Re: [a/s] Tow Vehicle

[John Hilty <hilty@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

It helps in situations like this to get the facts instead of opinions.
The facts are the weights, weight ratings and towing specifications from
GM. You can do this by looking them up. Your Suburban, engine,
transmission, drive gear combination has a factory recommended maximum
tow rating. Find out what it is, but then also take into consideration
the age and engine condition of the vehicle. 

You might be entirely OK with a 350 c.i. Burb and a 34' if you don't
plan on going up mountains fast.

John H.

FYI I am posting a few paragraphs about tow rating basics below. If
anyone finds any glaring errors please let me know. -

Tow Vehicle Weight Considerations - The Basics

Each car truck, SUV has been rated by its manufacturer with a GVWR and a
GCWR.

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating - GVWR 

The GVWR tells the maximum suggested weight for the vehicle and all of
its contents including fuel, people and stuff. 

The trailer will have a GVWR also. This is not how much it weighs, but
how much the axles will bear while still doing a good job. The GVWR is
listed on the factory plaque where the VIN and date of manufacture are
listed on newer trailers, but not on the older ones. Subtracting the
actual dry weight of the trailer from the GVWR will tell you how much
cargo, water and other stuff you can put in the trailer without
exceeding the recommendations. 

Example: My vehicle weighs 4,360 (sitting on a grain elevator scale, and
it says 4,300 lb on the title). It has a GVWR of 5,360 so I can load it
with 1,000 lb. without exceeding its rating. Family members weigh in at
about 350 so that leaves 650 lb. for cargo. My Airstream has a dry
weight of 5,100 lb. and a GVWR of 6,800 lb. so I can load up to 1,700
lb. of water, cargo, pets and stuff up to the weight rating. 

Then there is the Gross Combined Weight Rating - GCWR

Gross Combined Weight Rating, the GCWR.- The GCWR tells the maximum
suggested weight for the combined tow vehicle plus the towed vehicle,
including all of the stuff in both vehicles. Why is this important?
Because sometimes the tow vehicle weighs so much when loaded that it
can't handle a trailer even though the trailer is within its weight
rating.

Example: Lets say that my vehicle (4360 lb.) plus 800 lb. of us and
cargo (5,160 lb. and under the GVWR of 5,360) is hooked to my Airstream
(5,100 lb. dry) loaded with 900 lb. of stuff (6,000 lb. and under the
GVWR). This all means that I have 5,160 lbs. of vehicle and 6,000 lbs.
of trailer for a total of 11,160 lbs. Is everything OK?  It depends on
the GCWR. If the GCWR is 10,000 then I'm 1,160 lb. overweight and there
is going to be stress on some component in the drivetrain or suspension,
etc. and possible failure. If the GCWR is 12,000 then I'm within limits
and should be OK. If the GCWR is 11,000 then I will have to ask my wife
to walk and carry the microwave just to be safe.

Remember to consider that the water in your holding tanks weighs in at
just over 8 lb. per gallon, so 30 gallons add about 250 lb. If weight is
a consideration, it is a good idea to empty the tanks before towing.