What's my hitch?

[eliwoman]

Hi, all.
My future tow vehicle is a 2011 Silverado 1500 that we bought used from the dealer a few years back. I've been trying to determine what it can tow. It's got the tow package with a 3.42 axle ratio and heavy-duty cooling and other goodies, which means its GCWR is 15,000 and max towing is 9,500 or so (which would take it way over the GCWR, by the way). I've done tons of research, and the only thing I can't find is the weight rating on the hitch. There is no label on it that I can see. It appears to be a weight-distributing set-up, and the GPO codes from the glove box refer to a "TRAILERING PACKAGE(SPECIAL)(REESE TYPE HITCH)". I've heard that the hitch is often the weakest link in the "tow" chain. Anyone know where I can find the numbers on this hitch?
TIA
eliwoman
TT shopping

[APT]

2011 5.3L/6-spd/3.42 axle is a solid combo. You get 4 or maybe 5 useable towing gears. Keep that engine over 2500rpm. You should be comfortable at up to about 6000 pounds dry and 7000 pounds loaded. That puts TW in the 900-1000 pound range, within the factory receiver ratings. Get a WDH with integrated sway control and proportional brake controller if the truck does not have the OEM controller.

[drsteve]

lawrosa wrote:

WNYBob wrote:
I doubt that you have that much tow weight. I have your truck but have 3.73 gears!
My tow weight is 9800! I would not be comfortable pulling a TT wit a GVWR over 6000 with my truck!

My hitch is marked as the Sound guy stated.

Check my profile for my specs.

I replace the hitch and got rid of the GM one. On mine it attached to the bumper in two points... Cause a torque issue with the WD hitch. Couldn't get weight back on front of truck. Put a curt 1800 lb tw 17000 lb pull... it was same price as lesser hitch... yes over kill..

My truck is rated for 7500 lbs. Dont know why new trucks can pull more...

My 2006 came with one of those round tube receivers that used the bumper as an attachment point. The thing was flexible as all get out, and the welds began failing within the first year. Replaced it with an aftermarket receiver, never had a problem since. The OP is probably OK in that regard, I believe GM got rid of those after only a couple of model years.

[ib516]

It's a class 4 hitch on your truck from the factory. The ratings should be in the manual, if you don't have one I'm sure you could find a .pdf of it online.

[lawrosa]

WNYBob wrote:
I doubt that you have that much tow weight. I have your truck but have 3.73 gears!
My tow weight is 9800! I would not be comfortable pulling a TT wit a GVWR over 6000 with my truck!

My hitch is marked as the Sound guy stated.

Check my profile for my specs.

I replace the hitch and got rid of the GM one. On mine it attached to the bumper in two points... Cause a torque issue with the WD hitch. Couldn't get weight back on front of truck. Put a curt 1800 lb tw 17000 lb pull... it was same price as lesser hitch... yes over kill..

My truck is rated for 7500 lbs. Dont know why new trucks can pull more...

[WNYBob]

I doubt that you have that much tow weight. I have your truck but have 3.73 gears!
My tow weight is 9800! I would not be comfortable pulling a TT wit a GVWR over 6000 with my truck!

My hitch is marked as the Sound guy stated.

Check my profile for my specs.

[lawrosa]

Youll be fine with that 6000 lb trailer..

I have similar truck. 3;42's... payload on my sticker on door says about 1500 lbs. The trailer in my sig is a coachmen 261bh. 740 lb tongue weight loaded and 4730 lbs empty. about 5500 lbs loaded.. maybe 6000..

Has a GVW or 7000... I can put a lot of stuff in it but dont...

The TW was 541 empty. So you can see how stuff /gear adds up..

I wouldnt want to go heavier.. This is due to payload of the truck...

[eliwoman]

Thanks, SoundGuy -- not just for the numbers, but for helping me learn the language. So, with a good weight-distribution hitch I should be able to tow an old Jayco 22FB with a GVWR of 6000 Lbs. if I keep the truck and trailer lightly loaded. I'll just have to downsize a bit more radically. The electronic keyboard, not the baby grand. ;^)

[SoundGuy]

eliwoman wrote:
Anyone know where I can find the numbers on this hitch?

I have the same truck, a 2012 ... label on the hitch receiver says 5000 lbs / 600 lbs weight carrying, 10,500 lbs / 1100 lbs weight distribution. The hitch receiver itself has nothing to do with weight distribution which is an entirely separate system consisting of a hitch head that slides into the truck's hitch receiver and has spring bars which when mounted transfer a portion of tongue weight to the truck's front steer axle and another portion back to the trailer axle(s).

Don't be fooled, despite the numbers you wouldn't want to tow a trailer weighing any more than 6000 lbs loaded & ready to camp with this truck if for no other reason than you'll almost for sure run out of available payload capacity. I've been towing for a dozen years with variations of this truck, for several years towed a 24' K-Z Spree averaging 5500 lbs with an average gross tongue weight of ~ 750 lbs, currently tow a 19' Coachmen weighing ~ 4800 lbs with a gross tongue weight of ~ 625 lbs. I'll repeat - you won't want to be towing much more with this truck. Check out the trailer towing charts in my gallery and you'll see why.

[Lwiddis]

“trying to determine what it can tow”

What is the TV’s payload limit? What do you carry, or want to carry, in the TV? Hitch doesn’t usually determine max trailer.

I understood you were looking for a C...February or so. “I am currently filling the piggy bank to buy a class C to live in full time. In the meantime,..”