2007 Sierra Towing

[Turbine tester]

Hi Guys

I'm looking into up grading my camper into the 5000-6000 lb range my truck is a 07 Sierra ext 2wd w/t with 3.23 gears, I think the ratings on line say 4800 lbs for the 3.23 and 6800 for the 3.73 ratio.

I will probably only hall the thing 3-4 times a month for 3-4 months of the year.(no farther than 100 - 200 miles and usually only around 50-60 miles)

Trailer brakes will work and a tranny cooler added and a load leveling system.

 

What do you think? will i have issues?

[txab]

Owners manual shows 6900 lbs for the Ex cab, with 5.3 and 3.23. 7900 lbs for 3.73

 

You can download a copy at: Yahoo

[Turbine tester]

Owners manual shows 6900 lbs for the Ex cab, with 5.3 and 3.23. 7900 lbs for 3.73

 

You can download a copy at: Yahoo

 

 

Sorry forgot to say it is a 4.8 and it's a 2007 new style.

[dlstewart01]

Sounds like he has a 4.3. Its rated 4400 to 4800. If thats the case the engine will be over taxed. But... people do it every day.

 

Edit.. Damn we must have posted at the same time....4.8 will be higher. You must deduct the passengers weight, cargo weight, trailer tongue weight of the trailer from the towing weight. Most people that tow a lot also say then tow 80% of whats left to be safe.

 

I like to be safe, most people don't care...

[txab]

If I had the 4.8, I'd be changing gears for a number of reasons.

 

What terrain are you traveling?

 

Shows 5900 and 6900 max weight of trailer and load

[txab]

Sounds like he has a 4.3. Its rated 4400 to 4800. If thats the case the engine will be over taxed. But... people do it every day.

 

Edit.. Damn we must have posted at the same time....4.8 will be higher. You must deduct the passengers weight, cargo weight, trailer tongue weight of the trailer from the towing weight. Most people that tow a lot also say then tow 80% of whats left to be safe.

 

I like to be safe, most people don't care...

Safety is overrated..... j/k

 

It's definitely overlooked many times

[Turbine tester]

Ya I would love 3.73's

[Turbine tester]

Mostly flat terrain, My Dad halls a 7000 lb fifth wheel with his 85 Sierra classic with 300,000 Kms on it so I guess I would probably be "safe" (Orig. Trans, differential with a 5.7L Fresh engine O/H) I think that must be the toughest 4 speed Od in the world.

[Porter_]

i wouldn't attempt it. as Don noted, most experienced towers suggest 80% of max. i'm also an uptight 'by-the-book' kind of guy because i'm an engineer and respect the gravity of designed factor of safety, etc. so take that for what it's worth

 

 

edit: good looking truck by the way

[afflicted4]

you'd be crazy towing a 6000lb weight (plus all the other add-ons like cargo, water) with a 3.23 or 4.8l engine.

I have two friends who both tow a 23 footer travel trailer with their 5.3l v8 1500 3.23 ratio (both trailers identical and have a dry weight of 3800lbs). Both agree that they should have bought a bigger truck as even at that light of weight, with cargo and water added their truck struggles quite a bit. But it works.

They said they certainly will never go any higher unless they buy a new truck

 

I myself tow a 30 footer with dry weight of 6500lb but I tow it with a 2500hd 4.1 ratio truck

[campbell.rw]

I towed my camper (5100lbs dry) 4300km round trip this summer with my truck. It's a 5.3 and 3.73 gears. I was quite happy with how it did. But if that trailer was 6000lb+, I would likely want 4.10 and/or the 6.0 ( or of course a duramax ). So in my opinion I think 3.23 or even 3.42 gears aren't much good for towing that much weight, regardless of the motor. The 4.8 (an bigger engines) would be ok with 3.73 or higher. I had a truck with 4.8 and 3.42 hauling the same trailer and I notice a good bit of difference with my current truck.

