Towing 8-9k with a 2016 Silverado 1500

Imcrazy · October 5, 2016

I have a 2016 Silverado 1500 DBL Cab 5.3L 4x4, 3.42 rear gear, towing package and brake controller. I need to move a 7200# Backhoe on a trailer, the rental place said the trailer has electric brakes and the whole package will be less than 9000#. I am only going about 10 miles one way across back roads so I can go slow. I know I need to get a hitch with a 2-5/16 ball that's rated for at least 10k, thinking I'll get one that's good for 16K tho, just to be safe. Any other suggestions? Truck is rated for 9500# so if I am less than 9k I feel like I should be OK?

Thanks,

Aaron.

newdude · October 5, 2016

I'd keep your payload low, say just you and maybe one other person in the truck max. Empty bed as well if possible.

Imcrazy · October 5, 2016

I'd keep your payload low, say just you and maybe one other person in the truck max. Empty bed as well if possible.

Yeah for sure, it will be just me in the truck plus a few ratchet straps in the truck.

crankman · October 6, 2016

Is that like a full size backhoe? If it is we use our 1 ton with fifth wheel trailer to move our around. You arent going to like doing that with a bumper pull trailer. Can they deliver it for ya just so you dont put your truck through that. The trailer alone to haul a full size backhoe would easily be 2000lb weight itself alone.

Imcrazy · October 6, 2016

Is that like a full size backhoe? If it is we use our 1 ton with fifth wheel trailer to move our around. You arent going to like doing that with a bumper pull trailer. Can they deliver it for ya just so you dont put your truck through that. The trailer alone to haul a full size backhoe would easily be 2000lb weight itself alone.

No it's a mid size backhoe, the trailer and backhoe together are a little less than 9k. Its $200 round trip for delivery and only $300 to rent the machine for the day. I figure if Chevy says I can pull 9500# I should be able to tow 9500# but, I will be taking it easy.

Imcrazy · October 9, 2016

Truck did just fine. I think the load was about 9200#, guy at the rental place said it should be about 300# tongue weight. Struggled a little on power and if I had not had trailer brake control it would have been a disaster.

Lamby66 · November 16, 2016

I am glad the truck did ok, but if you only had 300lbs of tongue weight on a 9200lb trailer you are asking for problems. you should have 10-15% of the weight on your tongue

The trailer in my avatar is around that weight and I have 1050lbs of tongue weight

Imcrazy · November 28, 2016

I am glad the truck did ok, but if you only had 300lbs of tongue weight on a 9200lb trailer you are asking for problems. you should have 10-15% of the weight on your tongue

The trailer in my avatar is around that weight and I have 1050lbs of tongue weight

Ah I see yeah, that's just what the guy at the rental place said, who knows it seemed a bit off to me. Got it done, truck had enough power and the brakes along with the electric brake controller did their job.

onetontom · January 14, 2017

This may be old news but that load was fine. I hauled 10,800lbs with my 15, granted it had the NHT package putting me at a 11k tow rating, but it was fine. I had some payload in the bed, whatever junk I typically haul in the cab, etc. The biggest thing is a properly loaded trailer right down to the tire pressure. It stopped it just fine, pulled it up hill just fine, wasn't an issue. This was a 3 time deal with the travel distance being approx. 12 miles each way. No, I wouldn't want to do that on a regular basis, but for the occasional chore I wouldn't hesitate for a second. Don't have that issue anymore as I recently traded that truck, but I wouldn't think twice about hauling the load you're talking about with your truck, just would have wanted a little more on the tongue.