Will this combination work

Truck will pull it, but it will be maxed out. Tongue weight will be much heavier than 482 when fully loaded, and that will eat up available payload. Length is 32' and having control at highway speeds and windy days will be an issue, getting a high quality WD hitch with integrated sway control is mandatory for a safe and comfortable towing experience. Opinions differ on this subject because overall towing comfort is so subjective from one person to another, only you can decide if you feel comfortable after towing with this combo a few times. Good luck and enjoy your Northtrail TT.

Don't be afraid to REV the engine... It's peak power is probably in the 5000 rpm range.. If you are pulling 3500 rpms going up a grade doing 55 mph, what's wrong with that??

That's what my 97 F150 with the 5.4 in it did and that was an EASY 55 mph going up a 6% grade... My TT was a bit lighter than your proposed trailer, but that truck had less power than yours does too...

Anyway, don't fear the rpms... ;) They are your friend.. I had over 255,000 miles on that old 5.4 and it was still running strong when I traded it..

Like I said in my first post.. Get the proper hitch setup, load it properly and with a little experience under your belt, it'll be fine...

Mitch

dacotahkid wrote:
I am looking at buying the following and have been told that it will not be a good combination because of the length of the trailer. What does everyone on here think?

TV:
2008 Chevy Silverado Crew Cab Z71 4x4
5.3L
3.73 gears
tow package
GVW: 7000 lb
Max Tow: 7500 lb
GCWR: 13,000 lb
Wheelbase: 143.6"

I had that exact truck and pulled the trailer in signature, which weighs about 5300 pounds empty. What I didn't like was winding to 4K RPM on every grade. This was especially bad in the mountains of Colorado. If you are planning to go on mostly flat land, short trips it will be fine.

You will be disappointed with the 5.3 as a tv. Just not enough torque to keep it from working it self to death.

I towed a 31 footer with a Dodge Ram 1500 HEMI, but it was much lighter than what you're looking at (4800 lb. dry), and it did great with the proper hitch set up and brake controller (Reese Dual Cam/Prodigy). Not sure I'd tow that close to your limit.

dacotahkid wrote:
I guess I should have explained that I already own the TV and I am looking for a TT. I have been given tow caps from multiple sources ranging from 7000lb - 10,500 lb. The owners manual says 7500 but doesn't mention towing package so I am sticking with 7500. I finally found a trailer with GVWR under 7500 and now I am being told that 32' is to long for my TV.

Setup correctly it is not too long. Notice there are no length limits in you manual, only weight limits. Stay within the weight restrictions, setup the hitch properly, and you will be good. You run out of weight long before you have to worry about length. My TT is 30'. I have -0- sway with my 150

I guess I should have explained that I already own the TV and I am looking for a TT. I have been given tow caps from multiple sources ranging from 7000lb - 10,500 lb. The owners manual says 7500 but doesn't mention towing package so I am sticking with 7500. I finally found a trailer with GVWR under 7500 and now I am being told that 32' is to long for my TV.

I think you will be very disappointed particularly on the hills, you are too close to the truck's towing capacity for comfort. A 2500 with the 6.0 would be much better and not big dollars to step up.

I think it'll be maxed out on the weight ratings, but doable.... The part about the length is more of a hitch setup, proper loading (TW) and driver experience deal more than just saying "you can't tow a 30' TT with your truck"... ;)

I once towed my little 8' utility trailer and being lazy, didn't load the heavy bags of cement up front, but just tossed them on the back of the trailer.. Only towed it a mile back home and it was all over the road! Not my truck, but the trailer was swaying back and forth... I got home doing 25 mph (on a 35 mph road) because it was only a mile....

Anyway, there used to be some 'formula' about length of trailer and the wheelbase of the vehicle... Take it for what it's worth, but I never really buy it and after towing all sorts of rigs and combos it really comes down to how you load it so you have decent TW for your load and overall length really isn't the issue.. That's just my experience with it so there you go... :)

Good luck!

Mitch