Towing Capacity Question?

[grumpysmurf]

Hey guys and Gals, I hate to ruin everyone's Sunday, but I really need some help. I know this is a very frustrating topic for a lot of old timers and a hot topic for anyone who has an opinion. I will give you all the info. that I know at this point. We found a trailer we like(Wildwood T27RKSS).
Dry weight 6500

Pulling at first with a 2000 Chevy Silverado 4x4 with towing package. Vortex 5300, rear axle 3.73, GVW of 6400.
The original drivers door had been replaced when I bought it, therefore no door plate with trailing info. Through research I believe the towing capacity is 7500 -7800. I realize that 300 pound difference is important, so I will find out somehow exactly what the towing capacity is.

With all that said could I pull that trailer safely with a weight distribution hitch.
I know hitch weight is important, but not sure how to find that info?
I figured add 500 pounds to trailer in inventory?

The sticker on my hitch says
max. tongue weight: weight carrying 600/270, weight distributing 1500/680
max trailer weight: weight carrying 5000/2270, weight distributing 12000/5440

Thank you for all info and responses!

[Ron_Gratz]

According to page 4-59 of the online 2000 Silverado Owners Manual, the "Max. Trailer Wt." for a K-1500 (4x4) 3.73 is 7500#.
According to the online 2000 TRAILERING WITH GMC TRUCKS, the "Max. Trailer Weight" on page 8, for the K15xxx trucks with 3.73 ratio, varies from 7000-8300# depending on cab style and bed length.
The GMC brochure also gives a GCWR of 13,000# for the V5300 with a 3.73 axle.

Based on your cab and box, you can decide what MTW value you want to use.
The MTW number (let's assume it's 7500#) assumes a base model truck with driver and one passenger.
The combined weight of additional passengers, optional equipment, cargo, WDH would have to be subtracted from the 7500#.
Assuming combined extra weight of 500#, and based on pulling capacity, the maximum allowable loaded trailer weight might be limited to about 7000#.

Assuming a trailer weight of 7000# and tongue weight percentage of 13% would give a tongue weight of about 900#.

Published "payloads" for the 1500 trucks range from 1852# for 4x4, regular cab, 6.5' bed, 119" wheelbase to 1652# for 4x4, 4dr extended cab, 8' bed, 158" wheelbase.
Again, the combined weight of extra passengers, optional equipment, cargo, and WDH would have to be deducted from this value.
The remainder would be the "payload capacity" available for the vertical load imposed on the TV by the TT.

Assuming 500# of extra passengers, optional equipment, cargo, and WDH, would leave about 1150-1350# available for TT-imposed vertical load.

Since the WDH can transfer a load equal to about 20% of tongue weight to the TT's axles, the maximum allowable tongue weight (based on TV's GVWR) would be about 1400# to 1680#.

Based on the above assumptions, it appears the maximum loaded trailer weight would be controlled by the "Max. Trailer Wt." value rather than by the GVWR value.

As others have suggested, since you already have the TV, the best thing would be to load the TV approximately as it would be loaded for camping and get it weighed.
Don't forget to include about 100# for the weight of a WDH.

Then subtract the expected loaded weight of the TV from the GVWR.
The remainder (plus about 200# for load transferred to TT axles) is the estimated maximum allowable tongue weight.
Maximum TT weight, based on TV payload, would be equal to max tongue weight divided by 0.13.

Then subtract the expected loaded weight of the TV from the GCWR value of 13,000#.
The remainder is the estimated maximum allowable TT weight based on GCWR.

Then use the smaller of the two estimated maximum allowable TT weights.

Ron

[downtheroad]

grumpysmurf wrote:
Hey guys and Gals, I hate to ruin everyone's Sunday,

Can't ruin my Sunday....I'm a Seahawk fan...Now, if I were from Texas that might be a different story (as in Cowboys)..

Seriously, as correctly pointed out earlier, think PAYLOAD, not towing capacity.

[wgp]

My experience with my first trailer was not happy. I had a 1/2 ton 2008 Ram with the smaller V8, not the Hemi. The numbers said the truck would tow the trailer (around 6500lbs), and of course the trailer dealer said sure, no problem towing with that. I had once pulled a 1,000 lb work trailer with a 7,000 lb skidloader on it OK, so I accepted that, but that was in town, speed not an issue. The trip home from the dealership told the tale. Yes, it would pull it, but I couldn't make highway speed and we were pushing very high RPMs to boot. I don't want to be the guy doing 25 up a highway in the mountains, burning up my truck in the process. Traded for a 2500HD Chevy 6.2 liter, problem solved. When asking "Can this truck tow that?", I'd say consider what real-world towing experience do you really want.

