Getting truck to pull toy hauler

[randompanda]

I recently purchased a 35' Wolf pack toy hauler and am now looking for a truck to pull it. I'm looking at a 2000 Chevrolet 2500 Silverado. I believe this will pull my trailer but am wondering if there's things I don't know... Do I need certain brakes? Any info would be helpful.
I've only had class c in the past so this is all new to me.
Thanks in advance!

❚ Did you read the FTS "Announcement : READ BEFORE POSTING HERE"?

Forum Technical Support (FTS) is reserved for questions related to the use of the Open Roads Forum sites,
member profile and photo testing, and for reporting account issues. Please avoid using FTS for RV related
questions. Instead, select the Sub-Forum which corresponds to the subject of your topic. Thank-you!



Moved from FORUM TECHNICAL SUPPORT

[blt2ski]

MANY toy haulers come empty with tongue wts in the higher % of what you want, as when you load things in the back. That hitch wt will go down. If this is a bumper/ball mount hitch, I can see where it starts at 2200 lbs. Put in 1000 lbs in garge, BEHIND the axles mind you, the actual hitch weight will lower.

If the OP is truly looking at a 2000, is it the newer body style? or the 88-2000 body style? if the latter, most of those rigs were lucky to have ratings to 10K lbs, much less 13-15000 lbs like this trailer.

My C2500 reg cab does not like the 1500 lbs of HW from my equipment trailer, as well as the 96 CC version. A longer WB truck is not effected by hitch wts as much, taking weight off the FA. ALso a diesel will allow less weight off the fa for a given WB of a truck.

I personally would shoot for an early 2000-2005 GM duramax if you prefer GM in the 2500 minimum or 3500 dually. IIRC it was around 20004 or 2005 that the SW 3500 came out, that would be the better option if you want a SW rig vs a 2500.

Not personally a fan of Ford or dodge for various and sundry reasons. BUT< IIRC from around 2000-2002, they also did some major body, frame,axle revisions, which makes those later models better options than earlier models too! The folks that prefer those makes can give you the better worst years to look at.

If you ONLY want gas from GM, I would look at the ~08? and later models, as the 6.0 gets a pretty good HP/torque addition, along with the 6 sp auto trans. Early 2000-about 04 have the 8.1 with allison option too.

Marty

[Old-Biscuit]

Dayle1 wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:

randompanda wrote:
It's a bumper pull.

With a 2268# dry hitch weight :H


What is model number?
275PACK18
20PACK10

????

I'm guessing that 2268 lb number is the CC, not tongue weight.

OP stated:
I have a 2007 35' wolf pack toy hauler with a GVWR 13387 lbs, hitch weight 2268 lbs

35' 5th wheel is only one that has those exact numbers for GVWR and Dry Hitch weight

35' Bumper pull has GVWR of 9985# and DRY hitch weight of 657#

So if it IS a bumper pull then a 2500 Truck would work quite well.


Just wish OP would clarify which MODEL she has.
It would make a big difference in options for truck

[Grit_dog]

guidry wrote:

randompanda wrote:
Why can't a 3/4 ton truck pull it? I really don't want to drive such a huge one ton haha Only toy I have in my toy hauler is a child size 4 wheeler

The only real difference between 3/4 and 1 tons is one additional rear leaf spring. And I don’t get the hesitation about diesels, the newer diesels are awesome to drive every day. Not towing I’ve gotten as much as 31.4 mpg highway. Get the right tool for the job.

Agree, the main difference is in the rear suspension, although in the last few years there are other subtle or meaningful differences that someone would come along to point out soon enough. In general though , they are pretty much the same chassis and drivetrain.

Don’t begin to pretend 31mpg is even remotely true, especially with any HD diesel. Possible by hyper miling an Eco Diesel Ram.

To the OP, while I like GM trucks in general, the 99-2000 models were sort of a bassturd
In between light duty and heavy duty truck. In GM I’d look for 01 and up for a much more capable truck.
2000 was kind of a turning point for HD pickups. Older trucks hadhave the suspension and axles but are old gas guzzlers with 3 or 4 speed trans or anemic diesels.
Looking in the 15-20 year range, I’d be looking 01 or newer GM. 99 or newer Ford. 03 or newer Ram unless you find a cherry 2nd gen with a manual trans.

[DaveF-250SD]

X2 what JIMNLIN said. In the age group of truck you are looking for, only the Ford V-10 and GM's 8.1L V-8 will handle that trailer weight. At that weight it would really do well for you to consider a diesel powered 1 ton SRW truck. If not, insist on nothing less than an appropriately geared V-10 or 8.1L truck.

[JIMNLIN]

Panda...the one ton mentioned is a one ton single rear wheel (SRW) which is the same truck size dimensionally (cab/bed/etc) as a 3/4 ton.

3/4 ton trucks have a 6000-6200 rawr which includes tire....wheel....rear spring pack. Good for around 3000-3200 lb payload in the bed.

One ton SRW trucks can have 6200-7230 rawr depending on year models and brands.
These trucks have enough rear suspension to carry 3200-3800 lb in the bed before exceeding a tire/wheel or rear spring pack.

Some will insist a one ton DRW (dual rear wheels). These trucks can have 8200-9900 lb rawr and are good 4800-6800 lb in the bed before exceeding usually the rear spring pack. Not needed for any 13xxx lb trailer.

Gazz vs diezzul ??
Of course the later gen diesels will out perform the gasser hands down. Some can run 20-22 mpgs empty or 10-12 towing just about anything.

GM's 8.1 and Fords V-10 can handle a 13xxx lb TT or 5th wheel trailer with ease....but their a gass hog at 6k-8k mpg depending on the load and 10-14 mpg when empty.

