Weight Limits?

[Crank]

Hi all,
I know this comes up quite a lot, but I wanted to get a sanity check on the kind of towing weight I'm targeting.

My tow vehicle is an '06 Chevy Tahoe with a 5.3 V8 and the factory HD tow package, with a sticker tow rating of 7800lbs.

Does an unloaded actual TT weight of 6000lbs seem doable, once I account for everything? Does anybody have any thoughts on what a good upper TT weight to aim for would be with this vehicle?

Any thoughts much appreciated...

Duncan

[TXiceman]

First thing you need to do i s to confirm the axle ratio in your truck. If you have a 3.42 axle, the max towing capacity is less than 7800#.

Ken

[CD]

A more realistic approach would be to take the GVWR of your Tahoe and subtract it from the GCWR and compare that to the GVWR of the TT. You won't be using an empty TT and most are close to or over the GVWR.

[450Donn]

One word. NO!!!
Had a 2002 Tahoe and towed an Arctic Fox 19B with it for a couple of years. It would do OK on the flat lands, but once I got into the hills it was second or third gear, 3500-4000 RPM screaming all the way.
Now I realize that GM upped the HP/Torque numbers on the 5.3, but in the real world if you are even partially loaded that Tahoe will weigh a lot more than you think. Which will reduce your real world net towing capacity a whole lot. Think a trailer under 6000 Gross and you will have a fairly good combination.

[mhs4771]

I agree with Don, I think you'll be over your limit. We hauled a 91 Prowler 24M with a gross of approx 6K with an 87 then a 95 Chevy 1500 with 5.7L, chipped both and still had some hills where it was second gear. Look for something smaller and rethink a different TV.

[Randy the sly old fox]

An AF 19B is a heavy TT - probably tipped the scales around 5000 lbs loaded to camp - more with water. That said, I tried towing an AF22H with a 99Tahoe (5.7L) with similar results to 450 Don. The 5.3 is actually better than the 5.7 for towing - in fact they raised the CGWR from 12,000 to 14,000 lbs for the Tahoe with the 5.3 and 3.73 gears. I think with 4.10 gears the Tahoe would have done a bit better - but no where near the 6.0L I have now. The TT I had when I bought the Tahoe tipped the scales at 4000 lbs and it towed it like a dream. I think you would be fine with a TT that has a GVWR in the 5000 lb range - watch out for the load carry capacity - you will find that lightweight TTs tend to have lower LCC - you will quickly run through anything less than 1200 lbs.

[Crank]

Many thanks for all the replies - that helps a lot.

The axle ratio is in fact 3.42 (confirmed with the glovebox codes), which brings down the capcity a bit. Using the GCWR - GVWR method, I still end up with 6800lbs for the trailer gross, though. Does that sound right, or did I miss something?

The handbook says that the GCWR would be 14000lbs for the 4.10 AR and 13000lbs for the 3.42, but I couldn't find a consistent reference for GVWR.

Regards
Duncan

[RustyJC]

The GVWR and front and rear GAWRs should be on the tire inflation sticker located in the driver's door jamb area.

Rusty

[Crank]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustyJC The GVWR and front and rear GAWRs should be on the tire inflation sticker located in the driver's door jamb area. Rusty

Awesome - thx. I'll check that out on my way home today.

Duncan