Not sure if I want too much trailer

[Cstewart]

I am looking at a 2011 X213 (4295 lbs) or a 23B (4170 lbs) jay feather select. After looking at a lot of trailers we are confident in the Jayco quality. Our truck is a 2009 chevy avalanche. Down side is, it has a total tailer weight of 5100 lbs. By the time we add people to the truck and a few travel items we may be right at the max acceptable weight of 11,000 lbs. I have a 5.3 l flex fuel v-8 with a 3.08 rear end. Am I pushing this too far? I am very disappointed that chevy had lowered their limits so much.

[Denise]

Welcome to the Jayco Owners Forum Cstewart! Other techies here are much better answering your questions, but I'd like to say to have fun shopping for your new tt....it's about as fun as taking your maiden voyage! Happy shopping and let us know what you wind up doing

[Spike99]

My one buddy has an chevy avalanche and pulls his 29 ft TT. And, he loads his trailer and truck heavy. My guess that normal TT weight (with AC unit, LP tanks, battery, etc. etc.) will be another 800 to 1,000 lbs. And loaded down with internal "people stuff" (like towels, TV, beddings, food, dishes, etc. etc.) would be another 1,500 to 1,800 lbs. Thus, add 2,500 - 2,800 to trailer's listed "dry" weight numbers. Assume NO water in its holding tanks.

If one does the math, your dry 23ft trailer of 4,200 lbs would be "average loaded" "up to" 7,000 lbs. Add another 500 lbs for stuff in rear of Tow Vehicle - like peddle bikes, some firewood, etc. etc. Thus, "calculated" loaded weight of 7,500 lbs. Add 3 x people @ 200 lbs and it would be like towing 8,100 lbs. This is well under the 11,000 lbs "max" loading of your 2009 chevy avalanche.

If wondering, my buddy's Avalanche pulls his 29ft trailer good. Wouldn't want to perform any mountain crossings but for average travels, his pulls good (without any "over stressing" complaints). If wondering, he did get an extra aux cooler installed in his vehicle - as extra cooling precaution.

Hope this helps in your research....

.

[Mopar1973Man]

Part of the reason the number is lowered is the gear ratio you got. 3.08 is awfully tall geared so pulling mountains will be quite a task.

Like I ran mine up on the scales yesterday and got... As for dry numbers forget you even saw them... Dry numbers are meaningless...

02 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Powered - GVWR (8,800#) - GCWR (20,000#) - MAX Trailer Weight (13,650#)

00 Jayco Eagle 296 FBS - GVWR 8,500#

Scales (Council, ID 02/02/11)

02 Cummins (7,800#) 00 Jayco (7,220#) GCWR (15,020#)

What I'm saying it won't take much to pile up weight...

[clutch]

With a good equalizer hitch, a transmission oil cooler, and staying out of OD you should be good to go. Keep in mind that long mountain passes will really work your towing vehicle.

[Mopar1973Man]

Originally Posted by clutch

With a good equalizer hitch, a transmission oil cooler, and staying out of OD you should be good to go. Keep in mind that long mountain passes will really work your towing vehicle.

Even better yet good a good set of gauges so you can monitor your temps. Like a good friend of mine that got a 2001 Dodge 2500 with a automatic he tows boats for a living cross country. He says that all failures will be noted with a rise in temperatures. Now with that said he's got over 940,000 miles on the clock... I think the boy has a good point.

[lou1216gc]

In my opinion all trucks with tow packages should come with an aux cooler and transmission temperature gauge. Then at least you know whats happening when your towing.

[Spike99]

Hi Cstewart.

Based on the contents within below URL, it sounds like your 2009 Avalance vehicle has a published towing of max 5,500 lbs. But, being the same as a Tahoe, it has a "real" towing capacity of max 8,100 lbs. Something about "gearing" and its variance range.

If towing under normal conditions and one packs "normally", I would use your 2009 Avalanche vehile to tow a 24ft TT. But if into mountains or other "over stress" towing conditions, I'd get more truck (or change axle gearing on existing truck). See contents of below URL for more info.

http://www.thehulltruth.com/trucks-t...e-5500lbs.html

Hope this helps...

