Community Forums

MichelDionne · 04-19-2006, 10:56 AM

Hi all,

Newbie here considering a first TT purchase.
My tow vehicle will be a 1992 Suburban, with a 5.7 L V8. The max rating is 6500 lbs.

How much am I safe to tow? The trailers I am looking at are about 4700-500 lbs, and I imaging about 1000lbs (?is that reasonable?) in gear. so maybe 6000 total. Am I going to be able to safely pull this? The guys at the dealerships say so, but then they want to sell me the trailer.

Thx for any info,

Michel

MichelDionne · 04-19-2006, 10:56 AM

Hi all,

Newbie here considering a first TT purchase.
My tow vehicle will be a 1992 Suburban, with a 5.7 L V8. The max rating is 6500 lbs.

How much am I safe to tow? The trailers I am looking at are about 4700-500 lbs, and I imaging about 1000lbs (?is that reasonable?) in gear. so maybe 6000 total. Am I going to be able to safely pull this? The guys at the dealerships say so, but then they want to sell me the trailer.

Thx for any info,

Michel

TXiceman · 04-19-2006, 11:33 AM

Howdy, welcome aboard.

You need to check your axle ratio and see if you have a towing package. If your max rating is 6500#, this does not allow for cargo, passengers, hitch and accessories added to the truck. So practically you need to be looking for a trailer that hen loaded will be at the most 5200# (not dry weight). This putts you to looking at trailers that are in the 4200# to 4500# dry weight.

The 'Burb is a great tow vehicle, but you will need to make sure you have an auxillary transmission cooler.

Ken

MichelDionne · 04-19-2006, 01:42 PM

I know the axle ratio is 3.73 and am told (how would I check?) that is has the tow package. The max rating was told to me by the RV dealer. What I was able to see online is 10000 with weight distribution, a fair difference... Any guess as to which is correct?

Is the auxillary transmission cooler part of this two package?

Thx

Michel

TXiceman · 04-19-2006, 05:22 PM

You can take the VIN to a Chevy dealer and have him confirm the options such as HD radiator, tranny cooler, axle ratio, towing package and so on.

The tranny cooler supplied by the factory is usually not adequate and you will need to have one added in front of the radiator.

The 1500 'Burbs tend to have a weak rear axle, especially with the 3.42 axle ratio. If used for towing, I'd change the tranny fluid at 20,000 mile intervals and check the rear axle fluid.

Ken

charliez · 04-20-2006, 03:59 AM

Never trust the dealer. His/her #1 goal is to make a sale. Your saftey or how long your trans will last is way on down the list. Look in your owners manual. Find the GVVWR. That's your max. Then go to the scales. Weigh yout TV, subtract your weight, the weight of a full tank of gas, then all the other people weight and crap you'll be packing in/on the vehicle, then the weight of all the stuff you think you'll be stuffing in all the neat little bins on the new trailer. That will be the weight of the trailer you can pull. Also, don't go by the UVW rating on the trailer. That's for the advertisments. It the weight of the trailer BEFORE any options/additions. Before fridge, slide, matress, blankets, micro, stove etc.

Ray,IN · 04-20-2006, 06:07 PM

If your vehicle has a tow package it came with a transmission cooler, trailer wiring and plug, Reese type hitch receiver, and occasionally a rear axle anti-roll bar. The advice to take your VIN to the dealer is good. I'm told you may also phone the mfgrs customer service number and get the information.