Towing capacity

[rgatch]

New to the forum, thanks in advance for any input! I just purchased a 2015 Outback 316RL I am towing it with a 2013 1500 Sierra extended cab. My question is whether or not this is a suitable tow vehicle for this trailer?

thanks again,
Rob

[chuckster57]

Depends on what transmission, engine and rear gear ratio. Then there's the question of how much payload you have available, and how much stuff you put in the truck.

Give us as much information as you can and we can give you a better answer.

[KanTC]

to the forum Rob,

As Chuckster said, without more specifics about your truck, we can't provide an accurate answer.

Here's the 2013 GMC Trailering Guide -- http://www.gmc.com/content/dam/GMC/g...ring_Guide.pdf

And, here's the specs for the 2015 Outback 316RL --
Shipping Weight 7,787 lbs (dry/empty)
Carrying Capacity 1,713 lbs
Hitch Weight 980 lbs (dry/empty)
Length 35' 6"
GVWR (shipping weight + carrying capacity) 9,500 lbs


Terri, the Chevy co-pilot

[TLB]

Welcome from a fellow Michigan member.

Well you hopefully have the 5.3 and either 3.42 or 3.73 rear gears.
What is the weight on the trailer?

[therink]

On your truck, what does the sticker in then door jamb say for payload (how many lbs the truck is rated to carry including cargo, passengers, etc)?

[wahoonc]

Based on my personal experience you are either going to be over limit or very close to the towing limit with a half ton truck. My rule of thumb is any trailer over 6500# GVW needs to step up to a 3/4 ton truck. Especially if you are loading things in the truck.

The only way to know for sure is to have all your numbers and run calculations. The closer to the limit the more issues you are likely to have with starting, stopping and handling.

Here is a handy calculator I found that lets you plug in the numbers.

A lot of people don't want to know. However the laws of physics ALWAYS apply.

Aaron

[GaryWT]

Everyone looks at it a little different but at 9,500 pounds the tongue weight will probably put you over the payload. But as others have said, without all the numbers it is hard to say. Outback does make a heavier trailer than many. We looked at them a couple times but found similar floor plans that were a lot lighter.

[CWtheMan]

Will the trailer's GVWR of 9500# cause your truck to exceed - as equipped - it's GCWR?

CW

[sourdough]

First, to the forum! The specifics of your truck are very important in determining the answer to your question. At 9500 lbs you may exceed the tow rating for the truck based on engine, truck configuration and axle ratio. Unless you have the 6.2L the maximum tow weight for any 2013 Sierra 1500 is 9500lbs. The majority of them are less than that. With a 980lb dry hitch weight I think it's a pretty fair assumption you will be at or over your max payload by the time you add additional weight in the trailer, people, hitch, propane etc. Look at inside the driver's door jamb and see what your payload is.

Basically, it's a lot of trailer for your 1/2 ton and more than I would pull.

[rgatch]

My truck has a 5.3 and a 3.42 rear, I pulled it a few times last year and my truck seemed to struggle a little bit. It sounds like I need to get a 3\4 ton!

[rgatch]

The GMC towing towing guide states that my truck equipped with a 5.3ltr and a 3.42 rear axle is capable of towing 9600lbs, if the dry weight of my trailer is 7787 that leaves quite a bit of room for cargo. am I looking at this the wrong way?

[jsmith948]

There is more to it. You have to consider how much weight your truck can CARRY. Load your truck with everything you will have in it on a trip - people, fuel, whatever. Take the truck to a scale and weigh it. Now look on the door post and find your Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. Subtract what your truck actually weighs. This is your available PAYLOAD (hitchweight). Most tucks will exceed the payload well before they exceed their towing capacity.

[wahoonc]

Originally Posted by rgatch

The GMC towing towing guide states that my truck equipped with a 5.3ltr and a 3.42 rear axle is capable of towing 9600lbs, if the dry weight of my trailer is 7787 that leaves quite a bit of room for cargo. am I looking at this the wrong way?

That number is for a stripped down bare bones model truck. To get a real world number you need to have a full tank of fuel, load up with the passengers and everything else you would normally haul while camping and go weigh the truck. Add in the tongue weight of the trailer, now how close to or over the GVW are you? You also need to look at the GCWR which the maximum that the truck and trailer together can weigh. In my real world experience I have found that it works out to about 70%-75% of the numbers in the towing guides. In your case that would be in the 6720-7200# range, and I would be willing to bet your trailer weighs more than the advertised dry weight of 7,787#.

Aaron

[Dave-Gray]

Below is a poster that puts things into perspective. At this point, the best thing to do is obtain the minimum two scaled weigh-ins for your rig. There is a simplified 4-step plan to weighing here.

[Hansel]

Dave great link, and I hunted around and was able too calculate without having to buy the app for my phone. Don't ask me how I found it, but I was able too find out that in the near future I need a bigger truck

[Dave-Gray]

Originally Posted by Hansel

Dave great link, and I hunted around and was able too calculate without having to buy the app for my phone. Don't ask me how I found it, but I was able too find out that in the near future I need a bigger truck

I'm glad the info helped you discover the need for a bigger truck.

[audio1der]

Many of us get oversold on the trailer.
IMO the trailer is also too long for a half ton. A 3/4 would also control sway much better. Weight is not the only concern.

[ajk170]

I was towing a 316RL with a 2010 F150 - it had a 5.4L with 3.55 rear and a 5.5' box. I had passenger tires with max psi of 35#. I scaled it and learned that I was at 14.7K#. The book told me I could go to 15.2K#. I upgraded to a 2013 F250 diesel. I haven't towed with it yet but I expect it to have no issues with 316RL. The F150 felt like the trailer was jerking it around as we went down the road. Never felt comfortable with it. I thought I could go a couple of years before upgrading the truck but I towed it across GA on the byways and upon returning home, we traded the truck a couple days later.