2015 Chevy 1500 TT towing

[Boodro]

Me and the wife are looking to purchase our first TT here soon. I've spent weeks researching the towing capabilities of my truck, however I read conflicting info on what I should SAFELY tow.

Truck specs:
- 2015 Chevy 1500 5.3 V8 Crew Short Bed (9400 towing)
- 3.42 gears
-No max trailering package, only factory installed brake controller
- Available payload from sticker 1612lb

I have several questions:

What's the legit max GVWR on a trailer should I be looking into?

What is the max length should I stay under?

When I add a WDH does it free up some of the payload of the truck due to putting weight back to the TT axles? I've read many trucks max out payload before towing capabilities.

I have many other question but I'll just start with these. Thanks in advance for any responses!

[Jshopes81]

A wdh will free up rear axle weight. Axle ratings are the ones that can get you fines. It moves it to the front axle and the trailer. Im not sure about if it helps with payload, thats not a real number so i dont worry about it.

[Boodro]

I thought pay load is a huge concern. The truck can only handle so much weight with cargo passengers and tongue weight....

[tuffr2]

I towed a 2008 26' total length Gulfstream Streamline 22SLB with a 2011 5.0 litre Coyote engine with 3:55 gears and Ford tow package and 36 gallon fuel tank. Total trailer weight was 5,500lbs and it was an easy comfortable trailering experience.

I towed my 6,500lb Keystone Vantage 25RBS with my friends 2005 Ram 1500 5.7 hemi and thought that was too much weight for that truck. It was not comfortable and the trailer controlled the truck too much.

IMHO the GM 5.3 litre engine is not as powerful as the Ford 5.0 nor the Ram 5.7 and with 3:42 gears I would not buy a trailer and load it past 6,000lbs.

[Boodro]

It seems to me all of the BH models that include a dinette and couch are in the 7500-7700 GVWR range. I guess we will have to settle on just a dinette or couch and not both to help bring down the weight. Not looking to upgrade the truck because its almost paid off and we are just getting into it.

[Dblclutch]

Since you don’t want to upgrade the truck you might want to consider a TT without slide outs to save on weight. I towed a 2013 Cherokee Cascade Select 26BH with a 2013 GMC Sierra 1500 Ext cab similar to your truck. Max trailering package, 5.3 litre engine, 3.43 gears, 1700 lbs payload. The tongue weight was between 550 to 750 depending on empty or loaded trailer. I could legally and safely tow the trailer with the truck, as long as I controlled my descends on long hills so I could stop without any issues. I like the trailer because it has a queen walk around bed, a couch, a dinette and a bunkhouse and weighs less than 7500 lbs (no slideouts) I eventually upgraded the truck to a 2018 Silverado 2500HD, crew cab, regular bed, 6.0 litre engine, 4.10 gears and 2700 lbs of payload but still tow the same trailer with more peace of mind on hills.

[Boodro]

We haven't really looked much into the no slide models simply because we liked the space and openness it added. I am 6'4" so its easy for me to feel confined in an area especially with lower ceiling heights. I guess when we go check out a few units we may look at one just for a comparison of the overall feel of the space.

[jjackrash]

Originally Posted by tuffr2

IMHO the GM 5.3 litre engine is not as powerful as the Ford 5.0 nor the Ram 5.7 and with 3:42 gears I would not buy a trailer and load it past 6,000lbs.

The older 5.3s were pigs, but the relatively new GDI 5.3s are pretty stout (I have one in my ski boat and one thing I love is it has a very snappy and broad power band). IIRC around 380 HP and 420 lbs.-ft of torque for the newer 5.3s which compared to the newest Ford 5.0l is slightly less rated horsepower HP but slight more rated torque.

[Boodro]

I had another thought come to me since posting...

I've read to look at the trailers GVWR to determine whether its towable and I understand the reasoning for the most part. However, if the dry weight is say 5k but the CCC is something ridiculous like 3k, couldn't I justify I would never put 3k worth of cargo in the trailer especially since it would be mostly for weekend trips. Also, we wouldn't camp off the grid but at state parks with all hookups so freshwater tank weight wouldn't be a factor towards TT weight. It seems like the scenario of 5k and 3k would put the GVWR as an exception to the rule.

[bneukam]

Dry weights listed online or in brochures are for very basic trailers with zero upgrades. Look at the dry weights on units actually sitting on a dealers lot.

[Boodro]

I didn't know they were different. Maybe that explains why I see specs different on a manufacturer site versus an online dealer info on a unit. I assumed it was an error.

[tuffr2]

I can agree you can buy a trailer with a GVWR of 7,500lbs and only load it to 6,000lbs if you are careful and stay careful.

Me, I started adding stuff and kept adding stuff. I went from plastic forks spoons and knives to metal. From paper plates/bowls/cups to Corelle Ware. I even had an extra set of sheets pillow cases for the bed. Eventually my wife had the under bed storage full and I had the front storage full.
Pantry was full with peanut butter, cereal, snacks and I carried 2 or 3 gallons of drinking water.

Yes, I also bought a bigger truck.

Can you tow a big trailer, yes. Can you tow a big trailer comfortably so you don't dread towing, no.

I will add, if you are going to the local state parks and staying on back roads you can tow more comfortably because you are not towing at 70 - 72 mph but rather 35 - 55 mph. It is on the highway with tractor trailer trucks and 70mph towing that becomes uncomfortable.

[kayakterp]

Originally Posted by Boodro

I had another thought come to me since posting...

Also, we wouldn't camp off the grid but at state parks with all hookups so freshwater tank weight wouldn't be a factor towards TT weight. It seems like the scenario of 5k and 3k would put the GVWR as an exception to the rule.

Which state are you going to be in? Here in Ohio there are very few state parks that have "full hookup". Most state parks here have electric but a "community" water spigot that has to be shared among all the campers. So we have to absolutely use our "Fresh Water Tank". Having said that, I still wait until I arrive to the campground to fill the Fresh Water Tank as I don't want to pull the extra weight while traveling.

[Boodro]

I'm from Louisiana.