All ActivityMost RecentMost LikesSolutionsRe: Just bought a '17 Chevy Silverado 1500 lbrjet wrote: CherylH wrote: Sandia Man wrote: The equipment listed above could make for a decent towing experience, at nearly 30' long, a high quality weight distribution hitch with integrated sway control, such as an Equalizer, would be particularly helpful for windy travel days. Being a half-ton tow vehicle you will still encounter difficulties traversing steep inclines in mountainous areas, it will be slower at times but you'll get where you are going. On mostly flatlands towing should be a comfortable experience, that's an impressive CCC for such a light TT, but over-packing with non-essentials will negatively affect your towing experience. Here's hoping your new TV & TT meets all your RVing expectations. Thanks! You think I should try to go lighter and maybe a shorter TT? Say a 22' Coachman Clipper 17 BH there are a few for sell here that are like 2015 and a 2016 Says Gross weight is 3800 Pretty soon these folks will have you in a pop up. With a family of 5 I would go with the Greywolf. You will be within the payload rating and way under the truck's tow rating. In the mountains just press on the gas. You would have to do that anyway even with an 18 foot trailer. Remember these engines make peak power at well over 4,000 RPM's. You will see 4K plus going up steep grades and going down using your engine braking. Enjoy your travels. LMAO!! That had me laughing! Because I went back to dealer and was like.. UHHH. . I think I want to get the 17BH because im on these forums.. and she goes, "OH don't listen to naysayers. Those people will split hairs!" lol AND btw the trailer shes trying to sell me isnt much more than the 17bh. Shes not trying to put me in somehting we cannot handle, or will not like. DONT worry though (for those who are really worrying or just want to be "right") I am doing my homework FIRST! The place I am buying from has a REAL good reputation on putting people in the right TT that their TV can pull; BUT, I want to make sure myself, first! But seriously though, naysayers, people honestly helping, not naysayers, whatever, thanks for the help! I am truly taking in EVERYTHING and looking into whatever anyone says. What can people tell me about Equalizer Weight Distribution hitch? I was told it takes weight off the tongue. Is this true?Re: Just bought a '17 Chevy Silverado 1500 Greene728 wrote: My Lord y'all are totally confusing this woman! Excellent job on correcting Lwiddis too! You are doing a great thing by looking for a good match to your truck in a RV. Nothing sucks worse than a bad towing experience and getting to your destination and being mentally exhausted from the RV driving the truck. Based on your trucks specs, I'd say be looking at something in the 20-26ft range with a max weight of maybe 6000 pounds (give or take a smidge). Anything less than this is even better. At this weight range and under, you should be fine on all weights. I will recommend one thing right out of the gate though. If the truck came with P rated tires, look very seriously at swapping them out for an LT tire that will provide a much better towing experience. If it came with LT tires then your already good to go! And when looking at RV's never use the UVW. Always use the GVWR or max weight. That is worse case scenario and anything under that is just weight to the good. Remember, you'll never tow or use your RV empty, so really it's a useless number. Good Luck! Thank you! and I'll look into the tires. I am actually "looking" at a 17'(im sure around 19) Jayco 17hb or a coachman Clipper 17 BH GeoBoy wrote: CherylH, how many people in the trailer? How long will you be out with the trailer, traveling? 2 adults 3 children child 1 is 6 child 2 is 13 but under 100 lbs child 3 is 17 but shes part time (lives with mom) and is probably 150 lbs We live in NE and plan on traveling to CA with trailer. Lwiddis wrote: Chery, snug it up right at the max? Not me....that's your family in that TV with you. Follow the Dutchman: "You really need to think in terms of what is the ultimate extreme usage you'll be experiencing with your truck, not what is the lightest usage and hope it's OK when the extreme happens." You literally are not understanding what I am doing so maybe you should go to another post and help someone else ? jerem0621 wrote: drsteve wrote: Lwiddis wrote: Yes, drsteve! Too close for his family. Not necessarily... Depends if we're talking about a couple of small adults and a