Buying a travel trailer, what's my safe towing capacity?

[Tacky]

What are you comfortable with as a driver? Do you expect to tow and "not know it's back there"? Or you content to keep your speed down to 60-65 mph with the transmission in 3rd? I do not believe there is any problem towing the trailer listed with your vehicle. you need a weight distributing hitch and trailer brakes. I tow a similar size/weight trailer behind a 1999 5.7 powered Tahoe with a max towing weight of 6800 lb. I am pretty maxed out, but it works for me. I definitely know it is back there and I do not pass a lot of people. But I have towed about 5,000 miles with this setup over the past 4 years, and see no reason to change.

 

[01ssreda4]

I've done some towing upgrades to my Yukon, because I want to feel comfortable towing the Camaro to the racetrack. My estimated trailer weight is 5k to 5.5k pounds total. I obviously have a good trailer brake controller. Then, first and foremost was power, I did a cold air intake, more aggressive tune with HPTuners, longtube headers, and full 3 inch exhaust with straight through muffler. It also now has a 3200 Circle D converter, built 4l60e, -6AN cooler lines and a big transmission cooler with a fan. Since I recently lowered it and started having issues with tongue weight, I installed adjustable AirLift helper bags in the rear, and the final towing mod will be upgrading from a 3.73 rear gear to a 4.30 for more on ramp acceleration power. I did not do all this overnight but the point is you CAN make a huge impact on how a vehicle tows by modding it in such a way that towing benefits from these mods. Here's some info and pics on the mods and I try to keep it updated....

http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/threads/yukon-down-awd-delete-headers-converter-etc.81191/

 

[Groundhog66]

Looks like it is doable, I'll just need to do a bit more research I think. I'll definitely get the weight distributing hitch, and see if there are any other minor upgrades that will help. I'm okay with knowing the trailer is back there, and will mostly be doing shorter trips

 

[Tacky]

I would also get some sort of anti sway device. Some weight distributing hitches include anti sway as part of the design, but many are a separate add on piece. 

 

[02_Tahoe]

Looks like you have the following factory towing options:

KNP - NG SYSTEM TRANS, HD 913 (Trans Cooler)

VR4 - TRAILER HITCH WEIGHT DISTRIBUTING PLATFORM

Z82 - TRAILER PROVISIONS SPECIAL EQUIPMENT, H.D.
​

Like me you also have Hydro Boost Brakes which will help greatly with a trailer:

JH2 - BRAKE HYD POWER, DISC/DISC
​

The main difference from my setup is that you have the following:

GU5 - AXLE REAR 3.23 RATIO

M30 - TRANSMISSION AUTO 4 SPD, HMD, 4L60-E, ELECTRONIC
​

I have a 3.73 rear and a HD 4L65E transmission.

Take a look at the "Tech Specs" tab here: http://chevroletforum.com/forum/vindecoder.php?vin=1gnec13z36j116588

And Page 23 here: http://rvbonus.com/towing/2006/2006tow.pdf

You have a 5,000lb tow limit with the hitch as-is, and a 6,700lb tow limit (2WD) with weight distribution. I know lots of people tow right up to the limit, and some beyond, but I like the rule of thumb that your default setup shouldn't be much beyond 80% of your rated max for comfort and stability. For you that would work out to 5,360lbs.

With the camper you are looking at with a dry weight of 4,295lbs that would leave you around 1,065lbs capacity for cargo.

On paper it seems tow-able, but if you are going to do a lot of long distance towing you may want to swap out your rear to a 3.73 or 4.10. You can see on Page 23 of that towing guide if you upgrade to a 3.73 with your 5.3L 2WD the tow rating increases to 7,700lbs with a weight distributing hitch.

Also, if you ever needed to rebuild your trans, a 4L60E can get rebuilt as a 4L65E with the upgraded HD components.

Additionally, if your front brakes are coming up for service you could also benefit from the NNBS front brake retrofit and take advantage of the increased bolt on braking capabilities.​

That chart doesn't even have mine.

 

[mals]

That chart doesn't even have mine.

The towing guides are model year specific. Going by your username I think what you would need is on Page 4 of the 2002 Guide:

http://rvbonus.com/towing/2002/2002tow.pdf​

You can also put in your VIN here to get the other information I linked to in that post:

http://chevroletforum.com/forum/vindecoder.php
​

And for the RPO codes in the glove box I looked them up using this site:

http://www.cadillacfaq.com/rpo/​

 

[02_Tahoe]

The towing guides are model year specific. Going by your username I think what you would need is on Page 4 of the 2002 Guide:

http://rvbonus.com/towing/2002/2002tow.pdf​

You can also put in your VIN here to get the other information I linked to in that post:

http://chevroletforum.com/forum/vindecoder.php
​

And for the RPO codes in the glove box I looked them up using this site:

http://www.cadillacfaq.com/rpo/​

Oh thanks didn't know it was year specific