Towing Observation

C & A s Dad · January 2, 2008

Many of you know I tow a 6500 lb 30 ft Travel Trailer from time to time. I do so with the Yuk XL that is is my sig. I have really never towed anything else with it until this past weekend when I used it to move my 1968 Buick Wildcat Convertible. The car trailer weighed apprx 2,000 lbs and from what I can tell the car weighs between 4,000 and 4,200. I was pulling apprx 6,000 lbs and found myself comparing this to pulling my camper. Although I knew the car was back there, it pulled much, much easier than the camper. So much easier I would have guessed I was pulling 4,000 or 5,000 lbs if I had not known better.

I guess I am telling you this to simply offer a comparison. If you are currenty pulling a boat or car that weighs 5K or 6K and your truck is barely handling it, just know the wind resistance in pulling a brick like a camper is much different than pulling something like a car. If you decide to buy a camper, you will need to make sure the camper weight is much less than the boat or car or you may be in trouble.

Again, I was amazed at the difference.

Zembonez · January 2, 2008

the wind resistance in pulling a brick like a camper is much different than pulling something like a car.

I've always wondered how bad pulling one of those bricks was. This gives me a little better understanding. I think I'll stick to pulling my boat.

pm26 · January 2, 2008

That is why hard folding travel trailers like HI-LO and Trailmanor are so expensive. They know only too well how much easier they are to tow in the folded position.

sno · January 2, 2008

Without a doubt, aerodynamics plays a huge role in how well (or how much) you can tow. Haven't seen this in the GM literature (haven't looked), but Ford gives maximum frontal areas in addition to maximum weights that you can tow.

Huntervh · January 2, 2008

Unless you are pulling a pontoon boat! Towing that thing is like vertically strapping a 4x8 sheet of plywood to the top of the truck.

asilverblazer · January 2, 2008

My horse trailer isn't the easiest to tow either. I'd say it is similar to any bumper pull travel trailer. There is no way I'd pull a fifth wheel with any of my trucks. I am always amazed at the size of some fifth wheels being pulled by 3/4 and 1 ton trucks. They literally dwarf the truck, there is no way those trucks can hold them on the road. Sure it can pull it, but I don't think there is enough truck to control it.

chevydriver37 · January 2, 2008

This is a great topic that I haven't seen too much about. I have a 30' American Star Brick, er uh, camper that I've pulled with a few different Chevy trucks. I had pulled it with a '91 5.2 liter/3.08/stick and that was like trying to pull a locomotive with a tricycle. Then I used Ol' Faithful, '95 5.7 stick. Don't know what the axle is. That pulled good, but you knew it was back there. Then I used my dad's '01 4.8/3.73, and that did a bit better.

I'm wondering how my GMC nbs 5.3/3.73 is gonna do. It's got all the trailering stuff/suspension, etc. Any ideas?

Rick

mljenkins · January 3, 2008

My horse trailer isn't the easiest to tow either. I'd say it is similar to any bumper pull travel trailer. There is no way I'd pull a fifth wheel with any of my trucks. I am always amazed at the size of some fifth wheels being pulled by 3/4 and 1 ton trucks. They literally dwarf the truck, there is no way those trucks can hold them on the road. Sure it can pull it, but I don't think there is enough truck to control it.

I have a bumper pull and a gooseneck. I much prefer the gooseneck. I feel safer and I feel much safer for my horses. It never moves on the road, and follows my 1500 like a charm. I have friends that tow both, and they swear by the gooseneck trailers, for both horses and flatbed utility trailers (hauling tractors, hay, etc.). I hate pulling the bumper pull around, so much so that I use my larger gooseneck trailer more often (it has weekender package up front). The bumper pull is a 2-horse straight load steel trailer and weighs around 4K empty. The gooseneck weighs 6.5K empty. As far as the aerodynamics, I have never pulled the bumper pull further than about 50 miles, whereas the gooseneck I have towed over 300 mi in one trip; hence, I can't fairly compare that. However, I can definitely say I have never had any sway out of my gooseneck, and I definitely can't say that for the BP (ps: even with a drop down hitch to keep the BP trailer perfectly level when it is loaded).

Matt

C & A s Dad · January 3, 2008

This is a great topic that I haven't seen too much about. I have a 30' American Star Brick, er uh, camper that I've pulled with a few different Chevy trucks. I had pulled it with a '91 5.2 liter/3.08/stick and that was like trying to pull a locomotive with a tricycle. Then I used Ol' Faithful, '95 5.7 stick. Don't know what the axle is. That pulled good, but you knew it was back there. Then I used my dad's '01 4.8/3.73, and that did a bit better.

