New and looking

[K7TNT]

My wife and myself are looking for are first travel trailer. Looking for something small to pull with my new GMC Canyon Duramax. We like the looks of the 2509S mini lite. It will have room for the dogs and Grandchildren if they come camping with us.

[K7TNT]

Also I will be glad to get any advice for you seasoned RVers. I just don't want to bye to big. I think that I will be ok with a 25 foot trailer for my truck. It is set up for pulling has the trailer break and engine breaking. Going to add a add a leaf as well. Looking to get the distribution hitch also. The 2509s is a twin axle, so I think that this is more stopping power. If I have this wrong please help. Thank you.

[Bluepill]

Make sure you are safely within weight and tow capacity limits. Info here:

Matching a Tow Vehicle & Trailer 101 - RV UNIVERSITY

[rockfordroo]

#1: Know what YOUR model Canyon's tow capacity is; should be in the owners manual (my 2009 Silverado had 99 permutations of tow ratings depending on engine, cab, rear axle ratio, etc. etc.). Although they may look the same, not all pickups are created equal.

#2: Look inside your drivers door frame and see what your payload is. You should find a sticker like this one from my Silverado (click on the pic and it will get bigger so you can read it):



#3: Ignore "dry weights;" they're for suckers. Look on the front left side of any trailer you're interested in and see what the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) is. This is the sticker from my Mini Lite, see the red arrow:



The GVWR is the max weight the trailer can weigh. Once you've added propane, a battery and all the "stuff" we know you'll add, you will be somewhere between the dry weight and the GVWR, and almost certainly closer to the GVWR than the dry weight!

#4: Until you purchase the trailer and can load and weigh it, multiply the GVWR by 0.15 (i.e., 15%) to get your "assumed" tongue weight. Add the 50-75 pounds for the weight of a weight distribution hitch (WDH), which you WILL need. Now make sure this tongue weight number is less than the tongue weight limit on your hitch; which may be different when using a WDH and when not using a WDH.

#5: Now add your tongue weight from item #4 and the weight of ANYTHING else (wife, kids, dogs, stuff) that you will be putting in your Canyon and make sure it's less than the payload number on the sticker in item #2 above.

#6: Most people believe you should maintain a 20% margin to your ratings. The payload limit is usually reached first.

Don't make the mistake this lady made:

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...og-128416.html

Good luck.

[geeman53]

Welcome from SW Ohio , good luck in your 2509s quest !

[rp53]

we have a Flagstaff 21fbrs, and towed it with a Chevy Colorado V6 it towed it OK big truck passing sometime were an issue, i suspect it was the short wheel base on it. i know your diesel has a better towing capacity that ours did but we live in the E. tennessee mts. and camp a lot in western NC mountains. just didn't feel that comfortable, traded up to a silverado much more comfortable now. i would not have wanted to tow anything bigger than what we have now

[doc73]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

#1: Know what YOUR model Canyon's tow capacity is; should be in the owners manual (my 2009 Silverado had 99 permutations of tow ratings depending on engine, cab, rear axle ratio, etc. etc.). Although they may look the same, not all pickups are created equal.

#2: Look inside your drivers door frame and see what your payload is. You should find a sticker like this one from my Silverado (click on the pic and it will get bigger so you can read it):

Attachment 131505

#3: Ignore "dry weights;" they're for suckers. Look on the front left side of any trailer you're interested in and see what the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) is. This is the sticker from my Mini Lite, see the red arrow:

Attachment 131508

The GVWR is the max weight the trailer can weigh. Once you've added propane, a battery and all the "stuff" we know you'll add, you will be somewhere between the dry weight and the GVWR, and almost certainly closer to the GVWR than the dry weight!

#4: Until you purchase the trailer and can load and weigh it, multiply the GVWR by 0.15 (i.e., 15%) to get your "assumed" tongue weight. Add the 50-75 pounds for the weight of a weight distribution hitch (WDH), which you WILL need. Now make sure this tongue weight number is less than the tongue weight limit on your hitch; which may be different when using a WDH and when not using a WDH.

#5: Now add your tongue weight from item #4 and the weight of ANYTHING else (wife, kids, dogs, stuff) that you will be putting in your Canyon and make sure it's less than the payload number on the sticker in item #2 above.

#6: Most people believe you should maintain a 20% margin to your ratings. The payload limit is usually reached first.

Don't make the mistake this lady made:

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...og-128416.html

Good luck.

Oh that sucks...

We had a minilite 2306 and loved it great size for when it was the two of us.

[Tapex]

Welcome to the forum,
Have fun shopping for that purfect TT. There's so many options out there, but there's so many (numbers) to factor in when shopping as well!

[K7TNT]

I would like to say thank you to all. I do have lots to learn here. I'm asking before instead of later. Thank you I will post the numbers on my little truck.

