Hello, and some questions

Cow_Doc.308 · February 3, 2016

Hello,

I'm brand new here. Stumbled across this forum when researching for tires for my truck. I have 14 Silverado 1500 LT Z71 4x4 crew cab short bed.

This was strictly my personal truck for the first year but is now my work truck since last July. I'm a mobile veterinarian and do pretty much strictly large animal work. I've got a vet box in the back which is +/- 1000 pounds. This addition leveled my truck but not really in the manner that I would have preferred.

I would prefer to have the truck closer to stock height in the rear and leveled off in the front. What are my options for this? Airbags in the back and then front leveling kit? Add a leaf?

To further complicate matters, I'm looking at buying an enclosed trailer to use for a mobile lab. I found a trailer that would work well. It's 8x14 with a 6'6" inside height. has some cabinets and AC unit. Seller told me it weighs in at 4800 pounds. Once I have it set up like I need I estimate it will be 5500-6k. My concerns are how much it will cause the rear to sag as well has how the truck will handle the trailer. That size trailer is bound to catch a lot of wind. I'm in TX near Dallas. I won't be towing on hills and won't be towing it daily, at least for now.

I figure airbags will likely help with towing.

I'm open to all comments. Its possible I'm wanting too much out of the truck.

JRaschke11 · February 3, 2016

Are you going to remove the rear vet box if you pull the trailer?

Cow_Doc.308 · February 3, 2016

No. The vet box has to stay. There may come a time when I don't need the box, but not in the foreseeable future.

bartonjude · February 3, 2016

You gonna need bags hoss.

Cow_Doc.308 · February 3, 2016

I can get bags. what brand should I be looking at?

muddkatt · February 3, 2016

Before you go to buying air bags, helper springs or anything else, hook the trailer to the truck and see how it sits, and pulls. I pull a 16ft enclosed trailer that weighs about what your trailer will weigh and have NO problems with it. If you load the trailer with about 400 pounds of tongue weight, all you will be doing is dragging a load down the road. Full disclaimer: said trailer is pulled with the 2001 GMC. not the 2015 Silverado. I can tell you that I have pulled a 16 ft flatbed loaded that weighed in at about 6000 pounds for 1000 miles with the 2015 and the only way I knew it was even behind me was the ride got a little rougher.

Make sure you have properly working trailer brakes and a controller installed if it did not come from the factory with it.

I can tell you that my enclosed trailer is a v-nose and was bought to "help fuel mileage and reduce drag". What a crock of crap that sales pitch was. I get the same mileage as when I pull a flat nose trailer. It is harder to load out a trailer with a v-nose in my opinion.

Welcome to the forum!

xelli · February 3, 2016

You might want to read through the attached.

2014 Chevrolet Trailering Guide

MY14 Trailering Guide.pdf

redwngr · February 3, 2016

1000 lbs+ in the truck, plus towing an 8 x 14 x 8 ft tall 6000 lb trailer -- you'll be MUCH happier with your new 2500. Bonus is it will likely sit at the height/level you want it.

I miss my duramax.

15slvrDbl · February 3, 2016

That's def asking allot from a 1500. Personally as I have in the past I would add a leaf added to the spring pack if it wasn't possible to upgrade vehicles. The added leaf usually carries 800 lbs more load but can be trailed to your needs. You don't have to worry about leaks in any lines, filling ect. If you can go right to a spring shop to get it done. Not just a place that lifts trucks. I know it won't change the sticker on the door jamb but it will safely increase the payload

Cow_Doc.308 · February 3, 2016

Thanks for the replies. Changing trucks really isn't an option right now. Not only would I have to pay more for a bigger truck but I'd also have to buy a new box, and they don't exactly give those away.

Aubie_01 · February 3, 2016

Seems like a lot of weight for a 5.3.

redwngr · February 3, 2016

Thanks for the replies. Changing trucks really isn't an option right now. Not only would I have to pay more for a bigger truck but I'd also have to buy a new box, and they don't exactly give those away.

Why can't the box be moved to another truck?

JRaschke11 · February 3, 2016

Before you go to buying air bags, helper springs or anything else, hook the trailer to the truck and see how it sits, and pulls. I pull a 16ft enclosed trailer that weighs about what your trailer will weigh and have NO problems with it. If you load the trailer with about 400 pounds of tongue weight, all you will be doing is dragging a load down the road. Full disclaimer: said trailer is pulled with the 2001 GMC. not the 2015 Silverado. I can tell you that I have pulled a 16 ft flatbed loaded that weighed in at about 6000 pounds for 1000 miles with the 2015 and the only way I knew it was even behind me was the ride got a little rougher.

Make sure you have properly working trailer brakes and a controller installed if it did not come from the factory with it.

I can tell you that my enclosed trailer is a v-nose and was bought to "help fuel mileage and reduce drag". What a crock of crap that sales pitch was. I get the same mileage as when I pull a flat nose trailer. It is harder to load out a trailer with a v-nose in my opinion.

Welcome to the forum!

I don't think pulling the trailer weight is his issue in this case.

I think the big problem is payload. I don't know the exact payload for your truck, but you can look at your door sticker. You sitting in the truck + any passengers + gear + vet box + trailer tongue weight.

With a 200 lb. man and a 1000 lb. vet box with nothing else in the truck you are sitting at 1200 lbs. of payload not including the trailer tongue weight. I think tongue weight is 10% of trailer weight, so on your 6000 lb. trailer that is 600 lbs. That puts you at 1800 lbs. Payload on my 2015 Denali is 1393 I think my door sticker says, so I couldn't safely and legally do it with my truck. I know yours is higher with a Z71. Upgrades to the truck are definitely needed. Even if you just squeak under the payload limit it will not be fun to drive.

I'm not a payload and trailer expert so if my calculations are wrong let me know so we can all learn something. I don't know if springs or airbags are the answer as that is out of my realm.

Cow_Doc.308 · February 3, 2016

Why can't the box be moved to another truck?

I could be swapped but if I changed trucks I would probably go to a longer bed and a longer box. Regardless, I'm not up for trading trucks right now. I'll just have to find a smaller trailer if it can't handle the load

Georgia1911 · February 3, 2016

I agree trailer weight is probably not the issue (unless you have the 3.08 rear end), but payload will be because of the box. I suggest you load the truck as you normally do and go weigh it on a CAT scale (any major truck stop will have one). You should get separate weights for each axle. Then you will know where you really are now.