Towing grey wolf 23dbh with 2017 Tahoe Z71

[TomWayne]

Hello!

Recently viewed a trailer that my DW and I fell in love with and could use a second pair of eyes on TV ability (no plan for immediate upgrade)

Trailer specs:
Grey wolf 2019 23dbh
uvw 5569 lbs
Cargo carrying cap 2019 lbs
gvwr 7588 lbs
Tongue weight 620 lbs

Tahoe specs:
2017 tahoe z71
3.42 rear
Gvwr 7300
Payload 1652 (door sticker and cat scale confirmed with full tank of gas)
Tow rating 8400
Gcwr 14000
Gawr front 3600
Gawr rear 4100
Gaw rear unloaded 2720
Heavy duty transmission cooler
Aftermarket transmission cooler in the mail
P3 tekonsha brake controller installed
Anderson wdh (60 lbs)

Limiting factor in my case in truck payload. With max weight on trailer (7588) and transfering 13% to tongue that's 986 lbs. Add in weight of family + dog that's additional 455 lbs. Totalling 1441 lbs leaving 211 below payload cap. Now remember that's with 13% (12% gives better margin) and max trailer weight which I intend to stay at least 500 lbs away from.

Also checked rear gawr, and cat scale unloaded truck was 2720, with 4100 max leaving 1380 lb available. Stack on TT hitch weight of 986 undistributed, theres still margin.

Am I crazy? This tow vehicle is within limits, and as long as I'm conscientious of what we pack in the truck I should be okay. Slight concern on trailer length but the 29 footer has 2 axles and they count the tire on the real into the length.

Interested in your thoughts, take delivery on Friday and it's not too late to back out. Thanks!

Tom Wayne

[IsleDog]

first: Welcome! there are a lot of great people here that can answer a lot of your questions

second: you are going to get a LOT of different opinions on your truck and trailer combination. only YOU can decide what is best. your numbers all look to be in spec. getting your hitch set up properly is going to be what makes or brakes how well it tows.


Congrats! happy camping!

[Dave Lyon]

Assuming your trailer weights are from the yellow sticker when it left the factory, plus the weight of a battery and two propane tanks, I'd say your at the wall with your limits.

If your trailer weights are from a brochure......you may be overloaded.

[TomWayne]

Trailer weights are from the sticker on the door.

[Was]

I think you’re ok pulling it. My concern is the same as yours, with the length and possible sway issues. Hopefully someone has a similar set up and will chime in. I’d probably try it knowing a Hensley or Propride hitch upgrade might be needed to tow in comfort.

[007matman]

I think you're really going to be pushing it. It's probably doable but be prepared for vehicle repairs. A SWB vehicle isn't ideally suited for a 29'
camper either.

Figure around 1000 lbs for cargo.

Granted, my experience is pulling a 32' camper with an Escalade. However, experience tells me that the vehicle probably shouldn't be towing over 5k. I fully realize that the actual tow capacity (as rated by the manufacturer) is quite a bit higher.

I'm the type that buys a vehicle used and typically tries to drive it for 6-10 years though selling at around 200-250k. If you're the type that has a new vehicle every few years and it's under warranty then maybe you can make it work.

We also like to do long trips as well so that's a factor for me as well.

[007matman]

Originally Posted by Was

I think you’re ok pulling it. My concern is the same as yours, with the length and possible sway issues. Hopefully someone has a similar set up and will chime in. I’d probably try it knowing a Hensley or Propride hitch upgrade might be needed to tow in comfort.

My concern is the SWB Tahoe and the drivetrain/suspension.

When I was pulling with my Escalade ESV AWD (LWB) using the Fastway E2, I didn't have any issues with sway (7400lb 32' Rockwood).

