We are graduating from a popup to a HTT. We have narrowed it down to just a couple that we like. Their length and weight are essentially the same, but the hitch weight is significantly different....varying by 200# or so. We have a Suburban 1500, with a GVWR of 8000 lbs.... I assume that means we can go with a camper around 400-4500 lbs without any problem. Maybe I am wrong? But, this hitch weight is confusing to me! Could we run into problems with hitch weight? Am I right to say that we can get a camper with overall weight of 4000-4500# without any problems? Looking for your expertise....I was going to ask the salespeople but.....I am just afraid they will tell me whatever they need to to sell a camper!

VERY ROUGH ESTIMATE:Guessing that your loaded trip ready trailer is 6000 lbs. you will have around 780 lbs. of tongue weight.Keep in mind that this is just a guess, not knowing much about your tow vehicle's payload rating and not knowing much about your new trailerBasically, "I know nothing."

You need to get the spec for your year chassis and motor.A 2015can pull a 8K trailer with a GVWR of 7.300-7,500 lb

v-8 SUV's are infamous at having great towing capacities, but lousy payload amounts. plus they have soft suspensions.most will run out of payload, WAAYY before they ever come close to their max towing capacity.so, everyone other than a 150lb. driver, cargo and the WDH, all have to come out of the payload amount.and since SUV's usually have lots of passengers, their weights end up eating up much of the payload amount.and the Burb's GVWR is really not that important, as much as its payload amount and the GCWR numbers are.the Burb's GVWR is just the max it can weigh by itself.so, yes, you need to post more info on it, like year, rear end ratio, factory tow package or not, 4x4 or 4x2, weights of passengers.

Whatever trailer you are looking at, take the gvwr of the prospective trailer and multiply by 13%. That will give you a good idea of what the loaded tongue will weigh. You then need to weigh your tow vehicle unhitched as if fully loaded for camping including passengers, fuel, hitch, pets, gear, etc. Subtract whatever that weight is from the gvwr of the tow vehicle and the difference will be your hitch weight allowance.

Its good that you are not trusting the sales person. Some are pretty honest and savvy when it comes to towing. Most are not. The short answer to this is that, yes, you can tow a trailer with an overall weight of 4000-4500# without any problems. Keep in mind that the 4500# is considering that would be its GVWR, not "dry" weight. In other words its maximum weight that it can be fully loaded. If the 4500# is the listed dry weight, then you may be pushing it if not over weight. Dry weight is a fictional number. Dry weight is the weight of the trailer before any options are installed, and before any propane tanks or battery is added. A trailer never even leaves the factory weighing its dry weight. And no one tows a trailer that weighs its dry weight. Also you didn't tell us what year, motor, and gear set your 'Burb has. All of those specs are important because the various towing related numbers change with model years, engine sizes, and gearing.EDIT: Also, is this a C1500 or a K1500? Usually 4wd drops towing capacity by 500#

Hitch weight | Good Sam Community

PAThwacker
Explorer
Apr 21, 2014
my k2500 sub is in the mid 6000s dry weight. one heavy sob
bikendan
Explorer
Apr 19, 2014
therink wrote:
I am pretty sure the dry weight of your suburban isn't 3,360. You may want to check that. It is probably in the 6000 range.

Ditto!

basically, your '07 Burb has the same equipment/specs as my '07 Avalanche, so i'm good with you towing the 233S, since it's about the same weight as my 23SS.
plus i live out West where we have to drive over mountain ranges quite often and we do fine.
KMP44
Explorer
Apr 19, 2014
therink wrote:
I am pretty sure the dry weight of your suburban isn't 3,360. You may want to check that. It is probably in the 6000 range.

From the OP:

GVWR 7400 lbs
GAWR FRT 3600 lbs
GAWR RR 4200 lbs

3600 is the front axle rating based on the post. Dry weight wasn't listed.
therink
Explorer
Apr 19, 2014
I am pretty sure the dry weight of your suburban isn't 3,360. You may want to check that. It is probably in the 6000 range.
mnmbeck
Explorer
Apr 19, 2014
I just talked to the dealer, gave him the VIN number, and got some info and advice. Here's the info I have:
It's a 5.3L V8. rear end ratio is 3.73. It has the factory tow package. The 'dry weight' of the Suburban is 3360.

I told him I was thinking of towing a trailer weighing as much as 4000-4500# dry, with a hitch weight of 623#. (We are looking at a few trailers, this is the heaviest one). He said it was no problem.
I've gotten a lot of good advice from all of you here, and feel that you have done your homework. Do you agree with him?
bikendan
Explorer
Apr 19, 2014
mnmbeck wrote:
I feel like I'm learning a new language! I am SO glad we didn't just buy a trailer without figuring this out first!!! Here's what I have found out so far...
We have a 2007 Suburban 1500 LT (5.3 L.) It can be in 2 WD or 4WD, so I am going to assume it is the K1500 model (4WD). We don't know the axle ratio...where could I find this info?
There is a chart in the owner's manual. Since I don't know which one we have, I will assume we can go with the model with the lowest weights allowed (3.73 axle ratio). Assuming it is the lowest weight (3.73 according to the chart in the owner's manual),
the maximum trailer weight would be 6700lbs.
GCWR 13,000 lbs
GBWR 7400 lbs
GAWR FRT 3600 lbs
GAWR RR 4200 lbs

