Weight Ratings????

[rjfguitar]

My camper is a lower profile camper. It's not one of those you see that looks like its 2 ft. off the ground and has 7 ft. of headroom inside. I know that this camper is right at the towing limits of a K5, but I've towed this camper thousands of miles and have had no problems at all.

I think that sort of applies to the subject at hand. If 6K wasn't a safe maximum for a K5 to tow, it wouldn't be the maximum. I'm sure GM paid their engineers quite a bit to determine these figures. In fact, I'm of the opinion that the numbers are probably slightly low b/c of liability issues.
Secondly, you described the worst possible weather conditions for towing. (Incidentally, here in MS snow storms and icey roads are not usually a problem and if they were I certainly wouldn't be towing a camper anywhere.) No, I wouldn't tow in the conditions you described. I wouldn't drive PERIOD in those conditions. If an 18 wheeler slides off the road in a snow storm does that mean he overloaded his truck? Sometimes the conditions are unfavorable, not just for towing, but for driving. If the wind pushed your entire rig two feet laterally, I think its safe to say you made a poor decision about being on the road to start with. If I'm towing 12,000 lbs with my K5 and a tornado blows me off the road it wasn't because my rig was overloaded. Common sense must come into play at some point.
Thirdly, even if I were towing a much smaller camper I would still have the equalizing hitch, anti sway bar, and trailer brakes. Putting forth the extra effort and expense to properly equip your rig before you hit the road is something that too many overlook.

I agree and disagree on a few things. I own three 1 ton duallys, one 1ton SRW Crew, a 3/4t Ram Cummins, a 1/2ton Suburban, and a K5.

I've towed tons of stuff with everyone of them. There is no doubt that any of our larger trucks feel like they are in command of our trailers that they pull. What I mean is that when you hook them up and take off down the road you can feel how easily the 3/4t and especially DRW 1 ton chassis handles the weight and drag of the trailer. No sway, no hopping in the rear, and trailer brakes or not...you stomp on the brake and it's coming to a hault fairly quickly.

Our '98 Suburban? Ha.... see if you can hang on for 8 seconds.... Rear springs are mushy and hop over bumps going down the road, one small wind gust and hold onto the wheel with both hands, and forget stopping unless those trailer brakes are working well.

Now what I am getting at is that when you get into bad weather conditions the superior HD3/4 and 1ton chassis are going to really stand out. Things can get hairy in the weather conditions I mentioned but a 1 ton will help keep that trailer and truck in control much better than a spongy 1/2 ton.

You say that I shouldn't be in weather conditions mentioned....well if you live in New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Florida, etc.... there's a great chance you don't have to deal with that kind of weather, except for bad rain, but if you live anywhere else snow and ice are a daily routine.

Your truck's towing capability had NOTHING to do with safety in that situation.

I can't disagree more.... The fact that I had dual wheels, a heavy 1 ton truck, and a stiff suspension held me to the road. If I had the burb or K5, I might not be here typing this up today.

I'll try to reflect your statement with a different subject. A Nascar Nextel Cup car's top speed capabilities and state of the art suspension/chassis has nothing to do with it's capabilites of holding a banked turn at Daytona at 200mph.

There is no way one bit that a 3/4 or 1 ton doesn't help as road conditions turn sour. The more you are in control and can easily handle your rig's setup, the harder it is for ANYTHING to pull you OUT of control. If you are hanging on the ragged edge of control and out of control, it will take much less to knock you out of control.


I'm not at all trying to dump on you for pulling your camper, I'd be an idiot to tell you can't when you've ben doing it for a long time and have prooved it to be fine for you. But, just remember, 6K is your max weight in good weather conditions and decent road ways. if your a summer camper and nearly always stay in good conditions I'm really glad! Nothing is better than setting the cruise, adjusting the A/C, turning up the Satellite radio, and heading out to your favorite play spot with your toys in tow!

 

[rjfguitar]

I want to see a pic of your camper and K5 in tow!

Here's my rig.

