I want to get a TT. My current vehicle is a 2016 Chevy Express 2500 cargo van with the 4.8L engine and heavy-duty towing package. According to Chevy, this van has 285 hp, a GVWR of 8600lbs, and a max tongue weight of 1000lbs. Despite reading around, I am confused about how heavy of a trailer I can pull without comprising safety or stressing the van such that it's being damaged.I want the TT to travel around Oregon and neighboring states with my two dogs and two bicycles. This means I will have to cross mountains though I'm fine with going over the passes at 40 to 45mph. I don't expect my dogs, gear, clothing, food, propane, etc will weigh more than 1000lbs.I'm considering the Nash 22H (4400lb dry weight) and the Sandstorm 180SLC (5500lb dry weight).Given all that, what do you thing the van can handle? Thanks for your input.

GM says the tow rating is 8100 pounds. You have plenty of suspension to handle 1000+ pounds of TW. I think acceptable performance will be your limit which is hard for anyone else to tell you. I doubt you'll notice much difference between the two TTs you listed already. Towing any high walled RV takes a fair amount of power. You'll really only notice the difference on hills or uphill starts. Use tow/haul mode and limit top trans gear to 4.

I think you would be fine with either of those. You will be well within spec. They build those vans pretty beefy. 3000 lb of payload, 4000+ lb rear axle capacity. 8600 lb tow rating. What it comes down to is expectations of power. Some people don't mind hanging in the slow lane letting the rig work, while others want major power on tap so that they can accelerate like they are driving a normal car. I am not trying to win any races and as long as you aren't, you will be fine with those trailers, just watch the temps and make sure they stay within spec and let the rig work and do its job and it will be fine.

Good luck. Towed an arctic fox 19b with a Tahoe 5.3L and it struggled on the hills. I guess if acceptable is 20mph up hills then you will be ok. But personally I think you just don't have enough motor especially if you have more than just a driver in the van.

donn0128 wrote:Towed an arctic fox 19b with a Tahoe 5.3L and it struggled on the hills. I guess if acceptable is 20mph up hills then you will be ok.So with your 305 hp Tahoe and 4400lb TT (plus gear, passengers, etc), you could only hit 20 mph on the hills? Yeah, that'd be a problem.

You can tow what it says in the manual, just know that it will do it, maybe a little slower in the hills at a higher RPM. No big deal, you have the payload to handle the trailer so you should be good there. And if you have a six speed auto, well that makes it much easier for the tow. I have towed with both gas and diesel and stuck with gas. Yep she revs but it's gets to the top like everybody else does. And being the newer 4.8 it's got power to do the job.

What can I tow w/ a Chevy Express 2500 4.8L? | Good Sam Community

8_1_Van
Explorer
Sep 16, 2016
Get the lighter weight TT if you tow on hills with a 4.8L. Chevy should have kept the 8.1L for people who tow or carry many passengers .
kw_00
Explorer
Sep 16, 2016
You can tow what it says in the manual, just know that it will do it, maybe a little slower in the hills at a higher RPM. No big deal, you have the payload to handle the trailer so you should be good there. And if you have a six speed auto, well that makes it much easier for the tow. I have towed with both gas and diesel and stuck with gas. Yep she revs but it's gets to the top like everybody else does. And being the newer 4.8 it's got power to do the job.
Budro1890
Explorer
Sep 16, 2016
donn0128 wrote:
Towed an arctic fox 19b with a Tahoe 5.3L and it struggled on the hills. I guess if acceptable is 20mph up hills then you will be ok.

So with your 305 hp Tahoe and 4400lb TT (plus gear, passengers, etc), you could only hit 20 mph on the hills? Yeah, that'd be a problem.
donn0128
Explorer II
Sep 15, 2016
Good luck. Towed an arctic fox 19b with a Tahoe 5.3L and it struggled on the hills. I guess if acceptable is 20mph up hills then you will be ok. But personally I think you just don't have enough motor especially if you have more than just a driver in the van.
likestrucks
Explorer
Sep 15, 2016
I think you would be fine with either of those. You will be well within spec. They build those vans pretty beefy. 3000 lb of payload, 4000+ lb rear axle capacity. 8600 lb tow rating.

What it comes down to is expectations of power. Some people don't mind hanging in the slow lane letting the rig work, while others want major power on tap so that they can accelerate like they are driving a normal car.

I am not trying to win any races and as long as you aren't, you will be fine with those trailers, just watch the temps and make sure they stay within spec and let the rig work and do its job and it will be fine.
APT
Explorer
Sep 15, 2016
GM says the tow rating is 8100 pounds. You have plenty of suspension to handle 1000+ pounds of TW. I think acceptable performance will be your limit which is hard for anyone else to tell you. I doubt you'll notice much difference between the two TTs you listed already. Towing any high walled RV takes a fair amount of power. You'll really only notice the difference on hills or uphill starts. Use tow/haul mode and limit top trans gear to 4.

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What can I tow w/ a Chevy Express 2500 4.8L?

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