GMC Sierra

RLF · 01-01-2022, 01:05 PM

You guys with experience. How much will a GMC Sierra 4x4 with standard v8 engine comfortably pull rv wise. Have a few hills to campground but certainly nothing like a mountain. Thanks old heads!

markcee · 01-01-2022, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RLF

You guys with experience. How much will a GMC Sierra 4x4 with standard v8 engine comfortably pull rv wise. Have a few hills to campground but certainly nothing like a mountain. Thanks old heads!

You will need to provide more info:

Year of truck, is it a 1/2, 3/4, 1 ton?

Also, take a look at the yellow/white sticker on the driver's side door jamb and post the cargo carrying capacity (payload) for your specific truck back here. It will be listed as '...combined weight of all occupants and cargo should never exceed xxxx pounds.

Sticker looks like the attached.

travelin texans · 01-01-2022, 02:13 PM

Also need the GVWR of your chosen rv, 5th wheel or TT.
For a TT calculate 13% of that GVWR for tongue weight & 23% for pin weight of a 5er.
With these numbers subtract from the payload on that yellow/white tag along with the weight of the hitch & weight of everyone/everything in the truck.

**JRTJH** · 01-01-2022, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RLF

You guys with experience. How much will a GMC Sierra 4x4 with standard v8 engine comfortably pull rv wise. Have a few hills to campground but certainly nothing like a mountain. Thanks old heads!

That's sort of like asking, "How many passengers will a Boeing airplane hold" ???

To even get a ballpark answer, someone would need the truck specifics, half ton, one ton, etc, GVWR, engine size/type, gearing, any additional cargo, type of trailer, trailer specifics, etc.

Something to keep in mind: PULLING a trailer is nothing more than making it move forward. TOWING a trailer includes not only forward movement, but also carrying the tongue load of the trailer, all cargo in the truck and doing it safely while maintaining highway speeds. Nearly any vehicle can "PULL" a trailer, but it must be properly equipped to "TOW" a trailer.....

RLF · 01-01-2022, 04:35 PM

1/2 ton , 1518 combined weight. Just a good guess guys.

Northofu1 · 01-01-2022, 04:57 PM

Hi There and welcome to the forum.

I would say nothing over 25' long, a good Weight Distribution Hitch (Equalizer, Blue Ox, Pro Pride, or Andersen).
Swap out your rear shocks for Bilstein 5100's. Make sure you have good Load Range E light truck tires.
That set up would be fine with hills, as long as you have the trailer package with separate tranny cooler. The tranny takes a beating in a 1500.

Try to load everything you want to take in the trailer, not the truck box.

Cat scales are your friend, along with packing wisely.

Good luck

RLF · 01-01-2022, 05:05 PM

Thank you!

Northofu1 · 01-01-2022, 05:09 PM

Hardest part is the floorplan and options that suit your needs.

**JRTJH** · 01-01-2022, 05:28 PM

There's way too little information to make any "general guess"...

For example, a 4.3l v-6 regular cab 4x4 with base equipment could pull significantly less than a 6.2l v8 crew cab 4x2 with all the optional towing packages. AND, both could be equipped with a 1518 pound payload. Then add the passengers and truck cargo/optional equipment and the truck (any truck) could conceivably be overloaded before any trailer is hitched to the truck.

If you post your truck information, year, model, engine/transmission, 2 or 4WD, GVWR/Axle ratings and any optional towing equipment along with the normal truck passenger load and typical cargo weight you carry in the truck, someone could give you a fairly accurate trailer size that you could tow.

To suggest you'd "be OK" with a 5,000 pound trailer, and then find out that you have a 4,3l v-6 and always carry 800 pounds of tool in the bed of the truck and have a 400 pound fiberglass shell over the bed... Well, any 5000 pound trailer will overload that truck, so you simply couldn't tow safely, even though the "sierra line" has many models that could....

Post your "truck specifications" and you'll get a much more accurate assessment... Right now anything is a "crapshoot guess" with us knowing only that it's a "half ton sierra with a payload of 1518.

RLF · 01-01-2022, 06:50 PM

GVW Rat 7,200
Rear Axle 3.42R
5.3L V8
4x4
6 speed auto trans
Mono tube Rancho Shock
Trailer Brake Controler
Trailering Equipment Package
Hope this helps

Northofu1 · 01-01-2022, 07:18 PM

Your truck should pull something like this no problem.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeNo...nel=HowRVsWork

RLF · 01-01-2022, 08:11 PM

Should it tow pretty well up to 5,200 lbs or so. Thanks for the help.

NH_Bulldog · 01-02-2022, 07:01 AM

Here is my experience, YMMV.

Our 240BH has a 7,000 lb. GVWR and a “published” tongue weight of 551 lbs. In the real world with batteries, propane tanks, cargo and a weight distribution hitch in place, our tongue weight scales at 950 lbs. For me, that leaves about 1,400 lbs. of weight capacity in the truck for my family and pets, which is a comfortable cushion for our set-up. The exact same trailer set-up would leave you with less than 600 lbs. for people, cargo and after-market installed accessories on the truck, and that may put you at or over your cargo capacity.

Keep in mind that towing capacity is rarely an issue, but carrying capacity is where most run into issues. There is also a formula for ratio of trailer length to truck wheelbase. All that aside, keeping trailer weight in the 5,000 lb. range with a half ton truck is a good place to start looking.

