2015 Silverado 1500 4WD LTZ Crew

[EDABEUT]

As others have stated it all comes down to payload. You need to find the yellow sticker in the door opening. Mine has a payload of 1800 lbs and I am over by 200 lbs with the max tow option. You will be over also.

[Poper]

Briefly stated, I agree with all posts, go with 3/4 ton !
I pulled two campers both in the 6k range with my 2013 Silverado1500
Both TT had top line WDH, and never overloaded.
Every ride was white knuckle, bobbing like a monkey riding a football.
Now I pull with 2015 2500HD 4wd gasser. 4:10 rear
Safer, easier, less stressful. Don't even know it's back there.
Definitely find a bigger truck, you will not be sorry.

[Big Bill]

Sounds like the truck will handle it I would check the truck for having a tow package

[kjblex]

I really appreciate all of the responses here. I'm becoming a bit confused so a simple question... would a Ford F250 or Silverado 2500 fit the bill?

[EDABEUT]

YES

[doc73]

Originally Posted by rjc1024

I have almost that same truck and pull a 28' trailer. It does downshift and run higher RPMs on big hills (never towed it in the mountains) but does fine on small hills and flat ground. Personally, I would not tow a bigger trailer with my current truck. If I was looking for a bigger trailer I would definitely be in a HD truck.

Those high RPMs, while they are hard to hear, are actually where the 5.3 gets into its power band to make the most of what it had. I towed a 7700lbs or so GVWR trailer with my 5.3 2010 1500. It did fine. I did not pass a gas station, stopped every 200 or so miles for fill ups. No use of the cruise control because it would otherwise start to hunt around on uneven ground. With WD setup I had no issues with sway. I did add airbags towards the end of owning the truck to take some of the "highway bounce" from expansion joints. THAT WORKED GREAT. I will say that I did move up to a 2500 and love it. But depending on your amount of camping and such, YMMV. We tow approx 5000 to 5500 miles a year and camp about 40 nights.

[Big Bill]

On 2nd thought. I towed with a surburban 3.73 gears and5.3 engine and was under powered

[kjblex]

Payload indicates 1576 lbs for combined weight of occupants and cargo.

[howie70]

Originally Posted by kjblex

Payload indicates 1576 lbs for combined weight of occupants and cargo.

As others have mentioned, using that 1576 number, subtract the tongue weight & WDH that most have said will be in the 1000 pound range. That leaves you 576 pounds for cargo. That would be your wife, kids, dog, fuzzy dice on the mirror and anything you carry in the bed of the truck. JMO, I would go with a 3/4 ton.

[Airborne]

I have a 2014 GMC Sierra 1500 with the 5.3-liter engine and the 3.42 gears. I have now pulled my TT fully loaded at 8500 pounds from Denver to San Diego and back, Denver to Branson MO and back and all over the CO mountains. I can not believe how good the truck has done. I pass many 2500's along the way, granted they are older but it sure feels good doing so. I did add some helper springs that allowed the unit to set level when the TT his hooked up. If you would like a set, let me know as I inadvertently purchased two sets and never sent the second set back. Just got real busy. Let me know if you would want them. They worked great for me. The shot below was the day we were leaving for our San Diego trip last year. The 3.42 gears are the difference.

[Jim in Halifax]

Originally Posted by aceinspp

Thats a pretty good size tt to be pulling with a half ton pickup . Mine specks out about like the one your looking at and I have a 3/4 ton chevy with 4:10 gear and 6.0 engine. I would not tow that tt with a half ton. Later RJD

I have a 6.0 litre with a 4:10 rear end Silverado.........You need power to get out yourself out of tight situations on the highway.....Towing pwr is secondary in my opinion!!!!!!!!

[Steveinthehills]

Here is my two cents on the matter. I have a 2003 Chevy 1500 with a 5.3 and a 4:11 rear end. I tow a Solaire 201SS which is about 4,000 pounds. I live in the Sierra foothills and do almost all my towing in the foothills and mountains. I my opinion the truck is underpowered in pulling my trailer. Period...Don't get me wrong, the truck pulls my trailer however I'm always thinking "Do I give it more gas to get up the next hill? It's a real exercise in planning ahead in order to "Make it a good run". In going with a bigger trailer and towing with at 1/2 ton truck your also running with a 1/2 ton drive train which is lighter weight than a 3/4 ton truck. I do believe the newer 1/2 ton Chevrolets have more horsepower than my older truck. In my opinion if you are going to purchase a new truck and trailer purchase a 3/4 ton with a 6.0 and 4:11 gearing (if your going gas) I believe you will be much happier. Plus you will not have to always worry about "I'm I over my weight limit?"

[Tom48]

Originally Posted by timfromma

Get a bigger truck or a smaller camper.

Ditto. Never heard anyone say my only mistake was the truck was too big. Vertually everyone I have known who tows anyway near 30 ft with a half ton Chevy, wishes they didn't.

[ksmith954]

Originally Posted by kjblex

I really appreciate all of the responses here. I'm becoming a bit confused so a simple question... would a Ford F250 or Silverado 2500 fit the bill?

IMHO you should either go with a smaller tt or a 3/4 . I don't think anyone has mentioned it but look under the hitch on the 1500 - it should give you the max tongue wt. for a WDH- I think your trailer would exceed it. Our hitch on our 2500 Hd is rated for 1500 lbs. I've pulled a trailer with both and our 2500 HD Gas (4:10) is exceptional. We recently moved up to a fifth wheel with no problem - plenty of payload for a gas 2500- 3379 lbs.

[TT233S]

Originally Posted by Airborne

I have a 2014 GMC Sierra 1500 with the 5.3-liter engine and the 3.42 gears. I have now pulled my TT fully loaded at 8500 pounds from Denver to San Diego and back, Denver to Branson MO and back and all over the CO mountains. I can not believe how good the truck has done. I pass many 2500's along the way, granted they are older but it sure feels good doing so. I did add some helper springs that allowed the unit to set level when the TT his hooked up. If you would like a set, let me know as I inadvertently purchased two sets and never sent the second set back. Just got real busy. Let me know if you would want them. They worked great for me. The shot below was the day we were leaving for our San Diego trip last year. The 3.42 gears are the difference.

If your payload is like the OP's then your way over loaded.............8500 > 13% = 1105 and then another 100 for WDH......What does the number say under your hitch, thats more then likely overloaded also.............Drive safe and slow!!!!!