Some will recommend the high horsepower new gen small block gasser such as the 6.4 Ram.....6.2 Ford or GM 6.0 for a 13xxx lb trailer. I sat behind the wheel of those old 454/460 big block gassers for over eleven years pulling heavy loads around the country and listening to a screaming V8 for hours on end (day and nite) isn't relaxing to me. Others have their opinions and reasons.

[Bedlam]

I don't think you will happy towing that trailer through the AZ mountains with a gasoline powered truck. If you were staying east of the Rockies, I would have less reservations.

There is little difference between the 2500 and 3500 truck, but a 2500 may need upgraded suspension and wheels to get on par with the 3500. Since you are buying the correct truck to tow this, I suggest a 3500 SRW with a diesel rather than buying something close or over its capacity and then having put additional money into upgrades.

[LIKE2BUILD]

randompanda wrote:

I have a 2007 35' wolf pack toy hauler with a GVWR 13387 lbs, hitch weight 2268 lbs. I prefer not to get a diesel if I don't need to. Since I'm getting a used truck I doubt it will have a "towing package" so I'm not sure what I need there.
Thank you for getting back so quickly!!

This is a bumper pull trailer? That's quite a load on the hitch.

A 2000 model Chevy 2500 will not handle this TH. The 2000 model year truck will be a straight 2500 which has a GVWR of 8,600lbs. The 2500HD model did not appear until 2001 and that was a 9,200lbs GVWR truck.

I really wouldn't recommend either truck for this trailer. You really do need to be using a 3500 series. You can find them with gas engines if you're just that opposed to a diesel.

If you're set on the idea of an early 2000's GM truck you should try and find one with 8100 Vortec V8. Fuel economy in the 8.1L will be about 8MPG towing, but it is a toque beast and very reliable. This engine also gets you the Allison 1000 transmission.

The 6.0L engine is durable but will rev like mad and be very under powered for that trailer. Also the 4L80E transmission behind the 6.0L is pretty good, but will be over matched for your trailer. I owned an '04 2500HD with the 6.0L and 4.10 gears for 10 years. Rock solid reliable but man that engine screamed pulling through the hills, and that was only a 7,200lbs travel trailer.

Also, if an early 2000's GM truck is your choice DO NOT RELY ON THE OEM RECEIVER TO PULL THIS TOY HAULER. The design of those original receivers is absolute junk and relied on the bumper brackets for weight carrying and transfer. They are terribly weak and will not support the weight of that beast.

What you need is something like this Curt Class V receiver. It's rated for 2700lbs tongue weight and 18,000lbs trailer weight. The 2500 and 3500 GM trucks will all have the same receiver. On my '04 I only had about 900lbs tongue weight and I could feel the receiver flex and it poorly transferred weight to the front axle with the WD hitch. When I replaced it with Curt MagnumV hitch that all changed.

KJ

[APT]

From that era (GMT 800, 1999-2007 Classic) the the tow ratings are pretty low. The 8.1L with 4.10 axle I believe is only rated to tow 12000 pounds, which is likely not enough for your trailer. The 8.1L/3.73 is even lower, and no 6.0L. Of course, that also assumes he truck is in at least as good as new condition, which seems unlikely at 15+ years old.

For a bumper pull, the OEM receivers sucked. Plan for a Curt XD replacement.

You really are in single rear wheel 1-ton range for necessary payload and power wise, the 8.1L may be acceptable.

[Chuck_thehammer]

a 3/4 ton and a 1 ton truck.. is the same size... and most 450's.
most have same engine and transmission

[ShinerBock]

randompanda wrote:
Why can't a 3/4 ton truck pull it? I really don't want to drive such a huge one ton haha Only toy I have in my toy hauler is a child size 4 wheeler

Some people here live by the badge numbers on the side of the door rather than its actual ability. They don't even know the actual specs on the truck, but will impose their own limits on it just because it has a 2 or 3 on the door. Bypass the badge numbers on the doors and look at its actual specs. You may be fine or you may not.


I could not find a spec sheet for 2000 model, but the one below is for a 2001 and I believe they were the same. Hope it helps getting you the info you are looking for.
2001 Silverado Specs

[Dayle1]

Old-Biscuit wrote:

randompanda wrote:
It's a bumper pull.

With a 2268# dry hitch weight :H


What is model number?
275PACK18
20PACK10

????

I'm guessing that 2268 lb number is the CC, not tongue weight.

[donn0128]

2000 model year GM will be a gas motor that will suck around 6MPG towing. First thing you would have to do would be to change the hitch. Those years GM hitch platforms were prone to failires. And they were never rated to handle that much weight. With a GVWR of 9200 or less pounds I would have serious doubts about its ability to handle the load. For that big of a TT you really need to step up to a newer 1 ton truck. A dually would really really be a much stronger choice.

[Second_Chance]

"Forum Technical Support (FTS) is reserved for questions related to the use of the Open Roads Forum sites, member profile and photo testing, and for reporting account issues. Please avoid using FTS for RV related
questions. Instead, select the Sub-Forum which corresponds to the subject of your topic."

[guidry]

sorry, duplicate posting

[guidry]

randompanda wrote:
Why can't a 3/4 ton truck pull it? I really don't want to drive such a huge one ton haha Only toy I have in my toy hauler is a child size 4 wheeler

The only real difference between 3/4 and 1 tons is one additional rear leaf spring. And I don’t get the hesitation about diesels, the newer diesels are awesome to drive every day. Not towing I’ve gotten as much as 31.4 mpg highway. Get the right tool for the job.