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Old 01-30-2021, 11:33 AM   #1
Campingwithkids8
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Towing Capacity

Hi,
I'm looking to tow a trailer with dry weight of 7500 leveraging a Chevy Express 15 passenger van with tow capacity of 9700lbs. Carrying 2 adults and 7 kids. Thoughts?

Thank you
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Old 01-30-2021, 11:53 AM   #2
jasin1
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Here are the specs for a 2020 the 2021 is a different model number not yet specified with weights ..going to be similar
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Old 01-30-2021, 12:38 PM   #3
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JUST FYI!
The max tow weight of your van & the dry weight of any rv are totally useless numbers to calculate vehicle capabilities.
With 9 people in the van & rv you'll be carrying LOTS of stuff in the van & the rv so using the posted GVWR, max weight of rvs once loaded, of the rv of your choice times 13%, average loaded TT tongue weight, will give you a real world tongue weight of the chosen rv.
Look at the yellow/ white tag on your vans drivers door post the states "occupants & cargo must not exceed XXXX lbs", that's your vans payload. From that payload subtract the weight of everyone/everything in/on that van that didn't come from the factory - the tongue weight you've calculated - 50-100lbs for the WDH that will be required, if you're under that payload number you're good, over that number you're overloaded by that much.
That rv has a GVWR of 9825lbs = 1281lbs tongue weight + 100lbs for the WDH = 1381lbs to start with now add up the weight of all the 9 people, pets & stuff in the van & subtract that from the payload. Very conservative numbers, 7 kids @ 100lb? + 2 adults @ 150lbs? equals 1000lbs? now you're at 2381lbs minimum, hopefully your van has well in excess of 2500lbs payload.
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Old 01-30-2021, 03:50 PM   #4
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Find the payload on the driver door as was mentioned. It will give you an approximation of what the truck can "carry".

Some thoughts; a 15 passenger van is a BUS! It was meant to carry people, not tow big RVs. Whatever the payload is, it was meant for it to be inside the van, between the axles and not hanging off the back wagging an elongated RV.

With 7 kid (growing) and 2 grownups that van will be packed; not only with people but all their "stuff". Trying to control a bumper pull trailer in excess of 38' long and 11' high would be iffy by itself. Throw a family of 9 in the van pulling that thing "hoping for the best".....
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Old 01-30-2021, 04:07 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Campingwithkids8 View Post
Hi,
I'm looking to tow a trailer with dry weight of 7500 leveraging a Chevy Express 15 passenger van with tow capacity of 9700lbs. Carrying 2 adults and 7 kids. Thoughts?

Thank you
Tow capacity is horizontal pull. It's a largely useless number because the real limitation you hit first is always payload capacity (tongue weight).

Dry weights are also useless; calculate the tongue weight as about 12% of the max (gross) trailer weight, then add it to the weights of all the people and any van cargo, and subtract that total from the max payload on the yellow doorframe sticker. My guess is that the result will be a large negative number.
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Old 01-31-2021, 05:39 AM   #6
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2021 KEYSTONE PASSPORT 3400QD - User Joy?

Thank you. I believe my payload to be 3,142 lbs based on this: https://1drv.ms/u/s!AnIbjbY_fqzcgedt..._5Upg?e=ydBlvT

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AnIbjbY_fqzcgedv...aIz-w?e=CNQ0UX

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AnIbjbY_fqzcgedu...JPSRA?e=zNqkh8







Leveraging your conservative estimates and adding 500lbs, puts me at carrying 2,881 lbs. I think I'm very near the 3,142 payload limit

Thank you. I fully appreciate your expertise and experience.

edit: I don't see the photos showing up, sorry, don't know what I'm doing wrong to insert photo links.
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Old 01-31-2021, 05:54 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Campingwithkids8 View Post
Thank you. I believe my payload to be 3,142 lbs based on this: https://1drv.ms/u/s!AnIbjbY_fqzcgedt..._5Upg?e=ydBlvT

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AnIbjbY_fqzcgedv...aIz-w?e=CNQ0UX

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AnIbjbY_fqzcgedu...JPSRA?e=zNqkh8







Leveraging your conservative estimates and adding 500lbs, puts me at carrying 2,881 lbs. I think I'm very near the 3,142 payload limit

Thank you. I fully appreciate your expertise and experience.

edit: I don't see the photos showing up, sorry, don't know what I'm doing wrong to insert photo links.
I may be wrong but I think your getting your 3142 payload based on an empty cargo van specs. .
Yours could very well be less because of the weight of all the seats and extra windows
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Old 01-31-2021, 05:57 AM   #8
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Personally, in my opinion, the trailer you're looking at is too big for that van.
It's over your max tow weight, that number is mostly for flat towing. You would also be over your GCWR.
Even though you have the same gvwr as a 2019 and older GMC 2500 Sierra gasser, and you may very well stay within the payload number, those two weights put you over.

