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Old 10-30-2012, 10:06 AM   #1
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Towing 8315SS with 2005 GMC 1500 Crew Cab SLT

Need some help! Got a hell of a deal on a 2005 Rockwood 8315SS. Wondering do I really need to upgrade my truck or can I tow it with my existing. I am at max with truck capacity and only looking to towing short distances around Florida. What do you all think?

Thanks
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Old 10-31-2012, 10:44 AM   #2
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You need to provide more infomation on the truck and camper. I did a quick look on Trailer Life towing guide for your truck and it list a max tow weight of 7500 lbs. Need to know the engine/rear axle ratio of the truck and the GVWR of the camper.

My gut feeling is that you'd be very close to the max tow limit of the truck.

Dave
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Old 11-01-2012, 03:52 AM   #3
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i would agree thats a lot of camper for a 1/2ton truck thats almost more than my 2500hd would tow safely
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Old 11-01-2012, 05:32 AM   #4
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I would upgrade. I tow a Flagstaff 831RLBSS which is a couple of hundred pounds lighter than your Rockwood. My TV is a 2006 SLT Crew Cab 1500. You definitely know its back there!

We tow it 40 miles twice a year (back and forth to our seasonal site) - I make sure it's empty (we shuttle our clothes, groceries etc after it's set up), and the trip there is relatively flat, and I pick a nice weekend weather wise to bring it back and forth.

That being said, I am keeping an eye out for a decent used Duramax diesel myself, it just would take some of the worry out of it.
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Old 11-01-2012, 06:55 AM   #5
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one of my Wife's vehicles is an '06 GMC SLE 1500 Crewcab 2 wheel drive - I was nervous when she towed a single jet ski with it from Houston to west of San Antonio - I'm trying to convince her to sell the GMC as I think it's junk (no offense to those who own one, simply my opinion).....Bill
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Old 11-03-2012, 10:43 PM   #6
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Towing

We have a 2011 1500 crew cab. It has the towing package which allows us to pull a 8319ss and we've towed all over Michigan this year, UP, hills etc. you need to check to see what your trucks actual towing allows, not just what some sites say.
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Old 12-09-2012, 08:52 PM   #7
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I have a 2011 Chevy 1500LT, towing package and a 5.3L engine. I made sure before buying this truck that it could tow 9600lbs, so I went out and found a Rockwood 8314SS. I love the setup in it and found out it weighs 6700lbs. Call a local GMC dealer and give them your VIN and they could do a quick search to see if you have the correct setup in your truck to tow your TT. You may just need to change the ratio in the rear end or add a tranny cooler or even better yet- do nothing.
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Old 12-09-2012, 09:05 PM   #8
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FlaHarleyRider65

The 6700 lbs weight is the dry weight number. The GVWR listed is 8450 lbs. The dry weight does not include food, supplies, camping gear, fresh water tank filled, etc..

Forest River INC has towing guide information available too. It is listed at the bottom of the page.
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Old 12-09-2012, 10:03 PM   #9
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I towed my Flagstaff 831 FKBSS (the flagstaff version of your rockwwod) with a Dodge 4X4 Quad cab hemi with a 3.92 rear and It towed fine...Hills were a labor but my wife like to "load up". I was not happy with the 8 MPG so I upgraded to a cummins turbo diesel and a completly different world! Depending on your rear axel ratio and tow capicity, you might be fine if you dont "load" up.
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Old 12-11-2012, 03:22 PM   #10
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Terier, thanks for I link, any new information is always a blessing. Don & Elaine, I recently traveled from Jacksonville Fla to Savannah Ga- a distance of 214 miles and couldn't believe I used a tank of gas. Wow, 8.4 mpg is what the instrument panel told me. It stayed at about 3000 rpm the whole way. The truck seemed to have plenty of power left and I am going to do another trip to a different location right after the holidays to get a better feeling as to if the mpg will stay around there.
Planning a 8000 mile trip for next year and with that kind of gas mileage I may need to revise it.
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Old 12-11-2012, 03:37 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FlaHarleyrider65 View Post
Terier, thanks for I link, any new information is always a blessing. Don & Elaine, I recently traveled from Jacksonville Fla to Savannah Ga- a distance of 214 miles and couldn't believe I used a tank of gas. Wow, 8.4 mpg is what the instrument panel told me. It stayed at about 3000 rpm the whole way. The truck seemed to have plenty of power left and I am going to do another trip to a different location right after the holidays to get a better feeling as to if the mpg will stay around there.
Planning a 8000 mile trip for next year and with that kind of gas mileage I may need to revise it.
Just a thought, operating a gas engine at those RPM's towing will decrease it's life expectancy quickly and as you get more miles on your TV pulling heavy loads, your HP and torque will decline...only natural for a gasser.
Sooner than later, you'll be thrilled with a diesel, the mpg's, high life expectancy and no decrease in power with high mileage or towing in higher elevations!
Happy Camping



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