Should I Tow This?

[Horacio]

2015 Sierra Denali, 6.2L, 3.23, 8 speed trans.

Comptemplating transportation of a John Deere 319D Skid Steer w/ tracks.

Specs state the unit weighs 8500lbs and the trailer may tack on another 1000 lbs.

I realize I'm at the end of the tow rating spectrum and probably won't do it, but wondering if I actually could. Ball and Tongue rated at 10k pounds.

Probably looking at 40 miles round trip and flat roads.

[smrr1]

Sure. Just get the load level. That is a short distance especially on flat roads.

[mitchellb2005]

I'm no professional but I think if you take it slow you should have no issues.

 

Last summer I towed 6500 lbs of stone on a 1000 lb trailer with my 160k mile 2008 Tahoe 2WD on the highway. It struggled a little, but handled it just fine.

I'm no professional but I think if you take it slow you should have no issues.

 

Last summer I towed 6500 lbs of stone on a 1000 lb trailer with my 160k mile 2008 Tahoe 2WD on the highway. It struggled a little, but handled it just fine.

[Zachlovesfood]

Should be okay, just put it in tow, watch your temps, and take it easy.

 

 

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[txab]

Make sure the trailer has brakes

[SouthpawHD]

Let's look at the math quick:

9500 pounds * 10% tongue weight = 950 pounds. Under limits of hitch.

9500 pounds * 15% tongue weight = 1425 pounds. OVER limit of hitch.

 

Most campers/travel trailers are about 12% of total trailer weight, not sure where this set-up would fall. Something to think about. Good luck.

[Sidewayz]

Just watch your speed and increase following distance because I would be more worried about stopping vs towing ability.

[CbrownGT]

Wait, If the skid loader weighs 8500 lbs I hope to god you're not using a trailer that only weighs 1,000 lbs. 99% of people that haul them have a trailer that weighs at least 3,000 lbs. 1,000 lb trailer is for a lawn mower and a quad, not much more. So I'm going to say NO you're not ok, just cause of the trailer. If you had a 3,000 lb trailer you'd be overweight as well. You also need to make sure a trailer you use for this kind of weight has electric brakes.

[2004lebanshee]

Was thinking the same. No way its a 1000 lb Trailer for a skid steer. If it is I would think its a junk trailer and or unsafe. I have to think your over your limit and any 1/2 ton's limit. Skid steers have always been considered out of 1/2 ton zone but maybe not with a super light trailer. Better have brakes.

[Dixon700]

Wait, If the skid loader weighs 8500 lbs I hope to god you're not using a trailer that only weighs 1,000 lbs. 99% of people that haul them have a trailer that weighs at least 3,000 lbs. 1,000 lb trailer is for a lawn mower and a quad, not much more. So I'm going to say NO you're not ok, just cause of the trailer. If you had a 3,000 lb trailer you'd be overweight as well. You also need to make sure a trailer you use for this kind of weight has electric brakes.

I third this. Most 10k gvwr trailers weight at least 2k lbs goosenecks are up over 3k. A friend has a gn rated for 14k and it weighs about 5k lbs. I think my 6'x8' utility trl with a 1500lbs axle weighs about 700 or so.

[Dixon700]

Also I'm sure the truck is capable. I've towed some sketchy loads with 1/2 tons, but the real question is can it be done safely. I'd say it's over the trucks limits be better off with a 3/4 ton or bigger.

[bboyce536]

Should be using a pintle hitch to haul this and in the end I would guess you are closer to 12k. As long as you're not on busy roads, take it slow and you should be fine.

[Horacio]

Thanks for the input everyone.

I was only guessing on the trailer weight. I guess I was way off! Was going to rent the unit from Sunbelt Equip Rentals and don't know anything about the type of trailer they have for it.

[Panik]

How much is your 6.2 rated to tow? Depending on your truck's rating and the actual weight of the skid and the trailer you could be anywhere from slightly over weight to significantly overweight:

 

8500 Skid + 2000 trailer = 10,500

8500 Skid + 3000 trailer = 11,500

 

As an example my truck is rated for ~9800 (not considering tongue weight). 10,500K would only put me over by around 700lbs whereas at 11,500 I would be overweight by 1,700. Just something to consider as estimating weights can easily result in towing significantly more than you anticipate.

 

Couple of other things.......I believe if you look you'll likely find that in order to fully utilize the weight rating of your hitch you'll find that you need a weight distributing hitch beyond ~5K. That said I have towed around 8500 without a weight distributing hitch. Just something to be aware of.

 

If I were you I would place an anonymous phone call to Sunbelt and find out if they have any requirements to tow that skid. A lot of places these days are starting to have minimum requirements on tow vehicles for their rental units. At the same time I would highly recommend you find out the approximate trailer weight. As others have said 10K trailers generally run 2-3K for bumper pulls and higher for goosenecks. My trailer is 2900 without the toolbox.

 

Even more importantly find out what type of brakes the trailer has. While I doubt that this is the case, if they are using surge brakes get someone else to deliver the skid. You really don't want to be towing significantly overweight with surge brakes. You will need a brake controller on your truck if you do not already have one. It's not reasonable or safe to expect your truck to safely handle stopping that weight without brakes on both of the trailer axles. Good luck, be safe and go slow if you do attempt this.

[harveyfamily]

Per the GMC site with your configuration (not sure if yours is 2WD or 4WD) but with a crew cab 6.2 with the 3.23 gears it says your Max Conventional Trailering is 9300lbs. If yours is a 4WD that drops to 9100lbs.