Towing 2003 Suburban 1500 4X4
Hello All, First post of many I hope. My wife and I are buying our first RV soon. My wife and I are thinking about buying a 2014 Forest River 3170ds. My question is will I be able to dinghy pu...
Forum Discussion
Uncutbulldog wrote:
Earnest,
Thank you for your reply. I want my family to be safe. I checked with forest river and my hitch is indeed going to be 7500/750. I will have a braking system in the suburban as well.
Do you still have the same concerns?
Thanks again for your input.
Jeff
Hello Jeff,
Because you asked I went to the forest river site and they have this brochure, http://www.forestriverinc.com/downloads/default.aspx?page=/brochures/2014/2014sunlbrochure.pdf
I don't know whether it is current but it lists the hitch rating at 7,500/500. That wouldn't be unreasonable for a ford chassis.
The 7500 would be well within the range of your suburban.
On the other hand I think you'll be pushing the GVWR & GCWR very easily.
My Estimate
MH: 12,100
MH Contents(&7 people):3,000
Sub: 6,000
The 15,100 is 600 lbs over the GVWR and the 21,100 is just under the 22,000 GCWR. If you use the Suburban for storage when trailing that 6,000 would obviously be low. We all tend to put a fair amount (the old suitcase theory) so I realistically think I'm low on the 3,000 lbs for the people and content for the MH. What about bikes?
The one thing to consider is if somehow you stay within the technical spec's you will be working that ford for all she's worth so you may not get the life out of it depending on how many years you expect to have it.
Good luck
