siskiyou

4wd isn't even in question and doesn't have anything to do with the towing except I do go up one steep gravel road in the summer towing my travel trailer that I would not be able to make it up without the 4wd. I also use it in the snow and ice in the mountains in the winter. As far as I am concerned if it is not 4wd it is not a truck. Mike

You are correct, I tow about 10% of the miles I drive my truck and almost exclusively in the summer. Most of the time it is a passenger car that I occassionally toss things in the back or tow my utility trailer. Thanks for all the help. Mike

Thanks for the info, you are definitely towing more than I am, mine is right at 6500# fully loaded with water. I think I am going to see if I can order the max tow and I shouldn't have any problems but I know they used to be hard to get. Mike

The problem with the 8 speed is that it is not an option on the LT just the LTZ. Mike

When I am towing up into the mountains if my speed drops down to about 55 I drop down from 3rd to 2nd gear which puts my engine at between 3500 and 4000 rpm which is right in its power band. I tried to figure out where that would be with the 6 sp. and it looks like it puts it between 2nd and 3rd with 3.42 when I figure the trans gear ratio, differential and my tire size of 245/75 R16. I just wanted to hear in the real world what happens because although I don't always push it up to highway speed if I am the only one around, I do if I would be holding up traffic. Mike

When you say better than you thought do you mean you can pull those hills at freeway speeds? Mike

Thanks for the replies and keep them coming, the reason I ask is because of the transmission switch from 4 to 6 sp. and also I know the engine now is putting out more power than my old one. I just don't want to stay the same or lose power, I would get the 6.2 but I don't want to have to use premium. Mike

I tow a travel trailer that weighs about 6500# and go up grades of up to 6 - 7% that will last for 20 to 30 miles. I am looking at getting the 5.3 which I have now in an 02 Silverado with the 3.73 gears. I know max tow was hard to get so if I end up without it, do any of you tow about that much weight in the mountains with the 3.42 gears, and if so, can you maintain highway speeds or even accelerate if you get slowed down? Thanks Mike