Avalanche 2500 + 31 ft Jayco Eagle Question

[NJEagle314]

Hi All,

First time poster here. My wife and I are in the process of a major upgrade from a small 21' non slide tin and sticks Coachmen (being towed by a GMC Acadia), to a brand new 31' Jacyo Eagle 314BHDS. We have purchased a 2002 Chevy Avalanche 2500 as a tow vehicle and I am slightly concerned about the travel trailer being "too much" for the truck.

The TT falls within the capacities of the Avalanche but I am trying to find out if anyone has experience towing large trailers with either an Avalanche 2500 or a 2500 Suburban/YukonXL.

Specs are as follows:
Avalanche 2500
Wheelbase - 130"
GCWR - 17,000 lbs
Curb Weight - 6,642 lbs
3:73 Axle (Tow rating 10,100 lbs - with a 4.10 it's 12,000)
Payload - 1,958 lbs
GVWR - 8,600
8.1 liter (496ci), 340hp, 455 torque

Camper
Jayco Eagle 314BHDS
Dry weight 8,110
GVW 9,975
Tongue 1,065 dry

I realize that with a fully loaded camper we will be getting close to the GCWR, however we will not be traveling with any water or waste in the tanks, and I would expect that we will not be loading the TT with more than 1,000 lbs. My wife and I combined are less than 300 lbs, and we have two small children.

Due to the size of the engine I do not expect any issues with power, I'm more concerned about the size of the camper to the truck. Friends have gigantic 2500 Rams towing the same size camper and the Avalanche looks small compared to these.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

[dodge_guy]

I don`t know! In 13 years I`ve never traveled with water in the holding tanks. well I have towed it to the dump station, but that's it. its all in how you use your trailer.

[rhagfo]

NJEagle314 wrote:
Hi All,

First time poster here. My wife and I are in the process of a major upgrade from a small 21' non slide tin and sticks Coachmen (being towed by a GMC Acadia), to a brand new 31' Jacyo Eagle 314BHDS. We have purchased a 2002 Chevy Avalanche 2500 as a tow vehicle and I am slightly concerned about the travel trailer being "too much" for the truck.

The TT falls within the capacities of the Avalanche but I am trying to find out if anyone has experience towing large trailers with either an Avalanche 2500 or a 2500 Suburban/YukonXL.

Specs are as follows:
Avalanche 2500
Wheelbase - 130"
GCWR - 17,000 lbs
Curb Weight - 6,642 lbs
3:73 Axle (Tow rating 10,100 lbs - with a 4.10 it's 12,000)
Payload - 1,958 lbs
GVWR - 8,600
8.1 liter (496ci), 340hp, 455 torque

Camper
Jayco Eagle 314BHDS
Dry weight 8,110
GVW 9,975
Tongue 1,065 dry

I realize that with a fully loaded camper we will be getting close to the GCWR, however we will not be traveling with any water or waste in the tanks, and I would expect that we will not be loading the TT with more than 1,000 lbs. My wife and I combined are less than 300 lbs, and we have two small children.

Due to the size of the engine I do not expect any issues with power, I'm more concerned about the size of the camper to the truck. Friends have gigantic 2500 Rams towing the same size camper and the Avalanche looks small compared to these.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

The last statement in RED is one I laugh at all the time, I have towed home several time with tanks FULL! Why, no convenient dump stations! Many times over good sized mountain passes!!
If you don't think you can run with full tanks start looking for a bigger TV, with a longer wheel Base!

[BenK]

drsteve wrote:
You'll be close on your weights, if not a little over on some, but you should probably be OK... unless there's a strong crosswind, or large trucks passing you on the freeway, or heavy rain, or you're going downhill, or uphill, or around a curve, or you have to brake hard and/or unexpectedly, or make a sudden course correction, or some unpleasant combination of the above. Those are the moments when you find out just how good your setup is. I try not to be the weight police, but that is a lot of trailer for that truck.

