gary350
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We should have gone camping today it is going to snow 6" tonight.
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Post by gary350 on Feb 22, 2016 14:18:42 GMT -8
I am thinking about buying a new tow vehicle, 2016 Chevy Silverado 1500 work truck version the rear bumper is 25 1/2" from the ground.
The hitch on my camper trailer is 16" from the ground.
Measure from ground up to trailer hitch on camper trailer is 16" to the under side of the hitch the trailer is tilted up about 1" on the highway.
The factory U shape hitch can be replaced with a different 2"x2" plug in type receiver hitch. Dealer claims this will lower the hitch to 20" but my tape measure shows it will lowers to 23".
A drop hitch will fit into the 2" receiver to drop the ball down 4" or 7" which ever one works. I don't have much problem with 4" drop but 7" drop looks dangerous. Side load looks like it will bend the hitch sideways. Pulling the trailer up a steep hill it might bend the steel metal part of the drop hitch.
Does anyone have a suggestion? |
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nccamper
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Post by nccamper on Feb 22, 2016 16:39:50 GMT -8
With my Tundra I need a 6" drop to make it work. I've never had a problem.
If I don't drop the ball that much the camper will catch the pavement in the rear every time I enter a driveway or parking lot. 5" would be perfect but I haven't found it around here.
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Post by bigbill on Feb 22, 2016 17:55:56 GMT -8
I assume your Silverado is a HD four wheel drive. I would go to a competent hitch shop and talk to them about a custom made hitch for your receiver to allow you to tow trailer at the proper height. As professionals they should be able to give you proper advise as to what you need. That sounds tall for a stock truck but it is only a 9 1/2 inch drop so with the proper drop hitch you should be fine. If the bumper is 25 1/2 inch off the ground the receiver is most likely 3 to 5 inches below the bumper if so you can by a standard drop and tow level.
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gary350
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We should have gone camping today it is going to snow 6" tonight.
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Post by gary350 on Feb 22, 2016 19:35:10 GMT -8
The new truck is 2WD not 4WD.
Tow capacity for the 2WD is 5400 lbs, 1 mpg better gas mileage and $5000 cheaper than 4WD. The bed is so high up I need a step ladder to get in the back I do not like that.
This is 1000 lb less tow capacity than my 1999 Chevy Tahoe. I would love to keep the Chevy Tahoe I have now it only has 120k miles and its paid for but it has 2 problems. I tried to get it fixed several times it is a money pit you cant trust anyone these days. They run $200 tests that it does not need and put on parts that does not fix it so I have to keep taking it back and they make more $$$$$. I know what's wrong with it but I can only fix one problem myself if I tare the engine down replace a $300 part it will fix one problem. Dealer wants $960 to replace the engine fuel injector spider. The other problem is no AC the radiator in the dash is bad it would take me maybe a week to fix that myself not sure what is involved in tearing the dash apart. Estimates to fix the AC is $2500. Book value is about $3000 but it is worth way more than that it only has 120K miles and $800 in new tires, $400 for new tow package, $100 new battery. It runs like new but it wont pass code and no AC. When I was younger I could have repaired this but not anymore.
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Post by bigbill on Feb 22, 2016 20:17:23 GMT -8
Wow my silverado (2011) tows 9600 lb it is 2 wd also. Are you talking about putting a trailer ball on the step bumper or on a hitch mounted below the bumper. I personally wouldn't even consider towing with the step bumper it is way to high. Is your WT a V6? Mine is a V8 with trailer package including electric brake controller mounted in the dash, it also has a 6 speed manual shift option automatic transmission with the tow button.
If you are still looking you might consider looking for a truck with the tow package it might be cheaper in the long run, and I would definitely consider a 5.3 V8 They are easy on fuel if you drive sensible. My 2011 will get in the twenties per gallon on the highway at 60 mph.
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Post by danrhodes on Feb 22, 2016 20:28:12 GMT -8
My v6 Tacoma is rated at 6500. I don't think I'd pull half that...
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nccamper
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Post by nccamper on Feb 22, 2016 20:36:36 GMT -8
"My v6 Tacoma is rated at 6500. I don't think I'd pull half that..."
Half is really all anybody should tow. I bought a truck that is rated 10,000 pounds but I wouldn't want to try it.
