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Old 11-10-2015, 09:09 PM   #1
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2702ws/8311ws

Hi we are looking at a new 2702ws and a 8311ws I like the outside kitchen and the bunkhouse of the 8311 but I think the 2702 would be a better fit for my 2015 Silverado 1500 I have 2 teenagers and two labs so we will have a full house. Any information on the pros/cons of the 2 trailers would be great.

Thank you
Indy



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Old 11-13-2015, 09:13 PM   #2
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Depending on its configuration, your Silverado should be quite capable of towing the smaller 2702 but the longer one may be too big. Personally, I wouldn't do it without a 3/4 ton TV. Our current TT is a 29' model but actually just over 32' long. The 8311ws is almost 35' long.

Have your teenagers tried out the bunks for size in both models? For my full grown teen boys, all bunk beds were too small so we abandoned the bunk bed idea and just ensured we had the U shaped dinette and air bed sofa for them to sleep on.
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Old 11-14-2015, 08:42 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Indy6 View Post
Hi we are looking at a new 2702ws and a 8311ws I like the outside kitchen and the bunkhouse of the 8311 but I think the 2702 would be a better fit for my 2015 Silverado 1500 I have 2 teenagers and two labs so we will have a full house. Any information on the pros/cons of the 2 trailers would be great.

Thank you
Indy



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Indy: I suspect the salesman has told you, "Oh, a 1/2 ton pickup can tow this trailer!" BIG LIE. Not all 1/2 tons are created equal. You don't say what the specs on your Silverado are. The owners manual for my 2009 Silverado lists 99 different permutations (engine, tranny, rear axle ratio, cab size, box size, etc). The towing capacities run from about 4000 lbs to 11000 lbs. Mine is 7500 lbs. You need to make sure you know the towing and payload capacity of YOUR Silverado.

If you want "more-informed opinions," give us the specs.
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Old 11-17-2015, 08:24 PM   #4
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2015 1500 Silverado crew cab short box with 3:42 gears and 5.3.

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Old 11-17-2015, 08:37 PM   #5
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What's your yellow door sticker say about payload capacity?
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Old 11-17-2015, 08:49 PM   #6
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1733 lbs
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Old 11-17-2015, 09:12 PM   #7
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My advice... don't believe everything salesmen tell you and don't believe the brochure's claim about tongue weights. They are notoriously optimistic.

With a 1/2 ton, the weak point is always payload capacity, not towing capacity.

I suggest you search for owners of those 2 models on here and PM them to try to find out real world tongue weights. Then take your truck to a weight scale with a full tank of fuel and everyone who'll be camping with you on board and find out what it weighs. Be realistic about how much gear you'll be carrying on the truck and add that in. Compare that to your truck's GVWR. It's very surprising how quickly it gets eaten up.

Whatever your decide, get a good quality weight distribution hitch with sway control. There's lots of opinion on here about that too!
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Old 11-17-2015, 09:13 PM   #8
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What's your owners manual say is your towing capacity?

Also, what's the GVWR of the trailer you're considering? (NOT the dry weight - that doesn't mean a thing!)
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Old 11-17-2015, 10:10 PM   #9
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8311ws....8650 lbs gross

2702ws....7600 lbs gross
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Old 11-19-2015, 10:31 PM   #10
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Thought someone smarter than me would jump in here once you put out all the info. Maybe their still waiting to see what your towing capacity is.
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2009 Silverado 1500 Ext Cab, 5.3L, 4x4, 3.73
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Old 11-20-2015, 10:00 AM   #11
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2702ws/8311ws

Cannot address the GM load capacities but I can address the notoriously incorrect factory Rockwood weights.

My dry weight was listed as 6850 with a gross of around 8500. Cat scales indicated a loaded weight of 7500 with maybe 200 pounds of gear in it. Full propane tanks and all water tanks empty. I seldom carry any water anyway but if I did and each of the three tanks were 2/3 full I would be right at gross for our RV.

The kicker was my tongue weight. It was listed as 951 dry. Cat scales indicated over 1200 pounds. I was so concerned with the tongue weight that I ordered a tongue scale to weigh it myself. It consistently weighs around 1100 pounds. I cannot explain why the cat scales weighed the tongue heavy but I got the point. My tongue weight was way heavier than what they listed. Max weight on my Tundra was listed as 1450ish so with my wife and I on board and a couple of suit cases and groceries we are right at gross for my truck.

Point is, do not trust the factory listing for weights. Get it weighed so you will know what you are working with. This is important.....

The dealer installed a Equalizer brand hitch rated for 10,000 gross/1000 tongue weight. Once I had the weight ticket I was able to go back to my dealer and they swapped out my hitch for a 12,500/1250 hitch at no cost to me. The lighter weight hitch might have been adequate but needless to say I was not happy that they let me pull our trailer off the lot with a hitch that was lighter duty than Equalizer recommended. Also, the dealer did not set my hitch up correctly. After talking to the good folks at Equalizer it was as simple as adding a couple of additional washers to transfer more weight toward the front axle of my pickup. It runs perfectly level going down the road now.

Oh yes, the other thing is that had I known that the hitch weight was so heavy on mine then I might have gone with a fifth wheel. You buy a trailer planning on one weight and you just do not know what you have until you get it weighed.

Max trailer weight for my Tundra was listed as 10,600. So, I am under that weight but as explained above that is not all that I have to keep in mind. I have never had any problems with power or with the handling of that much weight but I just have to always remember that I am very close to max cargo on my truck.

100% happy with ours though........

Good luck

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Old 11-29-2015, 10:46 PM   #12
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my owners manual says 9100 lbs with 15000 total hope this will help. Thanks
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Old 12-08-2015, 12:22 PM   #13
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I just purchased a 2702WS and the dry weight was listed at 6250. We tow it with a 1500 Suburban rated at 8000lbs. It is all the Suburban can handle with an equalizer 1000lb hitch. It tows straight, no sway, but I had to upgrade the shocks to Monroe Reflex. We rented and towed a Surveryor that was 7500 lbs dry, no way I would tow that again. Although we are "ok" with the Suburban for now, after doing a 1,700 mile trip, we are looking for a 2500HD diesel. The open road, hills and wind make you appreciate not being close to your towing max.
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