2011 Tahoe Pulling Passport 2650BH Travel Trailer - Advice

There are tons of posts about this exact topic. Do a search on tow vehicle or tow capacity and you'll have plenty of reading time. We have a Premier 32 and were in a similar situation. We had a Silverado 1500 and were within tow limits. But once you start using it (loading it) you'll soon realize that it really just doesn't cut the mustard. We didn't feel that the truck had enough gusto. We recently upgraded to a 2500 diesel. The piece of mind is wonderful.

IMHO Clint, you are going to be too close for comfort with this. For one thing don't assume that the 4800 lb. dry weight is accurate. Weigh it yourself. Secondly, even if that's accurate it only leaves you with 400 lbs. of carrying capacity to reach the Tahoe's limits.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly...just because the engine is rated to tow that much weight, doesn't mean the suspension can hold a trailer that heavy.

It's the manufacturer's dirty little secret and very misleading.

Congrats on your new rig and welcome to the Forum...

"Dealer said we would be fine," are famous words and often famous lies.

4800 lbs dry will be easily 5800 lbs with options and loaded for camping. Since it's a bunk house, I assume you have kids. That means more stuff and more weight.

Also, 3.08 rear end is not optimal for towing. You will definitely need a trans cooler. And, beside the towing capacity you need to look at the PAYLOAD capacity of the Tahoe. I am guessing that loaded with family, gear, and the loaded tongue weight of the trailer, you will be close to or over that number as well.

Stick with it. We all (or at least I did) have to go through the learning curve.

I think our Tahoe had a bit higher tow rating, about 6100 if I recall (3.73 and tow package). I would check you payload capacity, you may very well be above limits with this TT. Our very light Aerlolite is 4490 dry and about 5100 loaded. Tongue id well over 500 lbs loaded. We were well within our specs with this but after a year of towing and expensive problems with the air-ride system, switched to the F150 in sig. Night and day difference. Tahoe was reason we went with smaller TT, now looking at something larger -31 to 32 feet would be max for us even with the F150.

clint.settle wrote:
Wife and I purchased a 2014 Keystone Passport 2650BH (31ft w/ hitch, 4800# dry weight)and need some additional advice on towing with our 2011 Tahoe, 5200# tow capacity, 5.3L V8, 3.08 rear ratio. Dealers said we can do it, so here we are, but nervous about being at our max.

That salesmen should be fired. The dry weight is only 400 pounds under your tow rating. The yellow sticker as equipped weight is probably another 200 pounds higher. You'll add 200 pounds of clothes let alone food, toys, camping chairs, pots and pans, dishes, coffee pot, etc. The average RVer adds 1200 pounds to MFR dry weight according to a survey done here from people who actually weighed their setup. You'll be every bit of 6k pounds, and closer to 6500 for a week long family trip. But you got what you got so now what?

GM never offered the HD towing package with the 3.08 axle you have. Here is a reference thread on a similar situation. It is not ideal; 3.42 would be better. But you can choose to spend $200 on a trans cooler or spend far more in just sales tax switching the whole truck.

Towing a high walled RV is hard work. Hard on engine, hard on trans. That's why they use twice the fuel (10mpg vs. 20mph) as non-towing at 65mph. Weight does not matter much for fuel economy as you are pulling two sheets of plywood through the air. The transmission shifts a lot more and unlocks the torque converter more than non towing, thus the need for better cooling. The part is like $60. Labor an hour or two for a competent trans shop.

There is the Tahoe's 1000 pound receiver limit and payload issue near 1500 pounds, but you will probably be under those.

Too much trailer for that TV IMO. You'll be over capacity on pretty well every measurement. Don't ever take the salesperson's advice about your vehicle's towing capabilities.

Your not going to be any worse off if you try it. If you end up changing tow vecicles you hitch gear will tranfer to the new one. Just for referance i have an older yukon 5.3 4spd with 3.73 and its rated for 7800#. Maybe a flat bed with cement blocks on it but not a tt. You may have a different experience with your 6spd but mine feels capped out with my 5500# tt.
Good luck.

5200# tow rating.......which is always over rated
4800# dry weight.......which is under rated

Just take two vehicles when you go camping.
One to tow the trailer empty and the other to bring all the stuff for camping.

Sorry but not enough tow vehicle.

I don't agree completely with the previous posters. 6-spd 3.08 is close to the older 4-spd with 4.10. Actually it is better with 4 usable towing gears and smaller gear spacing.

And there is risk to hooking up and towing for burning up the trans. Get a cooler.

APT wrote:
I don't agree completely with the previous posters. 6-spd 3.08 is close to the older 4-spd with 4.10. Actually it is better with 4 usable towing gears and smaller gear spacing.

And there is risk to hooking up and towing for burning up the trans. Get a cooler.

Maybe...but does this Tahoe have the 6 speed...and there is still the big issue of PAYLOAD.