tow vehicle confusion

[stevea56]

We have a Jayco 26 ft TT, 4600 lbs dry, less than 6000 lbs loaded
We want a Suburban/Yukon to pull it. We're told to get a 2500, which are hard to find in decent condition. then I see some 1500's such as a Yukon Denali with a 6.0 v8 and a 3.73 rear have a higher towing capacity than some 2500's - I'm confused

[fallsrider]

I wish I had held out for a 2500. At the time, it was going to be my DD, so I thought a 1500 would be enough. It does OK, but a 2500 would be better. My trailer is similar in size and weight to yours.

I have since changed jobs and have a company truck, so the 'burb sits a lot.

Hold out for a 2500 if you can.

[fla-gypsy]

How many passengers and what type of camping will you be doing?

[rbpru]

All the numbers certainly can be confusing, but most vehicles can pull a lot more than they can carry.

What that means is you will most likely over fill your TV with your "stuff", before you have to worry about pulling to much weight.

You want to make sure that the TV you buy can carry all the people, dogs, toys, tools, and etc. plus the tongue weight of the loaded TT. This will appear on the door sticker as cargo or payload.

Since payload is a function of the individual vehicle and it's accessories, I suppose there are a few. 1/2 ton TVs with higher rating than other 3/4 ton TVs;
but I have never seen one.


Since the TV dealer has absolutely no idea of how much gear you will be hauling or the cargo capacity of any specific vehicle, they like to promote how much that type of TV can pull.


Whether the TV has the cargo capacity and horses to pull the load is up to you.

[handye9]

downtheroad wrote:
PAYLOAD is just if not more important. Make sure that once your tow vehicle is trip ready loaded with gear, passengers, the dog, whatever - make sure it has enough payload left over for the hitch and tongue weight of your loaded trailer...

Confused???
It took me 3 tow vehicles to get it right.... because I listened to the dealer and only looked at tow ratings...:S
(I'm a slow learner, but I had fun shopping for vehicles)

Me too !!!

That, and I got into trouble, every time I went to an RV show.

Payload --- That's your capacity to carry XXXX lbs without exceeding your GVWR. It gets eaten up by weight of cargo, people, aftermarket accessories, WD hitch, and trailer tongue weight.

Tow capacity is what it's rated to pull -- In theory, the vehicle can pull it's max tow capacity, if the driver weighs 150 lbs, he has no cargo , and he has no passengers. Max tow capacity is also reduced by weights affecting your payload.

Example:

If the vehicle has 1200 lbs payload and 8000 lb tow capacity, and you add 800 lbs of people and cargo. The available payload is down to 400 lbs, and max tow capacity is 7200 lbs.

Average tongue weight of 7200 lb trailer would be around 900 lbs. That would be a problem with only 400 lbs of payload available.

It's not uncommon to run out of payload, before you reach that max tow number.

Calculate your payload requirements and see how they match up with the tow vehicle.

[Terryallan]

Something that light would be good with a 1500 Burb. As long as it has the right engine, rear, and trany. I pulled a heavier, longer TT with a 2002 Expedition. 5.4, 3.55. Did a GREAT job

[downtheroad]

Two capacity is only part of the equation. Since you are already confused I'll add more to your confusion....:?

PAYLOAD is just if not more important. Make sure that once your tow vehicle is trip ready loaded with gear, passengers, the dog, whatever - make sure it has enough payload left over for the hitch and tongue weight of your loaded trailer...

Confused???
It took me 3 tow vehicles to get it right.... because I listened to the dealer and only looked at tow ratings...:S
(I'm a slow learner, but I had fun shopping for vehicles)

[geotex1]

All about the optioning from GM. Different rear end ratios as well as design, different brake groups, different powertrains, two wheel or four wheel drive, heavy duty cooling or not, and so-on.

Just be conscious of the ratings of the exact configuration you are buying. You can pretty much find every year of GM towing guide on the internet to give you a guidance for ratings versus model and options.

Have been towing a long time with 3 different 3/4-ton Suburbans/Yukon XL and they are great TVs!