Help!

[julesmarly]

We are going trailer shopping tomorrow and I don't think that we are prepared. We need to REALLY know what we can buy.
We own a 2004 Suburban. I have the 3.73 ratio rear axle with a tow package. The engine is 5.3L. Does that mean I have a 5300 V8?
How do we know what we can tow?
Thank you!

[julesmarly]

WoodGlue wrote:
What is it that you're going to be towing?

WoodGlue

That is what I am trying to learn. We are going to be in an area with some trailers to see tomorrow. We would like a light bunkhouse, we need to sleep 6. But we think a hybrid that we are going to see from a private party tomorrow might be what we need to do.

[fla-gypsy]

The number you need to be more concerned about is the payload rating. Realistically you will be limited to a trailer of about 6k GVWR max if you are toting a family around. We would need more info to really narrow it down. The GVWR of the tow vehicle would be a starting point and the number of family members and gear expected to be carried in the vehicle.

[kwlincoln]

I owned that vehicle once upon a time. Towed our popup we had at the time really well. I suspect your family is not always going to have a combined weight of 800 lbs. Unless you have 4 daughters.

My suggestion is to stay under 24-26' long because of trailer control/sway in the wind. Get a good trailer brake controller, WD bars/sway control and keep the total trailer weight under 6,500 lbs for comfortable towing leaving you a little power to spare.

[julesmarly]

If it is a 5300 (is that what 5.3L means?) with a 3.73 axle ratio, then my owners manual says I can tow 7700 lbs max trailer weight with 13,000lbs GCWR. So is that not what that means? My family of 6 weighs in at less than 800lbs.
So Donn, what does very little towing capacity mean?

[abc40kids]

Look at the light-weight travel trailers, get the right hitch / weight distribution bars and you will be fine. Enjoy the show!

[WoodGlue]

What is it that you're going to be towing?

WoodGlue

[donn0128]

It means you have a 1500 Suburban. It also means that when fully loaded with family and stuff that you are dangerously close to the vehicles GVWR. which will leave you with very little in the way of towing capacity.