RE: Another newbie TV question

[ImTravis]

I'm picking up a 2014 Outback 277RL and will be towing it with my 2014 Chevy Silverado 1500. The chevy has a tow rating of 9600, and according to Keystone, the specs on the trailer is:
Shipping Weight: 7320
Carrying Capacity: 1680
Which is a rough guesstimate of 9000 for the vehicle weight if fully loaded (and from reading the forums here, it probably will be).

Is that a concern, or should I be okay since I'm 600 under the rating? I did put in a proportional brake controller (as I couldn't stand the cheap one the dealer installed), and have an Equalizer E4 WD/Sway hitch coming with the trailer.

Thanks

[JRTJH]

This is strictly "guesswork" on determining your tow vehicle payload, but I'd guess it's roughly 1400 lbs. The trailer tongue will weigh between 10% and 15% of the trailer gross weight. So, if you're using 9000 lbs as the trailer "wet weight" you can expect the tongue weight to be somewhere between 900 and 1350 lbs. Add 100 pounds to that for the equalizer hitch and you're looking at a trailer tongue weight of 1000 - 1450 lbs.

As you can see, your tongue weight will be nearly your entire truck payload. Depending on the weight of passengers , equipment (tonneau cover, truck cap, bed mat, etc) and cargo you need in your truck, you will likely be overloaded even though you have 600 lbs of "available trailer capacity" as far as "towing" goes.

Remember that your "maximum trailer load" of 9600 lbs is rated with an empty truck. If you consider the GCWR and subtract 9600 lbs, you'll get approximately the curb weight of your truck EMPTY. If you take your GCWR and subtract your truck's GVW, you'll get substantially less weight remaining for the trailer. It won't be 9600 lbs.

It's not just "towing" but truck "loading" that matters. I think you'll be at or over your payload with an "empty truck hitched to that loaded trailer".

[GaryWT]

The numbers there are close but I towed 3 years with similar numbers and all was good. It will come down to the payload of the truck. What is it, should be on the door. Now add the weight of what is in the truck, weight of the hitch etc and oh 12% or so of 9,000 and see how the 2 numbers compare.

[bsmith0404]

The problem with being that close to your tow rating is how the max tow rating is calculated. They take the max GCWR and subtract the weight of the base truck and driver (I believe they allow for 200 lbs for driver weight). Any additional gear and options on the truck will reduce what you can actually tow. My guess is you will be over your max towing capacity. Although many people do it, it's not the best scenario and my guess is you will not be happy with the performance.

[Festus2]

Originally Posted by ImTravis

Is that a concern, or should I be okay since I'm 600 under the rating?

Thanks

Since you have already purchased your TT and you have indicated that you will be towing it with a 2014 Chev 1500, isn't it a bit late to be asking "Is that a concern or should I be okay"? There doesn't seem to be much point in adding anything further to the discussion since the decision has already been made to go with the Outback and Chev 1500.

Two previous posters have already stated that it is most likely not "okay" and that you might well be "over the safe towing limit".

[ImTravis]

Thanks for the input, it at least does confirm that I had been mislead by both dealers..




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[Festus2]

Originally Posted by ImTravis

Thanks for the input, it at least does confirm that I had been mislead by both dealers..

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Since you soon will have both the TT and your Chevy, I would take both to a weigh scale and get everything weighed. Pack your TT and 1500 as you would as if you were going camping - all the passengers, a full tank of fuel and anything in the way of camping supplies you might throw in the bed of the truck.

Once you have the real weight numbers from the scale, you will know for sure if you have some wiggle room, are at max or are over. Knowing the results will either put your mind at rest or not.

If you don't know how to weigh your unit when at the scale, you can Google it and it will tell you about the procedure.

Good luck at the scales -- who knows, the numbers might work out for you.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by ImTravis

Thanks for the input, it at least does confirm that I had been mislead by both dealers..

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You're correct in thinking that you've been "mislead" by both dealers. Salesmen are notorious for saying, "Your truck can handle almost anything on our lot, Let me show you our best model."

If, at closing, you read all the documents that they will have you sign, one of them will be a waiver which will state that it is YOUR responsibility to make sure your tow vehicle is capable of safely towing the trailer. It will go on to state that you are aware that nothing the dealer told you "should indicate that they have helped you calculate safe towing weights."

Funny how they can "mislead" you until they get your money, then they have you sign a document absolving them of any "wrong doing"

[gsmith31]

I to own a 2014 chevy Silverado 1500, and my payload is 1875 lbs. and I can safely say that camper would be over my payload, as soon as me and my wife got in the truck, and put a cooler in the bed. You will not like the way that rig is going to handle. But get the rig weighed for sure, so you will know were you are at.

[GunDoc]

I have a 2014 GMC 1500 Crew Cab 4WD All Terrain Plus. I tow a Cougar 27RL, which has a dry weight 1100 lbs LESS than your TT. My tongue weight is around 800lbs (because of the floor plan of the TT). With my wife, daughter and I plus a full bag of gas in the truck, I have about 450 lbs of payload left. I carry a Pelican box with tools and stuff in the bed, so I am closer to 350lbs left over. I use an Equalizer 4 hitch and the TT tows great, no sway, even with semis passing. Truck sits level when hitched. I load the TT pretty light, because we only go out for 2-3 days at a time. I do carry some water in the fresh tank for added stability. I would think with a TT 1100lbs OVER what I have now would most definitely exceed my gross.

Of course it all depends how your truck is optioned. Mine has ALL of the bells and whistles, which lowers its payload. A work truck, or LT would have a much higher payload, because it’s not weighted down with options. Look at your yellow sticker on the driver’s door post, then fill it up with gas and find a scale. Deduct what the scale says from the yellow sticker number and that’s what you can “put on the truck,” including tongue weight.

[ImTravis]

Based off the replies here, I contacted my trailer dealer, and am getting a trailer that's 1k lighter (granted it's 2k more expensive), but I believe that will be better for us.
Thanks for the nice replies (with good info).

[bsmith0404]

Probably the best $2k you've spent

[meaz93]

My wife has a 09 Tahoe with the 5.3V8. I've had to pull our 8k TT when the Titan was down (F150 Boost filled those shoes-now!)
I can tell you it will pull it but when you get to 6-7% grade things get a lot tougher....she has to scream at like 4500rpms +. Then be very careful coming down the hills as I found the brakes on the Tahoe heated up badly, to the point of a slight warp on the rotors!? So take it easy....

[sourdough]

Another thing you might do on your 1500 is install air bags. I had a 2012 Ram 1500 towing 8k with those installed and it made a noticeable difference in sway - and I just put in the Air Lift 1000. Less than a $100 and an hour of your time for a very worthwhile addition in my opinion.

[SAABDOCTOR]

Just remember if you go air bags that willNOT increase your payload!