sgromolo
southern michigan
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Joined: 10/05/2008
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I went to the rv show in novi michigan with my wife to satisfy what type of trailer. we both would like to get a travel trailer. we were pressured but did not buy as we want to start out with used. the salesmen all said you have a silverado no problem towing. i talked to a neighbor and my truck has a max trailer weight of 7500 lbs even though the receiver says 10,500 the owners manuel says 7500. then the salemen were telling me i need a weight distributing hitch system for around a grand. then he told me that i have to have some kind of brake thingey hooked to my wire harness for brakes on the trailer. seems like an awful look of******to consider. my front and rear axles both say 1792 lbs. and my rear tires say max weight 2403 lbs. o by the way my truck has an axle ratio on 3.73 and is a 5.3liter v8. so i am very confused, how to i know what weight trailer i can consider with out upgrading my truck.
please help me out.
David
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Terryallan
NC
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Joined: 06/28/2004
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Like many of us. you have more hitch than truck. Yes the hitch will stand 10,500lbs. But the truck won't. The weight in the manuel. In your case. 7500lbs is what the MAX towing capacity of the truck is.
Yes to tow that much you will need a WDH. But a grand is way too much for it. Anmd you will need a brake controler. No big deal.
as for the 2403lb cap on the tires. That is 4806lbs on the rear. Got 2. You will never put that much on them. BTW. the ones in front will have the same weight rating. As for the 1792 axle rating. thats the KG. It is closer to 3600lbs, and should be higher on the back than front.
So by what you have posted. After you have loaded the truck for towing. IMOP. You would be good with a 6500 to 7000lb loaded trailer.
Terry & Shay
Pioneer 23T6
04 F150, 5.4, Lariat SuperCab
Lazy Campers
NC
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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Joined: 07/04/2006
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You need to remember salesman rule #1..
GET THE SIGNATURE ON THE BOTTOM LINE
And say whatever you have to to do this
Salesmen, for the most part, are not truck drivers (I do know a few exceptions) and are not towing experts.. They have no clue as to how much your truck can safely tow. Never ask a salesman if your truck can tow a trailer because they only know how to say "No Problem" (or something like that) when it comes to that kind of thing.
NOTE: This does not mean your truck can't tow it.. Just means I don't know You forgot to tell us how big the trailer you are looking at is.
Second, Try to avoid the tow limt by at least 10-20 percent if you can. you said your truck can tow 7500.. Try to keep it under 7000, or better yet 6500
Second. Weight Distributing Hitch.. .. Good idea for any but the smallest of trailers (Smallest is 2,000 pounds or less)
Trailer Braking System.. I suspect GM has one that plugs in on your Silverado, if not I'm partial to the Teknosha line.. but then I happen to have grown up in Teknosha (it's a township and village and yes, where the company is located)
It is very popular, and the P-3 is considered among the best. You want a brake controller, and you want to know how to use it BEFORE you hook up for the first time I can not stress the importance of a proper brake system enough.
I can say this... If your rig won't go.. Well.. That (Generally) is safe (Middle lane of the freeway perhaps not, but generally, if you are not blocking traffic, you are safe)
But a rig that won't STOP is a killer
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business
John is Near Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
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donn0128
Pronounced Ore-gun
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Joined: 04/21/2005
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Terryallan wrote:Like many of us. you have more hitch than truck. Yes the hitch will stand 10,500lbs. But the truck won't. The weight in the manuel. In your case. 7500lbs is what the MAX towing capacity of the truck is.
Yes to tow that much you will need a WDH. But a grand is way too much for it. Anmd you will need a brake controler. No big deal.
as for the 2403lb cap on the tires. That is 4806lbs on the rear. Got 2. You will never put that much on them. BTW. the ones in front will have the same weight rating. As for the 1792 axle rating. thats the KG. It is closer to 3600lbs, and should be higher on the back than front.
So by what you have posted. After you have loaded the truck for towing. IMOP. You would be good with a 6500 to 7000lb loaded trailer.
Sounds pretty close to me, But I personally would not go over a 6500 pound trailer GVWR as anymore will slow you up maybe more than you would like. Also you have to take into consideration that for every pound more than a 1/2 tank of fuel and a 150 pound driver you add to the truck reduces the amount of trailer you can tow. Equalizer hitches can be had used on places like Craigslist for probably a couple of hundred dollars. You will need a brake controller and for this do not skrimp or you will regret it. Get a prodigy the first time and be happy for ever. Or at least until the wife wants bigger. Remember that the 5.3L motor you have is probably coupled to a 3.42 rear end. while fine for commuting it is definitely NOT good for towing. So in real world the lighter you tow the happier you will be at the end of the day.
Donn
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wittmeba
Roanoke, Va
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Joined: 02/02/2001
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In all due respect, I dont see where the salesman(men) went out of bounds.