Wxman · 01-02-2022, 10:44 AM

Well....
I had a 2017 Silverado DC with the 5.3L. I had a factory cargo capacity of 1785. At that time I had a Passport 19RB (24'), 6500GW. Scaled out for my camping the trailer was right at 6K. Two people (350) one cooler (40) a ladder (40) and extra propane (38) carried in the truck. I had an equalizer 10K/1K TW hitch. I had upgraded the shocks to Bilstein 4600s.
Yes, I thought that combo did very well. Pulled in IN and surrounding states so no mts, although some hills in KY. Did very well I thought. However, I was just over 900lb TW. Add in the tools that never left truck, aftermarket cover and assist steps with the cargo mentioned above and I was within 200 lbs of GVWR of the truck. Everything was good but I never wanted to pull more.
Upgraded truck and trailer. Pulling the new trailer 10k gross weight and 10 ft longer with the 3/4 ton is better experience than the smaller trailer with the 1/2 ton I had. Shocks upgraded on the 3/4 tone as well. Bolsters in my mind that the 24' 6000lb trailer was plenty for that truck.
Two other couples we camp with pull 9k+ 30'+ trailers with half tons. Both always make it and go mostly the same places we do. If there is any wind or extra traffic they complain about the trip and the 'tight' steering wheel grip. Yes, they are both teetering on exceeding a limit or two, and most likely do exceed something more often than they will admit. I did not have those issues and do not have those issues with either setup.

Best of luck. Be safe.

Laredo Tugger · 01-02-2022, 11:54 AM

RLF,
You had a post yesterday asking for help with a running light. I believe you said it was a 2018 Passport.
Your question in this thread seems to be directed at requesting advice as to how much trailer your truck will tow.
You already have a trailer and are concerned about how your truck is handling the load?
If so you have come to the right place. Just ask. All sorts of SAFE towing experience on here.
Good luck
RMc

linux3 · 01-03-2022, 11:32 AM

OK, my previous truck was a 2017 Silverado 5.3 V* with 3.42 gears 6 speed. Basically what you have.
As you can see I pull a 19.5 Passport with a real world GVW of just a tad under 5K lbs.
I upgraded to my current truck because I wanted all the toys.
Anyway, we pull around 7k miles a year all over eveywhere.
If I was you, and I'm not, I would try to stick to a GVW under 6K lbs if you plan to travel far.
If your plan is back and forth local I would maybe look at 7k but no more.

I like being able to pull my 5K TT anywhere I like and feeling secure doing it. If you have no plans of doing a road trip push the 7k GVW but if your plans MIGHT include a road trip and you like being relaxed think about dialing it down.

P&DZ · 01-06-2022, 08:40 AM

RLF,
This is my experience with a similar 2018 GMC 1500 (see below) and a payload capacity of 1925. I tow a Cougar 22RBSWE when loaded for three weeks of camping it has a CAT scale weight of 6,600lbs. I typically tow in the Colorado and Utah mountains. While I have plenty of safety margin on all the numbers the 6,600lbs is as much as I would tow with this vehicle.

stockboro · 01-06-2022, 08:48 AM

My current TV is a 2018 Silverado 5.3LV8 with 6 speed. I tow a 29RLD (34ft) Cougar at about 8000lbs with an Equilizer 4Way hitch, 1,400lb bars and a dry tongue weight of 1040lbs. We travel light, just the two of us, and with a fairly empty water tank. It works because I upgraded to E rated truck tires that I run at 60lbs, and Sumo Springs to help stabilize the rear end. In November we covered 2600 miles from Michigan to Georgia and back at about 65mph. Towing through the Kentucky, Tenn, and Georgia hills on the interstate was ok, and better than I thought it would be. It would drop to 5th gear at about 2600rpm when pulling harder, then sometimes 4th gear at 3500rpm or so up the big grades. Tolerable. Never would drop below 59 to 60mph at those points. Now, if you are pulling into the wind you will see the mpg drop significantly. And we never travel in bad weather or wind storms. If we didn't like this RV so much, I would have gone for a bit lighter and shorter trailer.

Having said all that, I have a new F250 with the 7.3L Godzilla V8 and maximum towing packages on order for this next camping season.

wiredgeorge · 01-06-2022, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stockboro

My current TV is a 2018 Silverado 5.3LV8 with 6 speed. I tow a 29RLD (34ft) Cougar at about 8000lbs with an Equilizer 4Way hitch, 1,400lb bars and a dry tongue weight of 1040lbs. We travel light, just the two of us, and with a fairly empty water tank. It works because I upgraded to E rated truck tires that I run at 60lbs, and Sumo Springs to help stabilize the rear end. In November we covered 2600 miles from Michigan to Georgia and back at about 65mph. Towing through the Kentucky, Tenn, and Georgia hills on the interstate was ok, and better than I thought it would be. It would drop to 5th gear at about 2600rpm when pulling harder, then sometimes 4th gear at 3500rpm or so up the big grades. Tolerable. Never would drop below 59 to 60mph at those points. Now, if you are pulling into the wind you will see the mpg drop significantly. And we never travel in bad weather or wind storms. If we didn't like this RV so much, I would have gone for a bit lighter and shorter trailer.

Having said all that, I have a new F250 with the 7.3L Godzilla V8 and maximum towing packages on order for this next camping season.

See post #29 in this thread... ouch.
https://www.keystoneforums.com/forum...377#post481377

MarvnMabel · 01-06-2022, 09:29 AM

I'm pulling a 271RK with my '13 1500 equipped with the 6.2L and all trailering equipment standard. Added AirLift 5000 bags for stability. No problems in Montana.

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