[grumpysmurf]

I wood say two people in the truck, 3 at most. We wood not be hauling firewood or 4 wheeler, no bikes. A cooler maybe couple suit cases

[MitchF150]

Get your truck weighed and find out the individual f/r axle weights and that will tell you how much of that #6400 GVWR you have left.

If by what you ask about "tow safely" that you want to stay UNDER your trucks ratings, that's gonna be hard to do with a #6500 DRY weight trailer. There are more ratings than just the "tow rating".. 😉

Your actual HITCH ratings does not mean what your truck is rated to haul either.. That sounds like a pretty stout hitch, so that's not going to be your limiting factor.

I towed a #5000 GVWR TT that put my old 97 F150 over it's GVWR by a bit and it was only #150 less than yours.

Good luck!

Mitch

[silverfz]

I think you will be good but you need give us some more info
1) how many people do you plan to carry in the truck.
2) how much stuff do you take camping in the bed.

I do not put a 4 wheeler on my bed as some do. my bed carries only a cooler , wooden boards to level the camper and a kid bike or 2. Here firewood transport is illegal and even our 5.5 foot bed is usually empty.

[handye9]

The rating that will bite you first, is payload. You will run out of that, before you get close to your tow capacity rating. Manufacturers tow capacities are based on a stripped down truck model, with a lone driver, and no cargo. Everything and everybody you put in or on the truck, takes away from that capacity number.

You know your GVW (6400). Take the truck to a scale and get it's actual weight. Subtract the actual weight from 6400 lbs. The left over is your payload.

Payload is your capacity to carry the weight of passengers, cargo (in the truck), and tongue weight from the trailer. From your payload number, subtract weight of your occupants and truck cargo. What's left over, is available for trailer weight.

Average hitch weight is about 12 percent of loaded trailer weight.

Average trailer load (dishes, pots and pans, camp chairs, BBQ, bedding, groceries, water, etc) is about 800 - 1000 lbs.

Using average numbers, your trailer's loaded weight will be in the area of 73 - 7500 lbs and hitch weight will be over 900 lbs. The weight distribution hitch will add another 80 - 100 lbs.

It's difficult for us to say "yes" or "no" about your towing saftey, we don't know what your payload or occupant / cargo weight requirements are.

Example:

If you have 1200 lbs payload, 500 lbs occupants, and put a 700 lb four wheeler in the bed of the truck, you don't have payload left to tow anything.

[intheburbs]

That's towards the top end for a half-ton, but you should be fine.

I towed a 6000-lb trailer with my '01 Burb (5.3, 4.10, custom PCM tune), and the Burb has a lot more weight on its rear axle, which, for the Burb, is the limiting rating.

You're not going to win any races. We went over the continental divide in Wyoming (9600 ft elevation), and the best the truck could do was first gear and 25 MPH. Keep it around 60-65, and you'll be good.

If you are taking a long trip in the summer, invest in a handheld infrared thermometer to check your rear axle temperature. My Burb is on its third rear axle. Hence the upgrade to the 08 2500.

[campigloo]

Can't speak for anyone else, but my Sunday is just fine!
With the trailer you're looking at I think it will do ok but pushing the limits on the truck. You have enought hp, but suspension is borderline. Most people figure more like 1000-1500 lbs of stuff in the trailer. Definitely use a wd hitch. If you get one that does not have integrated sway control, use 2 friction bars. Also check your tires. P rated tires will be squishy and not handle well. Get LT tires, preferably E rated. You can run them on low pressure when not towing to soften the ride. I run 45 lbs on mine unloaded. You will also need a 7 pin elec connection with brake controller if you don't already have it. Start saving your coins for a heavier truck to match your next trailer that will be a little longer and a little heavier. Enjoy the new toy!!!!!!

[grumpysmurf]

Vortex 5300, rear axle 3.73, GVW of 6400.

[kaydeejay]

There is no towing info on the door plate, only the legally required numbers of GVWR, FAWR and RAWR. Pre 2005, the Tire and Loading info label did not exist either.
Towing info will be in the Owner's Manual if you have one.
You will need to know the engine/trans and axle ratio to look up the correct number.