Easy way to determine how much Travel Trailer I can buy?

[elsique]

I know this has been discussed many times. Looking to upgrade our TT and a simple way to determine max TT we can buy without all complications.
Our Truck has a max tow capacity of 9400lbs with current set up (2010 Chevy Silverado 6.2 with 3.42ax. So I am thinking that I should be looking for a trailer with a dry weight 2000lbs less as my max to account for the weight of everything (including people) we put into the truck and the TT combined. So if 9400 is my max, then I should not buy a TT that weighs more that 7400 lbs UVW.

Would that be a simplistic way to determine our max?

Note: The TT I really like is 7900LB UVW and I think that is just at least 500lbs over the max we can consider.

How much does all the extra stuff (food/bottled water, beer, clothing, chairs, linens, etc.) generally add for a weekend trip?

[elsique]

Sorry to offend Walaby. Yes, I have been a member since 2005 but I don't buy a new travel trailer often. I have not been actively keeping up with the forum over the last few years but have always gotten great advice and feedback from others on this forum in the past. We need to stay around 6000 lbs. Just needed a little refresher on the subject as I work to set realistic expectations for myself.
Thanks to everyone for the feedback. We can close this topic now.

[time2roll]

My simple solution... Keep the trailer GVWR within the tow rating.
Forget UVW or dry weight.

[Passin_Thru]

How much money you got? Fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.
Buy an old Airstream. You can fly witha 1/2 ton.

[Walaby]

Im sorry, but you currently own a TT, you've been a forum member for 12 years.. you have undoubtedly seen HUNDREDS, maybe THOUSANDS of threads on how to determine how much TT you can tow with a truck. Do you mean to tell me, after all that experience and knowledge you've gained over the past decade plus that you can't easily figure it out?

Are you really unclear about how much stuff you might carry and how that might weigh? Again, according to your profile, you've been a member since 2005 and you have a trailer already, so surely you have been on a trip or two since 2005?

Worse case - take 13% of TT GVWR and if that figure, along with the total weight of your cargo and passengers fits within your payload rating, it's a likely candidate for further investigation. If not, then move on.

Sorry.. just being blunt about it.

Mike

[ependydad]

Agreed on weighing. You'll find that long before tow capacity, you hit other ratings (GVWR typically).

See if this helps:
Learn To RV: What can I tow?

And:
TowingPlanner: What can my truck tow?

[drsteve]

TomG2 wrote:
I am not one who asks how big and heavy a trailer I can tow, but what is the smallest lightest unit that will let me enjoy RVing to the maximum.

X2.

[TomG2]

"Easy way to determine how much Travel Trailer I can buy?"

The "Easy" way is to let a bunch of Internet experts tell you. The guesses will vary from 4,000 pounds to 8,000 pounds. I just got rid of a F-150 that was "rated" to tow 7,600 pounds because it was a pain to tow over 3,000 pounds. Why? Because the transmission would not allow me to lock out the top two overdrive gears in hilly traveling. Up the hills in 3rd, upshift to 6th on the downhill, and back down to 3rd on the next incline. Over and over. New truck climbs in fourth and stays there up and down hill. Much better for me. Might not bother other people, but that is my point about taking the easy way out.

I am not one who asks how big and heavy a trailer I can tow, but what is the smallest lightest unit that will let me enjoy RVing to the maximum.

(I know that Ford makes a transmission that gives one more control and that is what I have now)

[elsique]

Thank you for all the feedback!

[Huntindog]

So how many answers do you have that are an actual simple way to tell how much you can tow?

I will tell you, but first I will tell you some other stuff.

The Tow rating is a fictional # that few if any are really able to achieve. Especially for 1/2 tons. It is there simply for advertising.

The heavier you want to go, the more important it is to do your homework. IOW, there is no simple easy way to get close to, but not over your limit.

If you push it without doing the homework, you risk needing to buy a bigger truck for your new too heavy TT... Lots of people get new trucks this way.

So now for my "simple' answer: Just about any 1/2 ton can tow a TT that has a GVWR of 7000# or less.

About now you are thinking that is too low... Right?

Well you wanted simple and easy. That is it.

If that is answer is not to your liking... Then do your home work.

[westend]

Tow Vehicle - 2010 Chevy Silverado 1500 4x4 6.2L Engine and 3.42 axle with Tow pkg. GVWR 7000lb GAWR Frt 3950LB, GAWR RR 3950LB (also have Wt D Hitch & Equalizer Anti sway)May have to look around for any other numbers on truck

Look on the driver's side door jamb for the cargo loading sticker. That number is your available payload. Should read, "Cargo and passengers not to exceed xxx lbs".

[LAJMINNIEPLUS]

You should be fine with a trailer that weighs a little over 6000# dry and 8800# gross. My truck has a similar tow rating to yours. My trailer weights 6250# dry and a little over 7200# camping ready with 1/3 tank of water. I have about 2000# left on my gross combined weight and about 500# of truck payload reserve. Just my wife and I as passengers. Trailer tows fine with my 2016 Sierra 1500. Good hitch is critical.

[bailer6334]

Get you truck weighed. Based upon build sheet for my 2500HD, the curb weight is 7383lbs. However when I had it weighed this past week the weight is 7880lbs. A difference of 497lbs. This reduces my payload that much. In my case not a problem as I have a DMAX and my TT GVWR is only 6695lbs.

I think you are wise not to go over 7000lbs GVWR.

[theoldwizard1]

Take whatever the salesperson tells you with a LARGE GRAIN OD SALT !

My daughter's family has a Ford Expedition. TT salesperson said, "No problem ! It will tow this trailer just fine !!"

Well, AFTER the purchase they found out that the vehicle did NOT have the HD trailer tow option. They had to add a HD radiator and the auxiliary transmission cooler and the appropriate trailer brake wiring.

[JIMNLIN]

Our Truck has a max tow capacity of 9400lbs with current set up (2010 Chevy Silverado 6.2 with 3.42ax. So I am thinking that I should be looking for a trailer with a dry weight 2000lbs less as my max to account for the weight of everything (including people) we put into the truck and the TT combined. So if 9400 is my max, then I should not buy a TT that weighs more that 7400 lbs UVW.

Good plan.
The OP has the 6.2 engine at advertised 403 hp/417 torque and most likely the 6L80E tranny....... the 3.42 gears are like the older trucks with the 4L60E and around a 3.9x gear ratio all depending on gear selections.
The truck won't have any problems in the mountains or flat land high wind areas pulling its max tow rating.

A '10 1500 truck rear axle may weigh in the 2400 lb range. If the truck has a 4000 rawr this leaves you with around 1600 lbs for a in the bed payload.
Separate front and rear scaled axle weights are in order to know actual payload numbers....for any truck.