Towing 30' Camper W/2004 Ecsb

Pete94Silverado · April 12, 2009

I have searched the site for info, read my owners manual and talked to RV dealers. I have found conflicting information all over the place so, I am hoping someone can shed some light on the situation for me.

Truck information:

2004 ECSB 5.3L HD towing package (from window sticker)

3.42 rear gears

100k miles

Here's the towing info I have found:

1) The RV dealer said the truck would safely tow this: http://www.forestriverinc.com/nd/default22...series=CherWide

(with a brake controller and a weight distribution hitch installed). According to the site, it looks like it's GVWR with brakes is 7678lbs. Is this the correct weight to go by? Or, do I need to go by axle weight? I ask because the dealer was confident that my truck could tow it.

2) The owners manual says the 2004 ECSB will tow 6800 lbs with 3.42 gears. However, several folks on the site say that the 80% rule should be applied...and that would mean about 5440 lbs. If this is correct, the axle weight of the above trailer is below that so, it should be alright. Unless of course, I should be looking at GVWR if so, then it is WAY over that.

So...what's the right info? Is the dealer just trying to get me to buy a trailer that will kill my truck? Is 30' out of the question? If so, what should length/weight should I consider?

TIA,

-Pete04Silverado

Zembonez · April 12, 2009

If that trailer weighs 7600 pounds loaded, you don't have enough truck to tow it safely. That is monster overload for a 1/2 ton pickup. There is absolutely NO WAY to do that safely. According to the site, that trailer weighs just over 6000 pounds dry (without options).

You need a solid 2500 truck with 4.10 gears to do that right. I know some will say it isn't so, but towing at or over the limit on your current truck is asking for trouble... both mechanically and possibly safety wise as well. Not worth it.

A trailer that weighs in at 4500 pounds dry is about your current limit.

You asked.

nonotme42 · April 12, 2009

Doable? Probably.

Safe? HELL no.

You need a 3/4 ton, heck, just for the drivetrain. You'd break your 4L60E, possibly have an accident from uncontrollable sway, and just have too much damn trailer to control without another 1000 lbs on your truck, and it simply wasn't made to be that heavy.

For example, with the weight of a suburban, its doable, but the drivetrain still needs to be a lot more HD, which it isn't.

Pete94Silverado · April 12, 2009

Thanks for the replies...now it just pisses me off that the RV dealer said it would tow it. Oh well...cest la vie. I knew I should have bought too much truck when I bought this one.

Thanks again...

-Pete04Silverado

Zembonez · April 12, 2009

Thanks for the replies...now it just pisses me off that the RV dealer said it would tow it. Oh well...cest la vie. I knew I should have bought too much truck when I bought this one.

Thanks again...

-Pete04Silverado

Yeah... sorry about that but man we'd rather see you be safe than lie to you. Many trailer sales places will tell you anything to get you to buy. If you scale back on size and weight I'd bet you'll be a ton happier. Once you have experience towing something heavy I bet you'll thank us.

Pete94Silverado · April 12, 2009

No question on thanking y'all. I already appreciate y'all's opinions and that's why I posted the question here. I have towed small stuff but...nothing anywhere NEAR this big. So...I figured I should ask. And...yes, I agree...I would much rather be safe.

Thanks again,

-Pete04Silverado

ascali · April 12, 2009

I don't think you can tow the 30' trailer. 3.43 is not built for towing. 5000lbs is the max fro your truck. the problem is not the chassis( 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton), it's your rear differential ratio. If you're planning to do some serious towing, 4.10 is way to go(3.73 probably ok). My 1500 5.3 4.10 constantly tows more than 7500+ lbs trailer, been 9 yrs like that and never quit.

Pete94Silverado · April 12, 2009

I don't think you can tow the 30' trailer. 3.43 is not built for towing. 5000lbs is the max fro your truck. the problem is not the chassis( 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton), it's your rear differential ratio. If you're planning to do some serious towing, 4.10 is way to go(3.73 probably ok). My 1500 5.3 4.10 constantly tows more than 7500+ lbs trailer, been 9 yrs like that and never quit.

