Total newbie, towing question regarding my TV

[EnzoColorado]

We have never owned an RV before, always tent camped but now with twin 3 years old kids, it's time to get a travel trailer.

We have a 2010 Suburban 1500 4wd, single speed transfer case and 5.3L V8 with the 3.08 axle that we bought used last year. The dealer ran my VIN and came back with 5300 lbs towing capacity. I looked up the various towing capacity for this vehicle, and found that the towing capacity will go to 7900 lbs if it has transmission cooler and 3.42 axle.

I plan to install a transmission cooler, that's pretty simple to do. Upgrading the axle to 3.42 is out of question due to cost (I'm assuming it's very costly, don't know for sure). So I'm stuck with the 5300 lbs towing capacity. I figured with the only difference been the axle between the two tow capacities, the 5300 lbs is fairly conservative if I add the tranny cooler, and for going up hills, I can always use the manual gear mode to select the highest gear and not allow the tranny to gear hunting too much.

We've done some research and are down to two options for the travel trailer. Starcraft AR-One Maxx 19BHLE and 20BHLE models. Both are the bunk beds that we need. The interior is essentially the same with the 20BHLE having an extra pantry and separate fridge and freezer. The 20BHLE has tandem axles while the 19BHLE is a single axle. The 20BHLE's dry weight/GVWR is 3822/5000, while the 19BHLE's is 3373/4400.

The dealer said the 20BHLE will tow better, sway less and bounce less due to the tandem axles. I plan to get the Equalizer sway/WD hitch so I figured the swaying is not going to an issue. The question now is whether the 20BHLE when loaded to the GVWR, will be too much for my Suburban. I have weight the Suburban empty on a CAT scale and it's 5850 lbs with a full tank of gas. The GVWR of the Suburban is 7400 lbs. The tongue weight of both trailer models is 400 lbs. So I have about 1150 lbs of cargo capacity in the Suburban to play with including four of us, some gear and a couple kayaks on the roof).

I'm totally new at this so would love to hear feedbacks from people. I worry about what dealers tell me since they're biased to sell the biggest and most expensive trailer to me.

[EnzoColorado]

Had our first trip over Memorial Day weekend. Drove from Colorado Springs over Wilkerson Pass to stay three days in Buena Vista for the paddling festival, then down south over Poncha Pass and stayed at Great Sand Dunes for a couple days, finally drove over La Veta pass to Walsenburg then up I-25 back to Colorado Springs. On most of the roads I could maintain 60mph or so either in 3rd or 4th depending on the terrain. However going west over Wilkerson pass at 9500ft, I had to downshift to 2nd to maintain about 40-45 mph. Overall averaged 10.6 mpg while towing.

The camper worked our well for us, two adults and two four year old kids. The second campground did not have sewer connection and we did not realize how fast a quicker shower can fill the gray tank. Good lesson learned.

[EnzoColorado]

Allworth wrote:
Unless the tires on the trailer have been upgraded they are rated for 65mph MAX.

Just checked, the tires are marked with the following:

ST 205/75R14 100/96L

So I think the speed rating is 75 mph.

[Allworth]

Unless the tires on the trailer have been upgraded they are rated for 65mph MAX.

[Grit_dog]

Looks great! Lots of fun ahead.
As far as whether it's set up right, If it's not bucking, swaying, burying the back of the tow vehicle or lifting it, then it's right.
Sounds like it pulls good too. Congrats!

[PNW_Wood]

Guess I should have looked at last post. Oh well.

Looks like you got the tandem, so we'll done. Have fun

[PNW_Wood]

Not sure if mentioned, didn't read all three pages

Anyway...

I don't yet have an RV of any kind, but I've towed a lot of trailers in my years. From a pure trailer pulling perspective, I don't think it would matter if it's a RV, box of toys, or something else.

I agree with the dealer that a tandem axle will pull nicer than a single. Singles have a tendency to wobble more, so you are constantly getting this tugging or pulling feeling at the rear end of your truck.

Someone else mentioned blowouts, that is a good thing to consider too

If I were in that style RV market, I'd for sure be looking at tandems.