[Chris]

ditch your gears and get 4.10's

[Turbine tester]

Picked up the new camper today, truck handeled it great, I watched the trans gauge very closely because I'm still running the stock cooler and the highest she hit was 91°C ( 195.8°F) once, and for most of the trip was 79-85°C (174.2-185°F)

On the way there I ran approx. 76°C

But I do agree more gear would help for sure.

[sc4808]

Picked up the new camper today, truck handeled it great, I watched the trans gauge very closely because I'm still running the stock cooler and the highest she hit was 91°C ( 195.8°F) once, and for most of the trip was 79-85°C (174.2-185°F)

On the way there I ran approx. 76°C

But I do agree more gear would help for sure.

 

 

These trucks pull a lot better than some people on here give them credit for, I'm glad it worked out for you.

 

Some people feel that you should have enough engine(Diesel) and truck (1 Ton) so that when towing there is no noticable difference at all in power and handling, I on the other hand traded in my HD truck because I was tired of the stiff ride and added maintenance cost, I tow a lot, but its still only maybe 5% of the total miles that I drive so I would rather only suffer (only slightly) during the 5% with having to take a little more time climbing hills, than to suffer the 95% of the time in a truck that rides like a mule and wagon.

 

Now with that said, always stay within the towing capacity of the truck, I just laugh when folks say that you need a 1 ton truck to pull a 6,000 lb trailer, these 1/2 ton trucks can pull up to 10,000 lbs when properly equiped, and do it safely.

 

Kinda off topic because its not quite the same thing but I once pulled a loaded 18 wheeler (with a chain) about a 1/4 of a mile to get him to a safe area and out of the middle of the road (Broke down) with a 1/2 ton 2wd Ford F150, the Semi weighed 80,000 lbs, hows that for impressive. Now granted it was a rolling load and I only pulled it a 1/4 mile on flat ground and was in 1st gear the whole time but it still shocked me that it even moved it at all, but it did, and to top that off, the Ford was loaded down with a full diesel tank (100 Gal tank In the bed), I think that is why I could get enough traction to pull the truck instead of just roasting the tires.

[cghbuilder86]

Picked up the new camper today, truck handeled it great, I watched the trans gauge very closely because I'm still running the stock cooler and the highest she hit was 91°C ( 195.8°F) once, and for most of the trip was 79-85°C (174.2-185°F)

On the way there I ran approx. 76°C

But I do agree more gear would help for sure.

 

 

These trucks pull a lot better than some people on here give them credit for, I'm glad it worked out for you.

 

Some people feel that you should have enough engine(Diesel) and truck (1 Ton) so that when towing there is no noticable difference at all in power and handling, I on the other hand traded in my HD truck because I was tired of the stiff ride and added maintenance cost, I tow a lot, but its still only maybe 5% of the total miles that I drive so I would rather only suffer (only slightly) during the 5% with having to take a little more time climbing hills, than to suffer the 95% of the time in a truck that rides like a mule and wagon.

 

Now with that said, always stay within the towing capacity of the truck, I just laugh when folks say that you need a 1 ton truck to pull a 6,000 lb trailer, these 1/2 ton trucks can pull up to 10,000 lbs when properly equiped, and do it safely.

 

Kinda off topic because its not quite the same thing but I once pulled a loaded 18 wheeler (with a chain) about a 1/4 of a mile to get him to a safe area and out of the middle of the road (Broke down) with a 1/2 ton 2wd Ford F150, the Semi weighed 80,000 lbs, hows that for impressive. Now granted it was a rolling load and I only pulled it a 1/4 mile on flat ground and was in 1st gear the whole time but it still shocked me that it even moved it at all, but it did, and to top that off, the Ford was loaded down with a full diesel tank (100 Gal tank In the bed), I think that is why I could get enough traction to pull the truck instead of just roasting the tires.

 

 

Good Heavens! Thanks insane

Suprised it could pull it though.