Great comment and directly so... :B

All things designed are NOT for the good days out there when a half
ton can tow the Space Shuttle (approx 165,000 lbs "dry")...but for that
worst day out there when Mr Murphy crosses your path

Either you have the right sized everything and setup correctly spot
on, or not...no time to go back to the store nor to re-setup

Why I don't provide the 'sure you can' type of advice, but metrics on
HOW2 figure it out yourself

[drsteve]

You'll be close on your weights, if not a little over on some, but you should probably be OK... unless there's a strong crosswind, or large trucks passing you on the freeway, or heavy rain, or you're going downhill, or uphill, or around a curve, or you have to brake hard and/or unexpectedly, or make a sudden course correction, or some unpleasant combination of the above. Those are the moments when you find out just how good your setup is. I try not to be the weight police, but that is a lot of trailer for that truck.

[Hannibal]

The Jayco 314BHDS is actually 37.3' long according to Jayco's website. Just a clarification. That's a lot of travel trailer!


http://www.jayco.com/products/travel-trailers/2016-eagle-travel-trailers/314bhds/

[TexasATM]

dodge guy wrote:


Not if it properly loaded and setup! It should be around 1250lbs. +\-

Mine was right at 1,280lbs loaded up and heading to the campsite. I had the front storage compartment crammed tight with stuff, and I have a toolbox mounted to the tongue with various necessities in it. I'm heavier than that now with the ProPride hitch, but I think you could keep the tongue weight around 1,200lbs on these trailers if you're careful with how you load.

[Brisk]

OP you will be fine. Read this LINK

Cliffs notes- 2005 Avalanche 2500 8.1/4.10s towing 10-15k over Rockies with no problems.

[rowekmr]

I have a similar trailer and my first few trips I had too much tongue weight because we loaded everything up front in the storage and under the bed. I bought a tongue weight scale but it only went to 1K and I pegged it each time I used it. If you are careful with the loading in the front of the trailer you can tow it fine with propane tanks filled I think. I put a lot of my stuff from the front under the bed storage to the rear to keep the tongue weight reasonable for the TV. I would shoot for 1200# but without a scale it was mostly guessing.
I towed mines back and forth to FL several times with vehicles with less capacity than that.
I have always hear the 8.1L pulls good just loves to stop at fuel stations.

[BenK]

NJEagle314 wrote:
Thanks everyone! The specs were from the manufacturer. I'll check out the door jam tonight.

What I do not understand is that the GCWR is the same for the 2500 with the 4.10 rear - and

that towing capacity is 12,000 lbs

. Towing 12,000 plus the curb weight of the truck would put it over the GCWR.

and

NJEagle314 wrote:


Specs are as follows:
Avalanche 2500
Wheelbase - 130"
GCWR - 17,000 lbs
Curb Weight - 6,642 lbs
3:73 Axle (Tow rating 10,100 lbs - with a 4.10 it's 12,000)
Payload - 1,958 lbs
GVWR - 8,600
8.1 liter (496ci), 340hp, 455 torque

Camper
Jayco Eagle 314BHDS
Dry weight 8,110
GVW 9,975
Tongue 1,065 dry

MTWR, that 12,000 lbs, is based on a 'curb' TV, which is also known as
the 'stripper' model

Just take the GCWR you listed of 17,000 and subtract the MTWR 10,000
and you will have the TV's weight they used to derive all for 'your' TV

On that, is the GCWR you listed for the 3.73 or 4.1 diff gears?...that
changes just like the MTWR vs gear ratios

Another point is that you are using 'dry', so going with that to project
(guess without actual weights) is that 8,110 divided by 1,065 = 13.13%
tongue weight.

