2017 Max Tow and Jayco 28BHBE

flattop · February 17, 2017

Hi Folks,

I recently purchased a 2017 Chevy Silverado double cab 4x4 with the max tow package. It has the 5.3 and the 3:73 gears. 2500 miles so far and love the truck.

We are in the market for a camper and are considering a new Jayco Jay Flight 28' bunk house. The unloaded wt. is 6510lbs.

My question is with that camper and probably 500 pounds of gear in the camper and 200 lbs in the bed of the truck how will this truck handle that load? This will be weekend only trips with just my wife.

I had a similar camper back in 2002 and had a 2002 GMC sierra 2500 crew cab 4X4 (6.0 & 4:11) and that truck with all the kids, bikes, dog and much more gear seemed to really struggle with that camper.

Just looking for a little reassurance that the Max Tow can do the job with out being at the edge of its limits.

Thanks,

Flattop

Waaazooo · February 17, 2017

I would have to do the math but I have basically the same trailer and am close to limits on my truck with 3 kids in the truck plus 2 bigger dogs.

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2017HD · February 17, 2017

Don't forget the 300 lbs for water, 60lbs of LPG and 75lbs of batteries in addition to your camping gear both in the TT and the truck.

The 60lbs of LPG and the 75lbs of batteries will directly add to the tongue wt so it is up to around 750 lbs - you should have around 1800 lbs of payload = 1800 lbs

CGWR I= 16,700 lbs.

Tow Rate =10,800 lbs

It looks like you are still good on payload and even if you subtracted your payload from the tow rating of 10,800 you are still left with 9000 lbs.

Your TT is only 6500 lbs so you should be good.

Waaazooo · February 17, 2017

Also, you should go by the gross weight not the dry weight... don't fill your water tank unless you're going to be camping off the grid. If you are taking water, fill up your water when you're close to your destination.

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Donstar · February 17, 2017

Hi Folks,

I recently purchased a 2017 Chevy Silverado double cab 4x4 with the max tow package. It has the 5.3 and the 3:73 gears. 2500 miles so far and love the truck.

We are in the market for a camper and are considering a new Jayco Jay Flight 28' bunk house. The unloaded wt. is 6510lbs.

My question is with that camper and probably 500 pounds of gear in the camper and 200 lbs in the bed of the truck how will this truck handle that load? This will be weekend only trips with just my wife.

I had a similar camper back in 2002 and had a 2002 GMC sierra 2500 crew cab 4X4 (6.0 & 4:11) and that truck with all the kids, bikes, dog and much more gear seemed to really struggle with that camper.

Just looking for a little reassurance that the Max Tow can do the job with out being at the edge of its limits.

Thanks,

Flattop

Based on my research, it sounds to me like you have a perfect truck/ trailer match!

flattop · February 17, 2017

Thanks for the reply's !! Yes I am aware of the water and we only camp at full hook-ups so there will never be water in the tank. I did forget about LP and a deep cycle battery.

One thing I forgot to mention I just installed an ARE cap and that probably adds 250#

Have a good weekend everyone.

Waaazooo · February 18, 2017

You can always put the tanks in the trailer. Just can't run the fridge while in travel

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danny243 · February 24, 2017

I don't think the 3.73 is available for 2017 in the half ton.

2017HD · February 25, 2017

I don't think the 3.73 is available for 2017 in the half ton.

Only with the NHT max tow package and the 5.3

The NHT with the 6.2 has the 3.42

Blue2500CC · February 26, 2017

Flattop,

I don't see you having any issues power wise. The limitation as mentioned may end up being the payload for the truck, depending on how you load the front pass through storage and what all is in the truck bed.

The topper does add ~250lbs as you mentioned. Beyond you & your wife, what do you anticipate int he truck bed? I know you mentioned maybe 200lbs or so. If its a cooler or two, and a couple bikes, put the coolers in the trailer, and get the factory Jayco rear cargo hitch (if still an option) and a good bike rack for the bikes on the rear of the 28. We added the cargo hitch and it works great on our 32 BHDS with 4 bikes. I did buy an anti rattle kit for a hitch to eliminate the slop the rack has in the hitch.

The propane tanks and a battery add ~ 160lbs to the tw when the tanks are full.

Look into a good wdh with integrated sway control. The Reese Dual Cam, Reese SC, and the Equal-I-Zer 4 way system are all very good models. Member Roscoe has liked his Recurve R6 (think that's the model wdh he has) last I knew. Just make sure you choose the correct wd bars for the loaded tw, and not based on the "brochure" dry weight. I have read some 28 BHBE owners have had a tw so close to 1200lbs, or as low as about 850-900lbs I think was posted.

So far we have been very happy with our '16 Jay Flight 32 BHDS.

If it's just you and your wife, why the 28 BHBE? Possibly when the kids may show up, or grandkids? Just curious. I know we seriously looked at the 28, but the separate room of the 32 won over for our twin boys. Though I wish at times we went with the shorter trailer!!! Lol It is a long beast!!!! Need to plan accordingly.

Good luck deciding!!!!

flattop · February 26, 2017

Flattop,

I don't see you having any issues power wise. The limitation as mentioned may end up being the payload for the truck, depending on how you load the front pass through storage and what all is in the truck bed.

