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Tinyejp · 05-17-2022, 12:49 PM

Hey folks!

I've got a 2017 Silverado 1500, and recently it has started to wear an early 90's Shadow Cruiser soft-sided TC. Wet weight advertised at 1113 lbs. Loaded, I'm guessing the TC is around 15-1600 lbs in the real world. Riding on E-rated tires. 6.5' bed with the TG down, and the HD towing package. I recently installed Firestone airbags.

The situation:

This weekend I'm taking the Scout Troop camping about 125 miles away. I may need to haul the Troop trailer, an enclosed single axle 6x10 cargo trailer. I'd guess the weight around 3-3500 lbs. This trailer has no brakes.

The truck is rated to tow 9900 lbs. I'm right around my rated payload with the camper, but...airbags.

What to do? I'm almost certain to need a hitch extension to make this work, with the TG being down. What does this do to the tongue weight the hitch will see? Magnify it?

Stopping may be a bigger concern, I suppose. I can use engine braking and the brakes are new, and I've hauled heavier combinations before, but not with the TC or the airbags, since I just installed them. Higher COG with the TC may make things handle differently.

What are your thoughts? Some kind of Super Hitch? Give someone else gas money to haul the trailer this time (probably cheaper!)? I'd really like to try out the TC, but the ground may be the safest bet this weekend.

Seems like I need a bigger truck...

Opinions appreciated! Many thanks!

mistercee · 05-17-2022, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tinyejp

Hey folks!

I've got a 2017 Silverado 1500, and recently it has started to wear an early 90's Shadow Cruiser soft-sided TC. Wet weight advertised at 1113 lbs. Loaded, I'm guessing the TC is around 15-1600 lbs in the real world. Riding on E-rated tires. 6.5' bed with the TG down, and the HD towing package. I recently installed Firestone airbags.

The situation:

This weekend I'm taking the Scout Troop camping about 125 miles away. I may need to haul the Troop trailer, an enclosed single axle 6x10 cargo trailer. I'd guess the weight around 3-3500 lbs. This trailer has no brakes.

The truck is rated to tow 9900 lbs. I'm right around my rated payload with the camper, but...airbags.

What to do? I'm almost certain to need a hitch extension to make this work, with the TG being down. What does this do to the tongue weight the hitch will see? Magnify it?

Stopping may be a bigger concern, I suppose. I can use engine braking and the brakes are new, and I've hauled heavier combinations before, but not with the TC or the airbags, since I just installed them. Higher COG with the TC may make things handle differently.

What are your thoughts? Some kind of Super Hitch? Give someone else gas money to haul the trailer this time (probably cheaper!)? I'd really like to try out the TC, but the ground may be the safest bet this weekend.

Seems like I need a bigger truck...

Opinions appreciated! Many thanks!

What is your 'rated payload' and where are you getting the figure from? If you haven't done so already, check your driver's side door pillar for your truck's 'cargo carrying capacity', not a brochure or website chart.

Better yet, since you have the truck camper already, load it up for camping and go weigh the truck at a CAT scale. Subtract that weight from the GVWR posted on your truck's driver's side door pillar. Whatever is left is what you have to support the 13% or so of tongue weight that 3500 lb trailer will have.

IMHO with a 1/2 ton truck you are likely already overloaded, or close to it with that truck camper plus the occupants and their associated gear. You will then be adding another 450 lbs of tongue weight with the trailer.

Tinyejp · 05-17-2022, 04:36 PM

Good call, mistercee!

Door jamb says 1791 lbs. Take off, say, 300 lbs for me and miscellaneous junk in the cab, and it's got to be close or over.

The airbags should minimize any extra stress on the suspension itself, but it doesn't do anything for the rear end or other driveline components.

A scale would definitely be a wise idea to take all this guesswork out of the equation. I'm sure there is one around here someplace!!

I will find out and report back if/when I have more solid data. In the meantime, someone else can haul the trailer, or I'll leave the camper home.

Thank you greatly for your input, sir!