What weight TT for a '99 Suburban 1500 TV? UPDATE sold Sub

[bernercamper]

I'm completely new to all this - dh grew up with a pop-up and loves to tent camp but if I'm going to come along it must be something hard sided with a bathroom and a refrigerator!

We own a 1999 Suburban 1500 LS... the original purchase paperwork says it has the upgraded tow package and transmission cooler. I've looked in the manual and still not sure what I should be looking for as an upper limit with regards to tow weight. Could someone give me some guidelines?

I'm guessing our best rv would be a travel trailer. Haven't really considered anything else yet. I guess that's for another post though.

I'm slowly working my way through the sticky but I'm excited and want to buy something asap! There are no rv dealers nearby to ask. Do I go to the Chevy dealer with questions about hitches?

Oh we also have four little kids 10 and under, and we might bring a 60 pound dog along occasionally... My dh and I are about 150lbs each. And we have a couple teens around 150 each too, thought I don't think they'd be along as much or they might take a separate vehicle.

So what should be my upper limit? Or is it not that simple? And I'm lost on the tongue weight discussion but hopefully I'll learn.

Thanks so much,
Marie

[bernercamper]

That's encouraging. I've read many different things. Also the tow weight in manual is different than specs I'm reading online.

So payload is the difference between gvwr and vehicle weight. And the payload has to be more than vehicle plus passengers and luggage and hitch weight?

[wthibeaux]

We towed our Mobile Scout with the exact vehicle. Our trailer weighed 5200 lbs with everything in it except food and clothing. We had no problems in Texas hill country. Our suburban had 3.73 gears. We didn't pack lightly.

[Trackrig]

Can also call the household moving companies and ask them.

Also if you have a state DOT weight scale, wait until they're closed and go weigh there - the scales are normally on 24 hours a day.

Bill

[bernercamper]

OK will be doing that maybe tomorrow - there's a stone store nearby that might be willing to weigh for me...

Correct there's no yellow sticker that says payload.

[KD4UPL]

I don't think payload was listed back then. This is a '99 remember.
The OP needs to make a trip to the scales with the family on board.
I suspect this vehicle can't safely tow a trailer large enough to suit the family.

[bikendan]

bernercamper wrote:
Well I'll paste the info from the doorjamb sticker and the manual...

gvwr 6800lbs
gvwr frt 3400
gvwr rr 3968

heavy duty trailering equipment
rear axle 3.42 ratio
hd aux transmission cooling system

c-1500 2wd suburban 5.7l 3.42 max trailer wt 5,500lbs.

edited to add: rear bumper says max tongue weight 500 lbs, max trailer weight 5000 lbs!

None of your numbers show payload capacity.
It's listed on the driver's door yellow sticker.

But if your towing capacity is only 5500lbs, that really limits your choices.
Only a hybrid TT would have enough sleeping capacity and be in that weight range.

[Campfire_Time]

bernercamper wrote:


I have such an aversion to canvas that I think I'd rather buy a new vehicle before using an rv with canvas slide outs.

I can certainly understand that. We had mold issues with a pop-up years ago that I didn't quite dry out good enough. A real hassle to clean.

I do think you might want to go look at hybrids and understand what the bunk ends are really made of. It's vinyl covered canvas, not straight up canvas. At least any of them made in the last 15 years are. Not at all like older pop-ups or canvas tents. Very easy to deal with. Dry off with a towel if needed, or quickly dry after returning home when packing in the rain.

The hybrid in my sig is our second. The first was an '03 that we owned for 10 years. No leaks or any other issues for that matter.

Either way, what ever you do you'll have a lot of fun and so will your kids.

[Matt_Colie]

Berner,


First, Get the TV weighed a scrap yard, grain bin or truck stop. With the kids and dog. Now you know how close you are to GVW.

Before you do anything rash, look at what you find available in the TT market. Used will save you a lot, but used with water damage may cost you a lot more. Even if the seller says the water leakage was repaired, there can be very serious damage to any of the stick and staple boxes in short order. If it close to where I think you will be. You will want to add both a Load Equalizing Hitch and a brake controller for the trailer brakes. While these may be expensive, we are still way below the cost of any motorhome worth having. (And inspections and emissions and registrations..)

The most important part of any towing gear is between the drivers ears. If you are going to two any where, have a plan and never push the weather.

When (ok-if) you get a TT and get it set up to tow, Find a large lot and practice backing the trailer into a slot. When that gets really boring, take the trailer home and camp at least one night in your driveway. You will instantly learn a lot.

Matt

[bernercamper]

Maybe I should scrap the idea of a TT and look at smaller motorized rv?

DH wants light tow weight and short length. He's nervous about anything close to 30'. I need my own bed and chair and table. Maybe a camper. But I fear we have too many kids and the youngers are too young to tent by themselves yet.

ETA I'm looking at ford e250 or e350 passenger vans. I'm hoping they can tow more than what I own?

[bernercamper]

I think the gvwr includes a full tank of gas (44lbs) and person...

dh and I are 300 together, 4 kids right now are 200 total but of course that will increase. Dog won't be on every trip but 50 pounds plus 20 of food... belongings I have no idea. Guess I'll weigh next time we pack up to go somewhere.

I have such an aversion to canvas that I think I'd rather buy a new vehicle before using an rv with canvas slide outs.

[bernercamper]

Well I'll paste the info from the doorjamb sticker and the manual...

gvwr 6800lbs
gvwr frt 3400
gvwr rr 3968

heavy duty trailering equipment
rear axle 3.42 ratio
hd aux transmission cooling system

c-1500 2wd suburban 5.7l 3.42 max trailer wt 5,500lbs.

edited to add: rear bumper says max tongue weight 500 lbs, max trailer weight 5000 lbs!

[Lwiddis]

Think positive, Burner! What is the payload capacity of the Sub? How much weight will you carry in the Sub minus 150 pounds?

[WNYBob]

Since you are coming from a pop-up, look at small Hybrids.

[bernercamper]

Ugh that's not what I wanted to hear! We love this suburban bc it only has 125k miles...

But I agree. We used to have a Ford e150 that we loved. Maybe we could trade for one of those but I'm guessing it would need to be the e250 version.

[donn0128]

Sadly 1500 Suburbans can already be overloaded by just loading with passangers. You really really need to load your family up plus what ever you would normally have for a trip and drive across a set of scales. Then look on the drivers door post for the GVWR tag. Subtract one from the other. Thats how much payload you have. A 99 Subbie is likely going to have nearly zero payload. You might first start looking for a bit newer 2500 burb before starting on the trailer search.