What size travel trailer to tow?

[oefvet0708]

I’m looking to get a small travel trailer for the family this year to do weekend trips with. Might be an hour up the local mountain to a nice spot or 8 hours away in a national park. What size do you all recommend? I was thinking a smaller 5th wheel but the price point ain’t there for our financial situation. So a bumper pull would be the ticket. Of course I would prefer to haul dry, but what is the max payload?

Truck info:

98 k1500; fresh 4.10 gears front and rear rolling on 33s all terrains, pretty fresh 4l60e with trans go hd2 kit and corvette servo, fresh 355 vortec with and goodies guessing 4-450 hp with a s10 stall, high flow water pump and brand new 3 core radiator, gmt800 front and rear disc brakes with 21+ 4 piston front calipers. 411 swap with tow haul mode enabled and blue cat trans tune.

I built the truck to be dailyed and be used as a weekend warrior. I have a family of 6 mostly younger kids, 1 teenager. Thanks for any advise.

 

[Sean Buick 76]

Around here you can get a used 5th wheel for less $ as many people prefer bumper pull. The newer trailers are pretty light but I would stick to something under 5000 pounds.

 

[oefvet0708]

Around here you can get a used 5th wheel for less $ as many people prefer bumper pull. The newer trailers are pretty light but I would stick to something under 5000 pounds.

Ya I was thinking 5000 myself

 

[Sean Buick 76]

A long time ago I had a pretty stout 2005 GMC 1500 with a 5.3 that was tuned and 4.10 gears. I bought a 26 foot enclosed trailer that was about 3000 pounds empty. Even when empty the truck had a hard time with the wind resistance of the trailer. I sold the trailer and got an open car hauler trailer and it was so much easier to pull for the half ton.

My point is that the larger the trailer the harder it’s gonna be on the truck. The 4L60E wasn’t designed for towing. Go small, go light, and add an auxiliary trans cooler.

 

[HotWheelsBurban]

A long time ago I had a pretty stout 2005 GMC 1500 with a 5.3 that was tuned and 4.10 gears. I bought a 26 foot enclosed trailer that was about 3000 pounds empty. Even when empty the truck had a hard time with the wind resistance of the trailer. I sold the trailer and got an open car hauler trailer and it was so much easier to pull for the half ton.

My point is that the larger the trailer the harder it’s gonna be on the truck. The 4L60E wasn’t designed for towing. Go small, go light, and add an auxiliary trans cooler.

Agreed...and the bigger the trailer, the more wind resistance it has and the more weight you'll be towing. There is a point where the best answer is "a bigger truck" i.e. a 2500/3500. Those will have stouter frames, chassis, suspension and brakes, and the 4L80E instead of the 4LSLIPPY....
80s are designed to tow/haul in OD, 60s are not.

 

[Sean Buick 76]

Agreed...and the bigger the trailer, the more wind resistance it has and the more weight you'll be towing. There is a point where the best answer is "a bigger truck" i.e. a 2500/3500. Those will have stouter frames, chassis, suspension and brakes, and the 4L80E instead of the 4LSLIPPY....
80s are designed to tow/haul in OD, 60s are not.

Yes I agree 100%. I used to be proud of towing too heavy of a load with a 1/2 ton but now that I’m older and wiser I enjoy relaxed safe towing and STOPPING with my 2012 2500 HD.

 

[HotWheelsBurban]

Yes I agree 100%. I used to be proud of towing too heavy of a load with a 1/2 ton but now that I’m older and wiser I enjoy relaxed safe towing and STOPPING with my 2012 2500 HD.

That's what I was explaining to people at the toy show, that asked why I didn't come to it last month. That was when I was having brake issues with Rawhide and we needed to be sure the truck was 100% safe before the big trip to Austin, hauling a load. Was great to have it safe for the loads we were hauling last Saturday too.

 

[oefvet0708]

There is a point where the best answer is "a bigger truck" i.e. a 2500/3500

Yes I agree 100%. I used to be proud of towing too heavy of a load with a 1/2 ton but now that I’m older and wiser I enjoy relaxed safe towing and STOPPING with my 2012 2500 HD.

Don’t get me wrong guys I totally get where you’re coming from. I had a 06 Cummins 2500 that had gobs of tq and I “felt” safe towing with it just from the size. However as life happens I had to get rid of it and a year later I ended up with this truck on a good deal. I understand the necessity of gearing and the 4lslippy isn’t the best for towing on a constant basis so I’ve taken the precautions to upgrade as much of it as I can without tearing the whole thing apart. I do have a 4l80e out of a 2500 sitting on the side my house. So in the future if I need to rebuild that, then I’ll n cross bridge when I get there. But buying a new truck IS NOT in the cards right now or anytime in the future for some years. Unless by some miracle I can sell this truck and buy 3/4 ton out right. But a newer truck ain’t gonna happen. So that’s why I was asking for advise given the upgrades done what would be a safe tow weight be. I think 5000 is a relatively safe weight and just drive it carefully.

 

[Sean Buick 76]

My best advice is to go back to stock sized tires so on that you have some gearing. The 33s will kill what little torque you have.

 

[GoToGuy]

The SPID tag has all the info you need. The gross truck weight. The gross combined. And front and rear axle weight capacity. It's right on the glove box door or near it. So you made some upgrades, great what do you feel fits your ability.