How much can I tow?????

[Pismo4]

Hi everyone,

Just bought a '17 Silverado 1500 LTZ Double Cab 2WD 5.3L w/3.42. I can not seem to get a consistent answer on how much I can tow. I am looking at the 2018 Jay Feather 27RL. The 27RL has a GVWR of 7000# and dry hitch weight of 650#. Any thoughts would be truly appreciated. Thanks

[DavidJay]

According to this Chevrolet guide, your towing is between 9200 and 9400, depending on whether it is a standard box or a short box. See page 9:
http://www.gmfleet.com/content/dam/g...wing-guide.pdf

So it sounds like you are fine with the 27RL.

[Pismo4]

DavidJay, thanks. I have checked multiple websites, talked to Chevy, and experienced RVers and have gotten different answers. Thanks for the quick reply. Be well...

[jsallman1]

Originally Posted by Pismo4

Hi everyone,

Just bought a '17 Silverado 1500 LTZ Double Cab 2WD 5.3L w/3.42. I can not seem to get a consistent answer on how much I can tow. I am looking at the 2018 Jay Feather 27RL. The 27RL has a GVWR of 7000# and dry hitch weight of 650#. Any thoughts would be truly appreciated. Thanks

You may want to post this in the "tech and tow" area for more answers. Also tons of guidance on how to calculate this in that area, similar to the below.

Generally the limiting factor is going to be the amount you can actually load on the truck frame, or the payload, which includes the weight of the hitch on the truck. Look at your drivers side door jamb on the truck, and look for a "tire and loading information" sticker, its probably yellow and black. It will have a number on it that is your maximum weight of cargo and occupants. Cargo includes the weight of the hitch you use, and the tongue weight of the trailer on the truck. It will also include add on post factory features, like a tonneau cover, non factory running boards, etc. Weight of occupants is fairly straight forward. The number should be equal to the GVWR of your truck minus the curb weight "as configured" from the factory.

The safe way to calculate the trailer weight is take 10-14% (12 is a good number) of the maximum weight of the trailer, found on jaycos website. You wont want less than 10% tongue weight, or you wont likely have a good tow experience.

In your case, trailer GVWR of 7000LBS, .12 * 7000 = 840lbs is a reasonable target tongue weight, so subtract that from the door jamb sticker, do you still have enough weight left for your passengers, cargo, and say a 75-100lb weight distribution hitch. The 640 number for dry hitch weight is when its dead empty, no battery, no gas in the bottles, definitely no water in the tanks.

Also keep in mind you only have 1330 cargo carrying capacity in the trailer per Jaycos site, so you cant put a whole lot in there in lieu of loading the bed of the truck, and I don't believe that includes things like the gas tanks and battery, so you may be closer to 1000lbs.

I hope this helps, I personally ended up being over because I didn't look into this enough on my old truck even though it could "tow" over 10k lbs, decided to upgrade the truck and got a relatively cost neutral trade rather than worry about it. I had growing kids as well, which will do nothing but get heavier.

Once you have the trailer, you can weigh at a scale and verify all your numbers, but thats nearly impossible to do unless they will let you tow it away. Maybe if you rented a trailer similar for a weekend, you could load it and weigh it and see where you are at. MANY articles here about how to weigh.

[redsnapper]

Used to have a 2014 F-150 with a 5.0 V-8 towing a #5500 (CAT) trailer at 24'

Did fine on flat roads..swayed some on passing trucks and gusts of winds.

The real bear was pulling a grade.....even on slight inclines, the truck would downshift into 4th.....then as the grade increased, downshifted to 3rd....then as the speed would slow down, downshift into 2nd while the 5.0 is screaming at over 4000 RPM...

Well that lasted for about 2 trips and traded for the sig truck. Best thing I EVER did.

[Pismo4]

Jsallman1, thanks. I am new to this so I am trying to absorb as much information as possible. Thanks again and I will heed your advice.

[Pismo4]

Redsnapper, this is my fear. Although I can pull it, will I really want to continue the struggle in my travels. Thanks and be well...

