Towing with Chevy

[illini trekker]

Hello members, We are looking at a Rockwood 8315BSS and are concerned with the pulling ability of your truck? We have a 2009 chevy silverado with a 5.3 motor in it. With the campers numbers at 880 hitch weight and Dry Ship Weight 7000, will the truck be able to pull this weight. I know the truck will need Weight Distribution hitch and a hitch rated to pull the trailer. We will be pulling through the Smokey's from time to time! Thanks

[Rsgtivr6]

What cab, drivetrain, gears, and box is the truck, and how many passengers and cargo load will be in the truck?

[cyclepuck]

Yeah it will pull. I've got a 2012 silverado cc with the 5.3. Weights for tt are 7256 dry and 745 hitch. I don't pull through the mountains but it pulls better than I expected. What it's the tow ratings on your truck?

[Rsgtivr6]

Originally Posted by cyclepuck

Yeah it will pull. I've got a 2012 silverado cc with the 5.3. Weights for tt are 7256 dry and 745 hitch. I don't pull through the mountains but it pulls better than I expected. What it's the tow ratings on your truck?

I don't know if I would throw that out there yet, Cycle. Many of the max tows on the 5.3's are very dependant on the body styles. Some are as low as 6200. I would wait for more specifics

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by illini trekker

Hello members, We are looking at a Rockwood 8315BSS and are concerned with the pulling ability of your truck? We have a 2009 chevy silverado with a 5.3 motor in it. With the campers numbers at 880 hitch weight and Dry Ship Weight 7000, will the truck be able to pull this weight. I know the truck will need Weight Distribution hitch and a hitch rated to pull the trailer. We will be pulling through the Smokey's from time to time! Thanks

I have an 05Silverado Ext Cab, 5.3L, 3.23 Rear and have pulled an 08Flagstaff 831RLSS from Concord, NC to Weslaco, TX to the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia to Knoxville, IA to New Orleans, LA to Orlando, FL and not had any problems whatsoever. Pulled thru the Smokeys numerous times. Don't set speed records, but can make 40-50 up the Smokeys. Always keep it in "Tow" mode.

[prof_fate]

Need more than just tow weight - that figure assumes 150lb driver and no other payload. It takes the GCWR and deducts the TV weight with just the skinny driver and what's left is the tow rating. So every lb you add to the TV (which includes the hitch and WD stuff) reduces what you can tow.
Options on the truck can change tow rating too (wheel/rim, 2x4 vs 4x4, etc)

So yeah, need more info.
Power wise you may be fine, my old expy with a 5.3 pulls 12,500 GCWR down the road just fine. No issues keeping up with traffic even on hills. But there's more to safely towing than being able to move the load down the road.

[illini trekker]

Thanks that's what I was looking for, real numbers. The truck is a short bed, CC not sure about gears it does have a tow package!

[cyclepuck]

Originally Posted by illini trekker

Thanks that's what I was looking for, real numbers. The truck is a short bed, CC not sure about gears it does have a tow package!

Need to know what tow pkg and gear. Mine is rated for 9500 trailer and 15k combined. But like others have said it could be as low as 6700.

[Top B]

Originally Posted by Rsgtivr6

What cab, drivetrain, gears, and box is the truck, and how many passengers and cargo load will be in the truck?

Agree......I have a 2011 Chevy Silverado Quad Cab 4x4 and the difference in the two rear end gears is 6,700 (3.08 gear) to 9,500 lbs (3.42 gear), which is a 2,800 lb difference. Big difference! You need to know what you have before anyone can give you a correct answer.

[prof_fate]

You owners manual will have some of the info you need, the sticker on the door of the truck more info.
You need numbers specific to your truck, and while a tow package helps (more cooling, wiring) they sometimes come in different levels too.

I saw all sorts of wild numbers when I was shopping/planning and things got more and more concrete then I got a truck - and the fine print in the manual was no fun. The 17" rims cut towing by 500lbs over 16" rims (no clue why). 4x4 cut 400 more off compared to 2x4 (for obvious reasons I think). My cargo load of people/pets is a min of 600lbs, hitch (and propane and battery) add another 200 maybe. So that lovely 8500 lbs I saw in the tow guides worked out to more like 6900lbs of real trailer and cargo in the trailer.
My trailer had these lovely stickers that said 'small SUV towable'...a very optimistic statement. The actual weight sticker on the TT read 5465.That leaves 1500ish lbs for food, bedding, chairs, wood for leveling, dishes/pots/pans and the like - assuming we never have anything in the tanks (fresh/gray or black - or that figure can drop another 400lbs).
While I don't feel overloaded I'd not want to tow 1000 miles either. I do feel I"m working the truck pretty hard and I know that can have repurcussions.
My next TV will be a 3/4T diesel, if not more.

[cyclepuck]

A couple clues is tag the build codes in glove box. Gu6 is 3.42 gear. Kl5 is heavy cooling pkg.

[illini trekker]

Looked a little harder and found the truck has 3.73 gears. Trailer Life shows pull weight at 7500lb does that sound close. With that guide and its weight rating 7500lb and my dry weight at 6975lb is that to close to put this combination of truck and trailer together? I know Chevy leaves some fudge room in to cover there butt (warranty)? Any members out there with this combo what can I expect when towing?

[jtstromsburg]

I tow a loaded weight of 7100lbs with a 5.3 3.73 suburban and am looking for a 3/4T or even 1T because I can tell its back there. That said, mine pulls great with the e-2 hitch. I think you could be fine, but will more than likely be over legal weight.
Joel

[Rsgtivr6]

Originally Posted by jtstromsburg

but will more than likely be over legal weight.

This is the important part. All it would take is one accident and you could be in a world of legal hurt. The other thing is, you said you would go through mountains. Being that close or over limits could make that unpleasant. Just some thoughts.

[prof_fate]

PLEASE READ THE POSTS IN THIS THREAD!

DO NOT RELY ON A TOWING GUIDE'S FIGURES - EVER!

They will only get you close. In the guides my truck can tow 8900 lbs. In reality 6000lbs maxes it out!
The difference is a combo of my specific truck's options and equipment along with cargo - me, the wife, kids, dog, etc.

That 7500lbs assumes NOTHING IS IN THE TRUCK but a 150lb driver and does not count the weight of the hitch. Every pound you put in the truck and the hitch has to be deducted from what it can tow.

READ YOUR OWNERS MANUAL! There is a section on towing in it - READ IT!
Read the stickers on your truck - door frame, glove box, etc. READ THEM!
Get the truck weighed - with the hitch and WD bars on board, full tank of gas, you the wife kids dog firewood clothes food bikes generator - all the 'crap' you take camping in the truck put in the truck when you weight it.
Now take that weight, the weight of the trailer (again, loaded to go) and compare to the GCWR of your individual specific truck.

The total weight rolling down the road should be under that max GCWR from the doorframe of your truck. Not some towing guide or advertised figure.

Originally Posted by illini trekker

Looked a little harder and found the truck has 3.73 gears. Trailer Life shows pull weight at 7500lb does that sound close. With that guide and its weight rating 7500lb and my dry weight at 6975lb is that to close to put this combination of truck and trailer together? I know Chevy leaves some fudge room in to cover there butt (warranty)? Any members out there with this combo what can I expect when towing?