So, I am thinking about a new travel trailer. I am trying to determine the towing capacity of my truck. The owners manual says I can tow 7900# or 9900# depending on the axle. Exactly how do I determine which axle I have?

 

Load up the 9900# and if it snaps, it was the 7900#.

Bwaaa haaa ha ha ha haaaaa....

I'm going straight to hell.

 

i believe that on the inside of your drivers side door it will tell you the towing capacity of the vehicle!

i may be wrong but that is how i found out what i can tow!

 

http://www.trailerlife.com/cforum/in...s/forum/26.cfm

Check this web site out, great for RV data and has much to say about towing.

I like to use the 80% rule, when you determine your tow capacity, then plan on buying a trailer that weights 80% of that number.

Then you will be safe pulling up hills and stopping. Stopping is the main problem, you must have a tow vehicle (TV) that has larger enough brakes along with the trailer brakes to bring the rig to a stop in a reasonable distance when some fool pulls out in front of you or suddenly decides to stop and turn left.

My 2000 model chevy OBS 2500 series, has a 350 engine (255 hp, 330 pounds of torque) 4l80E transmissionand 3.73 gears. It has a tow capacity of 7100 pounds. I pull a 6000 pd travel trailer and it handles it ok, gets about 10 mpg at 62 mph.

However, pulling a long steep hill from a stop, the little 350 has to scream all the way up the hill.

That's why so many that pull TT or heavy loads use diesels as they have so much more torque.

Good luck and be safe,