Silverado towing weight

[snowfighter]

Have a 2011 Silverado xcab 1500,5.3, 6sp auto, tow package,3.42 rearend. Looking at a 6100# 24ft 5th wheel. Manual states should be able to pull 9600# if I read it right. Want a moderate pull maybe putting boat behind at times.Anyone out there with a like weight/truck situation.

[Powerstroke]

To answer about tow ratings, your truck is listed at 9600lbs towing and 1500 lbs for a max pin weight for 5th wheel towing and a GCWR of 15000 lbs.

The truck's curb weight is almost 5300 lbs.

So, I would double check what the numbers are on your trailer. DOn't use the dry weight when trying to calculate its weight. If the pin weight is close to 1500 lbs that will be the first issue. If the pin weight is decent then you can move to total camper weight.

Before you start considering the double tow you need to get it weighed to make sure you don't overload the max vehicle ratings. In general its good to leave 10-15% as a safety margin. If you've got a 7000lb camper on a 5300lb truck with two people and gear you are already gonna be at 13000 lbs on the GCWR.

[highlife4me]

I have an 06 F150 and pull a 26' 5th wheel and a 14' Lund. The trailer weighs 6700 lbs loaded and has a pin weight of 980 lbs. I am just over my payload rating but under my RAWR when fully loaded and ready to camp. I put LT tires on and added airbags for the rear suspension but I don't even use them. Just thought it would be easier to add them when installing the hitch than add them later. Truck tow's just fine and breaking isn't a problem either. My trailer is designed for a 1/2 ton and I wouldn't want to go any bigger without getting a bigger truck.

[snowfighter]

Thanks for the info. I had a 24ft some time back but weight was only 4000 plus pounds and towed good with 2000 F150 so going up 2000# I was questioning it. Looks like I would be at or alittle above my limit which I don't want to be.

[Capt. H (Ret.)]

I have the crew cab. Same year, engine and tranny. It will pull it but the gas consumption will be increased when pulling. I could have bought a 6 liter (or was it a 6.2??) with a 3:83 rear end but most of the time the truck is being driven, not pulling. I couldn't justify the rear end and tranny difference for the money.

Mike

[DANR]

"Before you start considering the double tow you need to get it weighed to make sure you don't overload the max vehicle ratings. In general its good to leave 10-15% as a safety margin. If you've got a 7000lb camper on a 5300lb truck with two people and gear you are already gonna be at 13000 lbs on the GCWR."

Well said!

Please also keep in mind that in our part of the country, the wind resistance can be a bigger issue than the weight.

Dan

[BLACKJACK]

Please also keep in mind that in our part of the country, the wind resistance can be a bigger issue than the weight.

Well said!! I HATE pulling my 26 foot travel trailer on windy days!!! Especailly a cross wind!! Come out from behind a tree grove it really wants to sway!

[Powerstroke]

I really want to emphasize the pin weight in this discussion because it is more important than overall weight of the camper. If most of the weight is being carried by the axles of the trailer it will tow differently that if there is a large proportion on the hitch. Having too much pin weight will change how the truck handles. If the truck can't handle that much weight in the bed it doesn't really matter what the rest of the trailer weighs.

This is a doable combination if all the weights are right, but it will require some research to get it right.