Tracer 3150 towed by Silverado

tyturri · 05-10-2011, 02:50 PM

Planning to buy a Tracer 3150, empty weight 6330#, my silverado is a 2011 with 5.3LV8 , 6 speed auto, H-D tariler package, and 3.08 rear end. I'm told it will safely tow 6900#. I am guessing the 3150 will weigh very close to 6900# or so once the wife loads it will all the stuff coming out of our Jayflight 26BH. Does anyone have an opinion if this will overstress the truck and or be dangerous. Thanks. Tom

MtnGuy · 05-10-2011, 02:54 PM

The listed empty weight is before options. Things like AC, awning, battery, and full propane tanks are extra. Adding about 400 lbs. to that 6330 ought you get you in the ball park, so you are near the listed tow rating of your Chevy before you add camping gear.

kamp k · 05-10-2011, 03:21 PM

You can't listen to dealers! They will tell you anything to make a sale. Truth is, if your tow rating is only 6900 lbs, and your trailer is 6330 dry, then you are going to be over your tow rating when ready to travel, and probably pretty substantially. Most folks will tell you that to be in that "safe" zone, when you're fully loaded, you should only be at 80-85% of your max tow rating, which would be about 5500-5900 lbs in your case (that's loaded). Also most folks will tell you to add an "average" of 1000 lbs of "stuff" to your trailer's "dry" weight to get an idea of how much weight you'd actually be towing. I'd guess you will actually be closer to 7500 lbs at a minimum when you're fully loaded. I wouldn't try it, but that's just me, and we haven't even discussed payload availability and tongue weight yet...

tyturri · 05-10-2011, 03:22 PM

Wow! Didn't know that. Thanks

**bikendan** · 05-10-2011, 03:23 PM

i agree with mtnguy. that dry weight number is fictional.
your Tracer will weigh 400-500lbs. more than that, sitting on the dealer's lot.
you still have to add the weight of a battery, propane and water, before you even start adding cargo.

if that's the truck's true tow max, you'll be well over that when it's loaded for camping.

EXGMTech · 05-10-2011, 05:21 PM

good luck on hills with that 3.08 rear!!!!

**KyDan** · 05-10-2011, 07:02 PM

My rig only weighs 4500 loaded + I occasionally haul
a 500 LB motorcycle and possibly 100 LBS of firewood
at times. Those weights are certified truck scale weights
with full water and all gear and food.

I have the same engine but lower rear gears.
My truck is rated to tow somewhere in the 8000 range.
I don't want any more than I have now.
I think you will be looking for a bigger truck if you
get that trailer.

Sorry I know that's not what you wanted to hear....

Iluv2fish · 05-16-2011, 02:23 PM

Are you sure about the Gross Tow weight on that truck...your figure looks low??

edman87k5 · 05-16-2011, 03:10 PM

Change out your gears to a 3.73 or 4.10, add a BIG trans cooler and it will be a lot happier but still not ideal for that load.

DF5.4 · 05-16-2011, 07:10 PM

The 3.08 gears are great for MPG. They are terrible for towing. I don't know why they would include those gears in a truck with a tow package.
This is from the Prime Time site for the 3150.

Base Weight 6,330 lb. (2,871 kg )
Hitch Weight 595 lb. (270 kg )
Cargo Carrying Capacity 2,715 lb. (1,232 kg )

This shows that the Gross weight of the TT is 9045 lbs.

scubieman · 05-16-2011, 07:29 PM

I had a 2005 gmc sierra 1500 with 5.3 engine, 3.73 and 5200 dry weight camper. It could barely do it and long trips would be terrible.

airplane66 · 05-16-2011, 08:27 PM

I don't know about all those fancy number things but from my experience pulling about that same trailer weight with a 1500 silverado I sold it and bought a used 2500 GMC deisel. Life is so much better . Buy a smaller trailer or a bigger truck.

scubieman · 05-16-2011, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by airplane66

I don't know about all those fancy number things but from my experience pulling about that same trailer weight with a 1500 silverado I sold it and bought a used 2500 GMC deisel. Life is so much better . Buy a smaller trailer or a bigger truck.

I will be waving the white flag for 1500 trucks. I went to diesel for my 5200 pound RV before first time of using it.

I bought the truck for EGO, but also 5200 pound dry(weighed). I could barely make tiny hills and I was ALWAYS using 3rd. If anything get a 6.0 Liter 1500HD or 2500 HD silverado.

flumpydog · 05-28-2011, 12:25 AM

Hi Tom,
We have the Tracer model you are looking at, and I cannot recall what the sticker has on it, but on ours, the sticker weight was what the trailer weighed when it left the factory with 1 battery and 2 x 20 lb propane tanks. I even verified this on the scales. We added a second battery and changed out the 20 lb tanks for 2 x 30 lb tanks. Our trailer when loaded (we have 3 kids, so we pack a bit more stuff) with a little bit of fresh water in the tank, both fridges full comes in around 7400 lbs if memory serves me correctly. I will have to double check my notes, and if I am wrong, I will let you know. I believe the trailer is around 6600 lbs before we loaded it up. That was with the extra battery and both 30 lb tanks full.
Hope this helps!
Best Wishes,
Chuck

ResQMoore · 06-06-2011, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iluv2fish

Are you sure about the Gross Tow weight on that truck...your figure looks low??

http://www.chevrolet.com/assets/pdf/...ring_Guide.pdf

see page 8.

OP- print this out and keep this with your trailer literature. lots of good information.

you also have to remember to include weight of all persons and equipment in the vehicle because that effects tow performance and towing ability.

on page 2- When determining the total weight of trailer and cargo, include the weight of any additional passengers and optional equipment (driver weight and base equipment are already included)

lbrjet · 06-06-2011, 09:59 AM

GM has no business putting a 3.08 rear end in a pickup truck that is marketed with a tow package. You got suckered by 'the man' and made an expensive mistake, but learned something along the way. By the way, I made the same mistake about 25 years ago so you are not alone.

The truck is capable but those gears are holding it back.

EinDog · 06-06-2011, 07:21 PM

The 3.08 gear set is a problem. With a max trailer weight of 6900 you are really limited in your trailer selection.

For the 2011 Silverado's, they have improved the trailering limits IF it is set up with the 5.3L engine, the 3.42 gears, and the 6 speed tranny. This gets you into a 9600 pound max trailer (depending on exactly which configuration of pickup you get.

The trailer you are shopping for will be one that sits on a pair of 3500 pound axles. With 10% on the hitch, that gives you a GTWR of 7700 pounds. The 700 pound hitch weight will bring you close to your GVWR on the pickup, so don't plan on hauling much in the pickup when you are pulling the trailer. A 7700 GTWR should have a weight off the lot of around 5750# with a battery, full lp tanks, and WDH. That leaves you with plenty of margin for water and provisions, so long as you are smart about it.

Anything bigger, you need more truck. Anything older than a 2011, you give up towing capability.

Idle_Idylist · 06-07-2011, 09:50 AM

Add to the list of weight you don't think about water. if you are ever going anywhere with out a hookup or place to fill at cg (which is probably very few and far between) water weighs 8# a gallon.

PatrickCrotty · 06-08-2011, 08:06 AM

I have the same truck, 2011, Ext. cab, 5.3, HD cooling, trailer package, but the 3.42 rear end. I have a 5ver that clocks in at 7800lbs loaded, CAT scale wieght. The truck is rated at 9400lbs for a 5ver and that is about all I would want to pull. I run 5th and sometimes 4th gear dropping to 45mph on steep grades. I say no. Get something smaller or upgrade the truck if you want to go that size trailer. Just my thoughts.

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