Can I pull it safely?

[Emersonsdad]

Can I pull my 2016 28RBKWE with my 2017 GMC 1500 4x4 5.3L 3.42 rear axle safely? It is NOT equipped with the max trailering package.

[bagged123]

get the exact vin of your truck and go to a dealer to get the actual specs. What's the GVW of your TT? I think you'll be pushing your limits, but without knowing the GVW of your TT, it's hard to say

[notanlines]

Dad, I'm going to deal in probable's here. Your probable cargo capacity is going to be in the neighborhood of 1500 pounds. Your tongue weight is probably going to be 900 pounds plus batteries and propane and the usual "stuff" your family brings with you. That will bring your tongue weight to about 1200 pounds, probably. Your truck with you, DW and Emerson plus the dog and luggage (and a full tank of fuel) will leave a cargo capacity to about less than 1000 pounds, probably. I realize my calculations aren't exceedingly accurate, but they will be close. You will be right on the border if not over the line. If you keep both the truck and trailer, make sure you invest in the best WDH money can buy. Research it here, these people know great from just okay. And if that picture of your trailer is parked the way you use it at an RV park, you need to invest in a Sidewinder hose support. The way it is laying there is a large amount of "stuff" that stays in there. There should be a slope from start to finish so nothing stays in there.

[JRTJH]

First, the information in your first photo is "incomplete". You list "half the available data" (the GVW/Axle ratings/recommended tire pressure. There's another sticker with the actual vehicle payload (the yellow sticker) that also is a "must see".

The second photo is a "marketing strategy" that gives you "best advantage to beat Ford/RAM" and is NOT "real world" information about your truck. As an example, the data in that table lists the "Maximum GVW/trailer weight/GCWR" as 7200/9100/15000. A quick bit of math will tell you that if you add 7200 and 9100, the sum is 16300 (not 15000) so you can't tow a 9100 pound trailer if your truck is at max payload/GVW. If you "load up your truck" to 7200 pounds, something that you'll almost certainly do with passengers, cargo, hitch and trailer tongue weight, to stay under the maximum combined weight of 15000, the heaviest trailer you can tow would be limited to 7800 pounds (15000-7200=7800).

So, without enough information to give you "real world" capability, I'd "unscientifically guess" that you'll be marginal at best and very likely to be over your truck's payload and maximum combined capacity (assuming you load your trailer the way most of us do).

Will that truck "pull" that trailer? Yes. Will it pull it and stay "within the limits"? Probably not.

ADDED: If the tires are the OEM ones, P275 55R20, inflated to 35PSI (per the decal) you'll induce a significant amount of "tire roll" that will be felt as "trailer sway". Even inflating the tires to the max (probably 41/44PSI) most likely won't eliminate the trailer sway. In most situations, "P series" tires are a "dismal failure" when attempting to tow a "large, heavy RV"....

[sourdough]

If I could use only one word to answer your question, "can I pull it safely?", the answer would be no.

The trailer gvw is 8800 lbs. If the tongue is 15% = 1320? (no calculator).
Payload on truck is 1760. Gvw of truck is 7200. Truck weight by your listing is almost 5500 leaving 1700 before exceeding truck gvw.

If you have 1700 for payload, 1320 for tongue weight then you have 380 lbs. left for you, family, dog, toys, stuff in the truck and wait....about 100 lbs for a hitch. So, as you can see the truck is going to be overweight.

It's just the weakness of a 1/2 ton. They are meant as a gap, IMO, between an SUV and a "truck" that will let you carry some "stuff". They aren't designed to tow "big stuff". Also, I didn't note that the max tow of the truck is 9100 vs the gvw of the trailer at 8800 - really too close.

[jamesmc321]

Dry weight 6460 / 8800 'wet' on that bad boy... mine is 6300 / 8600 and once we have gear, water, propane, battery, kids, firewood, etc... I have 200#'s of available GV left on the truck (same as yours).

Even with a good WDH you will get a lot of purposing (think bouncy feel after you hit a bump) as the rear springs are not heavy enough - I added a leaf which helped 1000% with that - also ended up raising it 2"s.

I can tell you, my next truck will be at least a 3/4 ton if not a 1 ton... just so I have plenty of leftover room in my numbers and have the larger motor / tranny for power.

