Towing Capacity Questions HELP!!

[jenkins12]

I am hoping to get some help from all of the folks who I have seen on this forum who pull camper trailers!!

 

I purchased a 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 4x4 Crew Cab Short Bed All Terrain with the SLT Premium Package with trailer breaks and 3.42 rear axel.

 

The book says that the Sierra Trailer Weight Rating is 9200 lbs (without the Max Tow Package) The GVWR for the truck states 7,200 lbs.

 

I am trying to decide which camper to purchase but have been given so much different information regarding what the truck can actually pull. Do I go by the 9200 lbs, the 7200 lbs?

 

Thanks in advance all!!!

 

 

UPDATE::: I just got off of the phone with a person from GMC and she stated that to know what you can trailer, you take the curb weight and subtract it from the max trailering capacity. in this case it would be 9100 - 5302. According to her, I can only tow 3798 lbs. This seems ridiculous!! HELPPPP!!!

[DAY11]

GVWR is the max weight of the truck with payload. Think mulch in the bed plus the weight of the truck

 

Tow rating is the max towed weight, think trailer weight.

[newdude]

Are you looking tow behind camper? Order guide tow ratings are published at 9100lbs for a 5.3 crew cab 4x4 at 9100lbs. http://www.gmfleetorderguide.com/NASApp/domestic/proddesc.jsp?year=2016&regionID=1&divisionID=2&type=0&vehicleID=17967&section=trailer_specs&page=&butID=8

 

GM weights are published with the following guidelines:

 

Maximum trailer ratings are calculated assuming standard equipped vehicle, driver and required trailering equipment. The weight of optional equipment, passengers and cargo will reduce the maximum trailer weight your vehicle can tow. 10 to 15% of the trailer weight is the recommended trailer tongue load.

 

 

So...you, the ball hitch and the truck itself. GVWR is the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. That is the maximum allowable weight the truck can weigh itself. So, the truck, plus the payload capacity. The payload capacity is cut down when you add you the driver, any occupants, cargo, material in the box, etc. Tongue weight is also one of those things as well. Going with the 9100lbs spec published in the order guide, your tongue weight should be within 910-1365lbs.

 

The other important number is GCWR Gross Combined Weight Rating. That is the maximum number in pounds that can't be exceeded truck and trailer combined. 3.42 with the 5.3 is 15,000lbs.

[jenkins12]

Are you looking tow behind camper? Order guide tow ratings are published at 9100lbs for a 5.3 crew cab 4x4 at 9100lbs. http://www.gmfleetorderguide.com/NASApp/domestic/proddesc.jsp?year=2016&regionID=1&divisionID=2&type=0&vehicleID=17967&section=trailer_specs&page=&butID=8

 

GM weights are published with the following guidelines:

 

 

So...you, the ball hitch and the truck itself. GVWR is the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. That is the maximum allowable weight the truck can weigh itself. So, the truck, plus the payload capacity. The payload capacity is cut down when you add you the driver, any occupants, cargo, material in the box, etc. Tongue weight is also one of those things as well. Going with the 9100lbs spec published in the order guide, your tongue weight should be within 910-1365lbs.

 

The other important number is GCWR Gross Combined Weight Rating. That is the maximum number in pounds that can't be exceeded truck and trailer combined. 3.42 with the 5.3 is 15,000lbs.

So to know how much "stuff" I can have in the truck, I subtract the curb weight from the GVWR and what is left over is how much weight I have to play with?

 

The guideline states that "the weight of optional equipment, passengers and cargo will reduce the maximum trailer weight your vehicle can tow." How do I know by how much? Is there a rule of thumb yall use?

[Icecreman]

Whatever you do don't let the RV dealer tell you what you can tow. They will tell you a Fiat could tow a fifth wheel just to get a sale.

[Britt Lifsey]

Whatever you do don't let the RV dealer tell you what you can tow. They will tell you a Fiat could tow a fifth wheel just to get a sale.

Everyone knows a Fiat can't tow a 5'er. Now, a VW Beetle on the other hand...