[EnzoColorado]

We drove 600 miles to Omaha and picked the Starcraft 20BHLE over the past two days. The dealer helped us setup a Husky Centerline hitch and we towed it about 5 miles to Offutt Air Force Base to camp and saw a B-2 fly overhead, very cool. It was a bit nerve wrecking towing it for the first time through the city.

Next day we towed it all the way home to Colorado Springs. Averaged around 60 to 68 mph on I-80 and I-76 gradually climbing up the plateau. I looked at the Suburban a couple times and thought maybe it was still sagging a bit in the rear. I measured the Suburban unhitched and the front wheel well was at 35.5 inches, with the rear wheel well at 37.5 inches. While hitched, the front was 35-1/4 and rear at 36. Did not notice much sway. Though when a semi flies past us, we could feel the whole rig getting pushed a bit to the side.

After I got home, I read the book that came with the Husky hitch, and measured the trailer and my Suburban and decided to raise the lift bracket to see if it makes any differences. I end up lifting it two holes and now the Suburban is at 35 front and 37 rear. The trailer also looks fairly even. Here are two pictures I took parked at a truck stop today while I practiced maneuvering.

https://goo.gl/photos/6tSkgjZLPmqbJJfZ6

https://goo.gl/photos/hq8AVGj31niczpkA8

We averaged 8.7 mpg coming home yesterday but it was a gradual climb all the way with head wind. Today it averaged about 10 mpg on I-25 when I tested the new hitch setup. The Suburban was able to hold 4th gear at 70 mph except for hills.

Can you guys look at the picture and see if I'm setup okay? Thanks.

[lbrjet]

Put in the cooler, put it in tow/haul mode and go camping. Forget about the naysayers. You won't win any races but who cares.

[Grit_dog]

Bottom line, like ApT said above, you'll have to wring it out going up the hills, especially at altitude. As long as you keep the trans cool, keep dropping gears til it holds speed.
Not that much of a departure from having "towing" gears in the same vehicle.
Altitude is going to pull more power than deeper gears would give you back anyway.
If you have taller tires on it, I'd reccomend finding the smallest diameter OE rim and tire setup though. That will help your gearing some for little $.

[APT]

That 5.3L makes its peak torque at 4000rpm. Towing any high walled RV up hills will need to be close to that 4000rpm, maybe 5000rpm at times. The engine is designed to do that all day long.

[EnzoColorado]

Grit dog wrote:
Of course how "well" it tows is subjective as anything.
By your user name are you referring to a Centurion Enzo or a Ferrari? Lol
If you have a big wake boat, however well your rig pulls that up n over to Stagecoach Res or Green Mountian res will be a pretty good emulation of how it will pull a 5000lb camper trailer.

Enzo Molinari!

Don't have anything big enough to simulate towing the trailer unfortunately.

[EnzoColorado]

Old-Biscuit wrote:

GVWR......probably 7400#
Payload....roughly 1564?
RAWR.......guessing 4200#

You're dead on with guesses.

[EnzoColorado]

Terryallan wrote:
My son in law has the same Burb you have. You don't want to tow with that thing. Especially in the mountains. It barely went up a 5 mile 8 degree grade by itself. the 3.08 gear kills it for anything other than no load interstate driving. The 3.08 was put in for MPG so that GM would meet the Café standards.

Don't get me wrong. With the right gearing. It would be a good TV. But it don't have it. Hook something to it, and you will be disappointed. In fact before you buy a TT. Hook one of your friends TT to it, and see what it does. That is the only way you will know if it suit you.

SILs Burb won't get out of it's own way in the mountains.

Interesting. I have had no issues going up mountains loaded with about 900 lbs of cargo (I weighed it for moving reimbursement). With regards to gearing, does simply hold it in a lower gear in manual mode helps? I never had to use the manual mode for going up hills, only used for engine braking going down hills so far.

Unfortunately, I don't have much friends here locally since we're new here, so no way to find a rig for a test tow.

[Grit_dog]

Of course how "well" it tows is subjective as anything.
By your user name are you referring to a Centurion Enzo or a Ferrari? Lol
If you have a big wake boat, however well your rig pulls that up n over to Stagecoach Res or Green Mountian res will be a pretty good emulation of how it will pull a 5000lb camper trailer.