Towing Capacity [Expired Topic]

[squid636]

I am looking at getting a toy hauler trailer. The hitch on the truck tells me that the GVWR is 10000 lbs. Is there anything that can be done to tow a trailer over that maximum GVWR. The trailer I am looking at has a max GVWR of 15000. I figure after loading the trailer that the weight will be about 11000 lbs. Thanks.

[larryderouin]

That Gross weight rating of 10000lbs is the rating for the hitch with the equalizer bar type hitch. Your GVWR WILL be different. Need to know what model, year, engine, trans, rear gear. Look on the Drivers door labels for GVWR.

My '99 K-1500 5.7L, 4L60, 3.42 is rated by GM to haul 5500lbs. That includes the following: Trailer, driver, ALL passengers, full load of fuel and gear in the trailer AND truck. My trailer weighs 3800 EMPTY. Once I get clothes , food, gear, Propane, Full load of water, firewood, etc. it weighs about 4,900. With me, the wife, and a full load of GAS we are 50/75lbs below GVWR of the truck. So I dump 1/2 the water and take only essentials. Which gives me about 200 below GVWR of the truck.

Also you have to balance that with the GCVWR(Gross COMBINED Vehicle Weight rating), GAWR(Gross AXLE Weight Rating) (Front and REAR). Overload any of these or any combination and you'll be UNSAFE and way over the capacity for the brakes and the drive train. For a toy hauler that has a GVWR of 15,000 you need a truck that has a GCVWR of at least 20,000lbs(weight of your truck and trailer with all the gear, passengers, driver, fuel, water, propane, etc. That equates to at least a 3500 series (Possibly a dually) with a minimum of a BIG BLOCK, 4L80 (or Allison), and a 4.10 or 4.54/4.55 rear.

[unplugged]

I agree with larry. Be careful what you tow! I worked at a RV dealership selling toy haulers and I saw some pretty scary truck/trailer combos. Leave yourself some room and buy a trailer that you can comfortably tow. Remember that you are putting the lives of your family, friends and other motorists at risk. A good friend of mine recently retired and bought a lightweight travel trailer to tow behind his Ford Explorer. A tire blowout banged his Explorer up pretty good and the trailer flipped and turned into a pile of confetti. Luckily no one was hurt.
Check out this video on of a bus that crashed because a car that pulled out in front of it.

[TrailLeadr]

A relative of mine was towing a travel trailer with an explorer. Well within towing limits. She got in between two big rigs, and the wind started tossing her little explorer, and trailer around. It ended up flipping the trailer, and in the process threw the explorer over on it's side. No personal injuries, but new truck and trailer were needed.

Even though she was in her towing limits, some vehicles just shouldn't be used for towing. IMO

[esponet]

i think even if the truck can tow it, and its within towing capacity, its still a good rule of thumb that the tower is heavier (the more the better) than the towee.
a lighter vehicle may be able to pull it, but stoping and controling it is a different story.

[TrailLeadr]

You got my vote on that!