How do you find the towing capacity of a 1995 2500 GMC Vandura you are looking to purchase to pull RV with 7500 lb weight?

Answer 1

I could not find specs for this van online, but I tow with a 92 gmc vandura conversion and I can tell you that a 7500 lb trailer is too much. Is that the dry weight of the trailer? If so add at least 1000lb to that number. Then remember that the tongue weight of a trailer is in the area of 12-15% of the trailer weight. So ~1000 lb is on the suspension of your tow vehicle. Add the weight of driver, passengers, fuel, gear, etc. If the van is a conversion, add more. This is too much for the stock suspension. The trailer I pull is 5000 lb dry. My van is in excellent running condition, with beefed-up tranny and suspension, 3.43 rear end, and this trailer is right on the line of being too much. I am, in fact, looking for a new tow vehicle. If you try to pull a 7500 lb trailer you are not going to be happy, and may end up in the transmission shop to boot. The 95 5.7 v8 is only rated 185 hp. Hills will be a nightmare. You might be OK with a 4.11 gear, but that still leaves the suspension to be dealt with. You would be better off, IMHO, with a newer, Vortec V8 3/4 ton truck.truck Towing capacity is affected by the rear end gear ratio. Expect about a 1000 lb increase in towing capacity for each step in taller ratio...3.43:1 to 3.73:1 to 4.10:1. Also, a vehicle with the factory heavy duty trailering option will be better equipped to handle the added stress on the engine, suspension, cooling, and braking. This option includes, higher cooling capacity, an added Transmission Fluid cooler, stiffer springs, and a 7-pin electrical hookup for a trailer that has electric brakes. BEWARE! Some states have laws that require brakes on trailers over a certain weight (usually 1000 lbs). Finally, and this is obvious: the bigger the engine, the more you can haul. The 5.7L is a capable engine, but will probably require a 4.10:1 rear ratio to get 7000 lbs moving reasonably well. Trailer Life (www.trailerlife.com) puts out a fabulous towing guide every year or every make, model, and option. They only go back to 1999 online but you can order older hardcopy issues. According to them, a 1999 G20 van with a 5.7L, auto, and all the HD towing options would tow 5,500 lbs. Since your 5.7L isn't a Vortec (added in 1996 model years), I'd derate at least 10%...maybe more. I just don't see 7,500 lbs being feasible without major modifications to the engine, suspension, and braking.