1/2 ton & 831RLBSS?

[Mkayers]

Looking for opinions from some people that may have gone thru this already. Right now I own a 2003 Silverado 1500 4X4 Z71. 3.73 gears, towing pkg, ext cab, 6-1/2’ box. 8,800 lbs towing capacity. We plan on upgrading to a ¾ ton in the next couple years. We are really interested in a 831RLBSS but I’m wondering if that’s too much camper for the truck I have now. Michigan is fairly flat but we take two trips a year down I-77 to Martinsville, VA & Charlotte, NC for races so we will hit mountains. Anybody towing one of these with a ½ ton now & what are your experiences?

[TURBS]

Need all the weight specs on tv and tt to help.

[arlee453]

From the forest river website:
Hitch Weight (dry) 815 lb
Dry ship weight 6,724 lb
GVWR 8,450 lb

Looking at the simple numbers (and I know there are other factors so will let those more knowledgable than myself chime in here...) Fully loaded would be basically maxing out your truck (if you consider at least 2 people in the truck and weight of your hitch gear, etc. However, if you pack reasonably lightly and are thinking of upgrading the truck in the next little while, I'd probably go for it if it was me...

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by Mkayers

Looking for opinions from some people that may have gone thru this already. Right now I own a 2003 Silverado 1500 4X4 Z71. 3.73 gears, towing pkg, ext cab, 6-1/2’ box. 8,800 lbs towing capacity. We plan on upgrading to a ¾ ton in the next couple years. We are really interested in a 831RLBSS but I’m wondering if that’s too much camper for the truck I have now. Michigan is fairly flat but we take two trips a year down I-77 to Martinsville, VA & Charlotte, NC for races so we will hit mountains. Anybody towing one of these with a ½ ton now & what are your experiences?

Towed an 08 Flagstaff 831RLSS over 30,000 miles with an 05 Silverado 5.3L w/ 3.23 gears and never had a problem going from Concord, NC to Moline, IL to Weslaco, TX and eventually to the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia. Kept speed to 55-65 and had no probems in the Smokey Mountains or anywhere else. Didn't try the Rockies, that would have been a bit much for the 3.23 rearend.