I’m a dad with two kids and the wife might be pregnant with twins.
We bought a Keystone Cougar 34TSB last year and were using a 2019 Silverado 2500HD to tow.
Trailer weighs 10,500
Suburban maxes out at 8,100lbs tow weight.
Now I have more passengers than seats.
I’m looking at either a Toyota Sequoia (9500 tow weight.)
OR
A Chevy Express 3500/GMC Savanna 3500 (16000 tow weight)
Pass on the Sequoia all day and every day. It is not a tow vehicle (tow weight, which is meaningless, tells you that). Look at the payload/carrying capacity of a vehicle.
IMO with the 2 options the 3500 is the only way to go....but; you really have to be careful where you go and what weather you drive in with a rig like that. A trailer that is 37 1/2 ft. long is hard to control in wind. Add the length of a slab sided van to that and things would get real iffy, real quick in my part of the country so keep that in mind.
The Sequoia (I've looked at several thinking I would by, drove them and rented them) is a big, antiquated grocery bag carrier. It is definitely not sprung or meant to pull (carry) that size of a trailer....and with a young family? No way.
__________________
Danny and Susan, wife of 55 years
2019 Ram 3500 Laramie CC SB 6.4 4x4 4.10
2020 Montana High Country 331RL
Pass on the Sequoia all day and every day. It is not a tow vehicle (tow weight, which is meaningless, tells you that). Look at the payload/carrying capacity of a vehicle.
IMO with the 2 options the 3500 is the only way to go....but; you really have to be careful where you go and what weather you drive in with a rig like that. A trailer that is 37 1/2 ft. long is hard to control in wind. Add the length of a slab sided van to that and things would get real iffy, real quick in my part of the country so keep that in mind.
The Sequoia (I've looked at several thinking I would by, drove them and rented them) is a big, antiquated grocery bag carrier. It is definitely not sprung or meant to pull (carry) that size of a trailer....and with a young family? No way.
I would totally agree!
If those are the only 2 choices there's only 1 doable option, the 3500 van!.
__________________
Full-timed 10+ years
Sold '13 Redwood FB
Traded '13 GMC Denali DRW D/A
Replacement undetermined
As we have seen a bunch, tow weights are not the end all in towing and payload is usually the limiting factor. What type payload would a one ton GM van have? I have never owned a van so just curious.
As we have seen a bunch, tow weights are not the end all in towing and payload is usually the limiting factor. What type payload would a one ton GM van have? I have never owned a van so just curious.
2022 jeep grand wagoner? it has seating for 7 and built on a truck chassis… just under 10k towing cap…it’s expensive though..gonna have a longer version end of summer
I've been looking at this for about a week and these are the only solutions to tow 10,500 pounds in a trailer that is 34 feet long.
I have a 3 1/2 year old, a 17 month old and possibly twins coming.
According to the max tow capability on that Sequoia link (9520) the Sequoia is a "tad under 1000 pounds too light)..... So, in reality, it's out of the running just by looking at the trailer GVWR.
The "specs you listed" leave out the payload capacity of the vehicles. The payload is "what's left over from vehicle curb weight before you reach the maximum vehicle weight (GVWR)... It doesn't much matter how heavy the max trailer is if you can't load your family and their gear in the van because the trailer tongue weight takes up all the payload.... That's what George was addressing.
As an example, if the van GVWR is 8600 pounds (as in your post) and the empty vehicle weighs 7000 pounds, then you can put 1600 pounds of cargo in/on the truck. If the trailer tongue weighs 1300 pounds and the hitch weighs 100 pounds, that's 1400 pounds of payload BEFORE you put any people in the seats. With 1600 pounds max payload and 1400 pounds of trailer, you only have 200 pounds remaining for people. In this example, the van is inadequate. It's only an example, you need to plug in the "real world figures" to see if the van has enough payload to go along with the GCWR and the max trailer weight rating.... ALL OF THEM MATTER !!!!!
The pdf link that was posted had the 1 ton GM van with about a 4K lb payload (max payload) with the 6.6L gas engine. Had a 10K lb towing limit but I suspect if careful loading of the trailer was done, that would be the one I would choose. I would get the most stripped version possible.
According to the max tow capability on that Sequoia link (9520) the Sequoia is a "tad under 1000 pounds too light)..... So, in reality, it's out of the running just by looking at the trailer GVWR.
