What TT do you pull with your Silverado/Sierra 5.3L ?

[rickp603]

Just wondering what everyone is towing with their Silverado/Sierra 5.3L 1/2 tons ?

I have a 2013 Silverado Ext. Cab w/5.3L and 3.42 gearing. I have just placed a deposit on a gorgeous 2014 Premier 31 BHPR. Of course I did not do the towing math until after the wife and I fell in love with the Premier. So here I am figuring out that I am darn close to all the limitations. My TV has a 7000# GVWR. Sounds great until you look at the estimated 5400# curb weight (need to weigh it), 500 lbs passenger weight (time for a diet), 150# bikes/rack and a rated tongue weight of 795 (dry). I estimate 6900# GVW for the TV. Not to mention another 7500 with a ready to camp TT (increasing tongue weight). I have a 15000# combined weight rating (GCWR) and it looks like I will be at 14,400 which sounds bit close to me. So I figured this would be a good way to ask around and see what others are towing with their Silverado/Sierra 1/2 tons. One thing is for sure, there is not a new truck on the horizon for me unfortunately.

[GaryWT]

Hi, towing with a Ford 150, 5.4l. Payload is 1,700 and towing is 8,600. The trailer is 6,400 dry and 8,000 loaded but I am below that. Yes the numbers are real close but it does great moving forward, stops well and maintains speed on hills so I am happy. Someday I might upgrade but don't have 44k laying around right now.

[JRTJH]

Being from New Hampshire, you're probably going to be negotiating more hills than flat places. That's going to put an additional burden on your truck over someone who is from a flat place and who plans to only tow locally.

I know you don't want to hear this, but with a 3.42 rear end and a 5.3l engine, you're looking at the very strong likelihood of a new truck or a new transmission/engine for the old truck from trying to tow that big a load.... The choice is up to you, but you're pushing a 5.3 with a high rear end ratio way past its limit.

[Festus2]

Originally Posted by rickp603

Just wondering what everyone is towing with their Silverado/Sierra 5.3L 1/2 tons ?

I have a 2013 Silverado Ext. Cab w/5.3L and 3.42 gearing. I have just placed a deposit on a gorgeous 2014 Premier 31 BHPR. Of course I did not do the towing math until after the wife and I fell in love with the Premier. One thing is for sure, there is not a new truck on the horizon for me unfortunately.

I think the question you should be asking is can I safely tow this 31BHPR Premier without subjecting the Silverado to excessive wear and tear on the transmission, suspension and brakes? As mentioned above, you might get away with short, local trips over flat terrain but if you plan on venturing out over longer distances pulling your unit up and down hilly or mountainous areas, then you could be over-extending the truck - depending on much "stuff" you throw in the TV and the TT.

Now that you have committed yourself to the Premier, towing it with a TV that you have determined is "darn close to the limits", and that considering another TV is "not on the horizon" , it would appear that things are pretty much cast in stone, and knowing what others are towing with a similar Silverado isn't going to make much difference.

[ROLIN JOSEPH]

OK, rickp603, I see nobody answered your question, so I will.
I owned a Silverado like that in 2007, with the same engine and rear end.
With it I towed a Jayco (excuse me), 20BH. Dry about 5,000 lbs.
...then we encountered a hill.
...then we traded up the truck.
Hope this helps.

[GaryWT]

I would guess that the Chevy pulls close to my ford. I tow in New England up and down the hills in NH and VT without issue so I would guess he could as well.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by GaryWT

I would guess that the Chevy pulls close to my ford. I tow in New England up and down the hills in NH and VT without issue so I would guess he could as well.

Gary, What rear end are you running in your F150?

[ROLIN JOSEPH]

rickp603,
..forgot to mention, in all fairness, my Silverado back then was a four speed tranny, and the fourth gear was an overdrive gear. Most of the time I was running in third gear, and it would kick down to second gear the moment it hit any hill.

[gsmith31]

I have a 2014 Silverado with 3:42 gears and a 5.3, I pull a 2013 2650 bh that is 7200 lbs gross,my truck is 1850 pay load and it can pull 9800 lbs, and 15000 gcwr it pulls the trailer like its not even back there, but I would not want a bigger trailer than what I have. mine pulls good and I am safe, and feel good going down the road. The new chevy trucks went to a direct injection, 355 hp, 383 torque, big improvement over the last 20 years.. although not a diesel but they do a better job then the older engines.

[GaryWT]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

Gary, What rear end are you running in your F150?

Based on the charts I have a 3.15, that is why my tow cap is 8,600. If I had higher gears I would be at 10 or 11k. Of course that would kill my 1,700 payload.

