TT Shopping...What should be my weight target

"I’d be able to carry some of that weight in the trailer and some in the Tahoe, right?"

Sure but where in the TT...forward adds weight to the tongue and rearward subtracts it. So don't just throw it in the TT. And too much in the TT gets you over the 7700 pound limit.

First question is whether you believe in your OEM's ratings system or not

If not, then an academic discussion here

If yes, then find the ratings for 'your' TV, then weigh your TV fully loaded as if ready to go RV'ing

Gather your OEM's ratings/specifications for your TV

Then do the simple math using this formula. If you do NOT have an actual weight of your trailer, then use it's GVWR as the maximum it is rated to carry

Edit...messed the formula and now corrected

GCWR >= TV actual weight + trailer actual weight + stuff

Stuff like the WD hitch system, etc

You will need to then keep the RGAWR in mind and that will need another trip to the scales to weigh the setup axle by axle


Second question is: "how long do you expect to keep your TV"...as keep the setup withing the OEM's ratings will have it live long and perform as the OEM intended

If over the ratings, then it will NOT live as long and have a reduction in performance. Not "GO" performance...mainly it's ability to manhandle the situation when Mr Murphy crosses your path

A 'can do' vs 'should do' vs 'rated to do'...IMHO


Just about anything 'can do' it...

Kfloamy wrote:
Tow vehicle will be an 05 Chevy Tahoe LT...has a 5.3 liter V8....VIN search says towing capacity is 7700 lbs. Tahoe has a "towing" button as well as a leveling system on the back suspension.

I've been looking at travel trailers in the 4000-5000 lb range. Am I okay there?

I’d be able to carry some of that weight in the trailer and some in the Tahoe, right?

I guess I’m still not really sure how I need to do the math to figure out what’s doable.

Kfloamy wrote:
so, three of the trailers I'm considering are:

Coachman Apex Nano 208BHS
dry weight: 3928
gvwr: 6000
hitch weight: 516


Forest River Salem Cruise Lite 261BHXL
Dry Weight 4,314 lbs.
GVWR 7,434 lbs.
Hitch Weight 434 lbs.

Forest River Wildwood Xlite 261BHXL
Hitch Weight 434 lbs
Dry Weight 4352 lbs
Cargo Weight 3082 lbs



obviously the Apex is the lighter choice and therefore easier choice. Would the other two be an okay choice if loaded well below the 3000-3100 lbs of payload capacity?

If your truck has a 2,000lb payload and all of the hitch weights on these trailers are less than 516 lbs that leaves you with 1,484 lbs for passengers and cargo in your truck. Assuming the 2,000 lbs truck payload is close to the actual payload for your truck, is 1,486 lbs enough considering all of the passengers and gear you will be carrying in your truck?

No cross country trips with this set up...perhaps later in life my wife and I will do that but would be with different set up. This will before state parks and campgrounds around Arkansas. Occasionally I’d get in to the Ozarks which are pretty decent sized but not really mountains compared to other places.

We don’t want anything big, but we’d at least like to get something with a couch and dinette and not just a dinette. The Apex Nano 208 has a Murphy bed/couch which isn’t ideal, but at least has a couch. Just seems inconvenient when we’re all in the trailer and my wife wants to lie down and others still need the couch. May just have to suck it up and live with that until we could pull more with another vehicle.

Depends where you tow, and how often you tow.

For local trips on flat terrain with little wind, you can go heavier. For cross country, or mountain towing, I'd go lighter.

I towed the 17' trailer in my sig pic with a 2006 Chevy 1500 extended cab 4x4 with 3.73 gears. I think it was rated at 8700#. It sure worked hard climbing mountain grades, even with such a small and light (3500#) trailer behind it. It would never use OD, and had to run in 3rd, 2nd gear to climb grades. The RV is a full 8 feet wide too - which hurts it's ease of towing, despite being so small and light. I found the 5.3L pretty wimpy power wise. It cooled ok and the trans temp ran normal but it lacked power.

Under 5k dry when that vehicle was new assuming it also has the HS transmission cooler and 3.73 or 4.10 axle ratio.

Flush all your fluids. Get a quality WDH with integrated sway control and a proportional brake controller. Happy camping!

While you are looking at the upper end of actual capacity, with the heavier/longer trailers, your Tahoe may work for you. If taking lengthy trips, especially with lots of hills or mountains, you will be disappointed. When getting close to being maxed out, one person will say it was a horrible experience, while the next will say it towed just fine. A high quality WDH, with good sway control, will go a long ways, making the tow a better experience, especially with a longer/heavier trailer.

Answer is, it depends on your towing tolerance, and the right hitch setup, it can work.

Jerry

“if loaded well below the 3000-3100 lbs of payload capacity”

I don’t know of anyone who loads well below 1200 pounds for two people and 1600 for four. Fifty gallons of water is 420 pounds, two 6 volt batteries are 120, leveling boards 20 pounds etc.

Earl is right on. Our Tahoes are half ton trucks.

You should be more than OK. Just make sure the tongue weight and stuff and people in the truck doesn't exceed the payload weight. That weight is often the killer in 1/2 tons.