Meaning unless you are going to tow a 'dry' trailer, the tongue will
be approx 13.13% of whatever its actual weight will be

If fully loaded to GVWR of 9,975, it will in the 1,309 lb range

Again, consider changing out the OEM receiver, it is hasn't been already

[CampingN_C_]

dodge guy wrote:

CampingN.C. wrote:
Well I guess I'll be the one to be go against the grain. Tongue weight on that will be every bit of 1500LBS. Not that the truck won't handle it in general but, that combined with a shorter wheel base personally, I think you'll find the towing experience less than desirable. Overall length of your camper is close to 38 ft !
I have virtually the same camper and my last TV was a 2005 2500HD. I put thousands of miles on that combo and never got it dialed in right.
My 32BHDS was sitting at 1380LBS on the tongue with two empty LP tanks. Jayco's published weights are VERY conservative, as I've said on here many times.
Reese DC with 1500LB springs bars no less is the hitch I'd go with if you decide to pull the trigger.

Not if it properly loaded and setup! It should be around 1250lbs. +\-

I'll have to respectfully disagree. I've weighed mine, loaded very lightly with very little in the ONLY storage compartment these trailers have. These are tongue heavy campers in the 14% range.
I would recommend to the OP go over to the Jayco forum and read some. He will see most 32BHDS's and 314BHDS's are typically in the 1400lb range, except some older models when I think the axles were a little more forward and tongue weights were less.

Again just to be clear. I just stated that his towing experience will be less than desirable. The truck will pull the weight all day long. However, 38ft of camper behind the shortest 2500 ever made is a lot, I think most on here would agree.

[x96mnn]

Will it pull it yes.
Will you be within the weights, from what you stated yes.
Will you as a driver be able to handle it, no idea, I am not you.'

Would I be able to handle it, short trips of under 90kmph I think so. Long trips doing the speed limit I don't think so. I have made every mistake in the book and none of them worked out well for me but I'd didn't kill me or anyone else. The absolute worse setup I had was a TV with a short wheelbase pulling its max. That one made the wife not travel.

Each person Is different, I have been in with people who stated their combination pulled fine or no issues. I can tell you for me in the passenger seat there was issues but the tugs, push and pulls did not bother them. What bothers you will be up to you.

[dodge_guy]

CampingN.C. wrote:
Well I guess I'll be the one to be go against the grain. Tongue weight on that will be every bit of 1500LBS. Not that the truck won't handle it in general but, that combined with a shorter wheel base personally, I think you'll find the towing experience less than desirable. Overall length of your camper is close to 38 ft !
I have virtually the same camper and my last TV was a 2005 2500HD. I put thousands of miles on that combo and never got it dialed in right.
My 32BHDS was sitting at 1380LBS on the tongue with two empty LP tanks. Jayco's published weights are VERY conservative, as I've said on here many times.
Reese DC with 1500LB springs bars no less is the hitch I'd go with if you decide to pull the trigger.

Not if it properly loaded and setup! It should be around 1250lbs. +\-

[CampingN_C_]

Well I guess I'll be the one to be go against the grain. Tongue weight on that will be every bit of 1500LBS. Not that the truck won't handle it in general but, that combined with a shorter wheel base personally, I think you'll find the towing experience less than desirable. Overall length of your camper is close to 38 ft !
I have virtually the same camper and my last TV was a 2005 2500HD. I put thousands of miles on that combo and never got it dialed in right.
My 32BHDS was sitting at 1380LBS on the tongue with two empty LP tanks. Jayco's published weights are VERY conservative, as I've said on here many times.
Reese DC with 1500LB springs bars no less is the hitch I'd go with if you decide to pull the trigger.

[DavidP]

greatwhitenorth69 wrote:
Not sure if your 2500 has leafs in the rear but the wifes 2012 has rear coils, awesome ride but not meant to pull much more than an 18' fishing boat with out white knuckling it to your destination.

Once you inferred his 2500 series Avalanche is not capable of pulling anything larger than an 18 foot fishing boat you lost all credence.
There is always a better setup but based on the trailer specs and the specs of the truck he can stay under the limits of both payload/tongue weight and trailer weight. I see no problem of this setup working fine for his needs with a properly set up WDH and hitch rated for the tongue/trailer weight.