Towing J2807

Alan brought this up in another thread, but here is some easy to understand information about the SAE's new mandates on vehicle's towing capacity. It SHOULD make it much easier to tell if you can actually pull your camper safely with your tow vehicle.......but only if it's a 2013 or later model.

J2807 explained

Thanks Donna for the info. I am glad to see some truth in advertising coming.

Glad I bought my 1500 series Suburban before this rule went into place so I can tow more with it, or at least "be told" that I can tow more with it. After the trouble some of you had with rear ends lately, I'm certain that I don't want a big tt to tow. Something like Dave and Darlene's will have to fill the bill when I finally upgrade.

Richard wrote:Glad I bought my 1500 series Suburban before this rule went into place so I can tow more with it, or at least "be told" that I can tow more with it. After the trouble some of you had with rear ends lately, I'm certain that I don't want a big tt to tow. Something like Dave and Darlene's will have to fill the bill when I finally upgrade.

Richard would your Suburban have the same towing cap. as Dave and Darlene's truck?

Tim, pretty much a 1500 series truck is a 1500 series truck as far as towing is concerned. My suburban would actually be a little worse, because the truck itself is so heavy compared to a pickup.

Not sure what year yours is.. but Suburbans are rated from about 7200lbs to as much as 8500lbs depending on engine size, torque, transmission, 4WD or 2WD, etc.. A few configurations of the 1500 pick ups (V6s) are rated under 5000lbs. V8s (4.8 and 5.3) are mostly rated between aprx. 5000lbs and 8700lbs.. with most around 7000lbs or so. Your Suburban should have no problem pulling a camper like Dave's or mine. (they weigh around 3000lbs, empty)

We were out looking for a different vehicle for my wife last week.. and I looked at a bunch of trucks along the way (just looking). Happy to report that my Nissan Frontier is a pretty good choice for towing.. compared to other V6s.. even many full sized PUs. My 4.0, V6, 265hp.. is rated at 6100lbs. Nissan's full size Titan comes in at 9100lbs. Ford and Chevy full size trucks, with a V6.. usually fall around a 5000lbs tow rating.

I agree with Chuck. My 2006 Chevy 4 door 1500 PU with the 4.8 v8 is rated at 5000 lbs. It pulls the 3000 lb trailer easily, but I would have to seriously think about pulling a 4k or 5k trailer, especially in the mountains...both up and down...

This may sound strange to some, but I tend to be very cautious about pulling anything that is at or near full tow capacity. There are certain driving situations that require being able to get moving quickly and/or having the handling and stopping ability to get out of the way or stopping quickly enough when having to avoid someone who is not paying attention to what they are doing on the road.

Just my 2c

People go round and round about towing.. the who, what, when, where and why.. everyone has an opinion. Its kind of a personal thing. I think my truck (with the 6100lb tow rating) would pull a 5500 lb camper.. with all my junk in it.. I would be somewhat over my tow rating.. but it would pull it. But I don't want to do that. It would be hard on the truck. (look what happened to abivens).

My personal rule of thumb.. after people and junk,.. be about 1000 lbs under your vehicles "tow rating".. and you will be ok. For me, that means.. I can buy up to a (approx) 4000 camper and keep my present tow vehicle. The TTs I have been looking at.. as a someday upgrade, usually weigh about 3300 - 4000 lbs.

I have never really paid attention to what my tow vehicle can tow. I feel it can do the job.

coolbreeze1 wrote:I have never really paid attention to what my tow vehicle can tow. I feel it can do the job.

Somewhere between 9800 and 12,000 lbs.. depending on engine, etc. The 6.6L TD V-8 is the 12,000 lb rating.

by the way.. if anyone is interested.. I'm getting these numbers here: http://coachmenrv.com/owners/guide/

you can actually download the info for any or all years listed. Or just view it online.

If I am looking at the chart right, my truck has two ratings. One is 12,000 then it has 16,700 in ().

the 12,000 is your tow rating.. the other number is GCWR,.. gross combination weight rating. Are you sure it is 16,000? What size is your engine.. 4WD?, extra cab or crew cab?

I looked all the specific stuff up on my Suburban (2002) at one point. I had to find out my engine size and the gear ratio in the rear end. Turns out that it should tow anything I'll be able to afford before the truck is worn out and has to be replaced. I'm thinking it would tow Dave and Darlene's camper really well, once they upgrade to a larger model and sell it to me.

chuck wrote:the 12,000 is your tow rating.. the other number is GCWR,.. gross combination weight rating. Are you sure it is 16,000? What size is your engine.. 4WD?, extra cab or crew cab?

I have the 3500 Chevy with the 6.6 diesel. It gives 2 numbers under the tow rating. One is 12,000 the other is in () beside it saying 16,700. The GCWR is 23,500.

ok.. the 16,700 lbs is the Fifth Wheel rating.. 12,000 lbs is the tow rating for pulling something from a regular hitch.

chuck wrote:ok.. the 16,700 lbs is the Fifth Wheel rating.. 12,000 lbs is the tow rating for pulling something from a regular hitch.

Ok, so then I could tow your camper and never know that it was behind me.

You all are making my day sure glade I went to a coach, some time I wish I got it with more slides.