Towing questions

Waaazooo · November 15, 2016

I have the same. Maybe a helper spring to help level it out? Have you weighed your tongue to make sure it's 850 and not over weight at the tongue?

My trailer is a little lighter than yours and I have hellwig 987's to install. Just haven't had the time and haven't towed in a month. I'd rather the weight be on the tongue than at the rear of the trailer.

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I agree. I wish there was a better source of similar information. I guess that's what the camper guy was sayings "don't worry" about cargo capacity weight as long as you're not pulling too much. In the Context of good weight distribution on the trailer and relation to tongue weight

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Lamby66 · November 15, 2016

Just looked at the specs and your truck should have a gvwr of 7200lbs your curb weight should be 5440 for a payload of 1760. You need to remember that once you lock up your WD bars some of your weight goes back into the trailer so your actual tounge weight would be less than that.

I would go to a cat scale with your whole family and weight the truck without the camper. Then weigh the truck with the camper and the wd bars off. Then the entire rig with the bars on. You should then be able to see all you need to see with weights.

The thing you might need to watch is your rear axel limit which is 3950lbs

If you have never used a cat scale it reads your front axel, rear axel, trailer axels, and combined weight on one ticket. Very helpful.

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Waaazooo · November 15, 2016

Just looked at the specs and your truck should have a gvwr of 7200lbs your curb weight should be 5440 for a payload of 1760. You need to remember that once you lock up your WD bars some of your weight goes back into the trailer so your actual tounge weight would be less than that.

I would go to a cat scale with your whole family and weight the truck without the camper. Then weigh the truck with the camper and the wd bars off. Then the entire rig with the bars on. You should then be able to see all you need to see with weights.

The thing you might need to watch is your rear axel limit which is 3950lbs

If you have never used a cat scale it reads your front axel, rear axel, trailer axels, and combined weight on one ticket. Very helpful.

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This is where I'm getting my cargo capacity

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Snoringbear · November 16, 2016

My weight is obviously bias forward and the tongue weight is about 850 lbs (12%) of the net weight.

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A little tip I was given may help you; by looking at your pic you don't have many/any chain links left so to left the rear of your truck any further. If you will tilt your ball a few more degrees to the rear you will also change the angle of your weight distribution rods thereby providing a couple more chain links to use to further shift weight of your rig. Give it a try, just be sure you use a big cheater bar to relighten your ball.

Snoringbear · November 16, 2016

A little tip I was given may help you; by looking at your pic you don't have many/any chain links left so to left the rear of your truck any further. If you will tilt your ball a few more degrees to the rear you will also change the angle of your weight distribution rods thereby providing a couple more chain links to use to further shift weight of your rig. Give it a try, just be sure you use a big cheater bar to relighten your ball.

Btw, appears you've done some mod's so this suggestion may not be financially feasible; but, if you could get out of that truck without taking too big a loss, suggest you go to the 6.2/8spd with max tow package. This would get your towing capacity up to 12,000lbs I believe. You would be amazed, and delighted in the difference your towing experience would be. I tow a 25' TT weighs about 6200lbs when water tank is full. I went from a 2008 5.3 to a 2015 6.2/8spd, towing now is a pleasure.

Waaazooo · November 16, 2016

Btw, appears you've done some mod's so this suggestion may not be financially feasible; but, if you could get out of that truck without taking too big a loss, suggest you go to the 6.2/8spd with max tow package. This would get your towing capacity up to 12,000lbs I believe. You would be amazed, and delighted in the difference your towing experience would be. I tow a 25' TT weighs about 6200lbs when water tank is full. I went from a 2008 5.3 to a 2015 6.2/8spd, towing now is a pleasure.

I've thought about this. However the 6.2 with maxtow package has less cargo capacity than the standard 5.3L 3.42 package. I am not running out of towing capacity just the amount of weight in the truck while towing. Thanks for looking out though

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Waaazooo · November 16, 2016

A little tip I was given may help you; by looking at your pic you don't have many/any chain links left so to left the rear of your truck any further. If you will tilt your ball a few more degrees to the rear you will also change the angle of your weight distribution rods thereby providing a couple more chain links to use to further shift weight of your rig. Give it a try, just be sure you use a big cheater bar to relighten your ball.

Thanks for the tip. Any tips on how to link the chain onto the trailer. First link requires a fair amount effort to hook up.

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Snoringbear · November 16, 2016

Thanks for the tip. Any tips on how to link the chain onto the trailer. First link requires a fair amount effort to hook up.

