Confused Newbie TT TV weights

[CortezCapt]

Ill start off by apologizing ahead of time, Im sure this has been asked and answered many times.


TV: 2002 GMC Envoy
Book says max tow weight of 5300#
Installed tow package with round plug
2-4 adults and a dog will be the normal travelers

TT: Im looking into buying a 2013 Palomino Solaire 209BH
Manufacturer's - dry weight 3851#
- dry hitch 550#
Seller says weight is 4600#

I am wondering if I would be able to pull this TT with my TV and if there are any suggestions or tips you can give me so that I don't tear up my TV or TT.

I am very confused by the weights and what WD anti sway hitches actually do.

We like to travel throughout the country including some time in the mountains of NC, TN, up the Atlantic Coast, the SW and up to MI. Weekend trips as well as extended trips.

I would like to keep my TV for awhile but hopefully the TT longer. This is a floorplan we think we can live with and grow with.

I have grown up towing boats and horse trailers with all kinds of TV's but have never considered weights before. So this is all new to me.

Please Help!

Im sure Im forgetting some info that will be needed to answer my questions, please let me know what it is.

Thank you
DJB

[lbrjet]

You are over the receiver rating. My 2004 Envoy was 500lbs max if I remember right.

[kaydeejay]

bikendan wrote:
i don't think you'll be happy towing it with the Envoy.

I agree - I pulled a 3500# boat with a 4.2L 6-cyl Trailblazer (sister to the Envoy). A lot less weight AND drag than a TT and it was not a good experience! That motor cannot lug, it wants to race!
Now if the Envoy has the 5.3L V8 it would be much better.

[CortezCapt]

Thank you all

Lots to think about

[bikendan]

if the "dry" hitch weight is 550lbs., you'll probably be over the Envoy's payload capacity, when the trailer and the Envoy are loaded for camping.
the trailer's actual loaded weight will be near its max or possibly over it.

i don't think you'll be happy towing it with the Envoy.

[Goose2448]

Yeah I was not sure, I knew they were AWD though. Even still, I am not sure with towing with one. I don't even like towing with a 3/4 truck. I have 50K+ towing in duallies in the last year and a half, so its just second nature for me and wouldn't want anything else.

[kaydeejay]

Goose2448 wrote:
Even if you are below all these weights, I am not to sure I would want to tow a TT with an Envoy. They are FWD, correct? I daily drive a Dually though, so what do I know. LOL

Envoy is RWD or AWD. I suspect you are thinking of the Acadia.

[Goose2448]

This is what I would do, load up what you would have for a trip in the truck and hit the scales with full fuel. From that number you will know how much you have left on the axles. That's what really matters(I'm in that I follow the DOT laws camp). You will find the axle weights on the door sticker, GVW will be 80% of the total axle weights. Also want to check your weights on the tires, make sure they add up to at least the axle ratings. So now that you know how much each axle weighs, and what you can weigh, figure out how much you can carry. IE subtract the actual from the possible. This will give you how much tough weight you can add to the rear. Now check how much your hitch is rated for. Can't go over this number either. I am not sure on those trucks, but I know my 08 Dually only has a 7500 pound tag hitch, kinda pathetic. I hope I have not confused you to much.

Even if you are below all these weights, I am not to sure I would want to tow a TT with an Envoy. They are FWD, correct? I daily drive a Dually though, so what do I know. LOL

[B_s_Bunch]

ChooChooMan74 wrote:

ependydad wrote:
There are 2 camps when it comes to weights - 1) you should be within all of a truck's limits; 2) exceeding truck's limits is acceptable within reason. Full disclosure, I'm in camp #1 but see the reasoning and logic behind camp #2. (In fact, ChooChoo above was one of the people that swayed me.)

That said, I think everyone should be educated - especially newbies who are just getting into this. It's one thing for someone with 20 years of towing experience to decide to overload vs. someone who has little to no experience.

What you really need to do is load up your truck like you were camping and go get weighed. From there, the math is pretty simple:
What Can I Tow?

