Can I tow this TT?

[cowtownup]

This will be our families first TT purchase and we are primarily going to be weekend warriors within the state of NC possibly SC and VA. We are tent campers now and want something we can still camp with should the weather not be the best.

I have a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado LT with a 5.3L V8
GVWR = 7000 lbs
GAWR = 3950 lbs (both front & rear axles)
Max towing capacity = 7500 lbs
Combined weight of cargo & occupants not to exceed 1507 lbs.

My truck weighs 6250 lbs with my family in it and full of fuel.


Looking at the Wildwood 26TBSS which is:
825 lb = Hitch weight
5828 lb = UVW
1987 lb = CCC

Also looking at the Wildwood 263BHXL which is:
682 lb = hitch weight
5854 lbs = UVW
1828 lb = CCC

Here is my math and how I understand what I've read on here...
7000 lbs subtract the 6250 lbs my truck weighs = 750 lbs
This 750 lbs is for hitch weight and anything else I put in the back of the truck. (also for the hitch should a add WDH)
This makes me think I'd already max out my towing capacity unless I did use a WDH to move some weight off the rear axle of the TV. Or do I need to move down to a lighter TT?

Thanks in advance for any advice...

Chad

[FLY_4_FUN]

There is good news and that is the fact you haven't bought the trailer yet! For sure listen to the good folks above educating you on realistic weights to tow behind your truck. They aren't being mean, they are telling you what many of us learned the hard way that towing a trailer that your truck is not rated for is a bad plan.

Spend more time viewing floorplans that have a gvwr below your max for your truck and then decide if you can live with those models. If you want a huge bunkhouse with two doors, several slides etc then a larger truck may be required.

[kknowlton]

No good news from here either. A WDH will itself weigh a lot (our Equal-i-zer weighs about 85 lbs, including the bars). You need to be looking at a trailer that has a fully loaded hitch weight of no more than 750-800 lbs (and I'm being generous here). You're looking at brochure "dry" weights, which are unrealistically low.

You might look into a hybrid trailer - full-height, so you don't have to pop it up, but has fold-down tented bed ends (sometimes a 3rd such bed along the side). It will have room for your family but be lighter. Good luck! It does take a lot of research to find the right RV.

[Mr_Biggles]

With your truck loaded up with the family AND towing a 7000lb trailer , you will be way over the truck GVWR.

[AppFire]

Hey, your truck will pull it if you have the factory tow package. You will need a WDH and some type of sway control. Maybe something like an equalizer hitch or reese dual sway cams. Also you will have to have some LT tires on it. P rated tires are to squishy. Take your time and don't get in a hurry. I have a 2002 silverado with the tow package. I pulled my TT to Kansas last October and to Savannah a few weeks ago. My TT weighs as much as yours as its a bunkhouse also. No problems at all, just don't get in a rush.

[cowtownup]

Does anybody have any good news?

[bradyk]

cowtownup wrote:
Its a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado
4x4 with extended cab and 6.5' bed

Tires are rated at 2535 lbs at max pressure of 44 PSI

I will have try to run by scales today and get the individual axle weight.

44lbs are more like passenger tires not LT already at a disadvantage.

[cowtownup]

Haha... You folks are not telling me what I was wanting to hear!!! I'm trying to look for something right around 5,000 lb UVW and less than 600 lb Hitch weight.. I need the bunk house for my kids and kinda like the outside door to the bathroom... I've looked at floor plans for days now...

[rexlion]

You need to trade your Chevy in for a Ford. 😄

[jmtandem]

825 lb = Hitch weight

This is apparently a brochure number. Reality will be much higher. The trailer has a gross weight of around 7800 pounds and at thirteen percent would be a tongue weight of 1000 pounds. You might look at a bigger truck to tow this trailer.

[cowtownup]

Its a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado
4x4 with extended cab and 6.5' bed

Tires are rated at 2535 lbs at max pressure of 44 PSI

I will have try to run by scales today and get the individual axle weight.

[lawrosa]

If you want to tow heavy you should get you individual axle weights from the truck. Full gas, family, stuff...etc..

Then take those weight and subtract from dor tag ratings..

GAWR = 3950 lbs (both front & rear axles)

This will be more accurate..

But other things to consider..

1. What are the tire ratings at max air pressure? This may be a limiting factor.
2. Yes you need a WD hitch but first need to weigh trucks individual axles to see what your dealing with..
3. Find the weakest link to the truck.. This would most likely be the transmission. I would suggest installing the biggest trans cooler you could fit behind the grill.
4. Tell us the exact model truck you have.. 4 WD? Ext cab? Long bed? etc...

[LVJJJ]

Looks like you'll be real close if not over the max GVWR of your TV. Bear in mind that the UVW is the weight the TT leaves the factory, usually with no options or any extra weight in it. Manufacturers tend to lie about their weights, but I have heard that they actually weigh them today rather than guessing (I won't buy new anymore). Most of us tend to underestimate the actual weight of the items we install and load into the TV and TT. So, weight builds up quickly. We bought a used '04 Tahoe "Lite" that was supposed to weight 2900 lbs empty. With propane, A/C, some provisions (no water) it weighed 4300 lbs. we were shocked.

We had purchased an '04 GMC Envoy SLT 4.2 6ci(with a 10,000 lb total weight capacity) to tow our "Lite" TT. However it turned out with the 4300 lb TT combined with the surprising 4900 lb weight of the midsize Envoy put us right at max capacity. We are now looking for an older Chevy Tahoe or GMC Yukon with a 350 to replace the Envoy. I'd recommend looking for a much lighter TT.

[donn0128]

Yup, your overloaded long before you even load the trailer. Those numbers cited for the trailers are probably brochure dry weights. Adding things like battery, propane, water, food, pots and pans, clothes can all add to tongue weight. Start looking at trailers like Rpods, Aliners, large tent trailers if you want to tow happy.