Truck towing / safe limits

goofasap wrote:

Max tongue carrying weight "distribution" - 12,000 lbs.

The above should probably be 1,200.


You don't want to go over any of your ratings. In practical terms you're probably going to hit one of these two first:

GVWR - 6,200 lbs
GAWR Rear - 3,686 lbs.

Your best bet is to fill up the gas tank and load the vehicle with whoever you would bring on a camping trip. Then get it weighed. This can be done any place that deals in weight - landscaping, recycling, gravel/stone, as well as truck scales. Most places by me want $10 per pass. The split described below would count as one pass.

Many place have a scale that produces one measurement. Just ask them if they'll do a split so you can get the individual axle weights. If they aren't busy see if they'll give you 3 numbers. Front, Front+Rear, Rear. If they'll only do 2 that's fine. That all you really need.

Given those numbers you can see what capacity you have left over.

Don't trust the manufacturer's tongue weight. See what others are getting for tongue weight for the trailer your are considering or see if the seller (if a dealer) will weight the tongue on the spot with the trailer level side to side and front to back. Remember that weight will go up by a couple of hundred pounds very quickly (battery, gas tanks filled, hitch).

goofasap wrote:
Trying to make sense of what would be the safe TT towing weight limits ; i.e. GVWR, Dry Weight, UVW, and every other weight measurement i should be considering when purchasing a TT.
(I would not be towing often but when i would it would be long distance thru mnts.
i.e. - (1-time east coast to west coast)

with this truck.

2004 Chevy Silverado, Ext.Cab, 1/2 ton, 5.3 Liter V-8, with "tow package",has a trailer brake installed, weight distribution hitch,
no transmission cooler at this time, but plan to install one)

Truck specs:
GVWR - 6,200 lbs.
GAWR Front - 3,600 lbs.
GAWR Rear - 3,686 lbs.
Combined Passengers & Cargo - 1,376 lbs.

Hitch Specs:
Max trailer carrying weight - 5,000 lbs.
Max trailer carrying weight "distribution" - 12,000 lbs.
Max tongue carrying weight - 600 lbs.
Max tongue carrying weight "distribution" - 12,000 lbs.
(when the hitch label reads "Distribution" I assume this means with a weight distribution hitch?)

And what questions should I be asking that I haven't?

Thanks so much for your advice and suggestions.

How does a truck with a "tow package" not have a transmission cooler? That should be a part of any factory tow package.

goofasap wrote:
Trying to make sense of what would be the safe TT towing weight limits ; i.e. GVWR, Dry Weight, UVW, and every other weight measurement i should be considering when purchasing a TT.
(I would not be towing often but when i would it would be long distance thru mnts.
i.e. - (1-time east coast to west coast)

with this truck.

2004 Chevy Silverado, Ext.Cab, 1/2 ton, 5.3 Liter V-8, with "tow package",has a trailer brake installed, weight distribution hitch,
no transmission cooler at this time, but plan to install one)

Truck specs:
GVWR - 6,200 lbs.
GAWR Front - 3,600 lbs.
GAWR Rear - 3,686 lbs.
Combined Passengers & Cargo - 1,376 lbs.

Hitch Specs:
Max trailer carrying weight - 5,000 lbs.
Max trailer carrying weight "distribution" - 12,000 lbs.
Max tongue carrying weight - 600 lbs.
Max tongue carrying weight "distribution" - 12,000 lbs.
(when the hitch label reads "Distribution" I assume this means with a weight distribution hitch?)

And what questions should I be asking that I haven't?

Thanks so much for your advice and suggestions.

First you need a trans cooler. Don't tow until you do. With out it, you have almost no towing capacity. Prolly in the 3500lb range. However. IF it has the tow package. IT should have a trans cooler. Get that looked at.

Second, you need to realize, that what the hitch says is just for the hitch. It means nothing to the truck's capacity., as the same hitch is put on all trucks. You like many of us, have way more hitch than you do truck.


Third. A GVWR of 6200 LBS does not leave you with much capacity. Take the truck, and get it weighed. Subtract the weight of the truck from your 6200, GVWR and that is your payload. That is what your truck can carry, including you family, coolers, bikes, hitch, and tongue weight. Your 1376 payload, seems a little high for a truck with such a low GVWR.

Next you need your GCVWR, meaning the combined weight truck, and trailer, you truck is rated for. Once you find that, and it should be in your owner's guide. You need to subtract the weight of the truck with all you intend to take camping with you in it, From the GCVWR.

So IF your truck loaded, ready to camp weighs 5800lbs including the hitch / WDH, and your family. You would subtract that from the GCVWR. So IF your GCVWR is 12,500 lbs and the truck weighs 5800 lbs. The max trailer you can tow is 6700lbs, loaded ready to camp. NOT the dry weight.

All my weights are hypothetical. You need to find the real weights. Ever pound you add to, or subtract from the truck, changes the tow capacity of the truck.

You want to find the trucks GCWR Gross Combined Weight Rating.
Then you want to load it up like your going camping, that means full tank of gas, all the people, fire wood and all the stuff would have on board for a trip, and go to the scales. Subtract scaled weight from the GCWR. That is the number you need to know. That number is the MAXIMUM weight you can tow before you exceed the manufacturers designed limits. From there start looking at trailers that have a GVWR number less that your available weight limit. All the rest is fluff, designed to sell you more than you can safely or comfortably handle.