We have a 2014 silverado 1500 Z71, crew cab, with 5.3 V8, towing package. Tow rating is 9800lbs but we are concerned about the payload rating of 1750. We are towing a jayflight 29qbh dry weight 7000 lbs. We are using a blue ox sway pro. Any input would be appreciated.

Since dry weight numbers are really useless, what is the scaled weight of the truck loaded for a trip. Same for the trailer!

You are really pushing the limits. The trailer grosses at 9250, add the family, the dog, miscellaneous gear in the truck and you will be over weight. It is doable on flat ground but hills are really going to test your patience and your nerves.

It's more than I would tow with that truck. You don't mention passengers, gear ratios, etc, but you are going to have around 1,000 lbs of tongue weight (or a bit more), add a full tank of fuel, the hitch, stuff in the bed of the truck, and say three passengers and you'll be over the payload. Lots of other people would say you are fine, of course, but I tend to choose the greater platform stability of a 2500 series type of truck, and a bit more towing power than a 5.3 for loads approaching 5 extra tons.Brian

IF your truck is rated for 9800lbs (not the "up to" from the brochure), then you probably have the 3.42 gears. Power wise, unless you get into the mountains, you probably have enough. BUT..... as you are concerned with, and as mentioned, you are probably very close if not over on the gvwr of the truck.Total weight of all the passengers? How much accessories have you added to the truck since you bought it? Bed liner, truck topp/tonneau cover, step bars, mud flaps, etc... all add up toward the available payload.What do you carry/haul in the bed when towing?Is there a CAT scale near you? If so, try to load up like your going on a trip, and with a full tank of gas and all passengers that normally join, go weigh the truck and trailer. If you normally haul fresh water, fill the tank just like you would for a real trip. While the fridge may be empty, and coolers may not be there it should give you a very close idea where you stand. Unless the loaded coolers ride in the bed of the truck... Maybe try to put some form of weigh in their place????Weigh 3 times total.Go inside beforehand and let the attendant know you would like 3 weighs, and can you pay after the last one. 1: Truck and trilaer ready to roll down the road.2: Truck and trailer, but unlatch the wd bars. Place them in the truck bed.3: Truck only. Drop the trailer iin the rear of the CAT scale/ gas station where truckers park. You will only be a few minutes.Ask your wife to go inside and pay for the weigh slips while you hook the trailer back up.Now post back here with the numbers.We were in that position towing ~7200lbs tt loaded for a trip. Up to about 200lbs over the gvwr, and VERY CLOSE to the rear axle rating. We now have a 2500HD.IF you decide to step up in trucks, seriously consider a 3500/350 over a 2500/250. Price is almost the exact same, and you gain about 1k lbs of payload.Also, get a new 2.5" shank for your hitch if you step up to a HD truck.Also, there is a chance you may be close to your trucks hitch limit for the trailer tw. Not sure exactly what the newer '14/'15 trucks are rated for.

That is a lot of trailer for that truck.Looking at this torque curve, you'll be towing between 3500 - 4700rpm. And as others have said, the payload is a problem. My 33ft TT started life out at 5700#.Loaded up and only 10gal water, it weighs 7200# with 1100# tongue weight. I've added a 2nd battery and upped the 20# propane tanks to 30's which only put an extra 65# on the tongue. I'm not sure where the rest of the weight comes from. But anytime we go to the Mich UP, my wife and kids like to collect rocks from the Lake Superior beach!:E

Trying to decide if we need a bigger truck | Good Sam Community

BenK
Explorer
Aug 31, 2015
Congratulations on your decision !!!

Too many will 'try' to make their too small or just barely large enough...work
at the hairy edge of it's ratings

Please post back on this thread on how it goes in hopes other newbies will
read and learn BEFORE they purchase a too small TV
Need-A-Vacation
Explorer
Aug 31, 2015
Congrats!!!! Looks great!!!
jmmrda
Explorer
Aug 31, 2015
jmmrda
Explorer
Aug 30, 2015
I really hated to trade the 1500 since it only had 6000 miles, but I know we made the right choice. It's a silver Z71 crew cab, 6.0 gas engine. 2900 payload. It is really nice and hubby is happy with it:).
I'll see if I can post a picture. Thank you for your help guys!
Need-A-Vacation
Explorer
Aug 30, 2015
SouthpawHD wrote:
jmmrda wrote:
We bit the bullet and traded the 1500 and bought a 2015 silverado 2500.

Congrats. Now give us the details. Crew cab? Motor size? Total payload?

+1!!! Don't leave us wondering!!!! PICS!!!

Congrats on the tow beast!!!!
SouthpawHD
Explorer
Aug 30, 2015
jmmrda wrote:
We bit the bullet and traded the 1500 and bought a 2015 silverado 2500.

Congrats. Now give us the details. Crew cab? Motor size? Total payload?
spoon059
Explorer II
Aug 30, 2015
jmmrda wrote:
We bit the bullet and traded the 1500 and bought a 2015 silverado 2500.

Good decision. I have the 29QBS, this years version of your camper. Its a LOT for a half ton. We ended up over our payload in the Tundra, had to sell it and buy a 3/4 ton to get more payload. Of course we have 2 kids, 3 dogs and a whole host of stuff to go along with them.

Had plenty of power to go, and never felt unsafe trying to stop. Gas mileage was poor at 7.5-8 mpgs and we were over our payload (but under axle ratings). It just wasn't worth the risk or the concern to us to try to stretch the numbers and make a 1/2 ton work. Especially because we go in the Appalachian Mountains quite often and make a yearly 2000 mile round trip to Florida.
jmmrda
Explorer
Aug 30, 2015
We bit the bullet and traded the 1500 and bought a 2015 silverado 2500.
Need-A-Vacation
Explorer
Aug 28, 2015
APT,

TY for adding some additional info!

Don,

YW! It has been way to many hours spent reading mostly here, but a little bit on other sites as well.

If you have chance, read the sticky at the top of this forum about how a wd hitch works. Lots of great info there.
OttawaDon
Explorer
Aug 27, 2015
APT wrote:
To ad what Need-A said, the purpose is best understood when one understands what the WDH does with respect to physics.

A typical example for full sized pickups and SUVs:

A trailer with 1000 pounds of tongue weight will have these effects on axle weights.

Truck front axle weight decreases by 400 pounds
Truck rear axle increases by 1400 pounds

When you apply WD such that 100% front axle weight is restored, the rear axle is now only only 800 pounds over unhitched, removing 600 pounds. The remaining 200 pounds is put on the trailer axles.

So the purpose of the 3 passes with 3 scale pads is to find out what the actual TW is and how well the WDH is adjusted.

Excellent explanation, thanks to both you and Need-A.

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