[Dave-Gray]

The best thing you can do is answer your own question and not be dependent upon others opinions. I strongly encourage you to use the RV Tow Check app at RVTOWCHECK.COM.

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[ctbruce]

The safely question will have to be answered by you. Can you pull it. Sure, the truck will pull it. Will it be fun? Comfortable? Easy? Probably not but that depends on what you're willing to put up with. You'll be at your capacities or over on them. The advice you've gotten here so far is spot on.

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[Tbos]

Having towed a lighter 2810BH with a similar truck I was just below my trucks 7200 lbs GVWR. Your rig is heavier. I think your going to quickly go beyond your limits.


2016 Passport GT 2810BHS, 2016 F350 CC DRW

[Emersonsdad]

Well I can't get rid of a new trailer or new truck. My trailer is stored at the coast (Pismo Beach) and they pull it out for us and park it at our site. I was hoping to tow it further down the road, like Big Sur or Morro Bay, but it's sounding like it's not that simple. We never boondock so the trailer is always dry with only chairs, bedding, kitchen stuff loaded. On the bright side I should be able to tow it in town and get rid of that $70 charge I get for them pulling it out.

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by Emersonsdad

Well I can't get rid of a new trailer or new truck. My trailer is stored at the coast (Pismo Beach) and they pull it out for us and park it at our site. I was hoping to tow it further down the road, like Big Sur or Morro Bay, but it's sounding like it's not that simple. We never boondock so the trailer is always dry with only chairs, bedding, kitchen stuff loaded. On the bright side I should be able to tow it in town and get rid of that $70 charge I get for them pulling it out.

Many have been in the same place you are. Often times we think that if it can "pull" it then everything is OK. The problem is "carrying" it in a safe manner. 2 very different things. Salesmen, truck ads etc. stress "towing" capacity, they conveniently leave out the part of payloads and weight. If you are going to pull it anywhere, even across town, get a good WDH.

[ctbruce]

Lots of us on here have done the same thing. And there will be no shortage of others going forward. Just don't settle for what you have for your situation. When it makes sense to upgrade the truck. Do so. I had to do the same thing. Had to wait for my truck to depreciate a bit and to be paid off a bit. When the time was right I upgraded to a Silverado 3500. The improvement is unbelievable and totally worth it.

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[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by Emersonsdad

.... On the bright side I should be able to tow it in town and get rid of that $70 charge I get for them pulling it out.

Just a "heads up" on your statement, I'll share a personal experience: The only accident I've ever been in was "in town, towing our boat back to the house from the lake". We had gone out after supper to cool off and ski a bit. We had a quick 10 minute rain shower on the way home, the roads were "damp" and as we approached the only stoplight on that side of town, it changed to red. I tried to stop, started skidding, would up in the middle of the intersection with my front bumper "buried" in the side of a truck.

Just because it's "only a couple of miles" doesn't eliminate the potential to get in "over your head". And, from what I remember of Pismo Beach, there's some pretty tough intersections, acceleration/deceleration lanes and some of the roads really were "worse than being out on the highway"....

[Emersonsdad]

Ok, now for the million dollar question.... which WDH?

[ctbruce]

Originally Posted by Emersonsdad

Ok, now for the million dollar question.... which WDH?

This guy just won't quit. Next will be the Chevy, Ford, Ram question....LOL!

I'll go first with a 4 point Equalizer system. Others will chime in. Where's the popcorn?[emoji12]

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[Emersonsdad]

Originally Posted by ctbruce

This guy just won't quit. Next will be the Chevy, Ford, Ram question....LOL!

I'll go first with a 4 point Equalizer system. Others will chime in. Where's the popcorn?[emoji12]

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After using the search function I knew this was a loaded question!

[notanlines]

Y'all treat him with kid gloves! I'm the one who recommended the lot of you.....back up what I said!

[Tbos]

2X on the equalizer.


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[sourdough]

I'll go x3 on the Equalizer. There are others and folks like them but we have had really good luck with ours and like it. We have had others.

[Emersonsdad]

Ok. Which size of Equalizer? Do I need to buy any additional hitch items that will not be included? Like the ball or brackets....