Carin said:
I've read all about towing, weights, etc and now am totally confused. I'm a fairly intelligent person, but this just kicks my butt.
I have a 2004 Chevy Tahoe, 5.3L, V8.
I'm so confused over the GVWR, DRY WEIGHT, etc.
When I am looking online at trailers (travel trailers) I don't know which one I'm supposed to look at to figure out what weight I need to be to tow safely.
Can anyone tell me in pretty simple terms what I am supposed to look for? And what I can tow safely?
Thank you from a newbie single woman!
Carin
The simple version...
Trailer
The trailer companies often provide dry weight (as it came out of factory) and cargo capacity. Add them up for GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). GVWR is the key trailer number used for determining the trailers effect on the TV (Tow Vehicle).
Truck (or TV)
Two stickers usually on the drivers side door latch pillar (B pillar).
Black on white one has axel capacities and GVWR for truck.
Yellow topped one has max cargo capacity (people, luggage, pets, tools trailer hitch etc)
Thats it for the facts you need.
Trailers do a few things to the TV. They hold it back due to their weight and they also push on the TV when going down hill or stopping. The tow rating for the TV accomodates these forces.
More importantly, trailers also add to the cargo the truck is having to carry (hitch weight for TTs (travel trailers) and pin weight for fifth wheel trailers). Most often on 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton models, this will be the restricting factor.
So, calculate what your left over TV cargo capacity is after you put all the people hitch and stuff in the truck.
Then subtract about 10% of the trailer GVWR for a TT or 20% for a fifth wheel from that leftover load capacity and if you still have capacity left (a positive #), you can tow that trailer safely.
What gets most folks is they read about towing capacity which is really just pulling and stopping and then get surprised at how little cargo capacity is available.
Ok, gonna stop now.. finger is falling off