Community Forums

farwest · 04-10-2016, 01:47 PM

I'm considering buying my first travel trailer and my current vehicle is a 2007 Chevy Suburban 1500 LS with a 5.3 V8 and 3.73 rear end (I know I'll need electric brake control and a WD hitch). I realize the vehicle limits me, but we need the seating space for kids so I can't get a pickup truck.

Given the vehicle, what suggestions do folks have for travel trailers to consider? We need to sleep 6 total. The only other non-negotiable feature would be a trailer that can keep us reasonably comfortable April - October in the northern Rocky Mountains.

Tow limit appears to be 7000 lbs., but I am well aware that it may very well be inadvisable to push that limit.

I look forward to learning from others' experience and expertise.

Melvo · 04-10-2016, 02:01 PM

We had a similar Vehicle, Chevy Avalanche and towed a 24' TT just under 5000 lbs ready to go. I think your vehicle has the 6 speed trans which works better the old 4sp. You should be able to gat a Prodigy controller with that will plug into your vehicle and with a Equal-I-zer or similar hitch tow up to that. The problem you will run into is load on your vehicle since you will need a lot of gear for six. There are light TT you can get that sleep 6 but you'll have to pack light and not carry water. Good luck.

Miamicamper · 04-10-2016, 03:39 PM

I have a Silverado 1500 and I just bought a Keystone Passport 2400BH that sleeps 8 and we love it. It's 4700lbs dry weight. My Silverado pulls it just fine

coldfusion · 04-10-2016, 08:19 PM

I bought a Jayco Jay Flight SLX 264BHW last year. Dry weight 4600 lbs. sleeps 8 if you need pulls great with my Ram 1500

coldfusion · 04-10-2016, 08:42 PM

I would also look at a Starcraft Launch 26 BHS...very light and plenty of room

farwest · 04-10-2016, 09:40 PM

I probably spent way too much of my Sunday reading about trailers and towing today, but I came across an affordable and low-miles 2500 Suburban nearby. I also read a lot of concerns people have voiced over towing a larger trailer with a 1500 Suburban. When you factor in passengers, cargo, hitch, etc., it's easy to max out, especially if you tow a trailer toward the high end of your max tow weight and have to travel in mountain country.

For the sake of comfort and safety, I'm starting to wonder if a 2500 Suburban is a better route.

1bigmess · 04-10-2016, 09:43 PM

It would help immensely.

farwest · 04-10-2016, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1bigmess

It would help immensely.

That's the impression I've gotten.

The trailers that my wife is gravitating toward are around 4500-5500 lbs dry weight and have a 7000 lb gvwr.

1bigmess · 04-10-2016, 10:24 PM

Think about the safety of your family, and don't exceed the weight limits of your tow vehicle.

DougL3NC · 04-11-2016, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by farwest

I probably spent way too much of my Sunday reading about trailers and towing today, but I came across an affordable and low-miles 2500 Suburban nearby. I also read a lot of concerns people have voiced over towing a larger trailer with a 1500 Suburban. When you factor in passengers, cargo, hitch, etc., it's easy to max out, especially if you tow a trailer toward the high end of your max tow weight and have to travel in mountain country.

For the sake of comfort and safety, I'm starting to wonder if a 2500 Suburban is a better route.

I tow with an 03 2500 Yukon XL. 6.0 with 4.10 rear gear. I have 304,000 original miles on it and it still runs like new! There's 6 of us between adults and kids...we have no problem hitching up and heading out. Our new TT weighs around 6,000lbs and pulls great.

The 2500 Yukon/Suburban can be had for a fraction of the price of a comparable truck. We love ours so much that I have no clue what to do when it finally wears out.

DougL3NC · 04-11-2016, 07:01 AM

When I shopped for a TT, I bought based off Trailer GVWR! Dry weight is something I NEVER paid attention to...or the salesman's BS about how I could tow a 9500lb 34ft bunkhouse.

farwest · 04-11-2016, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DougL3NC

When I shopped for a TT, I bought based off Trailer GVWR! Dry weight is something I NEVER paid attention to...or the salesman's BS about how I could tow a 9500lb 34ft bunkhouse.

I spent a good part of Saturday visiting local TT dealers and I noticed they were pretty casual about what I could tow. They focused on dry weight and then added 1000 lbs or so, whereas I was looking more at the GVWR in relation to my tow limits.

I realize salesman have to sell, but waaaaaaay back when I sold camping trailers (part-time during college), I would never even consider trying to sell a unit to someone if we had concerns about it being too much for their vehicle. The very first thing we did when a customer came onto the lot was inquire what they're towing with. We didn't push limits.

1bigmess · 04-11-2016, 09:08 AM

You'll be fine then.

Have fun!

farwest · 04-11-2016, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DougL3NC

I tow with an 03 2500 Yukon XL. 6.0 with 4.10 rear gear. I have 304,000 original miles on it and it still runs like new! There's 6 of us between adults and kids...we have no problem hitching up and heading out. Our new TT weighs around 6,000lbs and pulls great.

The 2500 Yukon/Suburban can be had for a fraction of the price of a comparable truck. We love ours so much that I have no clue what to do when it finally wears out.

The 2500 Suburbans are hard to find here but they do exist. My only concern is the reduced gas mileage vs our current 1500 Suburban, but there's a price to be paid for safety, tow capacity, and family-hauling capability. We have two kiddos now but want more, so I need to plan accordingly.