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Kfloamy's avatar
Kfloamy
Explorer
Nov 04, 2018

TT Shopping...What should be my weight target

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?

14 Replies

  • 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?
  • I’m happy at 5200 pounds (wet/loaded) but would consider going to 6000 pounds with my 2015. With my old 2007 Tahoe and it’s four speed transmission, I’d not go over 5000 pounds...again, that’s wet/loaded
  • Ron3rd's avatar
    Ron3rd
    Explorer III
    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?


    If that is the gross weight you're OK. If that is the dry weight be careful
  • I'd be looking at trailers with a gross weight (trailer maximum allowable weight fully loaded) under 7,000 lbs. That said, beyond the maximum tow rating of your truck you want to also consider the truck's maximum payload. About 12.5% of the total trailer weight will be resting on the truck. Add to that the weight of the passengers and gear in the truck and it shouldn't exceed the maximum payload for the truck. Sometimes the maximum payload will be the limiting factor rather than the maximum tow rating.