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- Chevrolet Silverado 1999-2006 GMT800 How to Install and Equalize Trailer Hitch
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Need help finding hitch receiver
#11
Total trailer weight is a completely useless number. Too many variables to use that as the one yardstick. You have to consider GVWR, RAWR, FAWR, GCWR.
Yes, the receiver sticker says 5,000 lb max trailer weight without WD, and 10,000 lbs with WD. You'll never get up to those numbers without exceeding one of the other ratings.
Example 1 (half ton Burb)
Rear axle weight rating of this truck is 4,000 lbs. GVWR is 7200, and I'm at 7140. This trailer weighed ~6,000 lbs. A heavier trailer would put me over. A heavier trailer with the same tongue weight would be dangerously unstable.
Example 2 (three quarter ton Burb)
I'm fine on my rear axle weight, because the RAWR is 5500. However, my GVWR is 8600, and that's exactly where I'm at (3420+5180=8600). This (different) trailer weighs ~7,000 lbs. Again, a heavier trailer would put me over.
Oh, and BTW, as I mentioned earlier, I've had the rear axle replaced on the half-ton Burb THREE times. Twice because it broke while I was vacationing. Try explaining to your family why they have to spend four days in Crap Hole waiting for a new rear end to be trucked in, instead of Yellowstone Park or Mt. Rushmore.
Don't get me wrong - half-ton Burbs are good trucks. It's just my opinion that if you push them too hard towing heavy stuff, they'll break.
I just abused the snot out of my 2500 over the last two and a half weeks - pulled the 7000 lb trailer over 5300 miles, through the Rockies (AZ, UT, CO) and the Eisenhower tunnel. Also did 20+ miles of frame-scraping four wheeling in Moab, drove it up Pikes Peak, and up Trail Ridge Road. It didn't break.
#12
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Gotcha - looks like the 1500 and 2500 share the same hitch with the ratings adjusted based on the model. Thanks. Managed to find the time last weekend to install my wdh so I'm good to go.
I'm a big fan of paying the 8-10 bucks or so to get actual weights. Too many people driving down the road guessing that they are within limits or ignoring or not understanding the limits all together. I've got precious cargo (wife and kids) in the rig with me all the time too and I'm not going to guess that I'm towing safely to save me a few bucks.
I'm only at about 3700lbs on my rear axle and 6700lbs combined. I don't do much long trailering though so usually gear only consists of day trip items.
I'm a big fan of paying the 8-10 bucks or so to get actual weights. Too many people driving down the road guessing that they are within limits or ignoring or not understanding the limits all together. I've got precious cargo (wife and kids) in the rig with me all the time too and I'm not going to guess that I'm towing safely to save me a few bucks.
I'm only at about 3700lbs on my rear axle and 6700lbs combined. I don't do much long trailering though so usually gear only consists of day trip items.
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