Tongue Weight Capacity and WD System Recommendation for 2017 GMC Canyon with 6,500 Pound Trailer

Updated 05/13/2019 | Published 05/11/2019

Question:

Im considering buying a 6500 lb. travel trailer. Forest River Salem 280RT. The tow vehicle will be a 2017 GMC Canyon 4x4 2.8 Diesel. The TT has 800 lbs of tongue weight. I have not been unable to figure out the tongue weight limit of the truck. Do you know that limit? Which WDH set up do you recommend? Thanks,

asked by: John M

Expert Reply:

I took a look at the online version of the owner's manual for your 2017 GMC Canyon and it lists a tongue weight capacity of 900 pounds. I highly recommend verifying this (along with the towing capacity for your Canyon) by checking your copy of the manual or by visiting a local GMC dealer with your VIN.

For the Forest River Trailer that weighs 6,500 pounds with a tongue weight of around 800 pounds the Equal-i-zer # EQ37100ET will work perfectly. I really like the integrated 4-Point Sway Control on the Equal-i-zer systems that drastically reduce any sway and constantly fight to keep everything in line during travel. Its clamp-on brackets eliminate the need for any drilling into the trailer frame and its 600 to 1,000 pound tongue weight capacity range nicely matches your setup's tongue weight.

I do just recommend making sure that the 6,500/800 pound trailer weights that you referenced are with the trailer fully loaded and ready for a trip. Please let me know if the loaded weights of your trailer are higher and I will be happy to recommend a different system if needed.

I have attached a short video demonstration on the Equal-i-zer system that you can check out along with the written installation instructions.

expert reply by: Chris R