Slightly off subject, but I also need a hitch extender to keep from clipping the corner of the camper on tight turns. Toyota says it's fine and the truck will more than handle the stress but I wonder about stability. I'm glad I have trailer brakes.
In my uneducated opinion, vintage campers were not meant to be towed by these monster trucks.
There is a point in life when you have had enough of patching old cars together and the (new) car dealer is the only way to go. I recently put new lower control arm bushings on my sisters car and it was a real knuckle buster. To free up the pollution control duct in a Mazda I had to disassemble half the engine. My old 1989 truck was so simple to work on. Now you have a $2000 computer to tell you the tires are low.
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Post by danrhodes on Feb 22, 2016 20:41:48 GMT -8
" My old 1989 truck was so simple to work on. Now you have a $2000 computer to tell you the tires are low. I work in vehicle diagnostics for a living... You dont know the half of what's coming down the pike |
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gary350
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We should have gone camping today it is going to snow 6" tonight.
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Post by gary350 on Feb 22, 2016 20:46:08 GMT -8
The step bumper measures 25 1/2" up from the parking lot cement.
Dealer says he thinks the 2x2 receiver trailer hitch will be 4" below the bumper. My tape measure shows it about 2 1/2" below the bumper.
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Post by vikx on Feb 22, 2016 21:10:19 GMT -8
Gary, I would definitely research a FACTORY tow package if you are buying a new truck. They have a tranny cooler, are already wired for a brake controller and have the 7 way at the back. With a 2" receiver hitch, you should be able to drop to the correct height. Dealers want to SELL and will tell you anything to make the sale...
My 2000 Silverado Z71 receiver hitch is actually lower (17") than the 08 Trailblazer (19"). Odd, the truck is rated at 7500+ and the Trailblazer, 5000. Truck is heavier, of course.
Those were the good old days, when we could fix our own vehicles. Sorry about your Tahoe, they are excellent vehicles.
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gary350
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We should have gone camping today it is going to snow 6" tonight.
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Post by gary350 on Feb 23, 2016 5:20:59 GMT -8
I can cut a hole in the side of the vehicle to mount a house window AC unit and put a 2kw generator on the back that will be a lot less work than tearing the dash apart to repair the vehicle AC.
My 1999 Chevy Tahoe runs good and gets good gas mileage too but it wont pass code so I can not get tags. If the fuel injectors were fixed I would keep it.
If it was not so much trouble I would part the vehicle out, it has $2000 worth of new tires and parts. Once the motor is out of the vehicle it is an easy 1 hour job to replace the injectors. Engine, transmission, doors, seats, windows, fenders, hood, grill, bumpers, steering column, dash, etc. are all worth 5 times what Blue Book claims the vehicle is worth.
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Feb 23, 2016 11:09:58 GMT -8
I have an 8" drop on my Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk.
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chametzoo
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Post by chametzoo on Feb 23, 2016 11:25:40 GMT -8
Does your trailer have a drop axle? If so, a straight axle would raise your trailer by about 4 inches. My drop axle was ancient, so I replaced it with a straight one. Also eliminates lots of low road clearance issues.
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Feb 23, 2016 12:35:44 GMT -8
I second the advice on the tow package and never pull a trailer with a bumper pull ... where the ball is mounted on the bumper.
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gary350
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Post by gary350 on Feb 23, 2016 18:05:20 GMT -8
I would never change drop axle to straight axle that will increase wind resistance camper is already like pulling a parachute.
I learned the dealer has 2 versions of the Silverado 1500 the family version and the work truck version. family version truck body is parallel to road. work version back end is jacked up 10" to haul heavy loads. Family version is push button everything with carpet so it cost about $8000 more. Work truck has no carpet and windows crank. You have to get out of the vehicle to move the rear view mirrors by hand.
They also have avalanche and Colorado trucks. Avalanche is like an suv with a tiny truck bed. Colorado is a long body truck.
The Colorado comes with tow package, 2wd or 4wd, v6 or v8. 3 body styles, short cab, long cab, extended 4 door cab. It comes with all the bush button bells and whistles, no work truck version, no cheap price.
Anything used for sale it something no one wants. Several 2 year old vehicles with 150k miles price $2000 cheaper than brand new. 3 year old with 200k miles $3000 less than new price.
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