TxSmallFry

Welcome.

 

First off, in your owners manual find the max allowable weight for the trailer. If your at 80% or so of that you're in a good place to start.

 

Secondly, which cab configuration is your P/U? What I'm after is the wheel base difference if any. A Tahoe is pretty short. And short is not your friend in the tail wagging the dog game. The shorter the less stable.

 

The engine should be OK, the 6 speed is a big help. Do you have a tranny temp readout on your Drive Info Center?

 

So, assuming you're well within weight limits for the Tahoe I would make sure the trailer is a light as possible. Waste tanks empty, enough water for enroute needs and easy on the stuff. Yes, use a load leveling hitch. And, make sure your tongue weight is at about 12% of trailer weight. You can determine tongue weight by going to a scale and with the trailer hitched weigh the tow vehicle. (trailer axles NOT on the scale) Now dump the trailer and weigh the tow vehicle again. The difference is your tongue weight. Move stuff around the trailer if necessary.

 

If you keep it lean and mean and keep an eye on the temps it should work. Lastly, if the truck seems to be working too hard, plan your most mountainous sections in a time other than the mid day heat. 20º makes a big difference.

Great advise.

Thanks for the response.

The 5.3 is a good engine and the 6-speed tranny on your 2016 Tahoe will put you in a much better place than the 4-speed in my 2005. We were also towing a slightly heavier TT (just over 7,000 GVWR/5,400 empty). We just had to be patient and put up with 3,500 RPM in the mountains of western North Carolina and east Tennessee. Use tow-haul mode, go down the hills at the same speed you went up, and let the motor do as much of the braking for you as possible. Don't ride the brakes... just stick to the truck lanes and "hang with the big boys and you should be OK.

 

Happy camping!

 

Rob

Thank you Rob, for your response.

I am planning a trip from Houston to Louisville, KY and then over to Ft. Bragg, NC in the next few weeks. I have a 28 foot Ultralite Keystone travel trailer that weighs about 4900 lbs. dry.

It has a GVWR of 6550. The tongue weight is 525 lbs..

My question is, in your opinion, will a 2016 Chevy Tahoe be able to sufficiently pull this trailer through the mountainous terrain between KY & NC?

The Tahoe has a 5.3L engine with the 3:42 rear end. It has the Chevy stock towing package (tranny cooler, electric brakes, etc.). I will be using a friction anti-sway control bar.

I have pulled this trailer with my Chevy 1500 p/u many times with no problems.

The Chevy 1500 also has the 5.3L engine with the 3:42 rear end and stock towing package and I use the anti-sway bar.

However, most of where I pull this trailer in this part of Texas is relatively flat.

I have not really tried it hilly or mountainous terrain.

Your suggestions or comments will be appreciated.