These numbers make no sense to me. But, I'm planning to KNOW these things before we buy a trailer!!!
Do I actually have to go out and weigh the vehicle to get the hitch weight right, or can I just try to 'go light?' I don't really want to cut it close....I'd like to have lots of wiggle room. We are going to look at the Rockwood Roo 233S (2010) tomorrow, and I think the hitch weight (dry) is 623#. I am wondering if this is WAY too heavy!!!

o.k., first, it's GVWR of 7400lbs. not GBWR.
so, subtracting 7400 from the GCWR of 13000, this leaves you 5600lbs. for a trailer IF your Burb was loaded to its max GVWR.
but rarely do most people run their tow vehicle at its GVWR.

but you really need to get the actual specs to your Burb. take the VIN to your Chevy dealer and you should be able to get all the info on it, including the rear end ratio.

i will say that IF your Burb has the factory tow package, it should be able to tow the 233S fine.
mnmbeck
Explorer
Apr 19, 2014
I feel like I'm learning a new language! I am SO glad we didn't just buy a trailer without figuring this out first!!! Here's what I have found out so far...
We have a 2007 Suburban 1500 LT (5.3 L.) It can be in 2 WD or 4WD, so I am going to assume it is the K1500 model (4WD). We don't know the axle ratio...where could I find this info?
There is a chart in the owner's manual. Since I don't know which one we have, I will assume we can go with the model with the lowest weights allowed (3.73 axle ratio). Assuming it is the lowest weight (3.73 according to the chart in the owner's manual),
the maximum trailer weight would be 6700lbs.
GCWR 13,000 lbs
GBWR 7400 lbs
GAWR FRT 3600 lbs
GAWR RR 4200 lbs

These numbers make no sense to me. But, I'm planning to KNOW these things before we buy a trailer!!!
Do I actually have to go out and weigh the vehicle to get the hitch weight right, or can I just try to 'go light?' I don't really want to cut it close....I'd like to have lots of wiggle room. We are going to look at the Rockwood Roo 233S (2010) tomorrow, and I think the hitch weight (dry) is 623#. I am wondering if this is WAY too heavy!!!
PAThwacker
Explorer
Apr 19, 2014
Our K2500 sub specs...
6.0, 3.73, 4l80E 4 speed,
2351 payload, 7600lb towing.

We can tow any hybrid built, but run into challenges with stick and tin bunkhouse variants. We never run out of payload, but run out of towing capacity. When worrying about tongue weight you need to understand the different types slide outs. Super slides will have the highest tongue weight. look for smaller slide outs and you will find easier to manage weights.
When we look for stick and tin bunk house variants, we try to find floor plans with small slide out models such as Aspen Trail 2760BHS.

Jayco 28bhs
http://www.rvingplanet.com/models/jayco/jay-flight/28bhs/

They are usually 7600lb GVW or less, and have low tongue weight.
bikendan
Explorer
Apr 18, 2014
mnmbeck wrote:
OK....this is good information, although a little foreign to me! Our Suburban is a 2007, don't know the rest of the info.

o.k., this helps.
i have an '07 Avalanche, which is the same vehicle as the Burb, except it has a truck bed instead of the rear seats(and of course the shorter roof).
my Avy has the factory tow package, 4 speed trans and 3.73 rear end ratio.
its max towing capacity is 7200lbs.
its max payload is 1357lbs.

the Burb's payload sticker is inside the driver's door jamb.

the absolute max i would tow with it would be a trailer that weighed 6200lbs. LOADED. and that's with only two people in the Avy.

by the way, IF your Burb has the factory tow package, you have to splice the brake controller wires into the Burb's controller wiring bundle that's under the dash. and there's a special fuse under the hood that has to be activated for the controller to work.

this is what i found on a 2007 Tahoe/Burb brochure:

1500 SUBURBAN

GVWR/ Max Payload/ Max Trailer Weight

2WD- 7200/ 1587/ 8100

4x4- 7400/ 1655/ 8000

extra equipment will lower the Max Payload number.
the factory HD tow package should have been standard.
Chuck_S
Explorer
Apr 18, 2014
There are several "weight ratings" for the vehicle.

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) is the maximum permissible weight of the loaded vehicle. Trailer tongue weight has to be considered here.

Gross Rear Axle Weight Rating (GRAWR) is the maximum permissible weight on the truck's rear axle. Trailer tongue weight has to be considered here. Weight can be removed from the rear axle with a Weight Distribution Hitch (WDH). The WDH moves some the weight to the front axle and some back to the trailer axles.

Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating (GCVWR) is maximum permissible weight of the loaded vehicle AND trailer.

Maximum Towing Capacity is GCVWR minus the empty weight of the truck (and driver). Because the truck is empty this is a best case rating. My Expedition's GCVWR is 15,000 pounds. Subtract the 6,000 pound empty weight of the truck and the Maximum Towing Capacity comes to 9,000 pounds. Pretty simple math. If the weight of the loaded truck is 6,000 pounds the Actual Max Tow drops to 8,000 pounds since GCVWR doesn't change.

A good WDH is vital.

Good tires are vital.

-- Chuck