 

 

[kp52]

You will get many different opinions, as mentioned do NOT listen the dealer selling you a TT.

 

Save yourself some time and frustration and head on over to rv.net forums and read the stickies and FAQs in the towing and tow vehicle section. Do some research on weight distributing hitches as well if your new TT is over 600lbs of tongue weight.

[toro1966]

So to know how much "stuff" I can have in the truck, I subtract the curb weight from the GVWR and what is left over is how much weight I have to play with?

 

The guideline states that "the weight of optional equipment, passengers and cargo will reduce the maximum trailer weight your vehicle can tow." How do I know by how much? Is there a rule of thumb yall use?

Basically it depends on what you have in the truck. Very confusing I know, but if I have it correct, I think of it this way:

1 - You have a max of 9100lbs that you can tow behind you. But unfortunately there are other things that could potentially reduce that amount.

2 - The GVW is the truck curb weight (5302) plus ANYTHING else in or on the truck. So if your truck empty, plus you, your dog, your spouse, and all of your luggage and camping stuff in the bed weigh 6500lbs, then that is your GVW.

The GVW cannot exceed the GVWR - which is 7200lbs.

3 - Since you can also NOT exceed the total 15000 GCWR, you must first figure out how much your truck is loaded up with stuff and people (your GVWR) - in the above example it is 6500, and subtract that from 15000 to get the total weight of vehicle you can tow. In this example it would mean you could not tow a camper of more than 8500lbs.

 

A couple of other considerations. Many people want a little "fluff" in their numbers so they add 10-20% depending on the individual. That means that if you take 20% of 8500 (which is 1700) and subtract it from the 8500, the max weight of the trailer you could tow is 6800lbs. (again - given our example where your loaded truck weighs 6500lbs).

 

Trailer weight is always listed as empty. They are NEVER empty. You have water, sewage, vittles, clothes, pots, pans...you get the picture. So make sure you take that into account. Hope that helps.

[jenkins12]

Basically it depends on what you have in the truck. Very confusing I know, but if I have it correct, I think of it this way:

1 - You have a max of 9100lbs that you can tow behind you. But unfortunately there are other things that could potentially reduce that amount.

2 - The GVWR is the truck curb weight (5302) plus ANYTHING else in or on the truck. So if your truck empty, plus you, your dog, your spouse, and all of your luggage and camping stuff in the bed weigh 6500lbs, then that is your GVWR.

3 - Since you can also NOT exceed the total 15000 GCWR, you must first figure out how much your truck is loaded up with stuff and people (your GVWR) - in the above example it is 6500, and subtract that from 15000 to get the total weight of vehicle you can tow. In this example it would mean you could not tow a camper of more than 8500lbs.

 

A couple of other considerations. Many people want a little "fluff" in their numbers so they add 10-20% depending on the individual. That means that if you take 20% of 8500 (which is 1700) and subtract it from the 8500, the max weight of the trailer you could tow is 6800lbs. (again - given our example where your loaded truck weighs 6500lbs).

 

Trailer weight is always listed as empty. They are NEVER empty. You have water, sewage, vittles, clothes, pots, pans...you get the picture. So make sure you take that into account. Hope that helps.

If you have this correct, this helps a ton!!!! It saddens me that no one from GMC/GM or Camping World could tell me this! None of them even mentioned the GCWR!!

[newdude]

Basically it depends on what you have in the truck. Very confusing I know, but if I have it correct, I think of it this way:

1 - You have a max of 9100lbs that you can tow behind you. But unfortunately there are other things that could potentially reduce that amount.

2 - The GVWR is the truck curb weight (5302) plus ANYTHING else in or on the truck. So if your truck empty, plus you, your dog, your spouse, and all of your luggage and camping stuff in the bed weigh 6500lbs, then that is your GVWR.

3 - Since you can also NOT exceed the total 15000 GCWR, you must first figure out how much your truck is loaded up with stuff and people (your GVWR) - in the above example it is 6500, and subtract that from 15000 to get the total weight of vehicle you can tow. In this example it would mean you could not tow a camper of more than 8500lbs.

