Towing a travel trailer.. will I be ok?

[jjdurrant]

I see my 2016 Silverado 1500 is good for 9100lbs. I have the 5.3/six speed/3.42 no towing package but has the brake controller. I am looking to pull a 35.4' travel trailer.. it is rated

 

Hitch Weight 912

Axle Weight 6996

UVW 7958

GVWR 9600

CCC (Cargo Capacity) 1642

 

I assume as long as I keep the trailer empty I should be ok?

 

Keep in mind it will be at a seasonal site 99% of the time.. but it's 200 miles away

[Nathan79]

How can you have no towing package but be rated for 9100lb?

[mike221]

How can you have the brake controller but no trailering package? I'm about 99.9% sure the two are mutually inclusive...

 

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[mike221]

Last I checked, you can get the trailering package without the brake controller, but you can't get the brake controller without the trailering package. Also, if you didn't ha e the trailering package, you wouldn't be able to tow anything, because your truck would not have a hitch...

 

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[GsBowtie]

Even empty your asking an awful lot of a half ton truck with that rig. Personally i would not do a trip that far with your truck. Think tail wagging the dog. What will happen if you have to stop quickly? Granted the brakes on my truck is excellent. Your in 3/4 ton truck territory. Just my .02. A 35 foot tt is a huge rig.

 

My trailer is 24 foot and I wouldn't want to go much bigger with my truck

[peejaykay]

Properly equipped with an anti sway/WD hitch and brake controller, your truck can handle it.

[kanewtz]

When he said trailer tow package, i think what he meant was "Max Trailler Tow Package".

[muddkatt]

With a load distributing hitch, anti-sway bar, and good brakes on the trailer, you will be fine. Just make sure that you adjust the weight on the hitch so that you are not too heavy or light on the tongue.

[jjdurrant]

Thanks guys.. yes I meant no "Max Trailer Tow Package" .. sorry to confuse. The RV dealer seems to think I do not need to anti-sway\equalizer.. I am not convinced though. But I would like to trust them of course as I assume this is not their first rodeo.

[BigBadSierra]

If it was me I would go with a smaller trailer or something lighter. Others will disagree but with passengers and cargo you are pushing it.

 

That big you need a weight distribution hitch and sway bars.

 

My trailer is only 26Ft but I will not pull it without them.

 

Dealers will push the limits on the trailer size for the simple reason of making more money.

 

My friends with trailer that size are pulling with F250/2500 class trucks.

 

Also you have to factor in the size of the trailer and how much wind resistance it will have on it.

 

Everyone looks at the weight but forgets the fact you have to pull it highway speeds and have to deal with side wind.

 

So Like I said I would prefer to know I have a safety margin.

[muddkatt]

The RV dealer seems to think I do not need to anti-sway\equalizer.

 

Your RV dealer is WRONG!

 

I use to have a 30ft travel trailer that I pulled with Suburban's and with my 01 Sierra. Without the weight distribution hitch, it would bottom out the rear springs on all of the tow vehicles.

 

Now if you really like those "pucker up" moments, just wait until an 18 wheeler either goes past you, or you pass one. You will then know why they sell the sway bars.

[Stephen Della Monica]

Is GVWR of 9600 lbs correct? That's HD territory.

[edgexcsp]

Get the proper hitch and you will be fine to take it to and from your seasonal site. I would be upgrading your truck however if you ever decide to pull a camper that big on a regular basis.

[jjdurrant]

Yeah 9600. But I would tow to site empty and with me and bro in truck that's 500lbs. So I would be around 8300 still under that 9100.

 

I don't care what they say. I am going WDS and anti-sway. Once it's at site it won't be moved.

[jbradyr]

I've got a 28 foot trailer that I pull with my 2015 GMC Sierra 4x4 z71 and I WOULD NOT GO WITHOUT the weight distribution and sway bar. It has saved me numerous times!