The topper does add ~250lbs as you mentioned. Beyond you & your wife, what do you anticipate int he truck bed? I know you mentioned maybe 200lbs or so. If its a cooler or two, and a couple bikes, put the coolers in the trailer, and get the factory Jayco rear cargo hitch (if still an option) and a good bike rack for the bikes on the rear of the 28. We added the cargo hitch and it works great on our 32 BHDS with 4 bikes. I did buy an anti rattle kit for a hitch to eliminate the slop the rack has in the hitch.

The propane tanks and a battery add ~ 160lbs to the tw when the tanks are full.

Look into a good wdh with integrated sway control. The Reese Dual Cam, Reese SC, and the Equal-I-Zer 4 way system are all very good models. Member Roscoe has liked his Recurve R6 (think that's the model wdh he has) last I knew. Just make sure you choose the correct wd bars for the loaded tw, and not based on the "brochure" dry weight. I have read some 28 BHBE owners have had a tw so close to 1200lbs, or as low as about 850-900lbs I think was posted.

So far we have been very happy with our '16 Jay Flight 32 BHDS.

If it's just you and your wife, why the 28 BHBE? Possibly when the kids may show up, or grandkids? Just curious. I know we seriously looked at the 28, but the separate room of the 32 won over for our twin boys. Though I wish at times we went with the shorter trailer!!! Lol It is a long beast!!!! Need to plan accordingly.

Good luck deciding!!!!

We are leaning towards the 28' BHDS thinking it would be the largest camper we can comfortably tow. Most of the towing trips will be weekend only with the wife and just a cooler or two.

The camper will stay at a seasonal site when are not towing it. The kids and grand kids will camp there with us occasionally.

I would guess the camper would only be towed 4 or 5 times a year, then back home for winter storage.

Our old Jayco had a Reese (USA made) hitch with the 1200# bars and sway control. I let it go when the camper sold, but now regret it!

Blue2500CC · February 26, 2017

Was the old Reese system the u bolt model Dual Cam system? I did the same, wishing I kept the Dual Cam system portion when we sold our last trailer. I had pulled it off our first trailer that was originally my grandparents. I actually found a place last year that still had some brand new in the box u bolt models available. I bought the new style DC system with our new Jayco. I was planning on mounting the DC part, but the dealer did it and ended up being off on how they mounted the cam brackets. Caused the one side to strip out the bolt holes. So swapped the old style u bolt model on.

I may end up having a "hybrid" of the old and new system made. Have the brackets bolt on with the u bolts, but have the new style arms which are adjustable mounted to the brackets. At least the dealer got Reese to replace the cam arm bracket that was bent from it.

I don't see any issues with your set up, as long as you don't load a cord of firewood in the truck bed!!! Lol

With our '10- 1500 CCSB 4x4 5.3/6spd/3.42 combo towing ~7200lbs loaded plus the stuff in the bed, never felt I needed more power towing to Northern Mi. We do have a few decent hills (not mountains!) that tested it. Just let the motor rev, tranny drop a gear or two, and away you will go. North of West Branch, Mi there is a pretty old incline (for here in Mi) that the 1500 dropped into 3rd gear and we picked the lost speed right back up without hesitation and could have kept going beyond 70mph (generally tow at about 68mph). 4th gear was just not quite enough to maintain speed, just dropped slowly: 68...67...66... etc. While the 28 is a little heavier, you do have the 3.73 gearing plus the newer motor as well, you should be good to go!

snorydermb · February 28, 2017

I looked at the same camper last year.I had a 12 cc Silverado 5.3 with 3.42 rears 9500lb tow rating.what I ran into was the payload of my truck was about 1480 if I recall and with the weight of the hitch 2 kids 2 adults and a dog and full tank of fuel and tongue weight I was over loaded.That was with nothing in the bed of the truck.The posted dry weight was the same as what you are looking at but you need to look at the yellow tag on the door jamb of the camper to give you the actual weight of the camper with options which on the one I looked at was 7100 lbs.I ended up buying a new 2500HD this year.Better safe than sorry!

flattop · March 1, 2017

I looked at the same camper last year.I had a 12 cc Silverado 5.3 with 3.42 rears 9500lb tow rating.what I ran into was the payload of my truck was about 1480 if I recall and with the weight of the hitch 2 kids 2 adults and a dog and full tank of fuel and tongue weight I was over loaded.That was with nothing in the bed of the truck.The posted dry weight was the same as what you are looking at but you need to look at the yellow tag on the door jamb of the camper to give you the actual weight of the camper with options which on the one I looked at was 7100 lbs.I ended up buying a new 2500HD this year.Better safe than sorry!

You are correct with the yellow tag with full weight including options. The one I am looking at is right at 6795lbs.

bagged123 · March 1, 2017

You'll be fine, that camper will gross out at 9200# just get a WDH and set it up correctly, and you'll be good to go. I used to have a '14 DBL Cab with the max tow package and 6.2L and I towed a 32' Tracer that grosses at 9400, and I never ran to gross, but I also never knew the TT was there until I hit a hill in new england, but it still towed fine. When TT shopping, always always look at the gross, not the dry weight