Hello All,
I have looked around the site and have found several posts regarding tow weights and calculating, I am second guessing mine. According to my factory hitch, it is a V-5 Talon and the numbers read: Weight Carrying - 5,000lbs, Weight Distributing - 12,000lbs, Max Tounge Weight - 600lbs.
According to the GMC website, my 2006 Sierra (4.8L motor) has a max towing capacity of 4,000lbs; however the owner's manual states the 4800 V8 (Auto) max trailer weight should not exceed 5900-6900lbs and the GCWR is 11,000-12,000lbs.
Now the RV I had was an '06 Coachman Captiva 265EX and according to it specs the Base weight is 4,494lbs, Carrying Capacity is 1,659lbs and the hitch weight is 580lbs. (I'm not sure what the "carrying capacity" really means)
With that said, I want to see if I am grasping what everyone is trying to explain. My truck has a curb weight of 4,751lbs, the base weight of the trailer is 4,494lbs which brings me to 9,245lbs. I should first subtract my curb weight from the GCWR: 12,000-4,751=7,249lbs. I would presume that with the trailer (4,494lbs), 2 adults, and 2 kids, gas, bikes, grill and other accessories would be close to 5,094.bs. If I understand this correctly, my max is the 5,094lbs that I can tow. It actually seems as if this might be too close to the tolerances, since one site stated they would only tow 75% of the max. How did I do? I just don't want to damage my truck of get in an accident. THanks.
I have looked around the site and have found several posts regarding tow weights and calculating, I am second guessing mine. According to my factory hitch, it is a V-5 Talon and the numbers read: Weight Carrying - 5,000lbs, Weight Distributing - 12,000lbs, Max Tounge Weight - 600lbs.
According to the GMC website, my 2006 Sierra (4.8L motor) has a max towing capacity of 4,000lbs; however the owner's manual states the 4800 V8 (Auto) max trailer weight should not exceed 5900-6900lbs and the GCWR is 11,000-12,000lbs.
Now the RV I had was an '06 Coachman Captiva 265EX and according to it specs the Base weight is 4,494lbs, Carrying Capacity is 1,659lbs and the hitch weight is 580lbs. (I'm not sure what the "carrying capacity" really means)
With that said, I want to see if I am grasping what everyone is trying to explain. My truck has a curb weight of 4,751lbs, the base weight of the trailer is 4,494lbs which brings me to 9,245lbs. I should first subtract my curb weight from the GCWR: 12,000-4,751=7,249lbs. I would presume that with the trailer (4,494lbs), 2 adults, and 2 kids, gas, bikes, grill and other accessories would be close to 5,094.bs. If I understand this correctly, my max is the 5,094lbs that I can tow. It actually seems as if this might be too close to the tolerances, since one site stated they would only tow 75% of the max. How did I do? I just don't want to damage my truck of get in an accident. THanks.