Travel trailer

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

88GMCtruck

I'm all 8-Luggy!
Joined
Apr 14, 2010
Messages
4,804
Reaction score
1,322
Location
Auburn, Wa: From Covington, Wa: Albion, Wa: Pullma
Just remember - you can do as many modifications you want to your truck, and the GVWR will always be what it is....

Based on the side of family and trailer you want, you just need to get a heavier duty truck to pull it.

I pulled a 16' travel trailer with my K1500 stepside with 3.73s and 35s... and a 350.... The NV4500 and 4.56s helped but it was still anemic. airbags helped the suspension too, but it was still terrifying when conditions were bad or it was windy. Towing it with a ECLB K2500 was a night and day difference, I didn't even know the trailer was there.
 

J_lope82

I'm Awesome
Joined
Apr 19, 2016
Messages
258
Reaction score
169
Location
South Texas
Well with the feedback I got from all you guys I just decided that I would need a better equipped truck than my 1500. I would need a lot more mods to help it out but i don't think i could ever get it fully capable. I was thinking of towing up to ~6K fully loaded trailer.
A newer better equipped truck would be my preffered route.
 

GarrettGmc

I'm Awesome
Joined
Mar 25, 2017
Messages
2,383
Reaction score
1,498
Location
Cottonwood Ca
Just remember - you can do as many modifications you want to your truck, and the GVWR will always be what it is....

Based on the side of family and trailer you want, you just need to get a heavier duty truck to pull it.

I pulled a 16' travel trailer with my K1500 stepside with 3.73s and 35s... and a 350.... The NV4500 and 4.56s helped but it was still anemic. airbags helped the suspension too, but it was still terrifying when conditions were bad or it was windy. Towing it with a ECLB K2500 was a night and day difference, I didn't even know the trailer was there.

I'd love a crew cab but the downfall is space. For those long drives it's best for my kids to have a lil wiggle room. If I could I'd just trade my ram for another 12 but with bench seat instead of buckets but still kinda cramped with everyone
 

JakeZ71

OBS Enthusiast
Joined
Apr 4, 2016
Messages
96
Reaction score
56
Location
Medina County, Ohio
I would seriously look into a weight distributing hitch. The hitch I just put on my Z71 was rated at 6k lbs, just like factory, but it was also rated at 10k lbs with a weight distributing hitch. So maybe yours would be able to handle it just fine. I can say for a fact though that those 30' trailers are heavy SOBs. It's like trying to tow a billboard down the road! That being said, I'd find the trailer first, and try it, before you just replace your truck. Unless of course, you really have your eye set on the fancy new cateye ;)
 

Project400

I'm Awesome
Joined
Apr 12, 2016
Messages
105
Reaction score
21
Location
Michigan
4.56's and that truck is going to do ok but use plenty of gas

I would add airbag overloads good shocks, rear disk brakes and run it.

I towed 6k lbs with a 1500 (Vortec truck though) 10's of thousands of miles.
I bought a crew cab Duramax to replace it but if I would have done the mods I mentioned the 1500 would have been a nice setup for that weight
 

J_lope82

I'm Awesome
Joined
Apr 19, 2016
Messages
258
Reaction score
169
Location
South Texas
4.56's and that truck is going to do ok but use plenty of gas

I would add airbag overloads good shocks, rear disk brakes and run it.

I towed 6k lbs with a 1500 (Vortec truck though) 10's of thousands of miles.
I bought a crew cab Duramax to replace it but if I would have done the mods I mentioned the 1500 would have been a nice setup for that weight
For the gears I was thinking more like 3.90 or 4.10 just because it won't be a full time tow rig. Don't you all think that would be sufficient gear?
 

Project400

I'm Awesome
Joined
Apr 12, 2016
Messages
105
Reaction score
21
Location
Michigan
For the gears I was thinking more like 3.90 or 4.10 just because it won't be a full time tow rig. Don't you all think that would be sufficient gear?

With the 32's I would go 4.56.
4.10's are very close to the stock 265's and 3.73 gears combo.
With a 4.56 you will have MUCH better pulling power and you will be able to use OD on flat land.

I'm stepping up to 285/70/17'a
I've planned to swap to 4.10's and have all the parts to make the swap but haven't done it yet because I'm thinking about swapping to 4.56's

With a 2500 that has a 4l80e I 'might' consider the 4.10's because of the lower OD gear
 

J_lope82

I'm Awesome
Joined
Apr 19, 2016
Messages
258
Reaction score
169
Location
South Texas
I would like to see what cruising rpm you run with 4.56 gears just to get an idea what to expect.
 
Top