2014 Chevy Silverado 1500

[awoodwaring]

Looking at trying to tow a 30BHS (type) travel trailer. Most of these types of trailers are coming in with a loaded weight of 9600 lbs (give or take).

My eyes are starting to gloss over on the TV. If it lists max conventional trailering...does that mean Chevy has done the math and I can be safe with any trailer fully loaded at 9800 lbs??

Will the 3.42 axle ratio work for proposed trailer?

Specs on the 2014 Chevy 1500 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 engine 2WD (crew cab, short box)
Trailering & Payload
Curb Weight 5042 lbs
Max Payload 2007 lbs
Max GVWR 7200 lbs

Max Conventional Trailering, 3.42 Rear Axle 9800 lbs

GCWR, 3.42 Rear Axle 15000 lbs

Spring Axle Capacity 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 engine 2WD
Front Gross Axle Weight Rating 3650 lbs
Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating 3950 lbs

[ccondo]

Thought I would follow up on my post regarding my 2014 Silverado (I can't believe its 6 months since I purchased and now finally used my camper). I am a first time Rv'r havng never towed anything more than a utility trailer, so this was a real first time experience for me and my wife. We towed the camper up to Lake Winnipesaukee with no issues except for a few gusts of wind which really can be nerve wracking, especially for my co-pilot who became extremely nervous. Some of the grades were pretty steep but it seemed to get up there fine. Downhills were also handled very well, the truck has a hill descent control system which worked very well.

I averaged about 9 miles per gallon, which was lower than I wanted but everyone I spoke with seemed to concur that sounded about right.

So, all in all, a pretty great experience.

Thanks to all who responded previously to my questions.

Chris

[jerem0621]

CKNSLS wrote:

blt2ski wrote:
THen again, some states, like Washington, DO NOT follow the manufactures numbers from a licensing stand point. You buy a truck plate in even 2000 lb increments at 150% of the tare/empty wt! Both of my sons have 15 series trucks, one a Tacoma, the other a GM 1500, BOTH have 8K plates on them, THEY are legal to 8K lbs. Not the 5600 or there abouts for the toyota, or the 6800 or there about for the GM 1500.

My 2000 C2500 I am driving now, has an 8K plate, I am NOT legal to the door sticker of 8600. This truck weighs all of 4800, so an 8K plate is minimum. My old 05 dually had a 14K plate, base was 7200 lbs. I needed a 12K minimum. I bought a 14 as I found myself weighing in at that amount coming out of scale houses.

The door sticker for my Navistar is 18200, which happens to be in my office, NOT on the door. As that truck was incomplete when I bought it. IT is up to the body manufacture to apply an appropriate door sticker per say. So if they add a drop, tag, different tires, rims, springs etc, they can up the frame/incomplete body manufacture numbers. MANY if not most Type A motor homes with tags came from the factory WITH OUT the tag, yet the door sticker includes the tag axel as part of the gvwr!

Take this all for what it is worth, but the door sticker means squat in MANY jursdictions, if not all if they follow the true wt law in the US, which happens to be the "Federal Bridge Laws" You get 20K per axel, as long as you have enough tire width to spread/bridge the load across the highway. If not, then you limit yourself to less than that.

But with this in mind, an LEO CAN and WILL get you off the road if you are unsafe. Being over a manufactures limit WILL NOT get you off the road......I've been pulled over at 27K+ lbs in my Navistar, I have yet to get an over wt ticket! As I am good to over 30K per the tire width and per axel amount. My 05 3500 dually, gets the same legal max wt. A typical sw pickup will be good to 20K lbs or so. Assuming you know how to push the rules. Not going to recommend one being at 20K gvw with a 1500, or a sw 3500 for that matter.......but it is legal!

marty

It may be legal but if someone runs in to me over their door sticker they better have a darn good Lawyer because I will sue for negligence. It will be great if someone runs in to me with a half-ton with a maximum tow rating of 9,600 pounds and they are pulling 12,000 pounds. Yea, explain to the jury how being over both tow rating and payload is safe. Good luck with that one.

