CT Pre-Purchase Stage...

[FlyBye]

I'm in the CT pre-purchase stage and have been learned a lot from the various posts and photos. I appreciate everyone taking the time to help us first timers. The documentation of both success and failures help everyone!

Our tow vehicle is a Chevy Silverado 1500 WT without the tow package (big regret). I originally purchased it just to tow an 17 foot aluminum boat which it is more than sufficient for that.
We are considering a 7x16 vee nose, dual axle, but would like a 7x18 vee if our truck could safely tow it without damaging the transmission.
We desire to equip the trailer with a permanent 60x80 bed, both shower and toilet, modest cooking area limited to a hot plate, croc pot, toaster oven and sink. Ceiling air conditioner with heat strip above.

So the pre-purchase stage continues as we plan, plan and plan some more just to make sure we are "regret free" as can be!

[Padilen]

Just keep your weight within your TV capacity. Take the CT weight and try to figure weight of add on's plus "wet weight" the weight of supplies food water etc. An air bed is light add a 2-4 inch memory foam and you might save some weight.
Don't forget spare tire, battery, propane weights if you add them too.

[dustboy]

Sometimes less is more...certainly when it comes to the towing characteristics of a trailer. What's the rated tow capacity of the Silverado? I would think a well-appointed 7x14 shouldn't be a challenge for it. A tow package usually means a bigger transmission cooler and a tow mode, maybe lower axle gearing (which hurts non-towing MPGs) plus hitch and wiring. If you're not regularly towing at 75-100% of capacity then the first three don't matter much.

You have to find the balance between a trailer that tows easily and doesn't suck too much fuel...and a trailer that provides the comforts that you need. It's easy to let your imagination run away with all the bells and whistles but I have found that most of them are never appreciated as often as I think.

[FlyBye]

Just keep your weight within your TV capacity. Take the CT weight and try to figure weight of add on's plus "wet weight" the weight of supplies food water etc...

I hope to get some CT weights next week along with some tongue weights.

... What's the rated tow capacity of the Silverado?...

My Silverado 1500 has a 6 cylinder 4.3 liter engine.
GVWR 6400 LB.
GAWR FRT 3200 LB.
GAWR RR 3750 LB.

The trailer hitch is rated for a Max Gross Trailer Weight of 6000 LB.
The trailer hitch is rated for a Max Gross Tongue Weight of 900 LB.
* The Weight Distribution (Max Gross Trailer Weight) 10,500 LB and Max Gross Tongue Weight 1050 LB. (?)
The Ball Mount has a Max Gross Trailer Weight of 6000 LB. and a Max Tongue Weight of 600 LB.

[CoventryKid]

FlyBye - welcome!

I converted a NEO 7x16x7 all aluminum V-nose trailer into a travel trailer along the line of what you are wanting to do.

I tow it with a GMC Savana high top conversion van which is rated to tow 6,000lbs. Our finished trailer weighs just about 4,200 lbs with all our "stuff" in it. Appliances include bar fridge, microwave, sink, portapotti, etc. We have two laptops, 1 printer for the office. And of course, supplies, bedding, and clothes.

We towed the cargo trailer with our household "stuff" from Nova Scotia to BC last fall - don't ask me what it weighed on that trip - it was heavy.

I converted the trailer last winter into our travel trailer. This past May we toured BC and the Yukon for 3 1/2 months covering just over 10,000 kms. We are currently in California heading down the coast to San Diego area, then across to Florida over the winter and up the east coast next Spring - another 10,000+ kms. Then we will work our way west, back to BC over the summer 2016.

I use a weight distribution hitch which I would not want to be without. The rig tracks very well and is comfortable to drive. Going up hills sometimes is slow just like the big trucks but we have not had any problems - 2nd gear is a great gear to use.

I hope I haven't bored you with all of the above. I did start a thread on this forum last year but didn't do anything with it as I figured most guys were building toy haulers.

My build website is below.

Good luck with your build when you get your trailer!

[hankaye]

FlyBye, Howdy;

Just keep your weight within your TV capacity. Take the CT weight and try to figure weight of add on's plus "wet weight" the weight of supplies food water etc...

