Newb TV and TT setup

[rmcclean12]

Hello - Been lurking here for a while and now we are finally owners of a new TT. This is our first time owning a travel trailer and we are looking forward to the many years of memories with our Family.

Our setup will be 15' yukon xl with Max Trailer Pack rated @ 8000 and 1k on the tongue. 3.42, tranny cooler, integrated TB, towing a 16' Keystone Passport 2810BH. 5145 Dry and we plan on carrying close to 1000 lbs of gear. Tongue weigh of TT is 565. Husky TS Centerline WD Hitch. Mathmatically it seems we are well within the ratings of the TV but just wanted everyone opinion on the setup and any potential issues anyone sees. We do have 4 kids, 7 and under.

Also looking for a hitch mounted Bike receiver that will hold a yakima bike rack for the rear.

Appreciate all the info I have attained on here, looking forward to everyones responses.

Thanks

[DaveF-250SD]

OP, you have to go by the weight on the door, 1469 lbs. That is the payload capacity for your truck, not the higher number. With 800 lbs. tongue weight, you will be left with 669 lbs. for everything in the truck. Remember the ball mount should also be installed on or carried inside the truck when you weigh it at the scale ready to travel.

[rmcclean12]

Looking @ 500 lbs of passengers with kids. As they get older that number will increase dramatically. Right now the combined weight of 4 kids is 155 lbs. We are going to load the Yukon up with kids and gear we plan to have in TV and hit the scale. We looked @ the Expy EL. I have an EcoBoost F-150 and love the performance of that but ultimately we settled on the Yukon. Not an option now to swap TV's. We are looking @ camping close to home within 1 hour our first season so we will most likely take two vehicles at this point.

Website states 5775 Curb Weight and 1725 for Max Payload (Although the door says 1469 for max Payload) to get to the 7500 GVWR. Calculating 800 lbs for TW, we are left 925 lbs of people and cargo in TV.

[mbopp]

A 2810 is nearly 32' long. With 6 people and that size TT I find it hard to believe you're under the Yukon's GVW.

[APT]

If you haven't taken delivery yet, check out the 2015 Ford Expedition EL. The Ecoboost 3.5L has more power at sea level, and a lot more power at higher elevation. It also offers slightly better gearing with 3.73 axle. I'm not sure how payload compares to the GM twins. I love my Suburban, but if Ford offered that Ecoboost in 2012 I would probably have it instead.

[Mickey_D]

rmcclean12 wrote:
It's a 1500. They no longer make the 2500. GCWR is of TV is 14k. Payload is 1469#. Maximum tongue weight with WD hitch states 1000 lbs. 7500 GVW plus 600 for passengers/cargo in TV. So 8100 plus 6145 = 14245. Over the suggested GCWR of 14k. We haven't taken delivery yet! Maybe that should be the next step. I do have a F-150 with a GVWR of 7200# and a GCWR 15.5k. The issue with the truck is it seats 5. And I don't think leaving one child at home is an option.

Something else I have a question about is altitude. We are @ 5300ft here and will be towing in mountain areas around 9000ft. I heard somewhere that you should reduce your GCW by 2% per 1000ft at altitude.

We have friends that take two vehicles whenever they go out because the truck handles the trailer OK by itself but all of the kids, food, drinks, and other debris goes in the minivan with mom. They said that loading the truck to the gills was not a very pleasant drive.

[rmcclean12]

It's a 1500. They no longer make the 2500. GCWR is of TV is 14k. Payload is 1469#. Maximum tongue weight with WD hitch states 1000 lbs. 7500 GVW which we will be right at. So 7500 plus 6145 = 13645. Almost at the suggested GCWR of 14k. We haven't taken delivery yet! Maybe that should be the next step. I do have a F-150 with a GVWR of 7200# and a GCWR 15.5k. The issue with the truck is it seats 5. And I don't think leaving one child at home is an option.

Something else I have a question about is altitude. We are @ 5300ft here and will be towing in mountain areas around 9000ft. I heard somewhere that you should reduce your GCW by 2% per 1000ft at altitude.

[APT]

Everything looks good except payload. At 6500-ish pounds loaded, you will have about 800 pounds of loaded TW. Open the driver's door and find the tire and loading sticker for max combined weight of occupants and cargo... Make sure that is enough for your family, a few toys and books, and the 800 pounds of TW.

Get a WDH with integrated say control. Use tow/haul mode.

[ktosv]

coolmom42 wrote:
Your info is somewhat confusing. Where are you getting the 1K on the tongue number quoted with your tow capacity?

I believe the OP is referring to the max tongue weight of the XL as being 1000#.

To the OP, with the max tow package and the 6 speed transmission, I would like to think you will be fine towing this setup from a performance standpoint. You might be a little slow on some grades, but you got plenty of gears to work with.

As others have stated, you will most likely be pushing your vehicles weight limits. Do you know what the GCWR of your Yukon XL is? Is it 13,000#, 14,000# or something similar? I towed the Passport in my signature with a 2005 Suburban and if I recall correctly was at my GVWR and was just exceeding my GCWR of 13,000#.

[coolmom42]

rmcclean12 wrote:
Hello - Been lurking here for a while and now we are finally owners of a new TT. This is our first time owning a travel trailer and we are looking forward to the many years of memories with our Family.

Our setup will be 15' yukon xl with Max Trailer Pack rated @ 8000 and 1k on the tongue. 3.42, tranny cooler, integrated TB, towing a 16' Keystone Passport 2810BH. 5145 Dry and we plan on carrying close to 1000 lbs of gear. Tongue weigh of TT is 565. Husky TS Centerline WD Hitch. Mathmatically it seems we are well within the ratings of the TV but just wanted everyone opinion on the setup and any potential issues anyone sees. We do have 4 kids, 7 and under.

Also looking for a hitch mounted Bike receiver that will hold a yakima bike rack for the rear.

Appreciate all the info I have attained on here, looking forward to everyones responses.

Thanks

Your info is somewhat confusing. Where are you getting the 1K on the tongue number quoted with your tow capacity?

What you have to be concerned about is the cargo capacity of the towing vehicle. The tongue weight of your trailer should be 10-15% of its LOADED weight. The tongue weight becomes part of the tow vehicle cargo.

So you have your dry trailer wt of 5145 + 1000 lb stuff= 6145. Multiply that by 12% = 737 lb. Add the hitch weight which is probably about 80 lb. So that is 820 lb of cargo.

Add your passenger weight + other gear in the truck. That gives your total cargo.

Your tow vehicle weight + cargo weight should not exceed the tow vehicle GVWR.

Check your numbers, don't guess.

[SouthpawHD]

At your 1,000 pounds of gear, and approx 12% of a 6,000 pound trailer (loaded) on your tongue, I would think you are at or exceeding your payload capacity. Something to thing about about when loading your gear.

[donn0128]

Is this a 1500 or 2500 Yukon? The 1500 is really loaded to max with just the family and normal stuff. I assume the hitch weight number you listed is dry? If so, double that for loaded.