Umm... If someone runs you over in a Prius will you sue for negligence?

I betcha 90% of all family sedans are overloaded when loaded with family and vacation gear. Some five passenger cars have a payload sticker WELL south of 900 lbs.

My wife was rear ended earlier this year...I didn't have to SUE to determine negligence. That was taken care of for me by the Laws of Tennessee.

BTW... What happens if you get "ran over" by someone who is way under his rating? Does he get a pass because he is under his rating.

I can see you standing next to a mangled hulk of what use to be your vehicle and the truck that hit you with his landscaping trailer....are you really going to say.."it's all good man, you were under your ratings."

I've said it before and I will say it many more times when this subject comes up....

People do not get a pass if they cause an accident and they are under all their ratings...

Thanks!

Jeremiah

[CKNSLS]

blt2ski wrote:
THen again, some states, like Washington, DO NOT follow the manufactures numbers from a licensing stand point. You buy a truck plate in even 2000 lb increments at 150% of the tare/empty wt! Both of my sons have 15 series trucks, one a Tacoma, the other a GM 1500, BOTH have 8K plates on them, THEY are legal to 8K lbs. Not the 5600 or there abouts for the toyota, or the 6800 or there about for the GM 1500.

My 2000 C2500 I am driving now, has an 8K plate, I am NOT legal to the door sticker of 8600. This truck weighs all of 4800, so an 8K plate is minimum. My old 05 dually had a 14K plate, base was 7200 lbs. I needed a 12K minimum. I bought a 14 as I found myself weighing in at that amount coming out of scale houses.

The door sticker for my Navistar is 18200, which happens to be in my office, NOT on the door. As that truck was incomplete when I bought it. IT is up to the body manufacture to apply an appropriate door sticker per say. So if they add a drop, tag, different tires, rims, springs etc, they can up the frame/incomplete body manufacture numbers. MANY if not most Type A motor homes with tags came from the factory WITH OUT the tag, yet the door sticker includes the tag axel as part of the gvwr!

Take this all for what it is worth, but the door sticker means squat in MANY jursdictions, if not all if they follow the true wt law in the US, which happens to be the "Federal Bridge Laws" You get 20K per axel, as long as you have enough tire width to spread/bridge the load across the highway. If not, then you limit yourself to less than that.

But with this in mind, an LEO CAN and WILL get you off the road if you are unsafe. Being over a manufactures limit WILL NOT get you off the road......I've been pulled over at 27K+ lbs in my Navistar, I have yet to get an over wt ticket! As I am good to over 30K per the tire width and per axel amount. My 05 3500 dually, gets the same legal max wt. A typical sw pickup will be good to 20K lbs or so. Assuming you know how to push the rules. Not going to recommend one being at 20K gvw with a 1500, or a sw 3500 for that matter.......but it is legal!

marty

It may be legal but if someone runs in to me over their door sticker they better have a darn good Lawyer because I will sue for negligence. It will be great if someone runs in to me with a half-ton with a maximum tow rating of 9,600 pounds and they are pulling 12,000 pounds. Yea, explain to the jury how being over both tow rating and payload is safe. Good luck with that one.

[ccondo]

Max Payload 1974lbs. Sounds like you're thinking I should be good.

[APT]

ccondo ,

GCWR is the least of your concerns. Receiver limit and payload more more likely to be exceeded under the 9600 pound tow rating when it comes to RVing.

What does your truck's Tire and Loading sticker say you have for payload? Check your're drivers door or door jam. My estimate is the 6200 pounds dry will be just right for you and family. That's 7000-7500 pounds loaded with 900-1000 pounds of TW.

[ccondo]

I have a similar TV and am wondering how it worked out for awoodwaring.

I have a 2014 Silverado 1500 (5.3L 4WD Dbl Cab) with the "regular" tow package 3.42 rear axle, separate transmission and oil coolers, and brake controller. It's max tow weight is 9600lbs.

