Towing 10,000# 1/2 ton Chevy

[Fourn3833]

So a friend of mine wanted to upgrade from a pop up to a Travel trailer. We went to a bunch of places in Southwest Florida looking for the best deal and size/weight unit.

2011 Chevy , 4.8 liter V8, Crew cab short bed. Checked the book out for capacities etc.

Camping Depot in Punta Gorda Florida says to us, 10,000 pounds no problem. I told the guy he was smoking crack.

I told my friend his wife would have to push up hill and drag her feet down hill.

[MeepMeep]

Tried that 10K trick with my 2012 RAM 1500 Hemi short bed. While it worked, it never felt really comfortable and going uphill was not, you might say, brisk. Gas mileage averaged in the 4.5 to 8.5 range, depending on the topography.....and it always felt like I was maxing out everything and there wasn't much margin for error

[rlocicero]

It should be no problem at all..... For him. He will have his commission chesk in the bank before you find out that he was clueless. 10000 lbs will max out the best tow equipped 1/2 ton truck. Ya, they say they will tow 1000 or 11000 lbs but that will max out the capacity, no passengers, food, water, propane or equipment. I have a 2014 F150 crew, max tow, hd pkg and I would not try a 10000 ld (dry weight) tt. with installed options, passengers, food, water, propane and equipment you may be up around 11500 lbs and how about the tongue weight. probably between 900 and a 1000 lbs. Smaller trailer or bigger truck to match trailer.....

[Fourn3833]

Ended up at Camping World Fort Meyers with someone who had a brain and knowledge. Got a great deal on a 5700 pound trailer ( still somewhat heavy) 27' and a great deal. He may struggle a little on hills, but in Florida that is usually an exit ramp. He should be OK. Loaded it will be 6800#s.

[Fourn3833]

Ram Hemi 345 plus hp . Chevy 4.8 liter, really, never.

[Radio]

He will want extra transmission cooling capacity and a tranny temp gage.

See rig in sig, all 1/2 tons need extra tranny cooling to tow at near max capacity, even with the factory tow package cooler, which you leave in line with the aftermarket cooler.

[TURBS]

Lol my sabre 5th wheel is 10,000 lbs uvw i would never in my life attempt towing it with a half ton.

I'm still waiting for the punch line.

Turbs

[Iwannacamp]

I have only a small amount of towing experience... but I know how/what I feel...I pulled a friends large 5er for about 10 miles.... I think the tag said 17,900 gross...and I was VERY uncomfortable...mostly casue the brakes felt funny..My little 11,500 5er feels like a 16ft utility next to that... dang

[jimdd810]

It's not how much you can pull its how much you can stop. 1/2 ton truck has no business pulling a 10000 lbs anything. That salesman is not trustworthy and you need to find a new dealer.


Life is a highway!!!!!

[Iwannacamp]

That's what I ALWAYS mean...if you can't stop or steer it...it doesn't matter if it will run or not.


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[WFD]

Sad part is so many people listen to dealers that make these claims...after all the dealer said.....!!!

[hrlyguy2]

I did have a cc short bed with a 5.3. 1/2 ton.
Had a 7200 camper empty.Wife adds the house into it . probably alot more.
Had to stop suddenly with it misting out.The trailer pushed me another 10 ft.Very lucky no one got hurt.
Don't Believe any salesman ever.

[Iwannacamp]

Funny story...well kinda. I was looking at trailers in Paris texas... Stopped at a nice RV dealer and looked around. I was questioning the size of some of the trailers and references to how large they were...salesman said do you have a 3/4T? I said yes sir...he said it will pull it. I wondered but didn't say anything else. Some of those were prolly 15k+ units.


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[asquared]

Originally Posted by Iwannacamp

Funny story...well kinda. I was looking at trailers in Paris texas... Stopped at a nice RV dealer and looked around. I was questioning the size of some of the trailers and references to how large they were...salesman said do you have a 3/4T? I said yes sir...he said it will pull it. I wondered but didn't say anything else. Some of those were prolly 15k+ units.


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I should have made bets with the salesmen on my old f250. Every last one of them told me I could tow anything on their lot. That truck had a 1500 lb payload. They never believed me until I showed them the sticker on the door. Then threshold say that has to be a mistake. I produced weight tickets from a trip to the catscale and they were still skeptical. I have also had them try to sell me a 9000 lb dry weight tt to be towed by my old armada (max tow rating 9100 lbs, 810 lb payload). I didn't drink the kool-aid. I still got pushed around in the armada with a 7300 lb loaded weight tt. I finally learned to match the truck to the trailer we wanted. Now I have a great handling setup.

[elind]

I thought I might pull my 10,500lb Wildcat 5er with my 2013 Silverado 1500 tricked out. But instead I traded up to a 2014 GMC 2500 Duramax and then realized "What was I thinking". "Driving white knuckled and stressed out" or "sit back and enjoy the ride".

[DDC]

To those that are worried about stopping with a 1/2 ton, you do realize that the trailer is supposed to be set up to stop using it's own brakes, 1/2, 3/4, 1 ton it does not matter the trailer should be doing its own braking.

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by DDC

To those that are worried about stopping with a 1/2 ton, you do realize that the trailer is supposed to be set up to stop using it's own brakes, 1/2, 3/4, 1 ton it does not matter the trailer should be doing its own braking.

Until that braking system fails .....


Turbs

[elind]

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

Until that braking system fails .....


Turbs

Like having your trailer plug come loose when you hit a stop light. After you FINAILLY get it to a stop, you go into your RV to change your Fruit of the Looms.

[DDC]

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

Until that braking system fails .....


Turbs

Your not stopping that 16000 lbs with a 3/4 or one ton either.

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by DDC

Your not stopping that 16000 lbs with a 3/4 or one ton either.

Where did 16,000 lbs come from?

Turbs