[K7TNT]

Ok here are some fast numbers of my 2016 GMC Canyon 4x4 Short box 2.8 Duramax. #1 tow capacity is 7,600lbs #2 PAYLOAD is 1,418lbs #4 GCWR is 12,700lbs . #5 Max tongue is 760lbs. Well on the 2509S I can't find the GVWR. Hitch is 660lbs, Dry is 5074 and cargo weight is 1586lbs. So would you all say that my Canyon is ok with this?

[BC Boy]

Originally Posted by K7TNT

Ok here are some fast numbers of my 2016 GMC Canyon 4x4 Short box 2.8 Duramax. #1 tow capacity is 7,600lbs #2 PAYLOAD is 1,418lbs #4 GCWR is 12,700lbs . #5 Max tongue is 760lbs. Well on the 2509S I can't find the GVWR. Hitch is 660lbs, Dry is 5074 and cargo weight is 1586lbs. So would you all say that my Canyon is ok with this?

You may be ok. The gvw of the 2509s is 6,660lbs (dry weight plus cargo carrying capacity). So figure 10% of that for your tongue weight which would be 660lbs. Which is what the brochure has so thats weird (they are usually based closer the dry weight). That leaves you with 758lbs for people and stuff in the truck and the weight distributing hitch. Based on those numbers you are under on all specs except possibly your gcwr depending on how much your truck weighs.

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by K7TNT

Ok here are some fast numbers of my 2016 GMC Canyon 4x4 Short box 2.8 Duramax. #1 tow capacity is 7,600lbs #2 PAYLOAD is 1,418lbs #4 GCWR is 12,700lbs . #5 Max tongue is 760lbs. Well on the 2509S I can't find the GVWR. Hitch is 660lbs, Dry is 5074 and cargo weight is 1586lbs. So would you all say that my Canyon is ok with this?

Add dry and cargo to get GVWR. So 5074+1586=6650 lbs. So 7600 - 6650 = 950 lb margin on tow capacity.

Assume your tongue weight will be 6650 x .15 = 997 lbs. Add 50-75 for your weight distribution hitch, so say 1075 tongue weight.

Payload of 1418 - 1075 = 343 lbs. So you have 343 lbs to cover wife, kids, dog, and "stuff." So you'll be close on payload. More margin if you pack light. Once you've purchased your RV and loaded it for camping, you can weigh it. Then you know your "real" tongue weight and impact on payload. Be conservative.

Also remember: when you actually SEE a TT and look at the GVWR and CCC numbers on it, the numbers will probably not match anything you see a website. They'll be close, but not identical.

Good luck.

[K7TNT]

Ok thanks, hope it's ok.

[K7TNT]

Ok, now I plan on adding the add a leaf that adds 750lbs. This will help me when hauling pellets for my wood stove in my house. Will this also help with towing a trailer with the weight distribution hitch? Sorry for all the dumb questions. Just looking for help. Tomorrow taking road trip to go looking at mini lites.

[rockfordroo]

I'm not smart regarding what modifying the truck may do for your payload, other than knowing that air bags won't increase your payload, only help level the truck.

Perhaps someone knowledgeable will chime in.

[debit]

K7TNT,
We have a Ram 2500, diesel, 6 speed, with a long bed. Our TT is a new Surveyor 251RKS. We have no problem towing the TT. I especially wanted the 15" tires. The DW want the walk around bed, directly into the bathroom.
We like the space that the slide makes possible. (see pic)

[lmiken]

If you want to modify your vehicle to tow more, look at a performance tuner, which could add extra horse power, but often the transmission is the weak link. Change your gear ratio, (e.g, if you have a 3.55 you can change to 3.73 or even 4.10 but the higher you go the more it impacts your gas mileage).

[Scrapper]

By some of the reply's here it looks to me that a lot of people don't know that the Colorado/Canyon was built to replace the Chevy S10/ GMC S15. I had a 05 Canyon when the largest engine available was the 3.5L 5 cylinder I5 Vortex. Powerful, fast engine with more punch than the 3.6L Dodge had in the Dakota.

With 4 150# adults in the crew cab version, you only had 125# left for payload. Basically just a shopping cart. Got 25 mpg.

[itat]

The '05 Canyon is much less capable than the new generation Canyon/Colorado. The new ones are on par or likely better than the Toyota Tacoma we had in terms of the capabilities as a truck.

OP: Welcome to the forum. I suspect you'll be close to your max numbers with the 2509 but OK or only slightly over, especially with the grandchildren on board. Speaking of which, will they be with you more than 2 or 3 times a season? Answer honestly. I say this because in my opinion, bunks are a waste of space unless they are going to be used regularly. For 2-3 times a year, you can make the dinette into a bed and pick a floorplan that uses the space for something you'll use more frequently. They may be just as happy on an air mattress on the floor because they are camping with Grandma and Grandpa! Just something to think about.

Good luck.

[K7TNT]

After looking at the safety side of this. I'm looking at the lighter weight of the 2503S. Maybe a safer fit for my truck in the Rocky Mountains. Thanks to everyone here.