[MillMitch]

As you noted, you will need to watch the weight in the Tahoe, but I think you can safely tow that TT. I'm towing a slightly shorter, slightly lighter TT w/ our Durango. Once the WDH was dialed in (I've adjusted twice), the TT tows great. I've CAT scaled my setup and am 380# under GVW, and 20# over on max tongue weight. I'm effectively maxed out, but have a little more flexibility than you because it's just my wife and I, and we only put less than 100# of stuff in TV, everything goes in the TT. In my case stats are: Durango- 7100 GVW, 3200 front, 3900 rear axle, 720 tongue. TT is 28ft, 5100 dry, 600 tongue; and loaded per CAT scale 5660 and 740. I need to reweigh because like everybody else, the TT tends to accumulate stuff and I want to know where I'm at on weight (eyes wide open and all that stuff). I'm still relatively new at this, and for me, I would probably take this setup over the Appalachians, probably wouldn't take it over the Rockies. And the reality is that our trips are almost all state parks in MN within 4 hours of home.
Everybody's situation and comfort levels are different, but I think you can make that work.

[busch543]

I tow with a 2007 Yukon Denali (xl) my TT is a 2018 272RL which is 34' long and 10000# EQLIZER WDH . Pulls great and mostly no sway .Set up very important .
All will sway now and then , that's what the trailer brakes are for.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by Dave Lyon

Assuming your trailer weights are from the yellow sticker when it left the factory, plus the weight of a battery and two propane tanks, I'd say your at the wall with your limits.

Since around 2009, full propane tank weights are included in the factory yellow sticker weights.

[67L48]

I'd figure 7,000 lbs of trailer and 12.5% tongue weight, and round up to 900 lbs. For passengers, add up the fully-clothed weights of all people (including the driver). Add 50-100 lbs for the WDH. Add any accessories you added (air bags, grilles, lights, stereo equipment, winch, etc.). Add the rest of your cargo (dogs, duffel bags, etc.). Add anything else in your bed (bikes, wood). Add it all up and make sure it's less than your 1,600 payload rating. That's it.

[TomWayne]

Thanks everyone for the feedback, talking over options with wife. Any TT recommendations with similar layout that would have more margin?

[pilotpip]

I think the only way you're going to lose weight is getting a model without a slide, and perhaps going to something shorter with a murphy bed. That trailer is already pretty light for what it has.

[007matman]

Get a 3/4 ton (or better) truck of you really want the larger camper. Otherwise, you'll need to find something smaller without slides.

I know what kind of pickle you're in.. been there myself.

[deepseadan]

Originally Posted by bikendan

Since around 2009, full propane tank weights are included in the factory yellow sticker weights.

I didn’t know they add that into the sticker. So do they just weigh the trailer and add 38 lbs for the propane or? And what about the battery? I guessing that’s probably a no.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by deepseadan

I didn’t know they add that into the sticker. So do they just weigh the trailer and add 38 lbs for the propane or? And what about the battery? I guessing that’s probably a no.

Towable batteries are dealer-installed items, not factory.
So they aren't included in the factory UVW yellow sticker weight.
Propane gas weight is a standard number, battery weights are not.

[TomWayne]

Update: Pulled the trigger on the 23dbh!!

Dealer allowed me to perform some test pulls around town with a full tank of fresh water and with the Andersen WDH dialed in, it towed just fine. This tahoe is a beast! Passed by a few semis on the way home (60 min drive) and barely felt a sway.

Cant wait to take it out next weekend, let the adventures begin.

[007matman]

Congrats! Good luck. Hope it all goes well.

[Campah]

Originally Posted by TomWayne

Update: Pulled the trigger on the 23dbh!!

Dealer allowed me to perform some test pulls around town with a full tank of fresh water and with the Andersen WDH dialed in, it towed just fine. This tahoe is a beast! Passed by a few semis on the way home (60 min drive) and barely felt a sway.

Cant wait to take it out next weekend, let the adventures begin. Attachment 196897

We pull our 2017 Rockwood 2109S with our 2016 Tahoe LT (without the max tow package) with a WDH. Tows well but I have always been concerned about the transmission temp as it does not have a dedicated trans cooler and can hit 200 degrees. Gas mileage is about 11-12 when towing but the ride is solid and stable.