Travel Trailer for 2006 Tahoe Z71?

[dms180]

I am looking to buy my first trailer for my family (wife, two kids, 5 & 3). I want an trailer no shorter than 22'. I need something that can sleep 4 comfortably. My preference is one queen bed and two bunks. I will be towing whatever trailer I buy with a 2006 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (V8, 5.3 L). I want a used trailer no older than 6-7 years. My questions to the experts are the following:

1. What weight will I be able to tow without bogging my SUV down?
2. What are the best lightweight trailers for the money?

I literally just started looking at trailers and I am trying to learn, so any advice is welcome. Thank you very much.

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dms180 I will be towing whatever trailer I buy with a 2006 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (V8, 5.3 L).

dms180,

Here are your tow ratings.

Heavy-Duty Trailering Package
Tow up to 8,500 lbs. with Tahoe 2WD, up to 8,200 with Tahoe 4WD.

[dms180]

Thanks, any suggestions on trailer brands / models?

[450Donn]

Regardless of the tow ratings I would not consider any trailers with a GVWR higher than 7000 pounds. BTDT and while the Tahoe is a nice vehicle it is not a real heavy duty tow vehicle. It is rather heavy to begin with and can run out of capacity in a hurry when you load the family and all the "stuff" to go with them. Also, sorry, but again IMHO 25 feet is too long for the short wheel base Tahoe. Get one of the hybrid trailers. Both Forest River and Keystone make fine hybrid's.

[TXiceman]

Welcome to iR2. I have to agree with Don about the trailer length. The Tahoe can pull some weight, but with the short wheelbase and high center of gravity, it should not be used to pull a trailer over about 24'. There is more to towing than just weight.

You will also want add a large external transmission cooler. It will also do better if the Tahoe has LT series tires. Also get a good weight distributing hitch with sway control.. I like the Reese Dual Cam HP.

Ken

[Randy the sly old fox]

Actually the Tahoe is classed as a large SUV - it has a 1/2T truck frame with an SUV body. The main thing you want to look at is the CGWR - that is the most the drivetrain can handle - or the most the loaded Tahoe and TT can weigh. This is around 14,000 lbs for your rig. I would stay around 11,000 lbs to be on the safe side. I would look at something like an Outback 210RS or a Kodiak 220 BHKS. Both have queen beds and bunks. I agree with bunks for the kids. Either will be under 6000 lbs fully loaded for camping. I had an older 99 Tahoe that I used to tow my AF 22H with and its tow capacity was 2000 lbs less than yours (the 5.3 makes more HP and Torque than the old 5.7) The AF put the Tahoe just at 12,000 lbs (scaled wt) without any water in the tanks - it was a handfull, took forever to climb hills (30 in 2od) and took almost a mile to reach 55 - unless I punched it - even then it took a lot to get that combo to move. My older 4000lb Trail Lite was no problem. And I think that either one of these two lightweights would be just as nice. IMHO the Outback looks to be the nicer of the two. There is also a third unit I just found a Jayco Jay Feather EXP model 213 - same floorplan and specs - might be the best constructed of all of them.

[shipwreck1]

Cherokee a few years ago built a nice lite weight model that was well built and loaded with features, the model was a 28a, you might call Lakeshore rv and see if they have a used one, there a big cherokee dealer and where our neighbors bought theres. the number is 231 788 2040, hope you find what your looking for.