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09-24-2018, 08:11 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 21
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How much does horsepower come into the towing equation?
I ask because I own a 2018 Silverado 1500 4X4 with the new Ecotec V6 its 285hp and 305ftlb in torque. 3.42 axle ratio. It's got Tow/Haul mode but I need to install a brake controller. Its says that its GVWR is 7100lb and GCVWR 12,800 and a payload capacity of 1,840. I have plugged these numbers into a spreadsheet that I found on line but it still all mud if you don't actually know what you're going to actually be carrying. It's just me and the wife without a whole lot of junk like bikes and stuff.
Almost every TT we like falls just over 5,000 lbs dry and some people are telling me that is overboard for my truck.
Of course I want to hear more is better but I also understand the need for safety. I also plan to use a WDH and Friction sway bar
Any comments????
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09-24-2018, 08:28 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 108
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You're going to get tons of opinions on this. From personal experience - I had a 2014 Silverado 5.3 with a 3.42 and i towed a 28' travel trailer that was 6500# loaded using a properly set up (measured and weighed) WDH. It towed pretty well on relatively flat ground. I definitely noticed when the wind was hitting me from the side and when we passed semis. Personally I wouldn't be comfortable with any more trailer than that with a half ton truck.
Horsepower is definitely not an issue. Payload on half ton trucks is the issue. Make sure the 1800+ pounds you are referencing are the actual door sticker and not the Chevy advertisement. My crew cab short bed Z71 had 1760 on the sticker so you're probably close.
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2017 Silverado 3500 Z71 CC / L5P Duramax/Allison
2018 Grand Design Reflection 311 BHS
2015 Coachmen Apex 259BHSS 50th Anniversary (sold)
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09-24-2018, 09:09 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Dayton Ohio
Posts: 3,591
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Remember payload does not include any person, fuel. Cooler, bike, dog or receiver hitch.
Thus your payload is likely #1200. Add a dirt bike, a few bikes and a cooler and that does not leave a lot of trailer tongue weight. The factory number does not include propane or batteries usually located in the worst location. Then, how much stuff you hall.
Then too, long trailers tend to wag the truck. A 3/4 ton is simply heavier and less prone to allow sway.
The overloaded tow vehicle is not pleasant to drive.
Look at max trailer weight and 12% tongue.
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09-24-2018, 09:27 PM
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#4
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rjc1024
Payload on half ton trucks is the issue. Make sure the 1800+ pounds you are referencing are the actual door sticker and not the Chevy advertisement. My crew cab short bed Z71 had 1760 on the sticker so you're probably close.
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That number came right off the vehicle. Thanks for the reply.
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09-24-2018, 09:34 PM
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#5
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tomkatb
Remember payload does not include any person, fuel. Cooler, bike, dog or receiver hitch..
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The Chevrolet tow guide gives 150lbs each for driver and passenger
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09-24-2018, 09:41 PM
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#6
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 23
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Your v6 makes more power than big blocks did 30 years ago. Just let it spin, don't be afraid of high RPMs; lots of people are but it won't break. You have good payload for a half ton, I think you'll be fine with that class of trailer.
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2017 Salem 201bhxl
2017 Silverado 1500 CCSB 2wd, 5.3, 3.42
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09-24-2018, 09:43 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Hawkins, Texas
Posts: 1,243
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Well with the numbers that you know you only really need one more number to be able to really figure this all out. You need to weigh you truck with you and a full tank of gas and see what that number is. I would guess that it is the range of 5260 pounds. GVWR - the cargo capacity. So max trailer weight would be about 5700 pounds with those numbers and that would include the tough weight. So about 5000 pounds of trailer is the top you should go I would say.
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Chuck & Sandra
Engineer/Teacher
2010 F350 CC 6.4
2015 Prime Time Sanibel 3601
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09-24-2018, 09:44 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Virginia
Posts: 9,866
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When looking at campers ignore dry weight as it is that as it leaves the factory and never that low again. Gross weight will give you a closer to actual weight that you will be towing. and..... of course weight on the scales is the only accurate weight....
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2005 Dodge 3500 Cummins
2017 Wildwood Lodge 4092 BFL
1966 Mustang GT
1986 Mustang SVO
Lillie Spoiled Rotten Boxer Mix
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09-24-2018, 10:24 PM
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#9
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Goodyear, Arizona
Posts: 33,775
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Quote:
Originally Posted by donhaller
The Chevrolet tow guide gives 150lbs each for driver and passenger
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Thats for TOWING capacity, not payload capacity. And it's ONLY for a 150 driver, not passenger.
If you read the sticker, it says "Occupants". The driver is considered an occupant.
__________________
Dan-Retired California Firefighter/EMT
Shawn-Musician/Entrepreneur/Wine Expert
and Zoe the Wonder Dog(R.I.P.)
2016 PrimeTime TracerAIR 255, pushing a 2014 Ford F150 SCREW XTR 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost w/Max Tow Package
4pt Equal-i-zer WDH and 1828lbs of payload capacity
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09-24-2018, 10:51 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Dayton Ohio
Posts: 3,591
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Most published specs are bogus.
If you want to know your payload, load the truck up and find a cat scale. Likely you will not like the results.
In 5he past truck payloads did not nclude optional features like beds, tailgates and spare tires.
Also the sales department made up the towing figures. today there is an SAE spec. However, all companies do not follow it. In towing according to the spec it includes a #150 driver. Does not address the payload. Truck tow ratings usually exceede payload capabilities. It is a test.