pair of third graders, or large adults with linebacker sized teenage sons . BenK wrote: Stand by the info on HOW2 in previous post and stress that the OP go out and actually weigh her TV while fully loaded ready to go RV'ing...then do the dimple math BenK has it right... load the truck up with the family and cargo, go to the scales, and find out how much it all weighs, and figure out how much capacity is left for tongue and hitch weight. Do this before purchasing a trailer. That's exactly where my family is. Use to have just me and DW with a couple light weight kids in the back seat. Now I look in my review mirror and I see two of those linebacker sized teens. Don't worry though. The truck will lighten itself up in a few years when they head off to college. Maybe we will get a dog then. Shouldn't have any trouble with a couples trailer then. Life is a grand adventure, nothing stays the same forever. Hold the ones you love because soon they will leave. They will never remember how much money you spent or didn't spend on stuff, they will remember if you were there for them or not. Thanks, Jeremiah Thanks! You are so right!Re: Just bought a '17 Chevy Silverado 1500 JIMNLIN wrote: CherylH wrote: Lwiddis wrote: You are SO close to being overloaded. And I will be the first to say...shoulda bought a 3/4 for that TT, water and stuff. Um nope. I didn't want a 3/4 and I havent bought a TT yet, so I shouldnt of done anything. I am trying to find out what my vehicle CAN tow. Thanks I am getting conflicting information on what this truck CAN tow. I've literally read that it can tow 7k to 15k <<< that was from a towing guide. LOL....As you suspect you don't need a 3/4 ton truck for that small trailer. Nor do you need to dump the P tires and buy LT tires....at this time. That is what we do down the road if the P tires turn out to cause handling issues. We always have those that feel a 1/2 ton can't pull or carry its rated capacities and some folks have no idea what your trucks capacities are. My wifes '16 1500 chevy crew cab 4wd 5.3 ET3 355 hp/383 torque 3.42 gears 6L80E tranny along with GMs 1500 7200 gvwr chassis will have no problems pulling or handling that size trailer. We just back in last nite from a 320 mile run one way pulling a 10k loaded car hauler (9460 lbs on the axles and 1020 lbs on the trucks rear axle). I always use manual mode on the 6L80e tranny that way I choose what gear to run depending on load and terrain. My other truck is a 6 speed manual Dodge/Cummins so I understand which gear for best mpg and pulling performance/cooler running auto tranny/etc. If you don't then I would suggest manual mode and 5th gear in T/H mode when towing. The 1500 ET3...5.3... 3.42 gears 6l80e tranny is a sweet combo for the size TT your looking at. Oh thats awesome! Thanks. I am still torn between the one I listed and Jayco 17 bh or coachman Clipper 17 bh or cherokee grey wolf 17 bh lol (that one has a full at the bottom of the bunk) THANK you EVERYONE for your advice. I've read each and everyone's comments. VERY helpful!Re: Newbie here Looking for a light weight TT for 5 suggestions? falconbrother wrote: Are you looking to finance or pay cash? If you're going to finance then I'd spend a little more and get way more trailer for not that much more weight. You wouldn't want to be upside down on a loan and hate what you have. If you get something that really doesn't meet your needs then you'll be looking to trade up or quit camping all together. Get one and be done with it for a while. Don't waste money trading in a couple of years. We plan on paying cash but wouldn't mind financing a little to be more comfortable. Wildwood 201 bhxl is pretty cool! I should add that I want to keep under 30 feet lol.. preferably 22ishNewbie here Looking for a light weight TT for 5 suggestions?Newbie here Looking for (suggestions)for a lightweight TT that can sleep 5. I've found MANY that can accommodate that but I am asking for suggestions. What do YOU suggest and why? I've been looking near me but I can travel to go get one too. I am in Omaha, NE. I am looking for one that has bunks, couch and dinette and a queen bed. I am looking for something that is under 5000 range for weight. My max towing is 9100 but I want to keep it way below that. TT that I've been looking at are: Jayco 174BH (only issue I see is no couch) but is doable Forest River Patriot Edition 16BHS but again no couch and both dinettes are tiny. Oh and not over 15k in price.Re: Just bought a '17 Chevy Silverado 1500 Lwiddis