Towing Questiong For A Friend

[stefman722]

Hey!

 

A co-worker asked me a question today and I thought I asked on here.

 

He owns a stock 2005 GMC Sierra extended cab with the 4.8L. He wants to buy an RV and wants to know what's the most he will be able to tow? Hes looking at 21ft to 25ft trailers. I of course have no experience with the 4.8L so I couldn't help him out unfortunately!

 

Thanks!

 

Stef

[MS3DALE]

Is it 2wd or 4wd? short-bed or long-bed? what gear ratio does it have? what suspension pkg. does it have?

All these things make a difference,especially the axle ratio and if its 2 or 4wd.

If you can get the VIN that would be better,I can run it and get all the specs.

[Z45]

He needs a bigger truck, like a 6.2L engine with the Max Trailering Package or a 3/4 ton pickup at minimum. The 4.8L is too small engine and he will be fighting that trailer all the time.

 

I am sure there are those that think its perfectly OK with the combo or even the 5.3L. The truck and the trailer always end up being loaded down with gear and unless you got a bigger engine, better cooling, bigger brakes its going to take it toll on the truck and the driver. The is more to pulling a trailer then being able to pull the trailer, you need to be able to stop with it behind you or control it when a 18 wheeler blows by you at 80mph or when its fish tailing in high winds.

[Stevens03]

The 4.8's a good motor but lacks in the torque area. Tell him to look at trailers under 4000 pounds and he should be fine. There's lot of ultra light trailers to choose from. If he goes anymore, he'll always want more motor.

 

[stefman722]

Is it 2wd or 4wd? short-bed or long-bed? what gear ratio does it have? what suspension pkg. does it have?

All these things make a difference,especially the axle ratio and if its 2 or 4wd.

If you can get the VIN that would be better,I can run it and get all the specs.

 

 

Shit! I knew I shoulda wrote that! i'm tired haha. He has the 3.73 and it's a 4x4 non z-71. I'll let him know! thanks.

[music]

He needs a bigger truck, like a 6.2L engine with the Max Trailering Package or a 3/4 ton pickup at minimum. The 4.8L is too small engine and he will be fighting that trailer all the time.

 

The spec tow ratings on these trucks are fine. I'm at the max (spec) ratings on my 5.3 truck (13k lbs combined weight fully loaded) and the truck performs exactly as I'd expect. Handling is independent of motor, and is more a function of weight distribution and suspension.

 

There are many smaller campers that his truck will handle very well. I'd stay south of ~6k lbs fully loaded, expecting to use 2nd for moderate grade pulls at that weight. More important than fretting about the motor and power: make sure he gets a weight distributing hitch system. Stability and sway control are by far the most important consideration, extra power just makes it a little nicer when pulling hills.

[sc4808]

He needs a bigger truck, like a 6.2L engine with the Max Trailering Package or a 3/4 ton pickup at minimum. The 4.8L is too small engine and he will be fighting that trailer all the time.

 

The spec tow ratings on these trucks are fine. I'm at the max (spec) ratings on my 5.3 truck (13k lbs combined weight fully loaded) and the truck performs exactly as I'd expect. Handling is independent of motor, and is more a function of weight distribution and suspension.

 

There are many smaller campers that his truck will handle very well. I'd stay south of ~6k lbs fully loaded, expecting to use 2nd for moderate grade pulls at that weight. More important than fretting about the motor and power: make sure he gets a weight distributing hitch system. Stability and sway control are by far the most important consideration, extra power just makes it a little nicer when pulling hills.

 

 

The chassis and suspension is the same from the V6 trucks up to the 6.2 V8 trucks depending on the suspension package the truck came with so the truck can handle the same size trailer that a 5.3L truck can handle as long as they have the same suspension package, Now pulling hills is a different story obviously the more Torque the better. I know that the Max towing package comes with the heavier 14 bolt axle, I am talking suspension and chassis.

 

I AM NOT RECOMMENDING THAT YOU EXCEED YOUR TOW RATING

 

But just for comparison sake.

 

I have a 30' Sunnybrook Travel trailer that weighs 7700 lbs

 

I own a few trucks and have pulled this trailer with several of them, I will use the far extremes for this comparison.

 

One of my trucks is a 2003 GMC Sierra 4x4 RCSB with the 4.3V6 and 3.73 gears and 33" tires, it is rated from GM to tow 5000lbs.

