Is my truck too small

[marcham]

Originally Posted by NorthernCamp

Here is my truck specs off the door

The GVWR
8600
GAWR FRONT
4410
GVWR REAR
6000

Also the 1500HD model is a 3/4 are they not? Or is it just the 1500 suspension with a bigger motor and trany?

Also I'd say my truck weighs 5800 wet maybe 600 with all supplies for camping

OK, now find a scale in your area and get the truck and each axle weighted with a full tank of gas, then you'll have a better idea. 6000 gawr for the rear is pretty good.

[SmokeyWren]

Originally Posted by NorthernCamp

Here is my truck specs off the door

The GVWR
8600
GAWR FRONT
4410
GVWR REAR
6000

Also the 1500HD model is a 3/4 are they not? Or is it just the 1500 suspension with a bigger motor and trany?

GVWR over 8,500 pounds makes it a 3/4-ton. So with GVWR of 8,600 you can tow a lot heavier trailer than a normal half-ton pickup without being overloaded.

With 1,425 pounds hitch weight and 8,600 pounds GVWR, that leaves 7,175 pounds for the max wet and loaded weight of the pickup before you tie onto the trailer. That's probably enough that you might not be overloaded with that trailer. However, a Ford F-250 V-10 gas engine 4x2 crewcab weighs 7,400 pounds with my wife, dog, tools and hitch in it. So if your Chevy 1500 is as heavy as a Ford F-250, then you'll still be overloaded with that much trailer.

Also I'd say my truck weighs 5800 wet maybe 600 with all supplies for camping

That's 6,400 wet and loaded. But guessing will get you in trouble. Load the truck and weigh it to be certain. If your wet and loaded truck weighs less than 7,175 without the trailer, then you probably won't be overloaded with hitch weight of 1,475.

[Franka548]

Smokey,
GM trucks do weigh quite a bit less than comparable Fords. Although I agree with you on the weigh the truck so the actual weights are known. The OP will be real close, so weighing will be critical.
Frank

[wa8yxm]

IF you have to ask "Is my truck too small" then

TRAIL-HAULER.COM

[NorthernCamp]

Thanks for all the great advice a lot had lead me in different directions and finding out information I never knew thanks folks I know I am fine just had to see what people had to say ya next year or the year after I'll look into something new and bigger like a 3500 but for now this truck will do great

[caissiel]

Your truck is a light duty 3/4 ton by GM. The advantage is it can be loaded well with the exception of the heavier frame of the HD 3/4 ton.
An advantage if equipped with a gas engine.
The truck itself is light and for me when towing heavy I never shy away from loading the truck itself. Less axle weight is against my comfort for towing.
My neighbour tows all his families camper trailers around with his 1/4 ton Ranger and told me that to much WD setting has caused stability problems. He prefers to load the rear of the truck for comfort.

[Goneracin]

Just thought I would put in a little real world info. First of all, very good info here, and Smokeywren is correct, it is very important to get real world weights and be extra sure everything is set up correctly. I will also add to that, its not just how much the trailer weighs, but where that weight is. If you load the trailer up with all your gear in the back and make it tail heavy, you will not be in for a good ride no matter what you are towing with.

This past weekend I came back from Pocono Raceway, and I followed my friend for a part of the way. Here is a little comparison.

He is towing a 27 footer with his 2012 suburban. Right away you can see he is pushing it. After some advice last year, he got a better hitch and loaded better, and yes it did make an improvement he said. In my opinion he is still over the limit in a few areas.

I have my 2001 F-250 pulling my 20 footer. Due to having a bigger truck I was able to pack pretty much whatever I wanted. Plenty of food and drinks, extra chairs and tables, generator, fuel, full water tank, plenty of pots and pans, grill, full propane tanks, larger battery than original... the list goes on and on but you get the point.

He has already had to replace his transmission due to overheating, so now he is looking to add a cooler and gauge to fix that problem.

First hill on the way home, we both hit it at about 65 MPH, I was able to maintain that speed the whole way up, and my transmission never got above 160 the whole trip. He fell so far behind that we were able to stop for lunch and be just getting back on the highway as he passed us. We were able to cruise at 70, occasionally dropping to 60 for some of the long hills on I-84.

Now Im not making any argument, just giving some real world experiences. Yes your 1500HD is better equipped, so you probably wont have issues like him. Im just showing how much easier of a trip it can be if you have more truck.

Best of luck, and enjoy the new camper!!!

[JIMNLIN]

Originally Posted by NorthernCamp

Here is my truck specs off the door

The GVWR
8600
GAWR FRONT
4410
GVWR REAR
6000

Also the 1500HD model is a 3/4 are they not? Or is it just the 1500 suspension with a bigger motor and trany?

Also I'd say my truck weighs 5800 wet maybe 600 with all supplies for camping

Your correct. The early '00 to mid '00 GM 1500HDs were the old 3/4 ton chassis.

Along with the 6000 RAWR comes the load range E tires with 8 lug wheels/4.10 gear and the 6.0 engine and 4L80 tranny all with payloads up in the 3100-3200 lb range depending on selected truck options.

This truck with its 1500HD is a sleeper in towing duties.

[Goneracin]

Originally Posted by JIMNLIN

Your correct. The early '00 to mid '00 GM 1500HDs were the old 3/4 ton chassis.

Along with the 6000 RAWR comes the load range E tires with 8 lug wheels/4.10 gear and the 6.0 engine and 4L80 tranny all with payloads up in the 3100-3200 lb range depending on selected truck options.

This truck with its 1500HD is a sleeper in towing duties.

well that sounds like good promising news. Does your truck have all these options?

[wandering1]

Yes, get a truck.