The trailer I am looking at is a 30'BHS style (KZ Sportsman) 6200lbs empty and 8200lbs full. I'm going to use a BlueOx SwayPro weight distribution hitch.

The issue, as I see it, is that the GCWR for the truck is 15,000, with the truck itself weighing 5200lbs, so if you add the empty truck and trailer (6200+5200) 11400, you get 3600lbs to spare for the combined weight.

That's actually not much once you add in people, the hitch, gear, the truck's fuel, etc. So now I am re-thinking the trailer, may need to go a little smaller.

[Carhlr]

awoodwaring wrote:
This is actually my favorite trailer (but may go a little shorter due to liking state parks):

http://www.cruiserrv.com/products/shadow-cruiser/floorplans/item/s-314tsb

Hitch Weight (lbs) 725
Dry Weight (lbs) 6,290
Cargo Capacity (lbs) 3235

However, I am reluctant to go to the 2500 due to gas costs (it would be a day to day commuter...45 miles/185 days per year)

I have this very set up but my TV is a 2010 chevy crew 4x4 same axle 6spd tow pkg NO PROBLEM

[blt2ski]

THen again, some states, like Washington, DO NOT follow the manufactures numbers from a licensing stand point. You buy a truck plate in even 2000 lb increments at 150% of the tare/empty wt! Both of my sons have 15 series trucks, one a Tacoma, the other a GM 1500, BOTH have 8K plates on them, THEY are legal to 8K lbs. Not the 5600 or there abouts for the toyota, or the 6800 or there about for the GM 1500.

My 2000 C2500 I am driving now, has an 8K plate, I am NOT legal to the door sticker of 8600. This truck weighs all of 4800, so an 8K plate is minimum. My old 05 dually had a 14K plate, base was 7200 lbs. I needed a 12K minimum. I bought a 14 as I found myself weighing in at that amount coming out of scale houses.

The door sticker for my Navistar is 18200, which happens to be in my office, NOT on the door. As that truck was incomplete when I bought it. IT is up to the body manufacture to apply an appropriate door sticker per say. So if they add a drop, tag, different tires, rims, springs etc, they can up the frame/incomplete body manufacture numbers. MANY if not most Type A motor homes with tags came from the factory WITH OUT the tag, yet the door sticker includes the tag axel as part of the gvwr!

Take this all for what it is worth, but the door sticker means squat in MANY jursdictions, if not all if they follow the true wt law in the US, which happens to be the "Federal Bridge Laws" You get 20K per axel, as long as you have enough tire width to spread/bridge the load across the highway. If not, then you limit yourself to less than that.

But with this in mind, an LEO CAN and WILL get you off the road if you are unsafe. Being over a manufactures limit WILL NOT get you off the road......I've been pulled over at 27K+ lbs in my Navistar, I have yet to get an over wt ticket! As I am good to over 30K per the tire width and per axel amount. My 05 3500 dually, gets the same legal max wt. A typical sw pickup will be good to 20K lbs or so. Assuming you know how to push the rules. Not going to recommend one being at 20K gvw with a 1500, or a sw 3500 for that matter.......but it is legal!

marty

[The_Texan]

CKNSLS wrote:

jareddustin wrote:

The Texan wrote:

l001952119 wrote:
Pay attention to the GM published weight ratings. They are determined by engineers, not wayward RV'er's!

Not entirely true......Yes, the engineers determine the actual numbers, THEN the bean counting legal department determines the "published" numbers, which are considerably lower than the ones the engineers derived. You think not, go look up the identical truck, sold in a foreign country and look at their published numbers.....It will open your eyes.

where can you see these numbers? i would love to see what my truck is rated for in a different (not sue happy, everything is the other guys fault) country

Look inside you drivers door jam. There is a yellow and white sticker with the tire sizes listed on it. Underneath the tire sizes it will say something as follows- "Passengers and cargo for this vehicle shall not exceed XXXX". This is the (payload) number you must take in to consideration when choosing a trailer. Just because a manufacturer says you can tow a 10,000 pound trailer does not make it so once you account for ALL CARGO. TONGUE WEIGHT AND PASSENGERS you will have when your trailer is hooked up.

