How to Increase Hauling Capabilities

[Grinkly]

I’ll be taking my family to Yellowstone this summer towing a camper. I have a light trailer and as such I am well within my towing capacity however with the people in the truck, the leer canopy, camping gear, weight distribution hitch and tongue weight I am worried I will be over the hauling capacity.

 

What can I do to increase my hauling capacity? What’s the weakest link in my system? e.g. should I change tires first? Or tires and shocks? Whipple?  I really love my truck and want to keep it so what can I do other than trade it in on a 2500?

 

Thanks!

[CamGTP]

If we want to get technical and follow DOT regulations you can't do a damn thing to increase the ratings past what the door sticker says.

 

That doesn't stop people from doing stuff to their vehicles though. Put helper bags in the rear if you don't want the rear end to sag as much with extra weight. I sure as hell wouldn't go something like 800lbs over the limit. Maybe a 100-300lbs if you had too.

 

Pump your tires up, run the rears around 40psi instead of 35psi.

[ullose272]

Well, legally you cannot change what is listed on your sticker. Heavier 8 or 10 ply tires help, air bags or some sort of overload help.

[btj_z71]

47 minutes ago, Grinkly said:

I’ll be taking my family to Yellowstone this summer towing a camper. I have a light trailer and as such I am well within my towing capacity however with the people in the truck, the leer canopy, camping gear, weight distribution hitch and tongue weight I am worried I will be over the hauling capacity.

 

What can I do to increase my hauling capacity? What’s the weakest link in my system? e.g. should I change tires first? Or tires and shocks? Whipple?  I really love my truck and want to keep it so what can I do other than trade it in on a 2500?

 

Thanks!

To put it simply, you cannot increase your capacity, towing or hauling.

 

However, there are steps you can take to help with the excess weight.  The best option is to add some Roadmaster Active Suspension springs to your rear leafs.

 

For the front, you may be able to upgrade the springs but I am not familiar with any products to do that.  Changing the shocks to Bilstein 5100 would help too.

 

I would ensure your tires are at max PSI when cold before embarking on this trip to help as well.  

 

More power won't fix anything.  You could look at brake upgrades if you don't feel your current setup is sufficient.

[2018GMC]

Firm up the truck.

 

Air tires to max psi or at least the rear.

 

A stiffer mono tube shock like bilsteins

 

Sumo springs, Air bags, or helper leaf spring

 

If you need new tires get load range E or LT light truck tire which has a much stiffer sidewall than the tires that came with truck.

 

I specifically sought out the max tow NHT package. My loaded SLT 4x4 crew 6’6” bed truck has a payload of 1900 lbs & 11700 towing. it would be higher if it was a lower trim, no sunroof, less weight etc.

 

FYI I’d never tow near max as that’s double the weight of the truck, get a trailer that big and heavy in some wind or swaying and you could be in for a crash.

 

what’s different vs a non max tow? Extra leaf spring in rear spring pack. Larger ring gear in rear differential. Lower gears 3:42 vs 3:23 with 8 speed trans.

 

FYI stock shocks on my truck were very bouncy, a quick reaction of steering input would make truck dive and bob like a ship on the ocean. I installed bilstein 5100 shocks all around which stiffened up the truck and it is much more controlled now.

 

What’s your rated payload and towing? How much over?

 

Can you put more gear in the trailer to relieve payload in the truck? While not overloading trailer payload.

 

Of course if it’s a lot or you are not comfortable then don’t do it.

[JimCost2014]

trade it in on a 2500

 

This.....

[Grinkly]

Thanks all for your input and feedback, appreciate it.

[Enough]

Keep it and buy a 2500 to tow with ????

 

Nothing more valuable than my family. No way I push the limits on towing with them in the truck.

[JimCost2014]

22 minutes ago, Grinkly said:

Thanks all for your input and feedback, appreciate it.

One thing to consider, all of the above ideas on how to increase are good, problem is you now have a 1500 geared to a specific buyer if you go sell your current truck.

 

Meaning a very frim ride, and set up for max towing, where someone might want a softer ride and never tow even a small U-Haul trailer.

[J.H.2015LT]

When ever my family and I go out camping I increase tire pressure from 35 psi to 40 psi to help with pulling our camper. I try to distribute the weight as evenly as possible, put the heavy items closer to the cab and over the rear axle. Small things like that make a difference in control and ride quality.

Edited March 9, 2021 by J.H.2015LT

[dieselfan1]

I agree with the Get a 2500 guys. I always say it's ok to bring a gun to a knife fight.[emoji123]

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[elcamino]

IMO, first thing to upgrade is tires.  Do NOT oversize as that will hurt performance, larger tires (diameter) will increase gear ratio and make engine work harder.   Go to load range C, D or ever E rated tires.  They will hold up better than standard 1500 load range B passenger rated tires.   When I worked for the DOT I cannot tell you how many tourists we would encounter with blown out tires that could not handle the heat from the extra weight.  GET GOOD TIRES.

Edited March 9, 2021 by elcamino

[KARNUT]

Last I read a half ton can handle up to 11K. If the trailer is light and your worried about what’s in the bed. Load it in the trailer. If you have passenger tires on the truck I’d definitely change those to higher load range. If that doesn’t do it and you don’t want to get rid of the truck maybe renting is available. You can rent everything theses days maybe that’s an option. I spent half my life driving 3/4- 1 tons. All had stuff in the bed. Wouldn’t want to daily one empty.


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[mikeyk101]

Deleted...

Edited March 10, 2021 by mikeyk101

[dkjbama]

Put more weight in the camper over the axles instead of the bed.That will take SOME load off the truck's suspension. Of course do not exceed the GVWR of the camper itself.