Towing with 1500

[Slick87SS]

I am looking buy a used TT for me and my family. Def want a bunk house trailer with slide for the extra room. I will be towing with Silverado 1500 with 9200 tow cap. and 1850 payload. Also I will be using WD hitch. What should I be looking for as far as dry weights for trailers. It would be our first TT though I do have experience towing my 14 foot work trailer I wouldn't want a white knuckle trip every time I pull it. Most I have checked out and liked are anywhere between 5800-6900 dry weight. Any info would be super helpful.

[Hornnumb2]

The smallest thing will affect the payload rating, I noticed this as I have been shopping 3/4 ton trucks for about 3 months. I looked at a twin to the truck I bought except it had 17in wheels instead of 20's. I don't remember the exact difference in payload but I know it was about 300 pounds just for wheels and tires.

[2012Coleman]

lawrosa wrote:

cbshoestring wrote:

lawrosa wrote:
That 1850 lbs payload is questionable to say the least...

I dont believe it..

Here we go with the 1500's being low payload, grocery getters. For the record...I believe 4 door trucks with 6' beds are grocery getters...or as my boy say "convertible SUV's".

Guess that 1668 sticker on my truck is really only 668#....must be a smudge in front of it.

2013 RAM 1500 contractor, Reg cab, 8' bed (4X2) 5.7 Hemi.

yeah I know....1668 is 182 light of 1850. Must have been that factory installed tow package that did me in.

gotta go now...wife wants milk and bread.

OK your 1668 may be right.. You know why?

Reg cap 2 wheel drive...

If it was a 4 door with options and 4x4 the payload stays similar less weight of 4x4, 2 more doors, and two more people in the back seats.. ( His kids)

Now tell me what the OP's payload is remaining? ( Note we dont know what he has yet) That 1800 just got reduced big time IMO...

500 for 4x4 stated in every manual I have read... so 1800 is now 1300. Two 100 lbs kids and gear now we down to 1000 say. Add the wife 100 ( If she is skinny and we down to 900.. And it can be a lot worse... Most never know...


So your 2x2 reg cab fitting 3 people is of course going to retain payload...

Its a no brainer if you know about trucks, payloads , and weights...

Id love to tow with a reg cab work truck 2 wheel drive any day... Thos trucks have the most capcity period...

My opinion of course... But true.. Hope someone can prove me wrong....:)

The OP can prove it if he would post o picture of the door jamb sticker. Salesmen and web sites are trying to sell stuff - not sure why you would not look at the info specific to your particular TV.

OP - Post a picture!

[Nvr2loud]

My 2011 Sierra 1500 has a 1420 lb payload

It is Crew Cab, 4x4, SLT (sunroof, running boards, fog lights ect) and it all adds weight.

To the OP, I would not sign for the new truck until you see the actual door sticker and calculate if it will meet your needs.

My Sierra has the 5.3 / 6spd / 3.42 gears and I run with a fully loaded trailer of 6006 lbs (weighed) and it is at the limit of my payload. Engine and transmission handle that weight flawlessly with tow/haul mode on and limiting the use of overdrive

[SilverEscape]

pb65stang wrote:


You're right about the 2015s having the increased payload potential. The interesting thing is that it's not translating to many of the higher end models. Many King Ranch's and Platinums are in that same 1400-1600 range, due to all the new heavy options. I specifically ordered mine without the heavy double moonroof so that I could save my payload.

Interesting. And here I thought the bare minimum increase was around 300 pounds. Well I guess that makes me even happier I didn't wait for a 2015 and lose a summer of using our new trailer. Thanks for the info.

[RavensFan24]

Wishbone51 wrote:
Not apples to apples, but I have a Nissan Titan with a 7500lb limit, and a much lower payload than yours. I have a trailer with a 6500 dry weight. I have plenty of power to keep the speed limit, but the issue is transmission temp, and because of this, I am very slow (35mph) on hills and cruise on flat ground at 55mph. This combination is very stable, though, especially when I have some extra fresh water on board (tank is up front). Feels really good towing. Certainly not "white knuckle"

Wishbone, if you're worried about transmission temps, have a secondary transmission cooler put in. They are only like $40 (without install) and it makes a difference. I had one put in recently and my transmission cools a lot faster now.

[APT]

pb65stang wrote:
The interesting thing is that it's not translating to many of the higher end models. Many King Ranch's and Platinums are in that same 1400-1600 range, due to all the new heavy options.

That is higher than the 2009-20014 models with the same level of equipment. Many of those have under 1000 pounds of payload!

[SilverEscape]

Slick87SS wrote:
Is the max tounge weight where the WDH would help? I will check the sticker on the door and post what the specific truck I am looking at says and post for you all. Should be able to later today

Your receiver will probably allow 2 different mad tongue weights. One without a WDH and one with. For example, without a WDH, my receiver allows a max 500 pound tongue weight and max 5000 pound trailer weight. So using a WDH may change what your receiver allows for max tongue and trailer weight, but it doesn't change your trailer tongue weight. If your trailer tongue is 1100 pounds for example, it's 1100 pounds whether or not your using a WDH. So, if for example, your vehicle allows 900 pound tongue weight with a WDH, then 1100 pounds is too heavy for it.

[pb65stang]

SilverEscape wrote:

pb65stang wrote:
Just an FYI, I have a 2015 F150 SuperCrew 4x4 King Ranch pretty well loaded with options and my payload sticker says 1699. And that's with heavy stuff like power running boards, cameras, and 20" rims. So in a newer half ton, I could see 1800 depending on the options. I'm looking to tow about a 6,300 lb dry trailer with a 700 lb tongue weight and I have no reservations about it. Still leaves me 1000 lbs for people and gear.

