agree you do a bit more research on exactly what your vehicle will tow. We tow with an '03 Ford F-150 with the factory tow. Our rating is 8000# and the new TT we bought in May is 6629 GVWR and we're no where close to that.

    It's just the 2 of us and we found the Rockwood Ultra Lite 2604 to be the perfect TT for us. It does have a nice sofa bed with air mattress, so on the rare occasion we need an extra bed, it's available. Don't know if the 2604 is still available, but they have a 2604WS, which added a huge 4-door closet in the bedroom on a slide. In our case, we neither wanted or needed the extra storage, weight or $$, so we're perfect as is. The MSRP on our 2604 was right at $32,000 and we paid $20,000 and change.

    In most cases, in addition to showing the floor plans, there will be a video of both inside and outside and a spec listing....not always up to date.

    House of Camping in the Chi area was good enough that a fellow hybrider drove from CA to Chi and after trip expenses came out several thousand ahead.

    Do as much as you can online, then locate dealers and then head out the door. BTW, RVW is located in Lakeview, OH and considering the trip from West TN for our HTT, we saved over $4000 and on our new TT, more than that, so the drive was well worth it.

    I don't know of anywhere that breaks the listings down by length, weight, etc, but RVW does tend to list the smaller sizes in a category first and work to the larger ones.

    Good luck in your search. Suggest you confirm all your numbers before you get emotionally attached to a particular model and then find it's not going to work.
  • There are many many TT's that are under that weight in the Ultra Lightweight category.

    You can start by looking at RVT.com

    RVT.com

    I travel in a Lance Ultralight weight 4 seasons trailer.

    WoodGlue
  • You can take a look at Camplite Trailers. They are light weight and durable, although not as luxurious. Current models are a bit shorter than you're looking for although they have a new 29' model coming. You can find that floorplan at the bottom of their floorplan page by clicking HERE.
  • Z3Driver wrote:
    We have a 2011 Silverado with a GVWR of 7000 lbs. We're looking for a travel trailer in the 27-30 foot range. Seeking a resource where we can search brands/models by GVWR or recommendations on specific brands/models. Prefer pre-owned of recent vintage. Only two persons traveling with no toys to haul.

    Thanks!

    Larry and Jill


    OK I'll bite. Why do you want a TT with a GVWR of less than 7000lbs? The TV does NOT have to carry the weight of the TT. You need to find the GCVWR. Which is prolly close to 13,500 lbs I'm betting your tow capacity is close to 8000lbs.
  • Online resource, can search by length, once finding a FLOORPLANS you would like, then visit MFG sites to get approximate weight ranges.

    RVTrader

    Visit local dealers, to see, go in, learn about units, experience "Quality" of units. Visit RV shows if possible.

    Search Tow Limits here, although truck rated 7,000 lbs, depending on how much you plan on towing, 6,000 & up trailers probaly out of "safe"/'Comfortable range for the truck. (gets debated all the time here).

    Newer trailer builds of 27-30 ft trailers, if a "Lite" or "Ultra Lite" version, very well will be in 4,500-5,500 weight range.

    Good Luck and enjoy the adventure.

    Markiemark:C

    Btw: Myself and my Wife, travel with a Dutchmen Kodiak 200QB (24ft TT). Have been super pleased with: Weight 4,000 lbs, before we added all our stuff for traveling/camping, probaly added 1,000 lbs of stuff, travels great with my Tundra (would not want too much more wieght), Open floorplan (no crazy walls blocking in), hard-walled shower, lots of cabinets for storage as traveling, no-slides (no added issues or maintenance), can get in & out of most to all places/sites/gas stations, etc. Downside: cramped if visitors inside with you.