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I can't tell from your pic if you have a electric tongue lift or not. If no, then you could install one. After hitching up, obviously the higher you are able to lift the tongue and truck rear end the easier to hook up the chains. Still, it does take some muscle to hook up, especially if you're on uneven ground. I've recently had serious back surgery, and Getting along a bit in age. So, I'm going to install the Air Lift system along with wireless compressor. Gonna ask Santa to bring it for Christmas Below is their hot link if you're interested.

https://www.suspensionconnection.com/88204-silverado-air-springs.html

Snoringbear · November 16, 2016

I've thought about this. However the 6.2 with maxtow package has less cargo capacity than the standard 5.3L 3.42 package. I am not running out of towing capacity just the amount of weight in the truck while towing. Thanks for looking out though

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No worries, everyone's care-abouts are different. For me it was horsepower, torque and additional tranny gears.

Cowpie · January 21, 2017

Just a thought on the weighing thing. If you have a grain elevator, gravel pit, recycling facility, or some other similar place with a scale, I would see about weighing there. Cat scale pricing is criminal. First weigh is $11. Second weigh is $1, then back to the $11 next go around. Many of the locations I mention will have digital displays showing weights and these places may not charge you anything for your vehicle weight research project. I use a grain elevator near me and there is no charge. Even those that are simple platforms and not individual axle weights work just fine. You just have to gross weight and then pull off one axle at a time and check weights and do a little calculating. There are even good apps for smart phones for doing the leg work for you in those situations of a single platform.

sdeeter19555 · January 21, 2017

Just a thought on the weighing thing. If you have a grain elevator, gravel pit, recycling facility, or some other similar place with a scale, I would see about weighing there. Cat scale pricing is criminal. First weigh is $11. Second weigh is $1, then back to the $11 next go around. Many of the locations I mention will have digital displays showing weights and these places may not charge you anything for your vehicle weight research project. I use a grain elevator near me and there is no charge. Even those that are simple platforms and not individual axle weights work just fine. You just have to gross weight and then pull off one axle at a time and check weights and do a little calculating. There are even good apps for smart phones for doing the leg work for you in those situations of a single platform.

I've used a moving company's scale before...a lot of places have them.

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Cowpie · January 21, 2017

There ya go! That'll work!

2017HD · January 21, 2017

Simply adding up the weights says you are close to the max payload for your truck. Air bags, timbrins, and helper springs will not change that - they, along with your WD hitch can take some of the sag out of your truck and TT setup and that is all. Weights are important your campground buddy is more wrong than right with his weights don't matter statement. One must remember how GM calculates their tow ratings - they take the CGWR (the max wt the drivetrain can pull/handle) and subtract the curb wt of a stripped down truck and a 150 lb driver. This automatically includes the payload of the truck as part of the towed wt. IMHO you need a bigger truck like a 2500 or 3500.

Cowpie · January 21, 2017

And just from the heavier duty brakes, suspension, and other factors makes pulling something heavy a dream with a 2500/3500 compared to a 1500. There is a reason why the 1500's are considered "light duty". Power, especially with the 6.2L is there, but not enough pickup to do the job as effectively when weights get on up there. It is actually better overall to have too much pickup for the job being done than pressing the edge of the envelope with a lighter duty one. Those numbers that the OEM throws out for towing and such are as much about marketing and competition with other brands than what should actually be done. And given that a similar featured 2500 can be had for virtually the same price as a 1500, it just makes sense to have a more capable power vehicle.

Sierra Jon · January 23, 2017

And just from the heavier duty brakes, suspension, and other factors makes pulling something heavy a dream with a 2500/3500 compared to a 1500. There is a reason why the 1500's are considered "light duty". Power, especially with the 6.2L is there, but not enough pickup to do the job as effectively when weights get on up there. It is actually better overall to have too much pickup for the job being done than pressing the edge of the envelope with a lighter duty one. Those numbers that the OEM throws out for towing and such are as much about marketing and competition with other brands than what should actually be done. And given that a similar featured 2500 can be had for virtually the same price as a 1500, it just makes sense to have a more capable power vehicle.

It really depends on how often you're towing. I went from an '09 2500 gas engine to a '14 5.3 because although I tow roughly 8200 lbs it's really only 8 to 10 times a year. The comfort and MPG were more important.

The light duty trucks have come a long way. I did upgrade to power slot brakes but there's plenty of power even in the mountains of NH. Two of the main reasons I bought an HD years ago was for the trailer brake controller and the 6L80E tranny... both available in the LD truck now.

EDIT: For the record, I don't disagree with what you are saying at all. Just pointing out the other perspective. If money were no object I'd use a duramax as a daily driver haha.

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