Heavy towing

[hoitzed]

Sure thing.

 

Truck is a 2019 1500 AT4.  Payload capacity of 1522 (on sticker), tow rating of 9400 (because it's an AT4).
 

On the scales with my family and loaded for camping we come in at 3400lbs on the front axle, and 2900lbs on the rear axle. 

 

The trailer is a 28ft model, dual slide.  32ft tip to tip.  I run a blueox sway pro hitch with 1000lb spring bars.  GVWR is 7500, and UVW is supposedly around 6500 (I think..). We've made some extensive renovations to it, so I don't think the published numbers are accurate anymore.

 

All hooked up our weights come in as the following with the WDH engaged:

 

3250 front axle

3600 rear axle

6800 trailer axles

 

This is probably the largest I would go.  We tow across the rocky mountains on a regular basis, we get about 11mpg averaged out over the summer (10k miles-ish).  I keep the bed empty, the trailer definitely didn't have enough tongue weight on it originally, and I have to leave a couple flats of water under the front bed to keep it where I'm happy with it.

[Ronjon]

32 minutes ago, hoitzed said:

Sure thing.

 

Truck is a 2019 1500 AT4.  Payload capacity of 1522 (on sticker), tow rating of 9400 (because it's an AT4).
 

On the scales with my family and loaded for camping we come in at 3400lbs on the front axle, and 2900lbs on the rear axle. 

 

The trailer is a 28ft model, dual slide.  32ft tip to tip.  I run a blueox sway pro hitch with 1000lb spring bars.  GVWR is 7500, and UVW is supposedly around 6500 (I think..). We've made some extensive renovations to it, so I don't think the published numbers are accurate anymore.

 

All hooked up our weights come in as the following with the WDH engaged:

 

3250 front axle

3600 rear axle

6800 trailer axles

 

This is probably the largest I would go.  We tow across the rocky mountains on a regular basis, we get about 11mpg averaged out over the summer (10k miles-ish).  I keep the bed empty, the trailer definitely didn't have enough tongue weight on it originally, and I have to leave a couple flats of water under the front bed to keep it where I'm happy with it.

This is very reassuring of my Solaire pick. How did the crosswinds feel?

[hoitzed]

22 hours ago, Ronjon said:

This is very reassuring of my Solaire pick. How did the crosswinds feel?

 It's usually ok, although going from my 26 model to the 28 model might have well been doubling up in terms of crosswind difference.  It's a massive change adding those 3-4 ft.  Also, at 10% tongue weight, it was almost untowable in windy situations, I would have to slow down to 35 or so, pushing it back up to almost 15% resolved it.  I'm not a speed demon though, usually keep around 65-70.

[Ronjon]

Yeah I don't usually go over 65 without a trailer anyways.

[blackout881]

I have a 2019 Sierra 1500, Bilstein 5100's and airbags in the rear. Towing about 6500lb-7300lb (sometimes with water tanks full which is horrible to do but needed sometimes) 26' Jayco. The airbags made a night and day difference, i even didnt use the weight distribution hitch a couple of shorter runs set about 35psi. I would not go any larger than 26' with a 1500. Wind definitely wiggles you around a bit. If youre towing long distances id stick around 20'. I only tow to my private property and drop it about 60 miles each way twice a year, and to a couple state parks twice a year.

 

I also tow a 19' equipment trailer with a john deere 3025, that tows great. Ive been itching to upgrade to a 2500, but ill just push the 1500 now until I have a problem as its almost paid off. 

[4banger]

Rule of thumb for me for comfortable towing is half the door rating. 
 

‘Comfortable’ to me is stay with traffic, have some ability to pass. Whenever I’ve towed near limit it’s just not comfortable and feels like truck won’t hold up for continued duty with those Max loads. I read this and immediately thought 2500 or up, heavier suspension and running gear and transmissions etc, heavy towing and half tons don’t really go together. Not interested in being under speed limits or struggling so my comfort levels aren’t same as everyone’s, I stay loaded fully time and we go as many weekends as we can and live in it as we go. Even with towing the half rating I still have air bags to level properly for comfortable towing as my trailer is nose heavy and I carry weight in my box, 400 lb fuel tank just part of it.

 

having said that we have no problem running empty no trailer speeds in any lane we want while hitched up so that’s my comfort level goals lol, we get out of town quick and can roll left lane speeds for extended periods to get out of town far enough to get past traffic and then slow down a bit for the long hauls from there

Edited April 27, 2025 by 4banger

[Snow White]

I tow a 35' white box between 6500 and 7800lbs depending on the year, we rent from a place that gets new rentals every 3yrs....

 

"legally" if you get pulled over axle ratings and the corresponding weight slip from a cat scale is the bottom line. it's a little different if you're the cause of an accident but arguably you could also use axle ratings for that.

 

you're gross axle rating is 7,600 lbs with the front axle rating at 3,800lbs leaving 3,800 on the rear.  I use an equalizer hitch, the good heavy duty one typically from the rental place and it's tough because all my weight is in the truck.... i pickup the camper en-route and i don't want to unload my truck.

 

it's do-able but takes some time at the scales.

I upgraded my brakes to ebc slotted rotors and the hd orange pads.

i finally got a GDE tune for my ecodiesel, strongly recommend it for the babymax also.

 

anyways, axle rating is what i go by, it's what truckers use.

[4banger]

That was a good post. Prolly look into liability and legality stuff first! 
 

also on my light trailer with dual axle, brakes on all 4 wheels, 3000 or 3500 lb torsion axles, and brake controller keeps things smooth at left lane gtfoh speeds and stoppy like I’m empty not towing too, so just like driving an extra long empty truck, definitely set up for ‘sport towing’, if that’s even a thing?

 

I have contemplated putting a ‘This trailer pulled by a 4-cyl...Try to keep up.’ Decal on back door of trailer.

Edited April 29, 2025 by 4banger

[Snow White]

every time we go i have to adjust the L brackets because they just aren't doing enough at the scales, but i bring hefty tool box with all the stuff.  these brackets ended up 1 hole up after scaling it.  have to jack it all the way up on a 12" telephone pole block to get the bars preloaded enough.  Unfortunately the cooler and the generator go behind the rear axle.... i try to leave an alley way to roll them forward of the axle but it never pans out.  that is not ideal as you know.  usually i'll move the cooler into the camper... not owning the trailer, you can imagine everything going in the trailer is in my truck less the wife and dogs who drive separate the next day.

Edited April 29, 2025 by Snow White