toad

[beeman12]

Could i "SAFELY" tow a Extended cab GMC p/u with my 2001 27 foot Gulfstream conquest? Safety first... The truck weighs about 5500#.

[Kiawah]

You can tow the MINIMUM of these two:

1.) Your GCVWR (Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating) - Your actual VWR.

The GCVWR (Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating) is the maximum weight that your RV can safely move, determined by the chassis manufacturer. It takes into consideration engine, transmission, tires, rims, brakes, springs, axles, shocks, the strength of frame, etc. This is typically documented on a sticker on a door opening of the vehicle. and possibly on your DMV registration card. The door sticker should also give you the individual front and back maximum axle weight ratings. This is legally the maximum amount your combination is allowed to weigh, in the unlikely event that you are ever stopped for roadside weigh at DMV checkpoint (restricted weight bridge/road), or in an accident investigation.

The actual VWR is what your coach actually weighs, as determined by a CAT scale. Includes fuel, water, propane, people, clothes, food, etc. Drive onto a CAT scale and get weighed, typically costs about 10 bucks, you can find them by googgling CAT scale locator.

This calc effectively tells you how much weight capacity is 'left over', for the toad. This is typically the more limiting factor for RV's, as RV manufacturers try to keep costs down by buying cheaper chassis frames, and then load them up with too put too much stuff on/in their RV's.



2.) The hitch rating. This only reflects the strength of the hitch metal itself, and it's attachment to the frame of the RV. Most say 3,500 (class 2), 5K (class 3), or larger diesel even 10K, but you can rarely tow this much because of #1 above.



I can't find online the GCVWR of your RV (only a brief search), and whether it came with a class 2 or 3 hitch, but I'd be surprised if it could tow your GMC (legally speaking).