 

[tiger9297]

I agree and disagree on a few things. I own three 1 ton duallys, one 1ton SRW Crew, a 3/4t Ram Cummins, a 1/2ton Suburban, and a K5.

I've towed tons of stuff with everyone of them. There is no doubt that any of our larger trucks feel like they are in command of our trailers that they pull. What I mean is that when you hook them up and take off down the road you can feel how easily the 3/4t and especially DRW 1 ton chassis handles the weight and drag of the trailer. No sway, no hopping in the rear, and trailer brakes or not...you stomp on the brake and it's coming to a hault fairly quickly.

Our '98 Suburban? Ha.... see if you can hang on for 8 seconds.... Rear springs are mushy and hop over bumps going down the road, one small wind gust and hold onto the wheel with both hands, and forget stopping unless those trailer brakes are working well.

Now what I am getting at is that when you get into bad weather conditions the superior HD3/4 and 1ton chassis are going to really stand out. Things can get hairy in the weather conditions I mentioned but a 1 ton will help keep that trailer and truck in control much better than a spongy 1/2 ton.

You say that I shouldn't be in weather conditions mentioned....well if you live in New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Florida, etc.... there's a great chance you don't have to deal with that kind of weather, except for bad rain, but if you live anywhere else snow and ice are a daily routine.



I can't disagree more.... The fact that I had dual wheels, a heavy 1 ton truck, and a stiff suspension held me to the road. If I had the burb or K5, I might not be here typing this up today.

I'll try to reflect your statement with a different subject. A Nascar Nextel Cup car's top speed capabilities and state of the art suspension/chassis has nothing to do with it's capabilites of holding a banked turn at Daytona at 200mph.

There is no way one bit that a 3/4 or 1 ton doesn't help as road conditions turn sour. The more you are in control and can easily handle your rig's setup, the harder it is for ANYTHING to pull you OUT of control. If you are hanging on the ragged edge of control and out of control, it will take much less to knock you out of control.


I'm not at all trying to dump on you for pulling your camper, I'd be an idiot to tell you can't when you've ben doing it for a long time and have prooved it to be fine for you. But, just remember, 6K is your max weight in good weather conditions and decent road ways. if your a summer camper and nearly always stay in good conditions I'm really glad! Nothing is better than setting the cruise, adjusting the A/C, turning up the Satellite radio, and heading out to your favorite play spot with your toys in tow!

I don't disagree that a larger heavier TV will keep you out of trouble more easily if things get bad. However, my point is that if things are as bad as you say they were on that particular trip, in my opinion, you shouldn't be on the road in anything no matter what size. Just because a 1 ton may handle more, if things get bad doesn't mean you are being unsafe towing with a K5. The same logic could be used for your situation. You can tow a back hoe, small dozer, tractor, etc. with your 1 ton and be within limits (safe), but I could then say you are pushing the limits of your truck so you should be towing that load with a 2 ton rig. Then we could move on to an 18 wheeler and on and on. There will always be something or some situation that COULD exceed the capabilities of your TV even if you are within its "safe" limits.

I don't have a picture of my rig in tow but I do have one of it sitting in a campground. I can't remember if the camper is still hooked up or not. I'll try to scan it in and then see if I can figure out how to post pics here.

Another note: I'd love to have a 4 door 1 ton dually to tow my camper with. It would indeed do the job more easily, and on top of that, they are just plain cool.

 

[rjfguitar]

The same logic could be used for your situation. You can tow a back hoe, small dozer, tractor, etc. with your 1 ton and be within limits (safe), but I could then say you are pushing the limits of your truck so you should be towing that load with a 2 ton rig. Then we could move on to an 18 wheeler and on and on. There will always be something or some situation that COULD exceed the capabilities of your TV even if you are within its "safe" limits.

I completely agree, but I was staying with the average 5-8K load that most of us would normally pull, but you are right with your theory.

Another note: I'd love to have a 4 door 1 ton dually to tow my camper with. It would indeed do the job more easily, and on top of that, they are just plain cool.

I just flat out love my Crew Cab, I drive mine 8 hours a day as it's my service truck.