Hitch weight and Newer Chevrolet 1/2 tons

[rvmorkie]

Is it feasible to think I could tow new travel trailer with a 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4x4 with 6.2L gas engine and max towing package AND not use any weight distribution bars? Hitch weight loaded will probably be 800lbs-900lbs.

Let me know if you know your hitch weight on your half ton combo...

Thanks

[CharlesinGA]

800 to 900 lb tongue tells me you are considering a 24 to 26 ft trailer, with a gross weight of somewhere in the 7500 lb range. You would need good weight distribution AND sway control to get a comfortable tow.

Look at the payload capacity of the truck, if a newer one, it will have that number on the yellow sticker on the door jam. You may be limited to a full tank of gas and the driver, and not much more.

Charles

[rvmorkie]

Trailer is 31' 9", 5,800lbs dry weight with hitch weight of 725lbs. Info on truck is max conventional twr 13,200lbs and max tongue weight of 1,320lbs. This is a max tow silverado. (1500).

[B-Man]

What is the payload capacity of the truck? Take your truck and trailer to the CAT scales.

Weigh both then compare against the door sticker.

GVWR - actual truck weight = payload.

[TB673]

Originally Posted by rvmorkie

Trailer is 31' 9", 5,800lbs dry weight with hitch weight of 725lbs. Info on truck is max conventional twr 13,200lbs and max tongue weight of 1,320lbs. This is a max tow silverado. (1500).

You may be good to go with your set-up, but when calculating your weights, don't use the "Dry Weight" in any of your towing calculations. It is an imaginary value.
Any option or cargo (no matter how light) that was/or will be installed to the trailer adds to that Dry Weight value.
Ask yourself this question:
Will I ever tow this trailer with absolutely NOTHING in it for our trips? No water (waste or fresh), food (in the pantry or refrigerator) clothes, gear (chairs, firewood, tools, generator, etc.)?
If you can't say YES to this question, use the TRAILER's GVWR in all your calculations. Problem with using the trailer's GVWR is that is that you may not like the answer (meaning overloaded).
And, don't forget to deduct the weight of your Weight Distributing hitch from the truck's payload.

Tim

[RottenRalph]

Could you tow without WD? Yes, but you will have control issues and be unsafe for you and others around you.

I have a 2020 3/4 ton and would use a WD towing a TT that size.

[MFL]

You will want to use a WDH, with built in sway control! To get by without; maybe just to local SP, 10 miles or less away, and at lower speed/light traffic.

If going any distance, be sure to air all tires, truck and trailer, for best towing.

[David 70]

I had a '78 Chevy 3/4 ton that handled the tongue weight fine but, I got a much better ride with a lightly loaded wdh.

[Cumminsfan]

You'll need a WDH for sure. I had an F150 and towed a 31' 7200 lb TT that had a 900 lb TW. I used a 1200 lb EQ WDH. You need to return the unloaded front end weight back to the front of the truck. Nothing will do that except a WDH.

All said and done you may wish you have a 3/4 ton truck after your 1st trip.

[Beamer2022]

Originally Posted by rvmorkie

Trailer is 31' 9", 5,800lbs dry weight with hitch weight of 725lbs. Info on truck is max conventional twr 13,200lbs and max tongue weight of 1,320lbs. This is a max tow silverado. (1500).

You didn't mention the GVWR for the trailer. If it's 5800 lbs. it probably has about 1,200 lbs. cargo so GVWR of about 7,000 lbs. Figure 15% tongue weight as a good max number, or 1050 lbs. It could be more than that if you have a front pass through storage and your kitchen, fridge, pantry, etc. are ahead of the axles. I had a CAT scale weight where 16.5% of trailer weight was on the tongue of my 7000 GVWR trailer that was loaded to 7040 lbs. That was 1160 lbs. tongue weight.

Subtract that max tongue weight from your cargo capacity, the weight of all passengers, any cargo, and accessories like bed covers, caps, etc. After all that, if you are still in the positive range, you are good to go. A good WDH will help move weight to the front axle and the trailer so it will work much better. You can go without a WDH, as long as you adjust the hitch so the trailer is level.

[Dave Pelletier]

Good advice so far; without any additional info, it's a bit of a guess, but I'd say that trailer is already on the limit of what your truck can tow WITH WD bars.....I wouldn't try towing it without them. I don't use WD bars on my setup but then my truck is under all it's ratings by a large margin.

[1stimerveer]

I run a chevy silverado 1500 with tow package. Its rated to tow a max of 9,500 lbs. At the truck scale, our TT weighed in at 6,600 lbs fully loaded.
Even though its near its limit, with the WDH and ASB it handles very well.

Based on your numbers, I would strongly recommend a Weight distribution hitch and sway controller. It will make your ride much more stable.

I would expect that after your first trip without the WDH and etc., it would take you some time for the color to return to your "white knuckles".

Also suggest you check your manual for weight ratings. My truck's unloaded weight includes the weight of two passengers and a full tank of gas.

Safe travels and all the best.

[Campfamily]

Just curious, why do you want to tow without a WDH? Simpler to hook up / disconnect? Once set up correctly, the extra time spent hooking up the bars is mere minutes of time, if that.

[1stimerveer]

Originally Posted by Campfamily

Just curious, why do you want to tow without a WDH? Simpler to hook up / disconnect? Once set up correctly, the extra time spent hooking up the bars is mere minutes of time, if that.

I couldn't agree more.