I'm wondering how my GMC nbs 5.3/3.73 is gonna do. It's got all the trailering stuff/suspension, etc. Any ideas?

Rick

Rick, not sure what you camper weighs but it has got to be in the 6K range right? I advise anyone pulling a camper of this size with a 3.73 to use 3rd gear and you will find it will do well. It will not hold OD unless you are running on flat ground and at speeds that I would consider unsafe towing this kind of load. I find mine does excellent in 3rd and keeps the 5.3 humming right in it's sweet spot. Of course your new GMC has about 50 more horses than my 02. You may find it will maintain OD while driving 55 or 60. I would be curious to know.

skp05 · January 3, 2008

the wind resistance in pulling a brick like a camper is much different than pulling something like a car.

I've always wondered how bad pulling one of those bricks was. This gives me a little better understanding. I think I'll stick to pulling my boat.

I have pulled 3 different boats with my Silverado. An 18ft Bowrider, 20ft bowrider, and a 24ft Cuddy cabin that weighs 5200 dry. I really can tell the 24 is behind the truck. If you are in a headwind, you can tell it soooo much more. I have plenty of power, it's just that you know it's there.

VMax2007 · January 3, 2008

the wind resistance in pulling a brick like a camper is much different than pulling something like a car.

I've always wondered how bad pulling one of those bricks was. This gives me a little better understanding. I think I'll stick to pulling my boat.

Me too, besides...boats are way more fun!!!

asilverblazer · January 3, 2008

My horse trailer isn't the easiest to tow either. I'd say it is similar to any bumper pull travel trailer. There is no way I'd pull a fifth wheel with any of my trucks. I am always amazed at the size of some fifth wheels being pulled by 3/4 and 1 ton trucks. They literally dwarf the truck, there is no way those trucks can hold them on the road. Sure it can pull it, but I don't think there is enough truck to control it.

I have a bumper pull and a gooseneck. I much prefer the gooseneck. I feel safer and I feel much safer for my horses. It never moves on the road, and follows my 1500 like a charm. I have friends that tow both, and they swear by the gooseneck trailers, for both horses and flatbed utility trailers (hauling tractors, hay, etc.). I hate pulling the bumper pull around, so much so that I use my larger gooseneck trailer more often (it has weekender package up front). The bumper pull is a 2-horse straight load steel trailer and weighs around 4K empty. The gooseneck weighs 6.5K empty. As far as the aerodynamics, I have never pulled the bumper pull further than about 50 miles, whereas the gooseneck I have towed over 300 mi in one trip; hence, I can't fairly compare that. However, I can definitely say I have never had any sway out of my gooseneck, and I definitely can't say that for the BP (ps: even with a drop down hitch to keep the BP trailer perfectly level when it is loaded).

Matt

Huh, my bumper pull, pulls fine, no sway or abnormal movements. Regardless I was referring more along the lines of a large fifth wheel travel trailer those usually stick way up in the air, especially when compared to goosenech horsetrailers, which typically have a flat roof line that isn't much higher whether it is gooseneck or bumper pull. the aerodynamics aren't as drastically different between the two types of horse trailers compared to horse trailer (of any type) and a large fifth wheel travel trailer.

chuck16 · January 3, 2008

I wonder if you have a canopy if it helps..... Less of a buffet ?

2000silveradoz71 · January 28, 2008

I tow my boat for about 80miles one way and have no problem. I run 75-80 in drive and you cant even tell its there. From 0-65, you deffinately know its there. Boat and trailer ways in around 8,500(29ft). I pulled my cousins 26 ft camper and it has a crap load of wind resistance. Only ways around 5800.Havent pulled it with my new 04 sierra yet.

Draenor · January 28, 2008

My horse trailer isn't the easiest to tow either. I'd say it is similar to any bumper pull travel trailer. There is no way I'd pull a fifth wheel with any of my trucks. I am always amazed at the size of some fifth wheels being pulled by 3/4 and 1 ton trucks. They literally dwarf the truck, there is no way those trucks can hold them on the road. Sure it can pull it, but I don't think there is enough truck to control it.

This is why I am skepticle of buying a truck that has towed a 5th wheel. Their usually been overloaded. If your amazed at theat, Ive seen plenty of 1/2ton doing the same...... its scary.....