You can expect to feel pressured at any show - they want to sell trailers.
The salesman told the OP he the Silverado would be no problem towing. Depending on what rig they may have been looking at or what was in the mind of the salesman, this too may be totally correct.
The salesman told the OP he needs a WD hitch - true, maybe/maybe not.
$1000.00 perhaps and maybe this included installation. Might be what the salesman sees in his area.
The salesman told the OP he needs a brake controller. True, without question.
Bruce & Carolyn Wittmeier
Viet Nam Vet 1968-69
I was born in Great Falls, Mt. My parents moved when I was 5.
I found them when I was 10 - they were in California.
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69RoadRunner
VA
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Joined: 01/18/2008
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I agree that you should look at trailers with a GVWR of 6500 and under.
I have a Tekonsha Prodigy braker controller, and I'm happy with it. The P3 has even more bells and whistles. Tekonsha even sells a brand-specific wiring harness for your truck, so for about $10, it's plug and play. I have one for my Dodge truck. I had to crimp wires for my MH.
The WD hitch is a good idea, particularly, when you're near your towing limit.
Keep in mind that if you load up the bed/cab of the truck, you will reduce your towing capacity. In addition to that 7500 lb towing capacity, you have to look at the GCVWR of the truck. Every pound you put in the truck reduces the available GCVWR.
09 Newmar Ventana 3942
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UpNorthFam
Up North
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Joined: 06/14/2008
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I towed a 7000 pound trailer with 5.3L Suburban and all the same specs of your Silverado. I wasn't happy with the performance. Few important points to remember. Look at what your tongue weight will be on the trailer. This is the amount of weight that will be pulling down on the rear of your vehicle when you hook up. This weight now has to be added to the overall weight of your vehicle, along with your cargo, passengers, gasoline, etc. This total weight is your GVWR or gross vehicle weight rating. This is the total amount that only your truck can haul and you will find it in your manual or on the inside of your driver door. The other weight is the max. tow rating, which you stated is 7500 pounds. Don't ever max it out. Always have more truck than trailer. Now you have to combine these two weights, the GVWR and the max. tow rating, and come up with your GCVWR, or gross combined vehicle weight rating. This is the total amount that your truck, trailer, and all it's contents can weigh as a combined unit. Your vehicle manual will also give you this rating.
My suggestion is that you stay small with your trailer, around 26 feet, and you should be fine. There are lightweight trailers out there where you can get a big unit that doesn't weigh much. Be careful of these. Because they are lightweight, they can't handle much cargo. Any time you are towing something that weighs more than your vehicle, you should have a weight distribution hitch. I just switched to a fiver and have a WDH for sale if you are interested. Do not pay $1000.00 for it even if it's installed. They are very easy to install. I would buy one and look at the directions. If you still don't get it, just go to a dealer and look at one on the lot with a WDH. A brake controller is a must too, for the same reason as the WDH. Your silverado should have come with wiring harness, or pigtail as they are sometimes known. The directions are in the bag with the pigtail. Follow them and the directions from the brake controller company and you will be happy.
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joraz
Tucson
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Joined: 08/16/2008
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I don't have personal experience with this but I would think that 3.73 gears would be too high for this application. Those with travel trailers will know, of course, but I'm thinking that 4.10 or even 4.56 would be more suitable.
jor
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donee
Simi Valley, Ca. 93063
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Joined: 03/05/2006
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The OP stated that his vehicle has a 3.73 gearing.
IMHO, it should be enough to tow the type of trailer he is looking at.
I could be wrong.
To make sure, check the manufacturers site or the owners manual.
FWIW, My brotherinlaw just bought an 08 Dodge with the Hemi to tow his 20 TT.
Havent got any specs on it from them yet.
05 Monaco Esquire 29PBD
05 Silver Dodge Cummins w/3.73 gears 4 spd auto.
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havedreamwilltravel
Southern California
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Joined: 08/15/2006
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I also agree that you should be looking at a trailer with a MAX weight of 6500 pounds. That's roughly 5000 pounds dry weight.
Lots of trailers that would work.
Yes, you want a WDH. There are several. The high end ones are Hensley, Propride and Pullrite. You can also look at the Equalizer or Reese Dual Cam. Equalizer here
Prodigy brake controller. Not hard, basically plug and play.
To help with all the "confusion" read this: RV Towing Tips
BTW: Keep an open mind about a new trailer. We started out looking at used as well and found we were able to buy a new trailer for less $$$ than the 1-2 year old used trailers that were out there!
2007 GMC Yukon Denali - 6.2L 380hp/417ft-lbs,0-60 in 6.2 seconds
2007 Jayco Jayflight 27BH
Equalizer Hitch, Prodigy Brake Control
Our Truck and Trailer
Easy Trailer Mods-NEW pics added 4/10/08
Visited a lot of states, haven't camped in many...yet. 
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