Total weight of G23 and Trailer - Actual Real Life Numbers

[ironj32]

Thought there might be some other curious minds out there that would like to know this info. I finally picked up and brought home my new G23, yesterday. There is a truckstop right near the dealer so I decided to take the truck and boat up onto to the big rig scale, and find out just how much that thing weighs.

Total gross weight was 13500. The curb weight (vehicle plus all required functioning fluids and full tank of gas) of my 2011 Silverado Crew Cab LTZ w/ 6.0 L engine is 5410. I'm 200 pounds, and I had maybe a total of 20 pounds of equiment in the bed. The gas tank was about 3/4 full in the boat. I also had 120 pounds of lead in it.

So, for me this is what I figure I'm towing around for my G23 w/ XS550 engine, sitting on a Dual Axel Boatmate trailer:
Total Gross Weight: 13500
Less tow vehicle (equip & passanger): -5630
Plus 25% fuel I was missing (16 gallons): +130
Plus other equiment that I will have in it at all times: +200
Plus additional lead that I will be getting: +300
Total being towed, for me: 8500 pounds

Hopefully this helps answer some inquiring minds. I know I've always been wondering just how much was back there. You should be able to figure what your setup weighs, if you remove the extras that I had in and add in your own.

[swankster]

I was going to do the same thing when I picked mine up. Thanks for the info. Looks like I will be pushing the limits on my Ford F150. I may have to upgrade to the new 6cyl that will pull 10,000 pounds and get ride of my v8 that only tows 8700.

[saceone]

I guess the next step is actually un hitching the boat and letting it sit on the scale by itself. Your way of calculating it seems fairly accurate too! That's a big boat!!

[ironj32]

I guess the next step is actually un hitching the boat and letting it sit on the scale by itself. Your way of calculating it seems fairly accurate too! That's a big boat!!

I thought about doing that, but didn't want to be "that guy", dinking around and piss off the actual truckers who really need to use it. I felt goofy enough just trying to reach up to hit the call button that was 9 feet in the air.

[ironj32]

I was going to do the same thing when I picked mine up. Thanks for the info. Looks like I will be pushing the limits on my Ford F150. I may have to upgrade to the new 6cyl that will pull 10,000 pounds and get ride of my v8 that only tows 8700.

Yea, I've been sitting on the edge of whether or not to upgrade to a 3/4 diesel, and wanted to know how close I was to actually really needing one. My truck is rated to tow 10,400. The weight results are high enough to keep me debating, I guess. Had it been closer to 7000 I probably would have squashed it and just decide to be contempt with the 6.2L 1/2 ton. I think the determining factor will be dependent on how many tow miles I compile this year.

It looks like the 2014 Silverado towing capacity has been bumped up to 11,500...wonder if that is for a 5th wheeler though?

[jrz1]

You won't regret going to a diesel from a towing perspective regardless of what your current capacity might be. The heavier duty frame and higher curb weight of the 3/4 tone will also help. The GM 3/4 tons tend to be a little less heavy duty and probably drive "lighter" than the Fords though I have a 2008 F250 and love it. If going used, try to get something in the 2010-2011 range unless you're going way back. The fuel mileage will be better with the newer post-2008 models since that is when they emissions laws changed and most mfg took a while to figure out how to comply without crap fuel mileage (my '08 stinks). My '05 diesel excursion got 16-19 mpg and my '08 F250 gets 13-14 to give you a flavor.

[Andrew14]

Just curious, but noticed that no one ever recommends a Tundra for a tow vehicle. I have a 5.7L Tundra (comes stock 385HP...I've done exhaust work and now over 400HP) and from the factory its rated to tow 11,000lbs (has a Class IV frame hitch). Also, build quality of a Toyota is pretty high up there (my dad gets 200k miles out of his Toyota trucks and just has to do routine maint). My Tundra pulls my 2012 230 with ease....just drinks gas like no one's business (my only complaint). Guess the fuel consumption is what makes it an unpopular choice on here?

[nyryan2001]

2011 5.7 Tundra here.

i can get 9-10 mpg at 70mpg if I use quality gas. If I am hammering it up hills and thru town it'll quickly drop to 6mpg.

I'm glad you posted those weights, I knew this boat is heavier than the Malibu 247. I gotta use 4wd to get it up the ramp without spinning out its so heavy. And I am not done with my mods... Sub and box will be 150 lbs and 3 more SRM29s at 75lbs ea.

[nyryan2001]

Iron- not with a 5th wheel.. Weight distributing hitch (twin 750lb torsion bars that transfer weight to the front wheels), anti sway bar... And electric brake controller to get up to that near 12k rating. Same setup as you would see on a pickup towing a large Tow hitch travel trailer. I had a 34ft 10,000lb travel trailer behind my Tundra for a couple summers.

[AirTool]

I thought about doing that, but didn't want to be "that guy", dinking around and piss off the actual truckers who really need to use it. I felt goofy enough just trying to reach up to hit the call button that was 9 feet in the air.

That's what I did but went late at night. IIRC, I was lucky and my 2 dr. tahoe landed on two separate scales and the single axle ramlin landed on a separate one. so I got three weights. (that might not work for everyone) Then I disconnected and got the truck by itself and then the boat by itself with the trailer jack on one scale and the axle on another. With three weightings, I got everything I wanted. And fortunately, no 9 foot tall truckers came along.

One fun notation was the amount of weight that came off the front of the tahoe with the boat connected. Something to consider for breaking power although. This would vary by vehicle type of course but mine was more than 10% of the front curb weight IIRC.