please help

[bklyncat58]

we bought a 2015 chevy Silverado 2wd truck . and I keep getting so many different answers . how much travel trailer can I tow. we use to have a small pop up but I hated it. we so much want t0 get a travel trailer in the spring just want to be safe and know who to believe. any help would be great thank you

[All_I_could_aff]

Are u sure that 6,100 lb isn't the GVWR for the truck, not a tow rating?

[OutdoorPhotogra]

Lots of reasons to buy used but new is easier to find specs so here is an option. Don't want to enter the new vs used debate here. Plenty threads on that.

Jayco Jay Flight 23 MB
Exterior Length: 26'10"
Dry Weight: 4200 lbs
GVWR: 6500 lbs
Cargo Capacity: 2300 lbs
No slides.

Jay Flight 23MB

Now, that dry weight isn't accurate because at a minimum it doesn't include propane but even if you bump up to 4,500 lbs you have room for cargo. It seems most folks bring about 1,000 lbs of gear so you are at 5,500 lbs. That puts you at 715 TW + WDH and you are at 815 lbs total TW. That should be in spec for your hitch but you still need to climb under the truck and look at the stamp on the hitch. 815 lbs also gives you 900 lbs for passengers and gear in the truck not counting the 1,000 in the TT.

Now, with a 6,100 lb rating, I wouldn't want to tow 5,500 lbs in the mountains. You still need to know if you have a transmission cooler which is a necessity for longer trips. But, something like this should be towable based on what you've told us. Also, if you are camping weekends instead of cross countries, I bet you could get by with less than 1,000 gear in the TT. I overpack but I still camp in a PUP and don't bring anywhere near 1,000 lbs of gear.

[tomkaren13]

We have a GMC Sierra and tow a 30' 5500 dry weight TT. Tows fine but would not want to do mountains or expect good mpg.

[MitchF150]

I forgot that he already said it was a 1500 2wd truck... With #1700 payload, that's not gonna be too much of an issue.. But, that V6 is gonna be working awful hard... I know my old F150 had the 5.4 V8 in it, and it needed to get into the upper rpms to haul my #5000 TT.

Anyway, to the OP, not gonna say you "can't" tow that size/weight of TT... A lot is going to have to be your own towing performance expectations and if YOU can live with towing it.. 😉

Good luck!

Mitch

[trail-explorer]

MitchF150 wrote:
Depends.... What are the tow ratings of the truck? What is the payload of the truck?

That sums it up.

The owner's manual may give you tow ratings.

[bklyncat58]

My truck
a tow package installed it has the square on the back it also has brake control installed. Like I said the door jam says 1708 cargo weight and 6100 tow capacity. I think it's a, 4.3l v6

[OutdoorPhotogra]

That cargo weight was from a sticker on the truck, not a chart online?

What is your engine? What is your gear ratio? That may be a code on sticker but you can google code. That's what I did with my F-150.

Your hitch should also have a weight limit stamped on it. Mine is 500 without W/D hitch and 950 with it. Yours is probably similar but it's an easy check.

Good thing is if you don't want slides, the trailer will be lighter for the length. Bad thing is most people find they want slides.

[bklyncat58]

what I could find cargo said 1708 lbs would love a 24 or 26 travel trailer it has to have a bathroom at least a queen bed maybe a bunk fridge freezer stove oven and sink.

[MFL]

nomad.297 wrote:
We really need the weight information from the yellow sticker on your driver's side door jamb. Take a look and tell us what it says your cargo capacity is.

Bruce

Bruce, I think the power train is going to be the OPs biggest issue. With the 6,100 stated tow capacity, tells me this is a V-6, with taller gearing, and likely not a tow package.

The payload of a 2015 Silverado 2WD, should work, for a light weight 24' TT.

Jerry

[nomad_297]

We really need the weight information from the yellow sticker on your driver's side door jamb. Take a look and tell us what it says your cargo capacity is.

Bruce

[MitchF150]

Thanks for the additional RV interest info.. Sounds like you are looking for a fully self contained travel trailer and that's great!

I had an old F150 that had a #7700 "tow rating" and it towed my #5000, fully loaded TT okay, but compared to how my new F150 tows the same TT that has a #11,000 tow rating, it's not even in the same ball park..

At the time, I thought the old F150 was just fine... Sure, I got down the road, and it actually was up to my towing performance expectations and I was just fine towing it... 🙂

But, I was also over that old F150's GVWR and rear axle rating by a "tad".. It did fine, for the 255,000 miles I drove it... But, I was not even close to it's "tow rating" and I'm not close to the new F150"s "tow rating", but there sure is a big difference in how the 2 F150's towed the same TT..

Anyway, without knowing the make/model/drivetrain of your tow vehicle and only knowing it's "tow rating" and payload, I'm gonna say, you won't be happy towing that #4800 dry weight travel trailer.. At least, I wouldn't be after towing with the new F150.. 🙂

Good luck!

Mitch

[owenssailor]

bklyncat58 wrote:
what it looks like I can find is cargo weight is 1700 lbs and tow weight about 6100 lbs

This sounds like a truck with the low ratio rear end.
Exactly what do you have - engine, rear end, tow package, integrated tow package.

That plus the info requested above will enable some sort of answer.

[willdennis]

I did a lot of calculations when I had gotten my (then new) 2010 Silverado 1500; at that time, I calculated that I could safely tow (i.e. have a good towing experience with) around a 5,700 pound trailer (that's laden, not dry.) Ended up getting a 4,800 # UVW TT, and when I took it to a local truck weigh station one day on the way out on a trip (i.e., laden), it weighed in at approx. 5,500 #. It has towed very well for me the last 5 years; haven't tried towing it up any serious mountains like out west, but we've been very happy with the truck/trailer handling where we've gone with it, mainly up and down the East Coast.

HTH,
Will

[MFL]

Here is an example for a 6,000# ready to camp trailer. You will have about 750 lbs for tongue wt., plus another 100 lbs. for the hitch. If your door sticker says you have 1700 lbs. available, you will have 850 lbs. left for all passengers, gear, bicycles, firewood, etc. That takes care of payload. Now if you have enough engine, and proper gearing, tow package, you will have a good towing experience.

Jerry