Towing Advice

[falc]

I am new to trailer camping and towing. I have a 2008 Suburban with a 5.3l. It is rated to pull up to 8100lbs. The camper i am buying weighs 7300lbs. The suburban has the towing factory package with has 8 pin connector, and i believe the tranny cooler.. I am adding the brakes and the anti sway.

My questions are.

1. Am i safe to pull this?
2. is there precautions i should take
3. What can i do to make my truck pull better?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

[falc]

2006 f350 diesel

[Terryallan]

MFL wrote:

falc wrote:
I may have the ability to get an f350 diesel, but it's capacity only says 8600.

That does not sound right, what year, 7.3 engine?

Jerry

Sounds right for the GVWR of a F250.

[Terryallan]

falc wrote:
i will be under the towing weight, but not by much.

No you won't. you will be over. That towing weight is with an empty truck. and in truth with an empty trailer you only have 800lb to load. So lets say you put a WDH on, cause you do need it. Weight 60lb. Now you are down to a tow cap of 8040lb. Got a wife? say 100lbs. Now you are down to 7940lb. And how much over 150 do you weigh? Say 50lb, now you are down to 7890lb. Now about kids. Got any? IF so. subtract their weight from the tow cap as well.

Now as to the trailer. 7300lb dry. Think you will need propane? another 60lb to 7360lb. Going to take any food? Add 30lb or so to 7390lb. Grill? Depending on the kind another 25lb, if gas add a a couple gas bottles, If charcoal, add 15lb for charcoal. We are now close to 7435lb. How about camp chairs? 2? 30lb to 7465

Clothes? Easily 100lb. to 7565lb. What about sheets, blankets, pots, pans, silverware, plates, towels, awning matt, and then you will need sewer hose, water hose, and leveling blocks of some kind. So you are over by a couple hundred pounds easy.

And then there are other things I haven't mentioned. What if you carry water, but then you can't do that.

Thing is if you just add 1000lb to the 7300lb trailer. you are over weight, and when you subtract the weight of what you will put into the TV, You are WAAY over weight.

You need more truck.

[MFL]

falc wrote:
I may have the ability to get an f350 diesel, but it's capacity only says 8600.

That does not sound right, what year, 7.3 engine?

Jerry

[falc]

I may have the ability to get an f350 diesel, but it's capacity only says 8600.

[fla-gypsy]

The 7300# TT will likely end up putting you over the payload rating of the vehicle creating less than ideal conditions at best and dangerous at worst.

[Bumpyroad]

LarryJM wrote:
.

However I get the feeling that nothing anyone will say is going to get thru to you based on your posts thus far

Larry

yep, he obviously has his mind made up and will pull the trigger. just hoping that somebody here will OK it.
bumpy

[LarryJM]

falc wrote:
i will be under the towing weight, but not by much.

IMO that is a COMPLETE GUESS and I would bet not accurate. I would not tow the combination that you are considering since IMO it IS NOT SAFE and you are subjecting your loved ones and other innocent drivers on the road to unnecessary and unwarranted risks.

However I get the feeling that nothing anyone will say is going to get thru to you based on your posts thus far

Larry

[bikendan]

falc wrote:
i will be under the towing weight, but not by much.

you haven't provided much info about TT weight and your Burb's specs.

what TT are you looking at? are you quoting the brochure/website's fictional "dry" weight number?
what's the yellow sticker factory weight of it? what's its GVWR?

on your Burb, what does the driver's door yellow sticker say the payload capacity is?
and i don't think your 2008 Burb has 8100lbs. towing capacity. i have a 2007 Avalanche, which is basically the Burb with a pickup bed and its max towing capacity is 7200lbs. and it weighs less than the Burb and has the 5.3 with 3.73 rear end and factory tow package.

where did you get the 8100lbs towing number? that amount is only for the 6.2 engine or the 5.3 engine WITH the 4.10 rear end, which is very rare.

how many passengers and how much cargo will be in the Burb?

i'm guessing you have the same 3.73 rear end ratio that i do and that means your towing capacity is in the 7000lbs. range.

[bikendan]

falc wrote:
besides getting a new vehicle how can i add towing power to it

you can't!

[krobbe]

Don't plan any across country trips. Keep close to home until you realize the limitations of your vehicle.
Instead of looking at the highest rating (8100), you need to stay below the lowest rating. Usually the payload or receiver rating for a Suburban.
The 7300# TT dry weight will become 8300 to 8800#'s very easily with a tongue weight of 13 to 15%(1079 to 1320#'s). That tongue weight + 100# hitch + passengers goes directly against the payload. The payload capacity may be located on the door jamb sticker(passengers and cargo may not exceed number).
Not trying to bust your chops. Just some real numbers to work with.

[MFL]

falc wrote:
i will be under the towing weight, but not by much.

Just another thought, what does the tire loading/payload sticker on your door jam say?

A TT weighing 8,000 lbs. will have just over 1,000 lb tongue weight, plus another 100 lbs for the WDH. Depending on family and gear, your payload may be the bigger problem.

I don't think anyone will recommend your setup to be good. Can you do it? Your decision.

Jerry

[falc]

i will be under the towing weight, but not by much.

[270wsmhunter]

falc wrote:
if towing on mostly flat level land going under the speed limit, should i be safe?

That would be a good question for the trooper investigating the accident.

If in doubt error on the side of caution. This isn't only about you and your family, it's about every person in every vehicle you come across in your travels.

[falc]

i am adding the 4 point anti sway as well, the higher end one