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09-25-2018, 01:28 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Posts: 349
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Not apples to apple, but I had an 04 Ram with a 4.7 v8, 3:55 gears, 240 hp I think, not sure on the torque though and no tow package. . I could barely tow a 4000lb empty, 5000lbs loaded trailer. Flat ground with the wind I could stay at highway speeds, but I was lucky to keep 70 km/hr on even the slightest incline, at 5000rpm. I traded for an eco boost and it pulled that thing up 7 percent grades at 110 km/hr at 2800 rpm. Torque is huge.
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2017 F150 XLT 3.5l Eco Boost, SC, 8' Box, 4X4
Max Tow (10 speed, 3:73, 11,700lbs), HD Payload (2440lbs)
2015 Puma 253 FBS
2013 Hyundai Santa Fe
2000 Honda EX 400, Rad Rover 6 Plus
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09-25-2018, 03:02 PM
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#12
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jkoenig24
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Box Elder, SD (formerly NY)
Posts: 953
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Horsepower GETS you up to speed. Torque KEEPS you there.
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09-25-2018, 03:42 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Southeast
Posts: 1,047
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Quote:
Originally Posted by donhaller
The Chevrolet tow guide gives 150lbs each for driver and passenger
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Time to change those 150# body weights. I'd say 80% of the public weighs more.
Even the passenger aviation industry has adjusted it's weight and balance average calculations for people being heavier now and the carry on bags being a greater weight than the years old calculation weights were.
It is time the passenger vehicles stop using such antiquated averages to butter their numbers and possibly get us in to a false sense of being under the limit.
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09-25-2018, 03:43 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Southeast
Posts: 1,047
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I look at torque output.
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09-25-2018, 03:56 PM
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#15
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Goodyear, Arizona
Posts: 33,775
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rlh1957
Time to change those 150# body weights. I'd say 80% of the public weighs more.
Even the passenger aviation industry has adjusted it's weight and balance average calculations for people being heavier now and the carry on bags being a greater weight than the years old calculation weights were.
It is time the passenger vehicles stop using such antiquated averages to butter their numbers and possibly get us in to a false sense of being under the limit.
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Totally agree!
__________________
Dan-Retired California Firefighter/EMT
Shawn-Musician/Entrepreneur/Wine Expert
and Zoe the Wonder Dog(R.I.P.)
2016 PrimeTime TracerAIR 255, pushing a 2014 Ford F150 SCREW XTR 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost w/Max Tow Package
4pt Equal-i-zer WDH and 1828lbs of payload capacity
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09-25-2018, 04:02 PM
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#16
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RV There Yet?
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Winona, MN
Posts: 1,139
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rlh1957
I look at torque output.
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I look at the torque and the gearing for the tow vehicle. gears can make all the difference in the world. you want to stay in the power band. look at where that power comes on, your 285 HP is at 5300 RPM and your 305 torque is at 3900 RPM. you get 230 ft/lbs at 1200 rpm (impressive!) but i think that you would be pushing it as far as weight is concerned with anything over 5000lbs dry weight and the gears you have. drop that gearing down and i would go for it.
by comparison, i have a 2009 f150 4x4 with the 5.4L V8, camper around 4500 lbs, and i can get just shy of 14mpg on the highway with 3.73 gears.
https://autoweek.com/article/car-new...cs-and-details
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09-25-2018, 05:18 PM
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#17
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Liberty Twp Ohio
Posts: 62
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Your truck will tow a 5,000 lb trailer without a problem. I have an F150
Ecoboost and tow an empty 7450 lb Windjammer. So far I've logged about 26000 miles travelling 60 mph. Last week I towed up I70 through the Eisenhower Tunnel in Colorado topping out at 11000 feet. Drive sensibly using a good integrated wdh/sway hitch (no separate friction sway bars) and enjoy.
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09-25-2018, 07:15 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Pleasant Gap, PA
Posts: 458
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Unless you are doing a lot of driving in the mountains your truck will be fine, especially with a WDH. Set the brake controller up right so that the trailer is doing it's fair share of the braking.
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2015 Solaire 201SS
2015 GMC 2500HD Duramax
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09-26-2018, 01:57 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Piedmont SD
Posts: 95
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DW and I are not full timers. Maybe 10/12 camping trips per summer, about 50/ 60 miles one way per trip. We did the 5.7 Hemi, and 6.0 Chevy gassers for years. I finally got tired of the high rpms, and worrying about tongue weight, axle weight, gcvw, and wether or not our 7 pound toy fox terrier pooped before we put her in the truck. We bought a used but well taken care of 3/4 ton diesel, and never looked back. Yes, maintenance and fuel cost more, however, when we head out camping, I'm thinking about camping, and not horse power or ft. pounds of torque. The less time I have to spend worrying about my TV, the more time I can spend making sure my meds are right!
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09-26-2018, 09:14 AM
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#20
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rugman1952
DW and I are not full timers. Maybe 10/12 camping trips per summer, about 50/ 60 miles one way per trip. We did the 5.7 Hemi, and 6.0 Chevy gassers for years. I finally got tired of the high rpms, and worrying about tongue weight, axle weight, gcvw, and wether or not our 7 pound toy fox terrier pooped before we put her in the truck. We bought a used but well taken care of 3/4 ton diesel, and never looked back. Yes, maintenance and fuel cost more, however, when we head out camping, I'm thinking about camping, and not horse power or ft. pounds of torque. The less time I have to spend worrying about my TV, the more time I can spend making sure my meds are right!
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Best answer yet!!! Love it
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