The 2015's are aluminum bodied and gained several hundred pounds of payload per model though.

I've got a 2014 F150 SCrew 5.5' box, Platinum model with power running boards, AC seats, power mirrors, etc. and my payload is 1527. And I had to get the Max Tow option to get that. Standard Platinum models with the regular tow package had 1000-1100 pounds payload. The 2015's would up that a bunch.

For the OP, I'd check your yellow sticker on your door, the max tongue weight on your hitch receiver (for example, my max is 1150 tongue weight I believe for the receiver), and your rear gross axle weight rating. Those things will be your limiting factors.

For us, we have some room to play in our rear axle weight and payload with our trailer tongue weight of 771 and a trailer weight of about 5500. We need that extra play room for the kids to grow. So we couldn't comfortably tow a larger trailer without upgrading to a same series truck with less features or a larger series truck that wouldn't fit in our garage and I wouldn't be able to park. (although the 2015 F150s have my eye. We just didn't have the time to wait for them to arrive or the extra $$ to pay for one over the sale on our '14).

You're right about the 2015s having the increased payload potential. The interesting thing is that it's not translating to many of the higher end models. Many King Ranch's and Platinums are in that same 1400-1600 range, due to all the new heavy options. I specifically ordered mine without the heavy double moonroof so that I could save my payload.

[Slick87SS]

Is the max tounge weight where the WDH would help? I will check the sticker on the door and post what the specific truck I am looking at says and post for you all. Should be able to later today

[SilverEscape]

pb65stang wrote:
Just an FYI, I have a 2015 F150 SuperCrew 4x4 King Ranch pretty well loaded with options and my payload sticker says 1699. And that's with heavy stuff like power running boards, cameras, and 20" rims. So in a newer half ton, I could see 1800 depending on the options. I'm looking to tow about a 6,300 lb dry trailer with a 700 lb tongue weight and I have no reservations about it. Still leaves me 1000 lbs for people and gear.

The 2015's are aluminum bodied and gained several hundred pounds of payload per model though.

I've got a 2014 F150 SCrew 5.5' box, Platinum model with power running boards, AC seats, power mirrors, etc. and my payload is 1527. And I had to get the Max Tow option to get that. Standard Platinum models with the regular tow package had 1000-1100 pounds payload. The 2015's would up that a bunch.

For the OP, I'd check your yellow sticker on your door, the max tongue weight on your hitch receiver (for example, my max is 1150 tongue weight I believe for the receiver), and your rear gross axle weight rating. Those things will be your limiting factors.

For us, we have some room to play in our rear axle weight and payload with our trailer tongue weight of 771 and a trailer weight of about 5500. We need that extra play room for the kids to grow. So we couldn't comfortably tow a larger trailer without upgrading to a same series truck with less features or a larger series truck that wouldn't fit in our garage and I wouldn't be able to park. (although the 2015 F150s have my eye. We just didn't have the time to wait for them to arrive or the extra $$ to pay for one over the sale on our '14).

[itguy08]

lawrosa wrote:

OK your 1668 may be right.. You know why?

Reg cap 2 wheel drive...

If it was a 4 door with options and 4x4 the payload stays similar less weight of 4x4, 2 more doors, and two more people in the back seats.. ( His kids)

2011 F150 Ecoboost, Max Tow. Supercrew, Lariat (leather, heated/cooled seats, etc), 4x4 shortbed. Payload off the yellow sticker: 1,820. Tows our Open Range LT272RLS just fine for the wife and I and our dog.

[Hunterred]

I have a 2015 Sierra 1500 4x4 crew cab 6.5 ft box. Payload is 1985, with me and daily items I have 1760 left over. Tongue weight of trailer is 1230ish full of 800 lbs of water without my blue ox, 880 with. My truck has the 5.3 with 6 speed 3.73 gears. 1850 is definitely possible and I would say probable.
Loaded for 4 days, I am 92% of my GVWR and under 90% of every other rating of the truck.

What do you carry in your truck daily? Box 3439Tools, running boards, box cover?
How many people will you be taking with the trailer at the most?

This will give you a total daily load, then add camping gear, bikes, wood, generator, everything that goes or could go with you on a 2 week holiday type trip.
That number is your "cargo". Say it's 800-1100 lbs. 1850-1100= 750 lbs tongue weight
750/.15(hitch weight max) gives you a GVWR of 5000
If it is less say 800 cargo that leaves 1050
1050/.15 gives a GVWR of 7000
Or trailer is 14.2% hitch weight and it can go as low as 10%, at 15% you should definitely be safe, if you want to go to 12.5, as long as you load to 12.5 and not 15 then that can also work for you and gives a lot more room.
My advice go by trailer GVWR rather than dry weights. Every trailer including used will give you the GVWR but "dry" is open to so much complication and confusion, use gvwr.
There will always be the rainy parade people and nay sayers, be honest with yourself and do a little bit of math, you will be within spec, and enjoy your new adventures that will come with your new truck and trailer.

[Terryallan]

All arguing aside. the guys that believe the 1500s, and 150s have no payload haven't looked at them since they bought their over kill trucks. The newer 150s, and 1500 are more truck than a so called 3/4 ton truck was 5 years ago, and BTW. My 04 has plenty of payload of as well. According to the book. and scales

[jerem0621]

My friend has a LT 2014 2wd NHT 5.3 Crew Cab Short bed and he has 1960 ish lbs of payload.

I believe the OP until he gives information as to the contrary.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

[lawrosa]

I'm not sure where you came up with this.

Came up with what???

Be specific please...