Community Forums

jcp4253 · 09-17-2021, 01:43 PM

The DW an I just bought our first Class A. A 2017 Thor 37TB. The manual says 8,000lb towing capacity. Our 2015 Silverado double cab weighs 5,320 with a full tank of gas. My question is should we keep the Silverado which is paid off or sell it and buy a Wrangler?

D20 · 09-17-2021, 06:37 PM

Sometimes the numbers look better than they really are. Even though the tow rating is 8000 lbs, I doubt you can actually tow that much and stay within your numbers. You need to look at the big picture regarding weights, if you haven’t all ready. GVWR, GCWR, and empty weight. These figures should all be posted somewhere in the motor home.

Read through this thread https://www.irv2.com/forums/f85/f53-...ty-553113.html

Crasher · 09-17-2021, 08:32 PM

There's quite a difference between a Silverado 1500 and a wrangler. Which one do you have the most need for? If I wasn't going to do much off-roading, I would keep the pickup if it's 4 wheel drive. It's more versatile, better riding, easy to tow and it's paid for. Confirm the difference between your loaded for travel weight and the GCVW rating. If the difference is equal to or greater than the Silverado, it's your choice. No need to ask us.

77Travco · 09-17-2021, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcp4253

The DW an I just bought our first Class A. A 2017 Thor 37TB. The manual says 8,000lb towing capacity. Our 2015 Silverado double cab weighs 5,320 with a full tank of gas. My question is should we keep the Silverado which is paid off or sell it and buy a Wrangler?

Hahaha! ... I just changed from a 4600lb Wrangler to a 5300lb F150 as a toad. My coaches towing capacity is 5000lbs. The grass is always greener...

Crasher · 09-18-2021, 09:44 AM

As a follow up to the above. In 2010, I was convinced I wanted a JKU Rubicon for my toad and trail rig. After a year of the Wranglers small windshield, small side windows and uncomfortable seats, I traded it for another Avalanche for my DD and toad. The wrangler is a great platform to build an off road crawler, but just doesn't measure up to my level of comfort on the road. I understand the newer Wranglers have better seats, but they are much like the Harley mystique. Some people love them and are happy, which is great, while others want something better.

Fishar · 09-18-2021, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcp4253

The DW an I just bought our first Class A. A 2017 Thor 37TB. The manual says 8,000lb towing capacity. Our 2015 Silverado double cab weighs 5,320 with a full tank of gas. My question is should we keep the Silverado which is paid off or sell it and buy a Wrangler?

That sounds light. I just ordered all the toad stuff for my 2010 Silverado 1500 ex cab 4x4. It has a listed weight of 6400 pounds.
Did you weigh it or just going by specs? I haven't weighed mine.

FIRE UP · 09-18-2021, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fishar

That sounds light. I just ordered all the toad stuff for my 2010 Silverado 1500 ex cab 4x4. It has a listed weight of 6400 pounds.
Did you weigh it or just going by specs? I haven't weighed mine.

Well,
Waaaaay back about 8-9 years ago when we purchased our present truck, an '11 GMC Sierra 1500 Extended Cab 4x4 with the 6.5' bed, it was listed in the Dingy Towing section of Trailer Life magazine, as having a curb weight of 4,800 lbs. At that time, I cruised on over to our local recycle place in town that had vehicle scale, that is calibrated frequently. I popped onto that scale and, my truck at that time weight right at 5,300 lbs.

Being a bit skeptical about how accurate those dingy towing guides are, I then jumped in our '11 Honda CRV EX-L 4WD and weighed it. The dingy towing guide said it had a curb weight of 3,100 lbs. It actually weighed, 3,700 lbs.

This is why I urge people/RV'ers to GET THEIR TOAD WEIGHED, and not believe ANY printed matter. Sometimes, folks don't live near scales and I can see how it might be not easy to obtain actual weight. So, in that case, you get it weighed at your convenience, while traveling.
Scott

ROUGHRIDER3 · 09-18-2021, 01:17 PM

I have a 2017 Wrangler Sport toad and I think it is comfortable to drive 300 or so miles in a day, I am 78 yrs. young. Easy to tow and good for light off road gravel dirt roads when visiting remote sights. If I needed a new toad, I would get another Wrangler 2 door. It is light so towable with most anything you may buy.

jcp4253 · 09-18-2021, 06:10 PM

Thanks to everyone for the feedback.

Crasher and FireUp- I too went to the local dump. With me in the cab it weighs 5,600 but I'm not sure hoe accurate the scales are. I'm heading to a local RV dealer this week to get mote accurate weights. If my max is 8,000 I don't want to be over 6,000.

OversizeVan · 09-18-2021, 06:17 PM

What year Silverado? I didn't realize that my 2014 was such a production to flat tow. That said, I still like having my pickup.

FIRE UP · 09-19-2021, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcp4253

Thanks to everyone for the feedback.

Crasher and FireUp- I too went to the local dump. With me in the cab it weighs 5,600 but I'm not sure hoe accurate the scales are. I'm heading to a local RV dealer this week to get mote accurate weights. If my max is 8,000 I don't want to be over 6,000.

jcp,
The accuracy of those commercially used scales has to be extremely close to dead on. The reason is, when you use scales to charge the public MONEY for goods and services, that's when the Department of Weights and Measures get's involved. Yep, they're accurate.

Quote:

Originally Posted by OversizeVan

What year Silverado? I didn't realize that my 2014 was such a production to flat tow. That said, I still like having my pickup.

OversizeVan,
All you have to do is LOOK AT THE OWNERS MANUAL. It will spell out whether or not, your model/year of Silverado IS or IS NOT flat towable. 99.99999% of the time, it will refer to it as: "Flat towing behind a motorhome" in whatever section they deem applicable. If it's there, it will have all the steps, in a sequence, that are needed to prep for each days towing and, when done, how to un-prep it.
Scott