Do I Need A Brake Controller For Towing My New Camper With A 2019 Chevy Suburban?

Question:

Just got a Gulf Stream vintage 23TWS. I got a huge hitch as recommended, but I’m wondering if my 2019 suburban with tow package will pull this? Also if I need a braking system? And any other recommendations would be appreciated.

asked by: Alison M

Helpful Expert Reply:

From what I could find, your 2019 Chevy Suburban can have a few different capacities depending on how it came equipped and I included a chart of all options for you to check out (from the owner's manual). Your Gulf Stream Vintage Cruiser 23TWS looks to have a dry weight of 4,096 pounds and a payload capacity of 1,944 pounds, so fully loaded you are looking at 6,040 pounds. As long as your vehicle is not rated to 6,000 pounds, you are definitely good to go.

With that said, you will definitely need a brake controller due to the weight of your new camper. There are a bunch of options available for this and you really can't do much better than the Tekonsha Prodigy P3 # 90195. This is reasonable priced, easy to use and set up. Using the # 3016 pigtail, you can plug directly into a port under your dash, making the install super easy as well. All you need to do is find the best place to mount it. I included an install video with both these being installed in a Tahoe, but you will have the same port under your dash.

expert reply by: Lazer S