whats the truth?

Agree with APT - Our 2011 with the six speed tranny Silevrado pulls our 5K TT easily, been over the Rockiess and back three times. Our 2005 with the 4 speed and same TT stuggled on the long grades but always made it. Also the 6 speed trans grade retard works great and cyclinder management helps save on gas.

Grocery getter? Seriously? There are plenty of RVs available that will comfortably handle.

Payload is generally your limit for RVing, then maybe receiver limit. Some half tons have 3000 pounds of payload, some have 800. Most -13 crew cab 4WD GMs are in the 1400 pound range, and 14+ are more like 1650. A 9000 pound loaded travel trailer will have about 1100 pounds of tongue weight, maybe as high as 1350. I have seen some half ton pickups with far less than that, and you don't have anyone in the cab yet. 5th wheel is worse. A 9000 pound loaded 5er will have 1350-2250 pounds of pin weight, plus 200 pounds for the receiver in the bed, plus people in the cab. So generally, 5th wheel does not work out favorably for half tons.

Open your driver's door and locate this sticker. Note what your truck has where this says 2051. subtract the estimated weight of family and a couple hundred more for the bed full of camping gear. Multiple by 7.7 for loaded trailer weight. Typical weekend RVers add 1000 pounds of stuff to the RV dry weight. Clothes, food, eating and cooking supplies, games, toys, etc. IT all ads up, so subtract 1000 pounds from your last number. That's a good dry estimate.




I'll assume you have a 2013/2014 truck, 5.3L, 6-spd trans. That's plenty of gearing with 3.42 and most RVers are happy towing about 7000 pounds loaded. Stick to about 6k dry, use a weight distributing hitch with integrated sway control, and you should be pleased.

1/2 ton towable 5th wheels It all depends on what you are doing My cousin tows his 5er with a 1/2 ton chevy but only moves it 2 times a year So he cant justify buying a 3/4 ton truck. We pulled our 24'TT for several years with a 1/2 it worked but dont plan on speeding anywhere!

ken56 wrote:
Thank you all for responding. I am of the school of bigger is not necessarily better so I thought limiting the TV and adjusting the trailer weight to fit appropriate. Now, we don't want a R Pod either so my thoughts were exactally as another stated on here, 500 hitch wt and 5000lb trailer max. and no 5ers. I have not been to the scales as yet but that will tell me alot more once I do.

I think you've got a great plan; IMO you've got plenty of truck for a 5000lb, or even a bit heavier.

That's where half-tons shine; plenty of truck for small-to-medium TTs and providing a softer ride, better handling, and often (but not always) better seat-of-the-pants performance than their bigger cousins.

People have their steadfast beliefs but modern half-tons are quite capable and IMO far more than grocery getters.

In fact, could be argued that if modern half-tons, with their capacity and power, are much better tow platforms than 3/4 & 1-tons of the 80s and even 90s, especially for TTs. Everyone loves to talk braking power as a reason to get 3/4 or 1-tons-- I'd bet $1000 that a current half-ton's brakes would outperform those of a 3/4 ton of 15 years ago and it wouldn't be close.

Someone recently posted that their late-model F150 is a LOT more truck than their 1989 F350 was; not speculation, owner experience.

I guess everyone was towing with grocery getters back then!

ken56 wrote:
We all have gone through the process of figuring out what can my tow vehicle REALLY tow. There are the numbers, and then there is the truth. Its really just a******shoot, with in reason, isn't it? I just got a new TV. A silverado 1500 4wd crew cab short box with enhanced trailering package,3:42 gears, 3650 rear axle rating, 7200gvw. OK, opinions please. Just how much can it REALLY tow. Specs claim 9200lb trailer. What set up would you be most comfortable with? 5er or towable? What max weight limits? tounge and pin weights?

For me, it comes down to staying within all of your ratings. The claim of 9,200 lb. trailer assumes a completely empty truck and a 150 pound driver and that's it. Once you're over the 150 pounds as a driver or add a spouse, kid(s), pet(s) and junk in the trunk - it all gets affected. How much, we can't say as we don't know you, your stuff or your family.

I wrote this after helping my father-in-law figure out what he could tow and stay within his ratings for his 4runner.

http://www.learntorv.com/p/what-can-i-tow.html

ken56 wrote:
Thank you all for responding. I am of the school of bigger is not necessarily better so I thought limiting the TV and adjusting the trailer weight to fit appropriate. Now, we don't want a R Pod either so my thoughts were exactally as another stated on here, 500 hitch wt and 5000lb trailer max. and no 5ers. I have not been to the scales as yet but that will tell me alot more once I do.

Just so you will know. MANY TTs are light enough for that truck. And not just little ones either. My 30' TT weighs in at a little under 6000lbs. TTs now come with a Yellow sticker. Usually on the door. It tells you exactly what the TT weighs sitting on the lot in front of you. With every thing you see on it. Just add 1000lbs to that, and you will be real close to what it will weigh loaded.

Go to shows, and go to RV dealer lots. Take your time, and pick one you can tow. Mine weighed 4811lbs on the lot. Now it weighs 5700lbs give or take 100lbs (depending on where it is going)ready to camp.

ken56 wrote:
We all have gone through the process of figuring out what can my tow vehicle REALLY tow. There are the numbers, and then there is the truth. Its really just a******shoot, with in reason, isn't it? I just got a new TV. A silverado 1500 4wd crew cab short box with enhanced trailering package,3:42 gears, 3650 rear axle rating, 7200gvw. OK, opinions please. Just how much can it REALLY tow. Specs claim 9200lb trailer. What set up would you be most comfortable with? 5er or towable? What max weight limits? tounge and pin weights?

The truth is that if it were a farm truck it would likely work just fine pulling a 15,000 lb gooseneck and take 3000 lbs on the pin, but when towing RV's many think you need a diesel dually for anything bigger than a tent. ;)

I think a good rule would be to stick within the 9200 - 10,000 lbs that the book says for the loaded trailer weight and make sure you don't overload your tires.

Thank you all for responding. I am of the school of bigger is not necessarily better so I thought limiting the TV and adjusting the trailer weight to fit appropriate. Now, we don't want a R Pod either so my thoughts were exactally as another stated on here, 500 hitch wt and 5000lb trailer max. and no 5ers. I have not been to the scales as yet but that will tell me alot more once I do.

Ok you have got what you got. First thing look at your door sticker that will give you your payload. Sticker includes 150# driver and full fluids. Most 1/2 tons will be in the range of 12 to 1600#. Every thing you put in the truck including the hitch the bars and the tongue weight of the trailer will come of that figure.
Most OEM,s are rather generous with their tow ratings. They do not test with an RV, but rather a test sled, which is a flatbed trailer with weighs on it. Rv has considerably more wind drag and many manuals will have a square footage statement alluding to that.
Short and sweet drop at least 1000# off to comfortably accommodate a tt.

Take the truck to scales ready to camp (you, passengers, any stuff inside truck, any stuff in bed) and get it weighed.

Truck GVWR----7200# minus actual camp ready weight equals available payload keeping in mind added weight of hitch and available weight on rear axle (3650 RAWR) and the rear tire load rating

Then look at trailers GVWR and using a 15% of trailers gvwr will get you close to hitch weight (disregard 5th wheels------unless you want a very small light weight one. If so use 20% of 5vr GVWR to get pin weight)

Even though tow rating is 9200# you will max out on payload, rear axle rating, rear tire load rating and/or trucks gvwr before reaching 9200# tow rating

7000-7500# gvwr trailer