First post here (sorry it got long). This seems to be a very nice forum and the best place to post my question... I've read the 31qbs towing thread and that's great and reassuring information but would like to see if anyone would like to comment on my specific setup.
Tow vehicle specs: 2003 Chevrolet Silverado Half Ton, Ext. Cab, 2WD, SWB. Pretty respectably set up for a half ton. 5.3L engine, 3.73 gears, factory HD trailering equipment, 144" WB. Information on door: GVWR 6200, FAWR 3600, RAWR 3686. Info from manual: GCWR 13000, 8100 lb max trailer wt.
My current TT is a 2000 Trail Lite, 25ft, 4900 GVWR. I tow with an EAZ-lift WD hitch and single Husky friction sway control, and Prodigy brake controller. This combo doesn't even come close to taxing the truck--pulls it like there's nothing there. I'm in mid-Michigan and we pull mostly 50 mile trips to the state parks or membership campground on flat land... but we wouldn't rule out longer trips once in a while if we get a trailer we are motivated to spend more time in
I want to take the next step and get a trailer with a front queen and bunks as we've made an addition to the family this fall. I had pretty much made the decision on the 28BHS (6900 GVW), pretty sure that I could tow the 28BHS pretty comfortably (~5000 lb UVW). Everything is in line weight wise; there is that wheelbase to length guideline that is marginal but seemingly very conservative too.
Local dealer has a couple of 31BHS available but no 28BHS. We went to look at the 31 and it's VERY nice; I was very impressed with the full bunkhouse and more privacy-oriented layout.
Now I want to know if I will be able to tow this trailer. It has the same GWVR as the 28, and both combos are right at the GCWR (6200+6900=13100). But the 31 is 500 lb more unloaded (which I'm not super worried about) and over 2' longer (which I sort of do worry about).
I believe many are towing both these trailers with half tons and full size SUV's. The salesperson will tell you anything (I also have a V8 Explorer which I drove to the lot and she says I can tow it with that; I disagree). But there are others who will tell you that 3/4 ton is the price of admission to the campground (but there are probably more overloaded 3/4's at the CG than overloaded 1/2's).
Seems to me that weights are in line; if it's sufficient I don't want to buy/maintain more truck than I need to do what I want. I know that the wide trax, aero improvements, low profile, etc. in the North Trail will help to make this rig more user friendly. Am I in the right frame of mind here? I do not intend to buy a 3/4 ton truck; my objective is to approach the practical and safe limits of a well-equipped half ton.
What about my hitching equipment? Round bar WDH, Friction Sway Ctrl, Prodigy? The EAZ lift has a platform that would let me put two friction sway ctrls on there.
Thanks for your time!
--Brooks
Tow vehicle specs: 2003 Chevrolet Silverado Half Ton, Ext. Cab, 2WD, SWB. Pretty respectably set up for a half ton. 5.3L engine, 3.73 gears, factory HD trailering equipment, 144" WB. Information on door: GVWR 6200, FAWR 3600, RAWR 3686. Info from manual: GCWR 13000, 8100 lb max trailer wt.
My current TT is a 2000 Trail Lite, 25ft, 4900 GVWR. I tow with an EAZ-lift WD hitch and single Husky friction sway control, and Prodigy brake controller. This combo doesn't even come close to taxing the truck--pulls it like there's nothing there. I'm in mid-Michigan and we pull mostly 50 mile trips to the state parks or membership campground on flat land... but we wouldn't rule out longer trips once in a while if we get a trailer we are motivated to spend more time in
I want to take the next step and get a trailer with a front queen and bunks as we've made an addition to the family this fall. I had pretty much made the decision on the 28BHS (6900 GVW), pretty sure that I could tow the 28BHS pretty comfortably (~5000 lb UVW). Everything is in line weight wise; there is that wheelbase to length guideline that is marginal but seemingly very conservative too.
Local dealer has a couple of 31BHS available but no 28BHS. We went to look at the 31 and it's VERY nice; I was very impressed with the full bunkhouse and more privacy-oriented layout.
Now I want to know if I will be able to tow this trailer. It has the same GWVR as the 28, and both combos are right at the GCWR (6200+6900=13100). But the 31 is 500 lb more unloaded (which I'm not super worried about) and over 2' longer (which I sort of do worry about).
I believe many are towing both these trailers with half tons and full size SUV's. The salesperson will tell you anything (I also have a V8 Explorer which I drove to the lot and she says I can tow it with that; I disagree). But there are others who will tell you that 3/4 ton is the price of admission to the campground (but there are probably more overloaded 3/4's at the CG than overloaded 1/2's).
Seems to me that weights are in line; if it's sufficient I don't want to buy/maintain more truck than I need to do what I want. I know that the wide trax, aero improvements, low profile, etc. in the North Trail will help to make this rig more user friendly. Am I in the right frame of mind here? I do not intend to buy a 3/4 ton truck; my objective is to approach the practical and safe limits of a well-equipped half ton.
What about my hitching equipment? Round bar WDH, Friction Sway Ctrl, Prodigy? The EAZ lift has a platform that would let me put two friction sway ctrls on there.
Thanks for your time!
--Brooks