2013 Chev tow vehicle

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MCairwing
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2013 Chev tow vehicle

Post by MCairwing »

Hello all, new member here via the purchase of a 2017 3250RL. We will be towing with a 2013 Chev 2500HD SRW, 6.6 Duramax/Allison tranny, 4x4 super cab long bed. Firestone Airbags and Curt G20 Hitch. The RV dealer said it will will be fine but I just wanted to check with the experts on the forum to see if there might be anything that I need to add to the mix to help or make the pull safer. I would like to know what ya'll think of the combination.
Last edited by MCairwing on Mon Apr 24, 2017 4:29 am, edited 1 time in total.
Roger
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Re: 2013 Chev tow vehicle

Post by Roger »

A cummings in a Chevy??

You better get some weights. Super cab and long bed eat a lot of your trucks capacity. I am afraid you will be over on your rear axle weight and am sure you will be over on GVWR.
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MCairwing
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Re: 2013 Chev tow vehicle

Post by MCairwing »

Roger,

I made the correction...don't know where that came from. I will check out more sources. Thanks
Last edited by MCairwing on Mon Apr 24, 2017 2:01 pm, edited 2 times in total.
jtaylor1920

Re: 2013 Chev tow vehicle

Post by jtaylor1920 »

First off welcome to the forum and congratulations on your new 3250.

To help answer your question what does the sticker on the driver side door jamb say for payload on your truck?
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rplato
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Re: 2013 Chev tow vehicle

Post by rplato »

Here is a link for Trailerlife Towing Guide for 2013.


http://prodcontent.s3.amazonaws.com/tra ... pdf#page18


It provides a wide range of vehicle configurations to match to your vehicle. That with the specifications for your 3250
should give you the answer.

At any rate, enjoy the new trailer!!
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MCairwing
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Re: 2013 Chev tow vehicle

Post by MCairwing »

Thanks to the link that rplato supplied, here is the info for my truck:
2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 6.6L V-8 TD 14,700... so, the dry weight on my 3250RL is 12,142 and the GVRW is 14,252 I should be ok. The sticker on the door of my truck says 10,000 GVRW. So I guess I'm good to go and legal, right?

Thanks all for your help.
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Re: 2013 Chev tow vehicle

Post by safrog »

I had a 2500with mt 3150 before I upgraded. It pulled it fine, actually did a great job. With that said, i was always wortied about only having two tires supporting the hitch weight. It all depends on how comfortable you are with the two tire vs the four tires onthe rear of the truck. Welcome.
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Re: 2013 Chev tow vehicle

Post by safrog »

Just saw you had a 3250 instead of a 3850. I was uncomfortable towing the 3850 withmy2500. Not much leadway on the hitch weight. Granted it may be legal but that is on level smooth surfaces. I was worried about the bouncing and clucking on rough roads. But that was me. Maybe i am over cautious. Good luck and wish you many years of enjoyable RVing.
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rplato
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Re: 2013 Chev tow vehicle

Post by rplato »

It is not quite that simple to arrive at the final answer. The salesman, or anyone else, cannot accurately answer your "safe and legal" question without several more pieces of information.

There are several things that can present a limit.
They include:
GVWR of tow vehicle ( this is maximum allowed weight of tow vehicle including fuel, passengers, luggage or other cargo, and hitch weight of trailer loaded),

GAWR of tow vehicle (this is the total allowed load on each axle, including all items listed as factors for GVWR),

Tire load rating on tow vehicle tires on each tires share of actual GVW.

GCWR (total combination weight rating, weight of everything being moved by the tow vehicle).

Several of these items require knowing actual weight of loaded rig.

These items determine the answer to the "legal" piece of your question assuming all of them as well as trailer GVWR (including propane, liquids, and cargo) are not exceeded.

The "safe" piece of the question also considers comfort level with amount of reserve capacity in all areas. There is also a concern among some of the ability to pull vs. ability to stop vs. stability when approaching limits.

I am sure there are other items that may come into play, but these are the minimum items required to evaluate whether the tow vehicle is "safe and legal" to tow this trailer.

There are a lot of us who struggle with these concepts, but developing the information to evaluate these limits creates a certain level of comfort about the safety and legality of our rigs. It is also matter of accumulating the knowledge over a period of time. Also, there are a large number of folks who believe that all these concerns are unnecessary (scary thought to me, but still an existing point of view).
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Re: 2013 Chev tow vehicle

Post by Roger »

Your problem is in the amount of weight the truck has to carry not the amount you can tow. Your pin weight at max trailer weight will be close to 3000 lbs. Like I said before you are too close to call without getting it to the scales ready to camp.
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Re: 2013 Chev tow vehicle

Post by Don Wilson »

MCairwing wrote:Hello all, new member here via the purchase of a 2017 3250RL. We will be towing with a 2013 Chev 2500HD SRW, 6.6 Duramax/Allison tranny, 4x4 super cab long bed. Firestone Airbags and Curt G20 Hitch. The RV dealer said it will will be fine but I just wanted to check with the experts on the forum to see if there might be anything that I need to add to the mix to help or make the pull safer. I would like to know what ya'll think of the combination.
Mike
I had a work sheet a several years ago but don't remember where I got it but here is the link to an article that might give you some helpful info! There is a calculator included in the article.

http://fifthwheelst.com/2015-three-quar ... owing.html

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Re: 2013 Chev tow vehicle

Post by jacknife »

Well... to be real he already bought the truck so that is not going to change. I have been pulling 14,000 for 4 years with an SRW and have never had a problem. Just make sure your load is as equally distributed you will be ok . I got 25,000 towing. Be sure you have good rubber. If your trailer has cheap tires dump them before one or more blow out and put some good rubber on it. Hopefully we will see you at a rally. :d :d :d
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Re: 2013 Chev tow vehicle

Post by Mike Clay »

As Ron said its not so much what your towing its the pin weight and the tires on the truck being the weakest link. Then the axles and springs. I have a 3700 lb pin and there is no way I could tow it even with a one ton srw. Now my trailer is pushing 18,000 lbs. I still have tow room just can add any more weight inside my truck.

Because you already own the truck does not mean its the safest way to go.
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MCairwing
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Re: 2013 Chev tow vehicle

Post by MCairwing »

I guess I have one more question...don't I gain tongue weight on the truck with the airbags I put on?

Thanks to all that responded...looks like I have more exploring to do.
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rplato
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Re: 2013 Chev tow vehicle

Post by rplato »

Air bags will help with squatting and ride smoothness, but they don't add carrying capacity.
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