2003 Chevy Express 1500 Tow Capacity
HI, I have a 2003 Chevy Express 1500 V8 5.3L w/transmission cooler (180,000 miles) and Explorer Conversion and Hitch rated for 5000lb and 500lb tongue weight. The hitch is also rated for 7500lb and...
Forum Discussion
Thanks everyone, and sorry for any forum rules I may have broken.
The Van weighs 6320 with a full tank of gas. I weigh 180. My wife and kids are a combined 300. This puts us at 6800. Lab and Boston Terrier add another 100. We are now at 6900. Therefore is it correct in thinking that any tongue weight over 300lbs puts the van over the 7200 GVWR for the van? I guess the part I find difficult about this is that with a full load of passengers you would easily be over the GVWR for the van? I have seating for 7. Just 6 average sized guys would put the van at 7720. Is this normal for Conversion Vans?
Now for the trailer weight. The van tow rating is for 6400lbs. If I find a trailer that weighs in around 4700lbs I am well within the tow limits, but that puts us right at 11,600lbs combined. 12,000lbs is the tow limit for the van and trailer combined weight according to the 2003 Chevrolet Express 1500 5.8L V8 Owners Manual. Is the concern more for power or ability to stop? I would definitely be using an anti-sway weight distribution. I also would remove the rear bench seat from the Van. This would subtract about 140lbs. So without any gear or stuff added into the equation we would be approx 500lbs below on combined weight and 1700lbs below on towing weight. I guess it does not matter that we are low on tow weight because of extra weight of the Van.
The Van weighs 6320 with a full tank of gas. I weigh 180. My wife and kids are a combined 300. This puts us at 6800. Lab and Boston Terrier add another 100. We are now at 6900. Therefore is it correct in thinking that any tongue weight over 300lbs puts the van over the 7200 GVWR for the van? I guess the part I find difficult about this is that with a full load of passengers you would easily be over the GVWR for the van? I have seating for 7. Just 6 average sized guys would put the van at 7720. Is this normal for Conversion Vans?
Now for the trailer weight. The van tow rating is for 6400lbs. If I find a trailer that weighs in around 4700lbs I am well within the tow limits, but that puts us right at 11,600lbs combined. 12,000lbs is the tow limit for the van and trailer combined weight according to the 2003 Chevrolet Express 1500 5.8L V8 Owners Manual. Is the concern more for power or ability to stop? I would definitely be using an anti-sway weight distribution. I also would remove the rear bench seat from the Van. This would subtract about 140lbs. So without any gear or stuff added into the equation we would be approx 500lbs below on combined weight and 1700lbs below on towing weight. I guess it does not matter that we are low on tow weight because of extra weight of the Van.
