TT tow weight?

[alzwak]

I have a 23 ft travel trailer (gvw 4360 lbs / gvwr 5500 lbs) I plan on towing it with my 2006 GMC 1/2 ton truck SLT 5.3 Eng. with the towing package, also installed in the truck are the trailer brake unit . I also have all the WDH installed for the truck and trailer and the truck is nice and level.
Im thinking my truck is able to handle 7000 to 7600 lbs

Im needing to know if this is a good tow for my truck or do i need to look into getting a larger truck?

[westend]

First, if my Ford 5.4 can do it lugging along with the 4 x 4 crew cab that's attached to it, so can you with your GM.

The best thing I could suggest is to load it up for a weekend camping session, fill the tank, and drive it to a scale. Have fun on the weekend and then assess the ride and feel of the tow combination.

[GWolfe]

The only thing I would add is to tow in drive and not overdrive. When I had my 04 Silverado with the 5.3/3.73 towing my 3300lb camper it was much more happy cruising along at 3000 rpm than lugging along at under 1500 rpm. The transmission ran cooler and the gas mileage was the same.

[rbpru]

You have the truck, you have the TT, pull it and see what you think.

You are always better of with bigger and stronger but that does not mean that what you have will not work.

Only you can decide if your combination suits you or not.

[cruz-in]

4Kellys wrote:
Don't assume it's ok because everybody says so. Do your research, add up your numbers, weigh your truck loaded with everything you normally take with you and a full tank of gas. Subtract that weight from your trucks GVWR and that's your payload. You may be OK but you may not. Don't be one of those RVers out there who don't know or care if they're overloaded!

X2..you might really be surprised how little you can tow and stay within the GVWR limits of you TV...most folks are.

also be wary of the "I have similar and it tows fine". As the chief engineer of a large prototype design/fab, you do not need to worry about the norm, it is what we call the corner cases that you have to worry about. Like when you get in an evasive maneuver. If you violate the tow numbers for your truck you will know it then....

[4Kellys]

Don't assume it's ok because everybody says so. Do your research, add up your numbers, weigh your truck loaded with everything you normally take with you and a full tank of gas. Subtract that weight from your trucks GVWR and that's your payload. You may be OK but you may not. Don't be one of those RVers out there who don't know or care if they're overloaded!

[Need-A-Vacation]

+1 what Soundguy posted.

The GM 6spd/3.42 combo is actually better than the previous gen 4spd/4.10 combo in regard to towing.

If you have the 3.73 gearing, should do pretty well overall. If you have the 3.42, it will do it, but may not be as well as you hope.

Check you glovebox sticker for a G code and do a search for it. GU6 is a 3.42, GT4 is 3.73, GT5 is the 4.10's.

[alzwak]

Thanks again everyone for all the useful information Im getting

[GordonThree]

Not to be "that guy" but I'll share what I ran into with my little trailer, smaller than yours.... is payload capacity of the 1500 truck.

My ram can only carry 1200 lbs, which sounds like a lot but is hardly anything. 500 lbs gone right away for the trailer tongue. another 400 lbs is gone with my dog and I in the cab. That's 1200-900 and the bed is still empty. Generators, gas can, some firewood, extra water jugs, barbeque, before I knew it I was out of payload, and still have over 6000 lbs towing capacity remaining (truck rated for 10000 lbs.)

This hasn't stopped or even discouraged me from towing... i know the truck can haul a lot more than the lawyers rate it for, but it still lingers in the back of my mind.

Just something to think about.

[SoundGuy]

alzwak wrote:
Im needing to know if this is a good tow for my truck or do i need to look into getting a larger truck?

I've been towing similarly sized travel trailers for 10+ yrs with GM's ubiquitous 5.3L coupled to the older wide ratio 4-speed just as you have and if your truck also has a 3.42 axle count on towing over flat terrain in 3rd with Tow Haul engaged. Serious upgrades will require downshifting to 2nd if you expect to not just crawl uphill ... a 3.73 axle ratio would improve the situation somewhat but likely not enough to avoid constant downshifting if towing in Drive. Don't be fooled by those towing with GM's newer narrow ratio 6-speed which can better match the proper gear to the task at hand ... believe it, your older 4-spd will definitely know that weight is back there. You'll also want to be careful to not exceed your remaining payload capacity, determined obviously by how many people and how much additional cargo may also be in the truck when you're towing. 😉

[bbaker2001]

had a 2009 GMC 1500 with 5.3.
24 ft TT
pulled fine.
get a good WDH
I did add air bags for a little more support, and to help level

[bobndot]

I don't think GM has an OEM isolator as standard EQ. in their trucks, even with a tow pack.
If your style is to park for long periods of time while still being hooked up (TT to TV ) , you should have an isolator solenoid installed under the hood, they are not expensive .
Isolate your TV starting battery from your TT deep cycle battery, so you don't run them both down and not be able to start the truck.
Without one, you have to unplug the TT from the TV and remember to plug it back in before you drive off .

[alzwak]

Thanks everyone, I'm planing a 3 month trip early next spring driving back east.

[Walaby]

Your good. I had a 2011 Sierra 1500 with tow package etc.. pulled a 24 ft trailer, GVW of 6400(ish), GVWR of 7500 if I remember correctly. Pulled no problem at all.

Mike

[MFL]

That trailer should work well with your truck. It sounds like you've got the hitch all figured out. If trailer brakes are working good, you should have a good towing experience.

Happy camping!
Jerry