I hope to get some CT weights next week along with some tongue weights.

... What's the rated tow capacity of the Silverado?...

My Silverado 1500 has a 6 cylinder 4.3 liter engine.
GVWR 6400 LB.
GAWR FRT 3200 LB.
GAWR RR 3750 LB.

The trailer hitch is rated for a Max Gross Trailer Weight of 6000 LB.
The trailer hitch is rated for a Max Gross Tongue Weight of 900 LB.
* The Weight Distribution (Max Gross Trailer Weight) 10,500 LB and Max Gross Tongue Weight 1050 LB. (?)
The Ball Mount has a Max Gross Trailer Weight of 6000 LB. and a Max Tongue Weight of 600 LB.

Have you weighed your truck to see what it weights as is?
Make sure you have a full tank. Then you will know for sure what you are working with.
Do you have any idea of what you will most likely haul in the truck when you go camping?
Throw that in there as well, also any people that will be regular passengers as well and go weigh
it again. You'll see how fast the weight adds up. But ... you'll have a good idea of what you can
haul. Now go shopping.

hank

[FlyBye]

... I converted a NEO 7x16x7 all aluminum V-nose trailer into a travel trailer along the line of what you are wanting to do...

Doug,
You did an awesome job on trailer. My wife was really impressed with your kitchen area and the large windows in the living area. Unfortunately, that really raises the bar for me now that she has seen it! :-) Thanks for mentioning your link to your build!

[Gonefishin]

What part of the country are you in? I ask because the mountains of the west at high elevation are a whole different story than flat roads at sea level. A 6-cylinder on a half-ton truck sounds like not near enough to me. I tow a 6X12 with a newer F-150 with a V-8, and it does fine, but I still know the trailer is back there. My older F-150 with a smaller V-8 is a dog, and that's just with a light 6X12. It slows down on every hill, and won't do more than about 70 on flat ground. (we have 75 and 80 mph speed limits in my part of the world) Gas hog too.

If I ever went with a 16 or 18 foot trailer, I'd want more truck than a half-ton. Powerstroke Diesel? Hemi? Something like that. 2nd gear going up hills is no fun. Speed limit up, speed limit down, speed limit all around! That's just me. I think you could tow a 14 just fine with what you have.

[nunrleft]

I think it's going to depend on what your ceiling height is. If you go with a normal 6' interior height your v-6 will tow it, half-heartedly and unless you're short, you'll hit your head on the a/c controls. If you go with a 6-6 interior height you'll regret trying to tow it with the 4.3. My trailer is 14x7, 6-6 interior height with a roof mounted a/c. My tow vehicle is a 2012 Silverado 1500 4x4 crew cab with a 4.8 v-8. It pulls mediocre when fully loaded and my next vehicle will be a 2500.

[FlyBye]

... Have you weighed your truck to see what it weights as is? ...

I haven't weighed the truck yet, but apparently the max trailer weight is 5,400 lbs* and the GCWR is 10,000 lbs according to the owner's manual. (*not the 4700-4900 lbs I originally thought)
One of the 7x16x7 vee nose trailers I have been looking at has a empty trailer weight of 2260 lbs. and a tongue weight of 270 lbs.
Still pricing and considering available options at various dealers.

[Gonefishin]

Just remember towing capacity is just that, max. I would not want to be going on vacation with my rig maxed out all the time. Its hard on the tow vehicle, and you'll be in the slow lane the whole trip. The trailer will become a burden instead of a luxury. Get a bigger tow vehicle, or a smaller trailer.

[FlyBye]

Just remember towing capacity is just that, max. I would not want to be going on vacation with my rig maxed out all the time. Its hard on the tow vehicle, and you'll be in the slow lane the whole trip. The trailer will become a burden instead of a luxury. Get a bigger tow vehicle, or a smaller trailer.

I would think that staying under 75% of my max towing capacity would be a reasonable target/goal. If so, it shouldn't be too difficult to keep the gear under 1200 lbs.

Obviously using a lower percentage of your max towing capacity is always desirable, but what percentage range should one have to be comfortable?