I used this truck to tow my 7700lb trailer for 1500 miles from SC to Indiana and back through the mountains, no issues, the truck has the Z85 Handling/Towing suspension package and was very stable when towing, I could pull the trailer @ 70+ MPH with no sway, it was rock solid. The 4.3 struggled on the steep grades, sometimes I would get down as far as 45 MPH but safety wise it was a very secure tow.

 

I also own a 2008 Silverado 4x4 CCSB with the 5.3LV8 and 3.73 gears, it is a Z71 and does not have the Z85 package that my 03 has.

I recently towed this same trailer across country with this truck, from SC to WA, interestingly enough, the 08 does not handle the trailer as well as the 03 does, I can only cruise at 65MPH or so, if I approach 70 the truck starts getting a little out of shape, by the way the 08 is rated at 7500 lbs towing from GM. Now as far as pulling the steep grades, of course the 5.3L wins hands down, but as far as suspension and handling the load, I would give the nod to the 03 Sierra.

 

By the way, I don't claim to be an expert on towing, but I do a lot of it, I have towed for several 100K miles in my life (used to drive truck for a few years).

 

Also always use the proper weight distributing hitch with adequite capacity and always use the trailer brakes.

[jro909]

just stay below the tow rateing..his owner's manuel should shine some light on the exact number, 4.8 is a good motor and the 6.2 could easily be over kill unless this guys planning on liveing in the camper and moving it everyday...suspension does make a difference, my z85 rides rough unloaded but loaded it handles like a bmw...remeber part of the factory of max tow capacity is the braking capablility

[music]

Mark: I wonder if there's something else different between the two trucks that made handling different? From GM's site, they look about the same:

 

 

Z85: Suspension Package, Handling/Trailering, heavy duty, includes

46 mm piston monotube shocks

and

36mm front stabilizer bar

.

 

Z71: Suspension Package, Off-Road, includes

1.81" (46 mm) shocks

, off-road jounce bumpers,

36mm front stabilizer bar

, Skid Plate Package, air cleaner and Z71 decals on rear quarters

 

I only ask because I tow a similar camper (7k loaded and ~32 ft bumper/tongue) and haven't had any sway issues, even in windy conditions. I try to stay in the 60 to 65 mph range, but sometimes find myself at 70+. I do use a Reese Dual Cam hitch, so that may be a difference. Just curious if there are other differences between the two?

[441G]

i have a 2007 rcsb 5.3 2wd with 3.73. i tow a 7x16 enclosed trailer that weighs 3000lbs with cargo inside. if you have no wind its ok but going into it is tough. i used too pull a open trailer total weight 5000lbs with no problems. i also have a sway control with the enclosed.

[sc4808]

Mark: I wonder if there's something else different between the two trucks that made handling different? From GM's site, they look about the same:

 

 

Z85: Suspension Package, Handling/Trailering, heavy duty, includes

46 mm piston monotube shocks

and

36mm front stabilizer bar

.

 

Z71: Suspension Package, Off-Road, includes

1.81" (46 mm) shocks

, off-road jounce bumpers,

36mm front stabilizer bar

, Skid Plate Package, air cleaner and Z71 decals on rear quarters

 

I only ask because I tow a similar camper (7k loaded and ~32 ft bumper/tongue) and haven't had any sway issues, even in windy conditions. I try to stay in the 60 to 65 mph range, but sometimes find myself at 70+. I do use a Reese Dual Cam hitch, so that may be a difference. Just curious if there are other differences between the two?

 

Yes there is another difference, tires, the 03 came with Bridgestone Duelers on it but they were LT's, the 08 has the P Metric Bridgestones on it, they now have 46K miles on them and need changing, and I will be putting a load range C or D on it before I tow the trailer back across country this summer, I am hoping that makes the difference. The 03 has simply been amazing though, I have put some very heavy loads behind it over the years (Farm Equipment and such) and it has always handled it well.

 

Like I said, the 08 does good up to 67 to 68 MPH then sway will start creeping in, if heavier wall tires don't help then I might consider a rear track bar. I mean really its not that bad, I should not be towing over 65 anyway, but sometimes you need to pass a truck on the interstate that is going say 63MPH and you don't want to take 10 minutes to get around him so you mash it down a little.

[music]

Tires could definitely be the difference. I put the stock Wrangler tires at 44 psi when towing, and it's much better. I plan for LT tires when the time comes, specifically for towing stability.