 

A couple of other considerations. Many people want a little "fluff" in their numbers so they add 10-20% depending on the individual. That means that if you take 20% of 8500 (which is 1700) and subtract it from the 8500, the max weight of the trailer you could tow is 6800lbs. (again - given our example where your loaded truck weighs 6500lbs).

 

Trailer weight is always listed as empty. They are NEVER empty. You have water, sewage, vittles, clothes, pots, pans...you get the picture. So make sure you take that into account. Hope that helps.

 

Lol I like your explanation better than the one I gave.

[jamin87ss]

I pull around 10500 with mine, but trailer is setup very well, and its a boat, so very streamlined, this is a huge difference to towing a camper, with a camper I'm thinking you will want to be around 7000 pds, that will give you 2000 pounds to play with for gear, water, bikes, grill, etc etc, WDH will be key, and my guess is you will want to look into air bags or something, I am going to look into a set for next year myself

[jamin87ss]

[DAY11]

Basically it depends on what you have in the truck. Very confusing I know, but if I have it correct, I think of it this way:

1 - You have a max of 9100lbs that you can tow behind you. But unfortunately there are other things that could potentially reduce that amount.

2 - The GVWR is the truck curb weight (5302) plus ANYTHING else in or on the truck. So if your truck empty, plus you, your dog, your spouse, and all of your luggage and camping stuff in the bed weigh 6500lbs, then that is your GVWR.

3 - Since you can also NOT exceed the total 15000 GCWR, you must first figure out how much your truck is loaded up with stuff and people (your GVWR) - in the above example it is 6500, and subtract that from 15000 to get the total weight of vehicle you can tow. In this example it would mean you could not tow a camper of more than 8500lbs.

 

A couple of other considerations. Many people want a little "fluff" in their numbers so they add 10-20% depending on the individual. That means that if you take 20% of 8500 (which is 1700) and subtract it from the 8500, the max weight of the trailer you could tow is 6800lbs. (again - given our example where your loaded truck weighs 6500lbs).

 

Trailer weight is always listed as empty. They are NEVER empty. You have water, sewage, vittles, clothes, pots, pans...you get the picture. So make sure you take that into account. Hope that helps.

Problem is number 2 is wrong. GVWR is the rated weight of the vehicle. It is the max allowable total of:

Truck, people, fuel and contents.

 

Truck plus people and stuff cannot go over the GVWR (R for Rating) or 7200 lbs.

 

Gross vehicle weight is the number you calculated (curb weight plus anything in it) . Use the term GVW and above is correct.

 

 

One last caveat...

 

What are you registered to haul and or tow? I know most of us don't pay the State for the class rating of 7200 pounds. In Pa it is very expensive to go from class 2 to class 3

[jenkins12]

Problem is number 2 is wrong. GVWR is the rated weight of the vehicle. It is the max allowable total of:

Truck, people, fuel and contents.

 

Truck plus people and stuff cannot go over the GVWR (R for Rating) or 7200 lbs.

 

Gross vehicle weight is the number you calculated (curb weight plus anything in it) . Use the term GVW and above is correct.

 

 

One last caveat...

 

What are you registered to haul and or tow? I know most of us don't pay the State for the class rating of 7200 pounds. In Pa it is very expensive to go from class 2 to class 3

so the GVW just can't exceed the GVWR and I use the above example?

[toro1966]

Problem is number 2 is wrong. GVWR is the rated weight of the vehicle. It is the max allowable total of:

Truck, people, fuel and contents.

 

Truck plus people and stuff cannot go over the GVWR (R for Rating) or 7200 lbs.

 

Gross vehicle weight is the number you calculated (curb weight plus anything in it) . Use the term GVW and above is correct.

 

 

One last caveat...

 

What are you registered to haul and or tow? I know most of us don't pay the State for the class rating of 7200 pounds. In Pa it is very expensive to go from class 2 to class 3

Agreed Day. I'll edit the post above to ensure we are putting out good info but the calculations are the same - it just means that in number 2 above, all that stuff cannot equal more than 7200 which is the GVWR. The rest of the calculations.

 

Thanks for the backup!

 

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