Hi, looking for some assistance on if we can tow a travel trailer we are looking to buy with a 2021 Tahoe. TT weights 5,850 dry weight and is 31 ft long. Loaded is about 6800 lbs I am a little confused on how all the different specs work to see if it’s able to be safely towed.
Help on towing with a 2021 Tahoe
- Thread starter Davisl05
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altona
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First thing to check is the yellow sticker in your door jamb that lists your payload for your specific build. Payload is people, things like luggage, pets, supplies and tongue weight of trailer (usually around 12 to 15% of loaded trailer weight). Payload is the 1st thing most go over on.
Even if you are just in spec these independent rear suspensions have a lot of squat. A good weight distributing hitch is a must.
There are also those that think 31 footer should not be towed by a half ton. Take them with a grain of salt based on your numbers and towing experience.
Even if you are just in spec these independent rear suspensions have a lot of squat. A good weight distributing hitch is a must.
There are also those that think 31 footer should not be towed by a half ton. Take them with a grain of salt based on your numbers and towing experience.
swathdiver
Full Access Member
It'll do it but you'll have a more enjoyable experience with a Suburban or a shorter TT. Whichever vehicle you choose, make sure it has the maximum cooling and towing capacities. The diesel and 6.2 will pull that TT like it's nothing, the 5.3 will work harder.
Wouldn't recommend it. Loaded you may not exceed the towing capacity but you will be tight on the payload capacity of the Tahoe. Also, a trailer that long and a tow vehicle that short will make for a very uncomfortable, nerve racking drive. Personal experience with my 2019 Yukon Denali. My trailer is 25 ft and I wouldn't get anything longer without a longer wheelbase and more payload capacity.
crankin
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The 22 Yukon xl I have only has payload of 1500 lbs. I don't think the yukon payload would be much different?
crankin
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Great question. I don't have a solid answer but I will be towing in the next couple weeks with my new 22 yukon XL denali with the 6.2L no max tow, rated for 7400lbs. My travel trailer is 30 feet, weighing in around 7100lbs loaded. I have installed an aftermarket curt spectrum brake controller
Not much different. And by the time you add in the weight of the tongue, the weight of the hitch and the weight of all of the people and things in the Yukon you will be pushing the limit.
The payload on my 2012 XL Denali is 1342 lbs, yet we are safely within all limits pulling a 32' 7000 lb camper behind us. A trip to a cat scale at a nearby truck stop will show you where you're at, and will also show how your weight distributing hitch is working. The right ticket below shows our Yukon and camper fully loaded for camping with 2 adults, 2 kids and a dog on board. (The left ticket shows the truck without the kids and dog on board or the camper). We run with a Recurve R3 WDH with 1000 lb bars, and she rides level with the factory rear air suspension. GVWR on the Yukon is 7400. GAWR front is 3600, and GAWR rear is 4200. Even though we only have 140 lbs of payload left, we still have another 220 lbs of margin on the rear axle and 320 lbs on the front axle. This is because some of the tongue weight gets shifted back to the trailer axles by the WDH. In my case, about 220 lbs worth of it.
I concur with the others here that the longer wheelbase of the XL would be beneficial to stability and handling, yet I've seen plenty of people towing long campers with shorties and they report good experiences overall. Gotta remember that the newest 2022 Tahoe has another 4" of wheelbase over the GMT900 generation as well. To the OP, I think you'll be just fine with that setup.
I concur with the others here that the longer wheelbase of the XL would be beneficial to stability and handling, yet I've seen plenty of people towing long campers with shorties and they report good experiences overall. Gotta remember that the newest 2022 Tahoe has another 4" of wheelbase over the GMT900 generation as well. To the OP, I think you'll be just fine with that setup.
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Suggest spending some time on an RV site that discusses towing issues. Such as https://www.irv2.com/forums/f45/. Some report towing long, heavy trailers without problems but you'll note the number that noticed a night and day difference when they upgraded to a longer wheelbase vehicle such as a pickup. But not all pickups, especially those loaded with options, give you more cargo capacity than Yukon or Yukon XL. But the longer wheelbase is almost always an improvement.
Or go with a shorter trailer.