wrote: You are SO close to being overloaded. And I will be the first to say...shoulda bought a 3/4 for that TT, water and stuff. Um nope. I didn't want a 3/4 and I havent bought a TT yet, so I shouldnt of done anything. I am trying to find out what my vehicle CAN tow. Thanks I am getting conflicting information on what this truck CAN tow. I've literally read that it can tow 7k to 15k <<< that was from a towing guide.Re: Just bought a '17 Chevy Silverado 1500lol redRe: Just bought a '17 Chevy Silverado 1500 Sandia Man wrote: The equipment listed above could make for a decent towing experience, at nearly 30' long, a high quality weight distribution hitch with integrated sway control, such as an Equalizer, would be particularly helpful for windy travel days. Being a half-ton tow vehicle you will still encounter difficulties traversing steep inclines in mountainous areas, it will be slower at times but you'll get where you are going. On mostly flatlands towing should be a comfortable experience, that's an impressive CCC for such a light TT, but over-packing with non-essentials will negatively affect your towing experience. Here's hoping your new TV & TT meets all your RVing expectations. Thanks! You think I should try to go lighter and maybe a shorter TT? Say a 22' Coachman Clipper 17 BH there are a few for sell here that are like 2015 and a 2016 Says Gross weight is 3800Re: Just bought a '17 Chevy Silverado 1500 BenK wrote: GVWR..........Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, what that vehicle is rated for...you need to provide this info, as some OEMs has over a dozen GVWR half tons. From +6K GVWR up to +7K GVWR GAWR..........Gross Axle Weight Rating, what that axle is rated for...you need to provide this info. Most half ton's, no matter which GVWR (except for the +8K GVWR fake half ton) has GAWR's in the +4K range. Compared to bigger/higher rated 3/4 ton and up will have +5K Front GAWR and +6K Rear GAWR MTWR..........Max Tow Weight Rating, what the TV in 'curb' condition (meaning stripper model with NO optional equipment, other than the tow option and one 150 lb driver) can tow. Plus most ratings derive their numbers using the stripper models both in TV and trailer (dry weight) GCWR..........Gross Combined Weight Rating, what that vehicle (TV) is rated to pull/carry in total "R" is ratings and the OP needs to make a decision whether to believe in & adhere to them, or ignore them and do whatever...but know that the manufacturer's most likely will NOT provide warranty both in fixing something and liability Here is the generic formula for the ratings system: GCWR >= TV + trailer + stuff Stuff being ANYTHING loaded into and onto both the TV and trailer. Plus the WD Hitch system Most of the items the OP has listed below are fashion statement stuff and not much to do with towing...except that they add weight to the 'curb' (stripper model) weight EcoTec3 5.3L V8 Flex Fuel....small block that is rated to also run on a blend of corn alcohol. Note that any blend will have less power per gallon than pure high quality gasoline. Not going to win many races with this, but it is NOT a race and used that analogy to make the point for going up inclines. 6-Speed Automatic, 3.42 Rear Axle Ratio....Automatic will have a low 1st gear, but only to get it moving. 3.42 is a highway MPG diff ratio, IMHO, but that is what you have. It can be changed out later to increase the MTWR & GCWR Heavy-Duty Rear Locking Differential....most likely the G80 locker from Eaton. Check the glove box label and it will list all options that vehicle left the factory with. Look for G80 Integrated Trailer Brake Controller....Ok, you have a trailer brake controller and for newbies best as there is less to deal with on an install...but note that ITBC is highly integrated with the rest of the other computers on the vehicle...and that if one should have issues...often takes down the other computers (I'm not a fan of ITBC's) Trailering Package....good and a must for towing. Make sure to always initiate the Tow/Haul function whenever you are towing or hauling heavy. I am looking at getting a Grey Wolf 26BH-GVWR W/brakes 7402-Cargo Capacity 2823....that is towards the highest limit for any half ton, but repeat that you need to provide more info and best to go out and weigh your TV axle by axle for us to truly be helpful Thanks! I linked 2 photosRe: Just bought a '17 Chevy Silverado 1500glove box label sorry blurry but its under hitch
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