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RE: [RC] help from the truck gurus :) - David LeBlancGet the Gross Combined Weight Rating from the book on the truck. It is probably around 20,000-22,000 lbs. Now subtract off the weight of the truck (also in the book - probably called 'curb weight'). Next subtract off the weight of the trailer - if you don't know it, you can do a little work and find out for sure by finding a truck scale, and go over it once with the trailer and once without. Or to get a good guess, look it up on the manufacturer's web site. What's left is your capacity to add stuff and horses. For horses like we ride, I'd figure 1000#/horse, and about 250#/person for them and their stuff. Then add up the capacity of all the water tanks you have, and all the waste tanks - this can add up - we carry 35 gallons fresh water, can carry 35 gallons gray, and another 35 gallons sewage, then we have 90 gallons additional on our truck (yes, this is hard core, but just an example) - all adds up to nearly 200 gallons. Multiply that by 8 (8 pints to the gallon, a pint's a pound the world around) to get the weight. For us, that's another 1600 pounds. Also need to allow a few hundred pounds for feed, saddles, and stuff. It would be unusual for us to haul with all the tanks completely full, but with safety stuff, always consider the worst case. If it comes out close to zero, or worse yet negative, then you need a bigger truck. The "one-ton" designation is actually completely meaningless - carrying capacity across all of the Chevy 3500s can vary by more than a ton, and that's just what can be put on the bed, which is not your problem hauling a trailer. If you've got 1000-2000 pounds to spare, you can haul safely. Remember - it isn't what it can pull, it is what it can _stop_. If it won't go, you call a tow truck. If it won't stop, you call an ambulance. You're probably in good shape, but do the math and make sure. My wife figured out all this several years back and kept me from making a serious mistake. We bought a truck with plenty of capacity (a F-550 - but our trailer is bigger) and have been happy since - and might have avoided a crash or two because of having enough stopping power. -----Original Message----- From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Cindy Collins Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2009 11:00 AM To: Ridecamp Ridecamp Subject: [RC] help from the truck gurus :) We're looking at the truck described below. It's a really good price and great interest rate. So, I'm looking for pros and cons from the many truck gurus on ridecamp. It would be pulling a LQ 8ft short wall, 4 horse slant, all aluminum trailer. Thanks, as always. Cindy 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1 ton Extended Cab and Chassis Dually 4x4 Stock #: 826 Miles: 10 Color: Summit White Engine: Duramax 6600 Turbo Diesel Transmission: Allison 6 Speed Automatic =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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