[Western Traveler]

This sounds so familiar though your truck is much newer.

http://www.keystonerv.org/forums/sho...t=towing+story

[TomHaycraft]

See the signature line, has trailering package.

Trailer (5th wheel) fully loaded is at 7,700 lbs, just over 80% of the towing capacity. The combo gets me where I'm going, I won't go to Colorado with it, but a ton of options east of the Rockies. I wouldn't want to pull anything heavier, but serves the purpose for now.

[zenbuck]

I have basically the same set up...2011 crew with 5.3 and tow package. Get a solid WD hitch. We travel light and have only seen some PA mountains. We take our time and have had no issues..Longest trip has been 250 miles. I will upgrade TV when it's time...

[Kristi]

We just traded our 2007 gmc 6.0L 4x4 for a 2500hd. We pull a passport 2650bh with a max of 7200. We were within our limits and it pulled good, but we were mighty close to maxing out or payload. Actual tongue weight loaded was 950 loaded versus 600 dry.


Sent from my iPad

[SkyPiGG]

I have a 2011 Silverado with the same back-end and the same engine.

I have been towing a 2011 Cougar X-Lite 26BHS (5900 Dry, 710 hitch) with an E2 Fastway friction WD Hitch.

On April 3rd, I pick up our new trailer that I will be towing with the same truck and hitch. It is also a Keystone Premier like yours, but I opted for the 30RIPR. (6600 Dry, 660 Hitch).

I have towed the Cougar through the Pocono Mountains, and in 25 MPH gusts, and that truck has performed admirably. The first thing you have to understand is that although there is a science to crunching the numbers, there is a lot of subjectivity when it comes to deciding if a trailer is towable. I had nearly the entire rv.net community tell me that my truck shouldn't pull my Cougar, and here I am three years later pulling 700 more pounds with it.

Your biggest friend in your Silverado is the 6-speed transmission with tow-haul mode. That thing will get you to the top of the mountain at a good-pace. Your other friend, Mr. Grade-Braking, will get you down the other side. By the way, the first time grade-braking activates, it will scare the crap out of you, because the RPMs will jump to 4k (depending on how fast you are going, and how steep the grade is). Just sit back, and enjoy modern engineering. Whatever you do, don't take your truck out of tow-haul mode while you are towing. Even if you think it's flat. Your transmission temperature will go up faster if you do. I've noticed that going up hills and starting from a stop are the things that make your trans temp climb. Cruising on level ground will make it go down in a hurry. I've had it as high as 220 on a really hot day.

On the back-end, your friend is your weight distribution hitch. If you have yours set correctly, you can redirect 40% of your hitch weight. I use a friction hitch. Noisy, but it keeps my trailer nice and stable.

Another thing to note is that on your Premier, you have a wider-stance. Meaning that the axles are farther apart. This makes the trailer lighter in front, and reduces sway even more.

I think your going to be happy with that truck/trailer combo. Just take it slow, and give yourself alot of braking room.

Enjoy!

[moonner2]

I have a 2004 Ext. cab 5.3 liter 2 WD with 3:73's...rated to tow #8100. I pull a 27' Springdale 266 RELL...dry weight 5640...hitch is #720....I bought it in Seattle and towed it back through Washington, Idaho and Montana on I-90...then up through Great Falls, Montana into southern Alberta in Canada....never missed a beat.....on the level at 65mph on cruise. I have dual exhaust and a cold air intake added. I was worried about not having enough truck to do the job but we made all the mountain passes from Seattle on through and I have now worries pulling anymore. I have a good WD hitch and sway controller which I think really helps. I would switch to 3:73's if it wasn't too expensive and do the dual exhaust & cold air intake if possible......also maybe a programmer to boost you're HP.

[arcticcatred]

I had a 2006 Chevy 5.3 4x4 extcab with 3.42's. I pulled a 2012 Cougar 24rls loaded probably past its max weight. I pulled the trailer for about 2 years putting about 5000 miles on it. I have pulled it through hills and high winds. Your truck will be able to pull the trailer and will pull it better than mine due to your transmission being 6 speed. Now the real question is how your truck will hold up to pulling it depends on how much you pull and how you maintain it. You will need to change ALL of your fluids and filters more frequently. Have really good tires, shocks and brakes. I have noticed that it has wore out my truck faster than normal due to towing at max capacity. If your tow vehicle is your daily driver In my opinion you need to go to a 3/4 ton. You will feel a lot safer on the road and truck will last longer.

[poop]

I had a 2003 Chevy 5.3 Z71 ext cab with 4.10. Tow package. I Pull a 2005 Cougar 281 5th wheel. Pulls stops fine. Have not done any mountains yet. Pretty close to weight limit.

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