Will my truck pull this TT safely?

frankhuggins wrote:
I have a 2012 6.2 Chevy Silverado with a GCWR of 16,000 lbs., according to the owners manual. The maximum trailer weight is 10,400 lbs.

The trailer I am considering is 29' in length with a GVWR of 9,680 lbs and a UVW of 6,966.

Will my truck safely pull this trailer, assuming I have it rigged correctly with anti-sway bars, brakes, etc?

Thanks in advance for your help! These weight and towing calculations are really confusing to me.

I have no idea if you have a 1500 or a 2500 HD....so. I have an 08 2500 HD with approx. the same GCWR. My TT checks in at 5700 empty and 6500 loaded for camping. I live in the mountains of North Carolina the Great Smoky Mountains....everywhere I pull I am going up a mountain. I camp in GA often and just this August was in Helen. I have the 6.0 motor w/ 6 spd tranny. I have pulled my TT from NC through Denver to Utah to Bryce and Zion then into Arizona for the Grand Canyon and Sedona.

So to answer your question succinctly MAYBE, but not for me. Your TT is 7000 lbs empty if you really do any camping you will not be able to keep the weight of your added stuff below 600 lbs. If you have kids and bikes and etc you will more likely approach 1000 lbs. I personally like to maintain a margin of capacity for my TV in the event I have an issue. Usually when I am pulling up a good size grade I will be in 3rd @ 3500 rpm. There have been times that I have had to drop into 2nd @ 3500 to maintain speeds of 35 -40. I would not be comfortable pulling TT that weighed another 1000 lbs over my current setup.

So can you pull it safely? My feeling would be that it would be marginal if you approach the 9000 lb weight on the TT. If you are going to be pulling in any sort of mountainous areas I will bet that you won't be sanguine about the experience. You will certainly need to be scrupulously accurate (dead bang on) with all your gear setups. That of course assumes that you saty within the limits of your TV GAWR, GCWR, max tounge weight etc, etc. If it were me I would look for a different TT. You should be able to find a unit that fits your needs which weighs in less.

Good luck in your search.

Here are the numbers off my door sticker:

GVWR 7300 lbs
GAWR 3950 lbs
GAWR RR 4200 lbs

I don't see any figures for payload. It is a 4X4 Extended Cab 1/2 ton.

If you do not exceed the payload/GVWR, Tongue weight limit or any other of the trucks capacities then yes you can do it safely.

The trailer I am considering is 29' in length with a GVWR of 9,680 lbs and a UVW of 6,966.

Need more information. Use 13 percent of the trailers gross weight for your calculations on tongue weight. That would be 1260 pounds. Does your truck have a receiver that is rated that high and does your truck have the payload to accommodate that weight and all the weight of people, dogs, bicycles, kayaks, firewood, tools, bbq, chairs, etc. If you have a three quarter ton or one ton it is probably a no brainier. If you have a half ton you may be at the limit. Unless, of course, you have the mighty half ton Toyota Tundra, then you can pull your 173,000 pound space shuttle around the neighborhood impressing all your neighbors.

frankhuggins wrote:
I have a 2012 6.2 Chevy Silverado with a GCWR of 16,000 lbs., according to the owners manual. The maximum trailer weight is 10,400 lbs.

The trailer I am considering is 29' in length with a GVWR of 9,680 lbs and a UVW of 6,966.

Will my truck safely pull this trailer, assuming I have it rigged correctly with anti-sway bars, brakes, etc?

Thanks in advance for your help! These weight and towing calculations are really confusing to me.

The only issue I see is the tongue weight. If the trailer is fully loaded to the 9680 lb limit then your tongue weight may exceed 1200lbs. That presents two issues...

1) Is your hitch rated for over 1200lbs?

2) What is the payload of the truck? It is listed on your drivers side door sticker. My 2011 Sierra has a 1700 lb maximum payload rating. That means that if I were to tow your trailer, I would have 1200lbs (or more) of tongue weight, weight of the hitch, gas in the truck, passengers and cargo in the truck... all those would easily exceed the 1700 lbs max payload. You need to check your max payload to determine exactly what it is and you need to check your hitch rating on the truck.

I would say that at maximum trailer weight, it may be too heavy for a 1/2 ton but you didn't say if you had a 3/4 ton or not. If you run without a lot of gear, water, ect. then perhaps you can manage with a 1/2 ton.

My trailer weighs 6006 lbs fully loaded, with the wife and kids, bikes, and other cargo I'm at the limit of my trucks payload.