Max towing?

[CMOrr]

I have recently negotiated what I believe to be a great deal on a tractor, fel, bh, cutter, bb and 20' equipment trailer. The trailer is a 20' tandem with a GVW rating of 10,500 lbs. and has electric brakes on both axles. The dealer is in OK and I'm in TX. It is about a 300 mile drive.

After making the deal I began to think about my ability to trailer all this
equipment back with my truck. I drive an 08 GMC Sierra 1500 4x4 5.3 ltr V8 rated at 8,500 lbs towing. A quick tally of the weight of the equipment and trailer comes to somewhere in the neighborhood of 9,500 lbs.

So, I thought I would get some input if this is something the truck would pull ok for one trip or should I plan on making two trips?

Thanks for the input!

 

[MikeInEburg]

Two trips! You're endangering your own life plus the lives of other motorists.

Mike

 

[firefighter jim]

Two trips! You're endangering your own life plus the lives of other motorists.

Mike

Ditto.............

 

[ModMech]

First off I would congratulate you one being smart enough to understand there *might* be a problem with the proposed load and not just saying "well the bumper will hold it".

The TRAILER stops itself and the LOAD, if the brakes are working correctly.

If you were overloaded by 20% or more I would say two trips, but you are just baarely over the towing rating by 10% or so with brakes on BOTH trailer axles and under the trailer rating. If it were me and my family making the trip, it would be a single, but cautious trip.

 

[Diamondpilot]

The lawyers will say 2 trips but if its flat and your truck is in good shape this time of year with mild temps in your area I would do it with one trip. Make sure you use a WD hitch.

Chris

 

[aczlan]

Can they load the stuff up and weigh them so that you have an exact number?

Depending of the weight of the various pieces, it might be advantageous (weightwise) to load some of them into the bed of the truck so as to decrease trailer weight some.

Full specs including max GCWR are available at http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?act=attach&type=&id=1768

Aaron Z

 

[Diamondpilot]

Can they load the stuff up and weigh them so that you have an exact number?

Depending of the weight of the various pieces, it might be advantageous (weightwise) to load some of them into the bed of the truck so as to decrease trailer weight some.

Full specs including max GCWR are available at http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?act=attach&type=&id=1768

Aaron Z

While this is a good idea I do not think it will work and probably make things worse since he is using a 1500 series GM. They are know to have soft suspensions. Maybe if he was driving a 1 ton truck it would be a different story. His best bet is just loading the trailer smartly keeping his tongue weight in check and having a WD hitch. The trailer being long and having brakes on both axles will help. Take it slow and do it on a day with cool temps and no precip and you should be fine.

I used to tow a 10,000# boat with a F-150 4x4 5.4L 3.73 gears. It sucked the gas at 5 mpg but would do it until I was able to get a Powerstroke. Only had 1 issue where it would not make it up about a 15% grade in August on a 103 deg day. Had to use 4 low to get the gearing in my favor for about 3 miles.

Chris

 

[CMOrr]

I appreciate the replys. I had to google WD hitch. I read about them and how they work. My next question is for DiamondPilot. Can you suggest a brand and a model you think would be best? I checked into what exactly I have on the truck and I do have the 3.73 gears, the heavy duty trailering package and the high performace suspension package. So, I'm encouraged if I get the WD hitch of making the trip.

 

[jwstewar]

I'm not DP, but if I were you, this is what I would (and did for my 36' Jayco Travel Trailer behind my Silverado).

High Performance Trunnion Weight Distribution System 1,200 lbs TW / 12,000 lbs GTW Reese Weight Distribution 66022 This is a Reese 12,000 lb system. There are other brands, but Reese is by far the best known. I've been starting to hear good things about the Curt brand.

 

[FlaDon]

I'm not DP, but if I were you, this is what I would (and did for my 36' Jayco Travel Trailer behind my Silverado).

High Performance Trunnion Weight Distribution System 1,200 lbs TW / 12,000 lbs GTW Reese Weight Distribution 66022 This is a Reese 12,000 lb system. There are other brands, but Reese is by far the best known. I've been starting to hear good things about the Curt brand.

Same unit as I have in your link.