Tracer 3150 towed by Silverado

[tyturri]

Planning to buy a Tracer 3150, empty weight 6330#, my silverado is a 2011 with 5.3LV8 , 6 speed auto, H-D tariler package, and 3.08 rear end. I'm told it will safely tow 6900#. I am guessing the 3150 will weigh very close to 6900# or so once the wife loads it will all the stuff coming out of our Jayflight 26BH. Does anyone have an opinion if this will overstress the truck and or be dangerous. Thanks. Tom

[mtnguy]

The listed empty weight is before options. Things like AC, awning, battery, and full propane tanks are extra. Adding about 400 lbs. to that 6330 ought you get you in the ball park, so you are near the listed tow rating of your Chevy before you add camping gear.

[kamp k]

You can't listen to dealers! They will tell you anything to make a sale. Truth is, if your tow rating is only 6900 lbs, and your trailer is 6330 dry, then you are going to be over your tow rating when ready to travel, and probably pretty substantially. Most folks will tell you that to be in that "safe" zone, when you're fully loaded, you should only be at 80-85% of your max tow rating, which would be about 5500-5900 lbs in your case (that's loaded). Also most folks will tell you to add an "average" of 1000 lbs of "stuff" to your trailer's "dry" weight to get an idea of how much weight you'd actually be towing. I'd guess you will actually be closer to 7500 lbs at a minimum when you're fully loaded. I wouldn't try it, but that's just me, and we haven't even discussed payload availability and tongue weight yet...

[tyturri]

Wow! Didn't know that. Thanks

[bikendan]

i agree with mtnguy. that dry weight number is fictional.
your Tracer will weigh 400-500lbs. more than that, sitting on the dealer's lot.
you still have to add the weight of a battery, propane and water, before you even start adding cargo.

if that's the truck's true tow max, you'll be well over that when it's loaded for camping.

[EXGMTech]

good luck on hills with that 3.08 rear!!!!

[KyDan]

My rig only weighs 4500 loaded + I occasionally haul
a 500 LB motorcycle and possibly 100 LBS of firewood
at times. Those weights are certified truck scale weights
with full water and all gear and food.

I have the same engine but lower rear gears.
My truck is rated to tow somewhere in the 8000 range.
I don't want any more than I have now.
I think you will be looking for a bigger truck if you
get that trailer.

Sorry I know that's not what you wanted to hear....

[Iluv2fish]

Are you sure about the Gross Tow weight on that truck...your figure looks low??

[edman87k5]

Change out your gears to a 3.73 or 4.10, add a BIG trans cooler and it will be a lot happier but still not ideal for that load.

[DF5.4]

The 3.08 gears are great for MPG. They are terrible for towing. I don't know why they would include those gears in a truck with a tow package.
This is from the Prime Time site for the 3150.

Base Weight 6,330 lb. (2,871 kg )
Hitch Weight 595 lb. (270 kg )
Cargo Carrying Capacity 2,715 lb. (1,232 kg )

This shows that the Gross weight of the TT is 9045 lbs.