You forgot the 3rd camp. The I am uneducated and don't give a hoot camp that will tow anything just because they think they can....

There is a fourth camp (Its got a hitch dont it) whats the problem hook up:h

[harmanrk]

ChooChooMan74 wrote:
You forgot the 3rd camp. The I am uneducated and don't give a hoot camp that will tow anything just because they think they can....

Why does everyone keep telling my my Expidetion will not tow that fifth wheel? I got plenty of power.


OP, Sorry for the threadjack.

[ChooChooMan74]

ependydad wrote:
There are 2 camps when it comes to weights - 1) you should be within all of a truck's limits; 2) exceeding truck's limits is acceptable within reason. Full disclosure, I'm in camp #1 but see the reasoning and logic behind camp #2. (In fact, ChooChoo above was one of the people that swayed me.)

That said, I think everyone should be educated - especially newbies who are just getting into this. It's one thing for someone with 20 years of towing experience to decide to overload vs. someone who has little to no experience.

What you really need to do is load up your truck like you were camping and go get weighed. From there, the math is pretty simple:
What Can I Tow?

You forgot the 3rd camp. The I am uneducated and don't give a hoot camp that will tow anything just because they think they can....

[mbopp]

I towed a 3800# (empty) hybrid TT and 2 adults with an '04 Envoy. It was doable but not pleasant. On a moderate grade I was pulling 4000 RPM in 2nd gear. And at 10MPG the range was 150-180 miles between gas stops. Even with an added transmission cooler the transmission went out at 60,000 miles.
Boats and horse trailers are a bit more aerodynamic than a travel trailer. If you want to tow with the Envoy stick with a pop-up or high wall. YMMV.

[ependydad]

There are 2 camps when it comes to weights - 1) you should be within all of a truck's limits; 2) exceeding truck's limits is acceptable within reason. Full disclosure, I'm in camp #1 but see the reasoning and logic behind camp #2. (In fact, ChooChoo above was one of the people that swayed me.)

That said, I think everyone should be educated - especially newbies who are just getting into this. It's one thing for someone with 20 years of towing experience to decide to overload vs. someone who has little to no experience.

What you really need to do is load up your truck like you were camping and go get weighed. From there, the math is pretty simple:
What Can I Tow?

[ChooChooMan74]

I tow a 21 foot hybrid with my small SUV. I know it is back there. I usually tow with 3 adults, 1 child, and a 3.8lb dog. A trip to the CAT scales revealed that I about at my front axle weight rating (Slightly over with no trailer, go figure?), got room to spare on my rear axle, and 100 pounds over my GVW. That is 110% ready to camp, since I was full of Fresh water (Hardly travel full, usually 1/3), propane, food, etc etc.

Biggest issue, as stated, is aerodynamic resistance. I have to pull down hill on the interstates. Luckily, my diesel purrs and doesn't mind the extra work. I tow at a safe 60MPH max.

My recommendations, first, if you are dead set on a TT, see if you can find a place that rents one similar to what you want. I rented an Amerilite 24BH, and it proved that I can tow it, but needed a few adjustments (luckily, Green Diesel Engineering also does transmission reprogramming). If you feel that it tows OK for you, then purchase, and don't cheap out on the hitchwork.

If that doesn't work out, there are a number of high wall popups that are pretty nice for starter campers. The hard shell is about a foot higher, giving you more room for cabinets and stuff like that.

Good luck and happy camping.

[donn0128]

welcome.
First things first. Subtract all the weight you have in the Envoy above 150 pound driver from your towing capacity.
Second, terms like dry or shipping weight are meaningless except to sell you more than you can handle. Now, take the trailers GVWR and if you are under 4500 pounds you probably will be OK. The big problem towing is the large frontal area of the trailer will suck power in a hurry. Had a new style Trailblazer and attempted to tow a 19 foot TT. Two trips was all I could take. Traded for a Tahoe and that towed fine. Personally I would look at tent trailers to keep weight and frontal area down to reasonable numbers.