So...by adding 4.10s I could safely tow this camper? I am not opposed to adding a steeper rear gear if that will help. However, I thought the limitation was more than just the rear gear. For example, I don't want to add gears and then end up uncovering a problem elsewhere.

-Pete

04Silverado

Stevens03 · April 12, 2009

Your gears are whats hurting you. I towed with the 5.3 4.10 gears and 35" tires and had no troubles. My camper was 6500 lbs and no issues.

If you get new gears, you won't have any trouble.

Steven

smattei14 · April 12, 2009

I don't think you can tow the 30' trailer. 3.43 is not built for towing. 5000lbs is the max fro your truck. the problem is not the chassis( 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton), it's your rear differential ratio. If you're planning to do some serious towing, 4.10 is way to go(3.73 probably ok). My 1500 5.3 4.10 constantly tows more than 7500+ lbs trailer, been 9 yrs like that and never quit.

So...by adding 4.10s I could safely tow this camper? I am not opposed to adding a steeper rear gear if that will help. However, I thought the limitation was more than just the rear gear. For example, I don't want to add gears and then end up uncovering a problem elsewhere.

-Pete

04Silverado

Even with the 4.10 rear...its not worth it. 2500 is the way to go...if you go this rout I would get the 4.10 rear as well. If you can get one with the 8.1 engine....that will really tow that camper (if you get a gas engine....or the best way is to get the Duramax!!!!!) then you can get any size camper you want to get...

There are alot of great deals out there right now. Happy looking!

Rudy35 · April 12, 2009

I used to tow a 7000 lb camper with my '97 ecsb K1500. The motor had plenty of power, I just towed in 3rd. The problem was the truck suspension and tires were not heavy duty enough. A camper that big just moved that truck up and down too much. My 2500 HD is like night and day when I tow now. By the way when I bought the camper the dealer said my K1500 truck would be fine. I learned since then!

ALange · April 12, 2009

An RV dealer would tell you a 1970 Pinto would tow it. I have had them try to sell me trailers I knew my sled would not tow. Yes, it could be done, even with the Pinto, but it would not be worth it in a long run. There are light weight trailers within the range of your truck that are perfectly good, and there are trucks for sale within the range of that trailer and now is a good time to buy. When it comes to trailer recreation you may want to consider buying more truck than you need for a 30 footer as campers tend to want bigger rigs quickly. I have a gasser big block, but truly recommend diesel if you are going to do it often and far.

Zembonez · April 12, 2009

The one potentially dangerous thing many do not factor in to towing is having a "Safety Margin". Sure, a V8 truck will move a large trailer but heaven help you if anything out of the ordinary happens. Somebody pulls out in front of you or you blow out a tire at highway speed and you're likely to end up on the news just as quick as a 16 year old girl on a cell phone.

I'd make sure you have a safety margin.

Griptruk · April 12, 2009

To me, the facts are he HAS the truck, and it's a 1500 with a 5.3 and 3.42 gears.

Unless he's going to buy a new truck or change out the gears (which if it's a 4x4 will be, what? $2000?) the stats of the truck are not changing.

He doesn't seem opposed to a gear change but I think that's a pretty significant expense.

My suggestion would be to go with a trailer that fits safely in the capacity of the truck AS-IS, rather than trying to modify the truck to be able to handle the trailer he wants. Even with the gears it sounds like he'd still be pushing it a bit.

Especially on a truck with 100,000 miles already, parts are most likely going to start to fail on a 1500 when towing a trailer at the limits.

-Jer

Pete94Silverado · April 13, 2009

So...do you think the truck would safely tow this? BTW...I realize that I left out the fact that it is a 2WD.

http://www.forestriverinc.com/nd/default22...series=GreyWolf

Looks like the dry weight is about 4100 lbs. Do you think I should consider 4.10s? Seriously, I have no problem with mods. In fact, my PaceSetters FINALLY came in last week so I'll be picking them up this week and installing this weekend (weather permitting). While installing, I'm going to pull the 'puter and have it programmed (by who...I dunno yet). I could have it reprogrammed at a later date for the rear gear.

Thoughts?

Thanks y'all.

-Pete

04Silverado