[av8arkie]

I say that is too close and go get a new TV!

[Cstewart]

Agreed purchased a 2011 dodge ram 1500 4x4 5.7 hemi with a 3.92 rear end...

thank you for the advice. we are going to jayco dealer tomorrow!

[FPM III]

Good lluck with the new TV (and soon to be TT)! I have been following this post but not responding because there wasn't anything I could contribute that had not already been said.

Be sure to post a picture of your new TV & trailer. I'm sure it's a beauty.

[Spike99]

Sounds like a nice new Tow Vehicle. re: "2011 dodge ram 1500 4x4 5.7 hemi with a 3.92 rear end...". With this engine size and better gearing, it will pull much more. Especially when "stress conditions" (like strong head winds, up the steep hills, heavy loaded) are applied.... I want to see pictures of your new TV as well....

.

[dj'stoy]

I have a 23K jayfeather, weight is in around 4260lbs dry I have a 2007 Avalanche with a 7800lbs towing rate (check you door sticker think it should be higher on yours) with a weight eq. hitch everything rides, pulls, and handles very well, the hills are a little slow going but all in all a very good pairing. Good luck with you choice, and hope I gave you a little help.

[Cstewart]

what engine did you have I had the 5.3l flex fuel with only a 3.08 rear? It had a max tow rate of 5000 lbs. I am sure I could have pushed it with my avalanche but in the end safety was more important to me. I loved my avalanche but I really like the power of this dodge.

[dj'stoy]

I have the 5.3 litre, it's a 1500 LTZ and I'm sure it was 7800lbs, my rv dealership also said the tow weight on the avalanche was more then enough for the jayfeather. just do somemore home work, ask the dealership about the weight of the rv, double check your rate on your truck, it's still a 1/2 ton truck and the same platform as the tahoe, or the yukon XL, I'm thinking you will be ok with the two together, just make sure you have the right hitch, and if you avalanche has self levelling like mind, you will need to put the full weight on the hitch before hooking up the EQ. bars. cheers.

[Cstewart]

I was positive about the max trailering of 5000 lbs. It has much more to do with the rear axle ratio than they motor itself. I saw the information in the owner's manual, called the chevy dealership, and confirmed at the rv dealer. All in all they decreased the turns necessary on the rear end to increase fuel economy.

[rvrev2]

I checked out Trailer Life's 2009 Towing Guide (see http://www.trailerlife.com/output.cfm?id=42175) and found the following:

Vechicle Engine Tow limit
Avalanche 1500 2WD 5.3L V-8 5,100 (b*)
Avalanche 1500 2WD 5.3L V-8 5,600 (e*)
Avalanche 1500 2WD 5.3L V-8 8,100 (e,p*)
Avalanche 1500 2WD 5.3L V-8 5,000 (b)
Avalanche 1500 2WD 5.3L V-8 5,500 (e)
Avalanche 1500 2WD 5.3L V-8 8,000 (e)
Avalanche 1500 2WD 6.0L V-8 8,100
Avalanche 1500 4WD 5.3L V-8 5,400 (e*)
Avalanche 1500 4WD 5.3L V-8 7,800 (e,p*)
Avalanche 1500 4WD 5.3L V-8 5,500 (e)
Avalanche 1500 4WD 5.3L V-8 7,900 (e,p)
Avalanche 1500 4WD 6.0L V-8 7,700 (e)

Key to Codes:
a = Automatic Transmission
a4 = Automatic Transmission, four
speed
a5 = Automatic Transmission, five
speed
a6 = Auto Transmssion, six speed
m = Manual Transmission
b = 3.08:1 axle ratio
d =3.23:1 axle ratio
e =3.42:1 axle ratio
g =3.73:1 axle ratio
i =4:10:1 axle ratio
p = Cooling-package required
AWD = All Wheel Drive
CC = Crew Cab
LB = 8-foot bed
Shortbed = 5-foot 9-inch bed
Std. Bed = 6 1⁄2-foot bed
SWB = Short Wheelbase
LWB = Long Wheelbase
DRW = Dual Rear Wheels
SRW = Single Rear Wheel
CV = Cargo Van
PV = Passenger Van
TD = Turbodiesel
t = Tow package required