How much can a Chevy 1500 be rigged up to tow safely? I occasionally tow my 10,000 lb rig, and am looking for a new / used truck. I want to stay somewhat SUV oriented (probably Avalanche, or Suburban) as opposed to a pickup truck. Can an aftermarket Class V hitch be added to get it where I need?

I am looking at the 2500 Avalanches, but again I won't be needing to tow all that often. I would like to be legal with the tow rating for insurance purposes. Right now I am buying a house so cash is tight, and I don't want to buy more truck than I could get by with. Also I bet the 8.1 drinks a lot more gas than the Vortec 5300.

my tahoe will tow 10k but don't hit anyone cause your insurance co. will tell you to fly a kite.

last year I saw someone tow a 38 Top Gun with a Ford F-150, not sure how safe that is

will it do it--yes, will it be safe, no. its exceeding the brakes more than pulling power. i would say a 3/4 ton is a minimum and would recommend a 1 ton.

I pulled a 6500# 26 from WI to OH with a GMC 1500 with a 305.
Didn't even break it.

Wasn't legal though, I'm sure. Glad that it was uneventful.

But the answer to the question is get the 2500.

3/4 ton vs. 1 ton is not that much diff. the brakes are generally the same and most of the powertrain packages are same.

I believe the tow ratings are the same with the 3/4 and 1 ton. The difference is the payload capacity.

I am legally towing 12K lbs (37' AT) with my 2500 Avalanche. I have just installed a weight distributing hitch, in order to use the factory hitch. I am very happy with the setup.

I'm towing 6200lbs with a Tahoe Z71 3.73's 5.3vortec and it does ok but is still under powered if I lived in a Flat area it would be fine, but 5 hours to GLH's get together
in those hills makes me wish for the Denali Package, 6.0 and the LE80 tranny instead of the LE60. I wish they made a Z71 Tahoe with that setup because its perfect for 25-29 foot Single Engine boats.
SO dont waste your time running a 1500 on a 10k boat
bare minimum is a 2500HD with the 6.0 for part time use or the 8.1/Duramax for lots of towing

I'm pulling approx. 9000lbs with a '98 C1500. Triple axle trailer with 8100 measured on the three axles, add 10% or so for the tongue.

It's lowered 4" in the back so I have air bags over the leaf springs to assist and they make all the diefference in the world. I also us a load distributing hitch. I've got electric brakes an all six trailer wheels. Oh yeah, and a Whipple. Gears are 3:73 with Eaton posi unit.

I don't think it'd work without the air bags, tall gear, and good brakes. The Whipple helps but I rarely go beyond 2-3 lbs of boost on purpose and I only tow in 3rd, never in overdrive.