TT size advice

[mickose]

I have always owned large fifth wheels pulling with 3/4 ton diesel. Will now be going to a TT. I own a 2017 4X4 1500 Crew Cab Silverado with a 5.3 gas with 3.42 rear end and 6 speed trans. The max tow rating is 9100. I am looking at either a 30 foot Imagine with a 5900 dry weight and 590 pound hitch weight or a 34 foot Imagine that has a 800 pound hitch weight and 7200 dry weight. We’re very experienced in loading with minimal weight, under 1000 pounds. Looking at a Center Line Husky distribution/weight hitch system. Not having the experience with TT, would appreciate your experiences with this type set up, good or bad. Thank you in advance.

[Huntindog]

DP

[Huntindog]

Let me get this straight.
You have been towing a 5ver with a 3/4 ton diesel.

5vers are known for towing very well. And 3/4 ton diesel trucks are generally known to be good to great TVs.

Now you want to go to a run of the mill 1/2 ton with amenic 3.42 gears, and TTs that will exceed some or all of the TVs ratings?

Should work fine, I mean what could possibly go wrong.:B



Seriously, if you reread your OP, it is obvious that this is a bad idea.
Even if you could do it, (and I suspect there are some that do) you will not be happy especially since you have been used to a 5ver with a 3/4 ton diesel.

[OleManOleCan]

MitchF150 wrote:
I don't think your 1500 has a #15,000 GVWR... ha, ha! That is probably your GCWR..

So, as long as your truck weighs around #5900 with everyone loaded in it and the weight of the trailers tongue weight on it and on and on, you should be fine..;) I know my truck weights at least that much with just my fat A in the truck and the other stuff I just haul around for the fun of it...

On the other hand, towing performance is different for everyone, so you just gotta decide what is your towing performance parameters? Any of us keyboard commandos can quote weight ratings and all... Just gotta decide what works for you in the end..

We ain't towing it and we ain't paying for it, so there you go.. 🙂

For me, you might get away with the #7500 GVWR TT, but then, what weights are you exceeding on the truck and what are you comfortable with?? I have no idea. 🙂

Good luck!

Mitch

Years ago I bought a 30 foot camper that the salesman assured me, my Chevy 1500 would tow. (Liar) I decided to go camping in the Smokey Mt's. When I pulled out of Chattanooga I was going near 60 on I-24 when I started up the Mt. I was going less than 25 when I neared the top.
Everyone passed me and part of them extended a finger.
I got the message. When I returned home I bought a F-250 Diesel. Next time I went up that Mt. I had to keep it steady, or it would have been going 80 near the top.
Too little truck endangers you and other motorist.
BTW: When you have enough truck, you can cruise along at 55 to 60 up and down the mountains.

[sgfrye]

camp-n-family wrote:
We tow a 34' 6400lbs dry, 7800lbs loaded trailer. I wouldn't do it with anything less than a 3/4 ton truck. You'll be much happier (towing) the smaller lighter one with your 1/2 ton.

X2

Our TT is close to this size and weight. I towed it for awhike with 1/2 ton ford then upgraded to 3/4 ton ford f250 gasser. No comparison 3/4 wind

[RedRocket204]

troubledwaters wrote:
Keep the tongue weight to 10 - 11% and you got plenty of payload left over for humans and their snacks.

Since not all TTs tow the same, it is very possible that a certain trailer at 10 - 11% tongue weight could be a bad and unstable tow where the tongue weight might need to be increased.

My current TT needs a tongue weight more on the 15% range and I would not want to even consider trying 10%.

[troubledwaters]

busterbrown73 wrote:
...Assuming 1500 lbs of payload on the typical GM 1/2 ton and 12-15% tongue weight of a 8000 lb "ready to camp" pull behind will net a reduction of 1000 to 1200 lbs of payload capacity. Subtract 100 lbs of hitch and one will have very marginal numbers remaining to accommodate humans, cargo, and refreshments in the TV...

Keep the tongue weight to 10 - 11% and you got plenty of payload left over for humans and their snacks.

[busterbrown73]

You may already know this but the problem with a "run-of-the-mill" Chevy, GMC, Ford, or Ram 1/2 ton is payload. It's the Achilles heel of the towing experience. The factory rated "towing capacity" on any truck is pointless as one will reach the the payload limits way before anything else. Assuming 1500 lbs of payload on the typical GM 1/2 ton and 12-15% tongue weight of a 8000 lb "ready to camp" pull behind will net a reduction of 1000 to 1200 lbs of payload capacity. Subtract 100 lbs of hitch and one will have very marginal numbers remaining to accommodate humans, cargo, and refreshments in the TV.

I'd suggest limits of 6500 GVWR for a prospective trailer and a substational 4pt WDH with sway control like an Equal-i-zer.

[mosseater]

Your numbers are very similar to what I've been doing for 10 years, and I'm ready to stop. It's doable, but being maxed is no fun. Next time, biggest dang gas engine they make! I'm weary of putting my foot down and nothing much happens for the next minute. Especially anxious on turnpike entrance and big hills. It gets it done. Barely.

[troubledwaters]

The place to start is by looking at the tire loading sticker on the drivers door of the truck and go from their. No one on here can help you with "Good, Reliable Information" without knowing those numbers.
For further information click me, click me!!

[camp-n-family]

We tow a 34' 6400lbs dry, 7800lbs loaded trailer. I wouldn't do it with anything less than a 3/4 ton truck. You'll be much happier (towing) the smaller lighter one with your 1/2 ton.

[camper1013]

I have the same truck you. My trailer is 28' and 7200 gross (Passport 2800BH). I use an Equalizer hitch. I have scaled this setup loaded for a 9 day trip and I am at the trailer weight limit and my trucks axle limits.(we take a lot of stuff for the kids) The 9100 towing capacity doesn't matter in this case.

The truck tows nicely at highway speeds. Obviously it kicks down for hills. The truck drives nice and tows good unless my tank is full of water (I need to adjust my hitch) which I have been able to avoid this summer.

I would not go longer or heavier based on what my experiences are. The 7200 trailer would definitely put you over your weight limits. There are plenty of people out there that do, but I don't think you would like it.

[APT]

You will be happier towing at 6k pounds than 7200 pounds dry.

[MitchF150]

I don't think your 1500 has a #15,000 GVWR... ha, ha! That is probably your GCWR..

So, as long as your truck weighs around #5900 with everyone loaded in it and the weight of the trailers tongue weight on it and on and on, you should be fine..;) I know my truck weights at least that much with just my fat A in the truck and the other stuff I just haul around for the fun of it...

On the other hand, towing performance is different for everyone, so you just gotta decide what is your towing performance parameters? Any of us keyboard commandos can quote weight ratings and all... Just gotta decide what works for you in the end..

We ain't towing it and we ain't paying for it, so there you go.. 🙂

For me, you might get away with the #7500 GVWR TT, but then, what weights are you exceeding on the truck and what are you comfortable with?? I have no idea. 🙂

Good luck!

Mitch

[WNYBob]

You are looking a way to big of a TT!

I have a 20' 4340 lb dry wt., -5300 lb loaded wt. As I load it TT.
My TV 2011 Silverado 1500 LS (work truck) 9800 tow, 5.3 gaser, 3.73 rear end, and 6 speed trany!

I've had to upgrade the tires to "E", air bags, upgraded TT suspension (wetbolts, brass bushings and EZ-Flex)

On my experience I would not go over 5000 dry TT with my setup.