Towing Weight Capacity of 2008 Chevy Avalanche with 5.3L Engine

Updated 04/15/2019 | Published 04/13/2019

Question:

I have a 2008 Chev Avalance LTZ with towing pkg, I am looking at camper trailer that I can tow behind. 5.3 liter. What Wt. limit, and or length should I be looking for? What is the difference between dry wt. and hitch wt. Would appreciation any professional advice you could give. Im getting so many different opinions from dealers. Thanks for any help you can give.

asked by: Larry C

Expert Reply:

I took a look at the online version of the owner's manual for your 2008 Chevy Avalanche and it looks like with the 5.3L engine it has a towing capacity of 7,000 pounds for the 2WD model or 7,200 pounds for the 4WD model. I do recommend verifying this by checking your copy of the owner's manual as well.

When looking for a trailer you can safely pull the most important thing to look at is its GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating), which refers to the most it can weigh when fully loaded. A trailer's dry weight refers to its weight when empty (before adding anything such as cargo or water for a trip). A trailer's hitch weight, which can also be called tongue weight, is the amount of downward weight the trailer will be putting on the hitch/truck when hooked up. Just imagine a person standing on top of the trailer hitch for your Chevy Avalanche. This is the type of weight a trailer's hitch/tongue weight refers to.

As long as you remain under the truck's capacities in terms of weight, a trailer's length is not really a concern.

From what I could find it looks like the towing package for your Avalanche included both a trailer hitch and 7-Way connector. If you do happen to need one or both of these parts please just let me know and I will be happy to make a recommendation.

If the trailer you purchase is equipped with electric brakes you will need to add a brake controller to power them. For this I highly recommend the Curt Echo # C51180. This is a unique proportional controller that will simply plug into the 7-Way at the back of the truck and pair to your smart phone via Bluetooth. This allows for a super easy install process and also eliminates the need for a separate monitor/box inside the cab since your phone is what is used to adjust any settings or activate the manual override.

I have attached a short video demonstration that you can check out as well.

expert reply by: Chris R