There is no mystery here.....

You missed the point that we were NOT talking about an American truck in America, but American trucks sold in foreign countries....the "yellow sticker" is not applicable, or even attached on trucks made to be sold in a foreign country.

[CKNSLS]

jareddustin wrote:

The Texan wrote:

l001952119 wrote:
Pay attention to the GM published weight ratings. They are determined by engineers, not wayward RV'er's!

Not entirely true......Yes, the engineers determine the actual numbers, THEN the bean counting legal department determines the "published" numbers, which are considerably lower than the ones the engineers derived. You think not, go look up the identical truck, sold in a foreign country and look at their published numbers.....It will open your eyes.

where can you see these numbers? i would love to see what my truck is rated for in a different (not sue happy, everything is the other guys fault) country

Look inside you drivers door jam. There is a yellow and white sticker with the tire sizes listed on it. Underneath the tire sizes it will say something as follows- "Passengers and cargo for this vehicle shall not exceed XXXX". This is the (payload) number you must take in to consideration when choosing a trailer. Just because a manufacturer says you can tow a 10,000 pound trailer does not make it so once you account for ALL CARGO. TONGUE WEIGHT AND PASSENGERS you will have when your trailer is hooked up.

There is no mystery here.....

[The_Texan]

Go to the overseas websites for the vehicle manufacturer and track it down that way. I know the numbers I have seen for GM are generally 20% greater overseas for the exact same truck, just badged for sales in foreign countries.

[jareddustin]

The Texan wrote:

l001952119 wrote:
Pay attention to the GM published weight ratings. They are determined by engineers, not wayward RV'er's!

Not entirely true......Yes, the engineers determine the actual numbers, THEN the bean counting legal department determines the "published" numbers, which are considerably lower than the ones the engineers derived. You think not, go look up the identical truck, sold in a foreign country and look at their published numbers.....It will open your eyes.

where can you see these numbers? i would love to see what my truck is rated for in a different (not sue happy, everything is the other guys fault) country

[jareddustin]

just to add my 2 cents, you live in CA and there are a lot of hills, I tow a toy hauler around 9-10k lbs, I have a 09 2500hd diesel, my friends trailer is a little smaller and a little lighter and he has an 08 1500 with the better engine and the tow package. he struggles up hills and gets about 7mpg towing. my truck has no problems and im around 11-12mpg. on a long trip that can add up and over time it can add up. I drive my truck everyday, mpg is at good as a 1500 but I did not even think about that when I bought it I did not really care,if your budget allows it, get a little commuter car. a used good used 2500 can be less than the new 1500s

[BC_Explorer]

awoodwaring wrote:
Looking at trying to tow a 30BHS (type) travel trailer. Most of these types of trailers are coming in with a loaded weight of 9600 lbs (give or take).

My eyes are starting to gloss over on the TV. If it lists max conventional trailering...does that mean Chevy has done the math and I can be safe with any trailer fully loaded at 9800 lbs??

Will the 3.42 axle ratio work for proposed trailer?

Specs on the 2014 Chevy 1500 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 engine 2WD (crew cab, short box)
Trailering & Payload
Curb Weight 5042 lbs
Max Payload 2007 lbs
Max GVWR 7200 lbs

Max Conventional Trailering, 3.42 Rear Axle 9800 lbs

GCWR, 3.42 Rear Axle 15000 lbs

Spring Axle Capacity 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 engine 2WD
Front Gross Axle Weight Rating 3650 lbs
Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating 3950 lbs

If you decide to purchase the Silverado, ensure the Dealer knows about and fixes the recall issue on the 2014 GMC and Chevy trucks that was just announced.