[NCMFFD]

Originally Posted by redsnapper

Used to have a 2014 F-150 with a 5.0 V-8 towing a #5500 (CAT) trailer at 24'

Did fine on flat roads..swayed some on passing trucks and gusts of winds.

The real bear was pulling a grade.....even on slight inclines, the truck would downshift into 4th.....then as the grade increased, downshifted to 3rd....then as the speed would slow down, downshift into 2nd while the 5.0 is screaming at over 4000 RPM...

Well that lasted for about 2 trips and traded for the sig truck. Best thing I EVER did.

We lived ^ that too except with a 2007 Nissan Titan 2wd 5.6L SE Crewcab with factory tow package 9400#.

While the truck was quite capable it did work hard in the mountains, headwinds, etc and being 1000# lighter than the TT, there were a few white knuckle occasions from the wind and passing tractor trailer rigs.

We upgraded as well and it's been a 100% towing improvement.

[Pismo4]

NCMFFD, I am glad I posted the question. Since I am in no hurry to buy I can explore my options with a truck upgrade. Thanks and be well...

[Duke4857]

We have a 2014 Ram 1500, it has the outdoorsman package on it. It has the 5.7 Hemi and is rated to pull 10,200 with the 8 speed transmission and 3.92 gearing. It impressed me going over the great divide this year. The trailer (2016 White Hawk 24RKS) did sway a little in the wind, so all we had to do was slow down.

https://www.jayco.com/tools/archive/...te-hawk/24rks/

[Pismo4]

Duke4857, truly appreciate the response. This will be my 1st R.V. and I want it to be a grea time.. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[vcbice]

We towed a small fifth wheel with our Tundra (4.7L). About 7000lb. It did well in the mountains out west, but, I would not have wanted anything heavier. It also needed air bags to keep it off the bump stops in the back.

A gas engine at 4000rpm is near the sweet spot for torque. They are designed to run all day at that RPM. My diesel has peak torque at 1500rpm and max hp at 3000rpm.

[Jopopsy]

Originally Posted by vcbice

A gas engine at 4000rpm is near the sweet spot for torque. They are designed to run all day at that RPM. My diesel has peak torque at 1500rpm and max hp at 3000rpm.

Maybe a normally aspirated gas engine, but not a turbo. Though really that's more a Ford thing then a Dodge/Chevy/GMC thing.

[FishAr]

Originally Posted by Pismo4

Hi everyone,

Just bought a '17 Silverado 1500 LTZ Double Cab 2WD 5.3L w/3.42. I can not seem to get a consistent answer on how much I can tow. I am looking at the 2018 Jay Feather 27RL. The 27RL has a GVWR of 7000# and dry hitch weight of 650#. Any thoughts would be truly appreciated. Thanks

I had a similar truck although a 2015 model and 4 wheel drive. I pulled a sunset trail super lite, empty weight of 5700 pounds. It pulled it fine.

The windjammer 3001w, empty weight of 7100 pounds, I didn't have the horsepower I wanted to get on the interstate from the on ramp.

No sway problems or overloaded problems with either. The truck was rated at 9200 pounds towing if I remember right.

[SkyBound]

Originally Posted by Jopopsy

Maybe a normally aspirated gas engine, but not a turbo. Though really that's more a Ford thing then a Dodge/Chevy/GMC thing.

I've never even seen anything over 3700rpm while towing with my truck. Agreed - NA engines need to rev high to make the power.

[redsnapper]

Originally Posted by Pismo4

Redsnapper, this is my fear. Although I can pull it, will I really want to continue the struggle in my travels. Thanks and be well...

Give it a go Pismo....

The lack of power up a grade is a choice that can be changed if one cannot deal with it.

I am not sure I buy into the common phrase "Those engines were designed to rev high"....

[sbarlag]

I use this at our dealership, Trailer Towing Guides | www.trailerlife.com

[33 RLDS]

My Avalanche rarely see over 3K on the tach as the 496 Cubic inch big block don't need big rpms !

[Pismo4]

FishAr, thanks. It is reassuring to listen to someone with close to the same kind of rig.

[Pismo4]

sbarlag, have you ever heard or seen changingears.com? Wondering how legit they are.