Heavy towing

Ronjon · Sunday at 10:28 PM

Hey guys I need some input on the subject. I have a 2020 Chevy Silverado 1500 lm2 z71 crew cab, 4" lift, air bags, Bilstein 5100 rear shocks, and 34" tires with a door rating of 9300lbs towing capacity. I've towed over a 1000 miles hooked up to a hummer h3 with 35's, winch bumper, and back seat drawer on a uhaul trailer before with ease from NC to TX in my truck. However I am looking to buy a 34' Travel Trailer with the following weight ratings.

"WILDWOOD 28VIEW TRAVEL TRAILER"

Dry Weight 7,753 lbs.

Payload Capacity 3,512 lbs.

GVWR 11,265 lbs.

Hitch Weight 1,065 lbs.

I never intended on towing it with the tanks full. I will be living out of it and will only be towed for moving from one camp to another, not frequent use. Should I still be safe as long as I don't exceed ~1800lbs in the trailer cargo?

I will also have a "Weigh Safe True Tow Middleweight Anti Sway Weight Distribution Hitch 6" Drop 2" Shank 12,500 lb Tow Rating"

Thank you!

64BAwagon · Sunday at 10:44 PM

You dont have enough truck, even before you modified it.

bobder41 · Sunday at 10:51 PM

The way you modified your truck it will not tow it for long before you have issues

Ronjon · Sunday at 11:46 PM

In the case that this is not the one for me. What dry should I be looking for on a travel trailer?

CamGTP · Sunday at 11:53 PM

Just remember that it could only tow 9,300lbs when stock. WIth the added weight of the lift, wheels and tires you are probably under 9,000lbs now. Getting the weight of the truck with nothing inside it and with a full tank of fuel would let you know what you can technically tow. But with it being lifted like that, I'd never exceed 8,000-8,500lbs but thats just me.

If you do plan to tow a travel trailer with it, I think the weight of the trailer itself can only be about 6,000lbs max when dry. That leaves you enough weight for to put over 1,000-1,500lbs in it safely.

newdude · 2024-12-02T01:04:58Z

Look smaller. Try a trailer that has a GVWR at or below 9000lbs.

Edited yesterday at 01:05 AM by newdude

Ronjon · 2024-12-02T05:11:01Z

So what I'm hearing here and the other forum is 5k to 6k dry with a max weight under 8k? Y'all talked me out of the 30+ foot models. 25-30 foot is what I'll look for. Also I'll be getting leaf springs rated for another 660lbs over the OEM, dunno if that helps my case (no more lift block). My tires are also load E (10 ply) with forged 3600lb rated wheels.

Edited yesterday at 05:14 AM by Ronjon

64BAwagon · 2024-12-02T13:31:41Z

Aside from the weight, a half ton towing a 34 ft trailer is a scary proposition. Even with a Hensley hitch you would have a hard time controlling it. I had a 35 ft bumper pull at one time with a little over 1000# dry tongue weight and it was all the 2500HD Silverado crew cab (2005) could handle as far as control.

newdude · 2024-12-02T13:44:47Z

8 hours ago, Ronjon said:

So what I'm hearing here and the other forum is 5k to 6k dry with a max weight under 8k? Y'all talked me out of the 30+ foot models. 25-30 foot is what I'll look for. Also I'll be getting leaf springs rated for another 660lbs over the OEM, dunno if that helps my case (no more lift block). My tires are also load E (10 ply) with forged 3600lb rated wheels.

"Legally" it doesn't help. The ratings of the truck are what they are. So if for some reason you got scaled and were over (say an accident or something and they wanted weight), and you were over GCWR or over your payload...

DK91105 · 2024-12-02T14:02:08Z

Do any of these trailers have brakes? Also your increased tire size really hurts your trailering ability. While expensive, re-gearing your truck would help you a ton if you are dead set on pushing the limits. You would also probably want the TCM tuned at that point which adds additional cost.

asilverblazer · 2024-12-02T18:07:19Z

Have heard no mention of distance and terrain you'll be towing in.

Properly setting up the weight distribution and sway control will go a long ways to making the set up feasible. It is not about the overall weight in a travel trailer, its the size, followed by tongue weight. Tongue weight will end up maxing out the GVWR of the truck first.

Tire size on the truck is probably the biggest down side, followed by the lift.

The first thing you will run into towing a travel trailer is the engine RPM's will be high - all the time. MPG's will be low 8-9.

Your lift may actually help setting up the weight distribution shank because they are usually too low for a 1/2 ton. Overall the lift is going to be a negative though for stability and aerodynamics.

If you are traveling less than 1000 miles, not in severe terrain and no faster than 70mph you could probably make it work.

I was able to manage a 35' (actual box measurement) travel trailer behind my 1/2 ton.

Be on the look out for all the "I'm gonna sue you if you crash into me and you're over weight people".

Ubiquity · 2024-12-02T20:28:04Z

Your mileage may vary: I am considering at some point in the future of moving twice a year. For my wee Ubiquity, anything over 4500 lbs and I'll hire someone else to do it.

Ronjon · 2024-12-03T02:32:04Z

So what I've found that still checks my boxes for weight and amenities is the Solaire 2580RBSS. And thoughts? I'm going to have a lightweight island to put in the kitchen.