Something smaller at around the 6500 gvwr trailer or lower would be best suited for that van.
Good luck
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Old 01-31-2021, 05:59 AM   #9
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I may be wrong but I think your getting your 3142 payload based on an empty cargo van specs. .
Yours could very well be less because of the weight of all the seats and extra windows
You may have a sticker around your door jam or door like this
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Old 01-31-2021, 06:05 AM   #10
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One other thing to consider with towing this many children in a vehicle ,The van would probably be iffy at best as far as handling and stability. If you get any rambunctious kids switching seats and moving around while trying to maintain control of such a long trailer then you could easily get out of control.
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Old 01-31-2021, 06:05 AM   #11
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Only sticker is this: https://1drv.ms/u/s!AnIbjbY_fqzcgedy...ClKSw?e=w3l5Vg
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Old 01-31-2021, 06:07 AM   #12
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Sort of like this
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Old 01-31-2021, 06:13 AM   #13
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Just a thought but you could use two vehicles maybe? Get a reliable truck that can tow with good payload and have another minivan follow? That would give you some flexibility when vacationing as everyone may not want to see the same local attractions..or the van you have to follow along
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Old 01-31-2021, 06:17 AM   #14
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It always good to understand what you getting into before making that big purchase, and while it may not be exactly what you wanted to hear there is a lot of good information related to towing on this forum. Consider getting a separate tow vehicle and split up the family between a capable truck and you current van. Benefit is that splitting up the kids will cut down on the ' are we there yet's? ".
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Old 01-31-2021, 06:25 AM   #15
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Yes, I especially appreciate the mathematical calculations and am still wrapping my head around the limits, payload, etc. We've been towing a 26 foot, 5000lb trailer with this van and 8 kids for years and the van didn't seem to know it was there. I am hoping it can handle a larger trailer. My wife is completely against two vehicles. I suggested it multiple times. I hate to give up on this if it's truly feasible but hate more to get into a safety issue.
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Old 01-31-2021, 06:27 AM   #16
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I wish the best of luck to you ..I know making your family happy is probably #1 on your list but it should be shared equally with keepin them safe
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Old 01-31-2021, 06:35 AM   #17
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Completely agree. Getting a little more personal and vulnerable here, but 2020 was a tough year. A minor loss was that of our camper to flash flooding in August. The deeply painful loss was that of our three-year-old son, Ambrose Augustine Fleming. He drowned in September. not related to the camper flooding I'm looking forward to getting my family back out to a new sense of normal, camping with them again this summer. Traveling and vacationing safely will be a top priority. Thanks for your candid guidance. May we all travel and vacation safely next year.
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Old 01-31-2021, 06:35 AM   #18
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I think there is "too much marketing" and "not enough reading between the lines" occurring with your three photos.

First, each of them is the "best case rating" based on everything else being omitted from the equation"

Sort of like 3+2+5=10 so 3+5+5=10

Looking at your example in the first photo, the max GVW is 9600 and the max trailer is 9300. In the last photo, the max GCWR (trailer and vehicle combined) is 16,000. Add 9600+9300=18900. So, by separating the data into two tables, the "marketing division" has hidden the fact that the MAX is 16000 but the "wishful sales gimmick" is 18900...

Their "corporate magic" is nothing more than a salesman saying, "Oh your truck can tow anything on the lot".

You simply can't use the "max for every component, add them up and make it work"...

If you could, then a truck with a FAWR of 6100 and a RAWR of 9900 would have a GVW of 16000, not 11400.

They (the marketing division) further confuses ratings by including a "driver in the truck" then hidden in a footnote, define the driver as 150 pounds... Who among us adds the rest of the 225 pound driver? Or do we just "ASSUME" that the driver is whoever sits behind the wheel and is included in the max?????

You've got to "cut through the BS in every brochure" to decipher what's really being revealed...

No truck or van can weigh "max" and tow "max" when the limit is "one minimum and the other max" (to attain a marketing advantage) and then "the other max and this one minimum" to "attain the other half at the best advantage"...

That's truly an example of "having your cake and eating it too" Something all the manufacturers have "artfully mastered"

It's called advertising deception......
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Old 01-31-2021, 06:37 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Campingwithkids8 View Post
Completely agree. Getting a little more personal and vulnerable here, but 2020 was a tough year. A minor loss was that of our camper to flash flooding in August. The deeply painful loss was that of our three-year-old son, Ambrose Augustine Fleming. He drowned in September. not related to the camper flooding I'm looking forward to getting my family back out to a new sense of normal, camping with them again this summer. Traveling and vacationing safely will be a top priority. Thanks for your candid guidance. May we all travel and vacation safely next year.
My deepest condolences.. I wish you and your family well and nothing but happiness
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Old 01-31-2021, 06:48 AM   #20
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"Yours could very well be less because of the weight of all the seats and extra windows"
Of all the posts I have read in 20 years on various sites, no one ever one time told me I had to subtract the weight of the seats and the windows in any of my trucks...
I'm calling baloney on this one.
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