The "specs you listed" leave out the payload capacity of the vehicles. The payload is "what's left over from vehicle curb weight before you reach the maximum vehicle weight (GVWR)... It doesn't much matter how heavy the max trailer is if you can't load your family and their gear in the van because the trailer tongue weight takes up all the payload.... That's what George was addressing.
As an example, if the van GVWR is 8600 pounds (as in your post) and the empty vehicle weighs 7000 pounds, then you can put 1600 pounds of cargo in/on the truck. If the trailer tongue weighs 1300 pounds and the hitch weighs 100 pounds, that's 1400 pounds of payload BEFORE you put any people in the seats. With 1600 pounds max payload and 1400 pounds of trailer, you only have 200 pounds remaining for people. In this example, the van is inadequate. It's only an example, you need to plug in the "real world figures" to see if the van has enough payload to go along with the GCWR and the max trailer weight rating.... ALL OF THEM MATTER !!!!!
The pdf link that was posted had the 1 ton GM van with about a 4K lb payload (max payload) with the 6.6L gas engine. Had a 10K lb towing limit but I suspect if careful loading of the trailer was done, that would be the one I would choose. I would get the most stripped version possible.
I planned to pull most of the seats. that would free up a hundred pounds or more I imagine.
I figured cooler, portable freezer, maybe kids bikes and the dog.
That's the payload from Edmunds, check the yellow/white tag on the driver's door jamb that states "occupants & cargo must not exceed XXXXlbs", that's the payload for THAT particular vehicle.
Brochure & online weights for rvs & trucks are typically "best case" numbers which are usually light by real world numbers. Dry rv weights & max vehicle tow weights are typically useless in the rv world.
As already mentioned the payload is the weight of everyone/everything in/on that vehicle + 13% of the rv GVWR that's posted on the manufacturers tag on the driverside front corner of all rvs + the weight of the required WDH.
__________________
Full-timed 10+ years
Sold '13 Redwood FB
Traded '13 GMC Denali DRW D/A
Replacement undetermined
In 2013 Chevrolet discontinued the 3/4 ton Suburban for public sale. (I guess the Secret Service bought them all up
Anyway, If you can find a Suburban or something like it in 3/4 ton configuration they'll seat up to 9 people and are absolute tanks. I think Ford called theirs the Excursion. Neither of which is still produced in the 3/4 ton configuration.
__________________
2017 Cougar 279RKSWE
2007.5 Dodge Ram 2500 6.7 Cummins
Retirement Training Completed
I think the little voices in my head have started a chat group.
That's the payload from Edmunds, check the yellow/white tag on the driver's door jamb that states "occupants & cargo must not exceed XXXXlbs", that's the payload for THAT particular vehicle.
Brochure & online weights for rvs & trucks are typically "best case" numbers which are usually light by real world numbers. Dry rv weights & max vehicle tow weights are typically useless in the rv world.
As already mentioned the payload is the weight of everyone/everything in/on that vehicle + 13% of the rv GVWR that's posted on the manufacturers tag on the driverside front corner of all rvs + the weight of the required WDH.
I feel confident the correctly configured Express/Savana 3500HD will do the job
I feel confident the correctly configured Express/Savana 3500HD will do the job
The problem with a van is all that space. Even if you pull seats to save weight then there is all that space that you will want to fill with something. With 6 people, including 4 kids, the list of toys and essentials will get long and heavy. Always keep that in mind and find you a favorite cat scale.
__________________
Danny and Susan, wife of 55 years
2019 Ram 3500 Laramie CC SB 6.4 4x4 4.10
2020 Montana High Country 331RL
The problem with a van is all that space. Even if you pull seats to save weight then there is all that space that you will want to fill with something. With 6 people, including 4 kids, the list of toys and essentials will get long and heavy. Always keep that in mind and find you a favorite cat scale.
Thats the glorious thing about bikes, they consume volume without weight
Last I knew, they still sell 3/4 and 1 ton trucks that seat 6? In fact, it is a standard on most trucks and you have to pay extra for the front console and 2 bucket seats. What’s wrong with a 1 ton truck?
__________________
Rob & Amy
2019 Passport 240BH SL
2022 Ford F250 7.3L Godzilla Crew Cab 4x4
This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates in any way. Keystone RV® is a registered trademark of the Keystone RV Company.
Linear Mode
