Truck Pulls

Hubie151 · August 31, 2010

Hey guys, gonna do my first truck pull this week with the new sierra. Those who have done this before, is it better to go 4x4 Low, or high? First gear the whole way with tow haul mode on? Thanks for the info in advance!

Mckenzie · August 31, 2010

just don't **** up your new truck

Big Whiskey · August 31, 2010

You should use 4 Low and turn off stabilitrac/traction control if you have it. Using 4 Hi will put too much stress on the transmission and sap too much power (although you're probably not too concerned about the tranny if you're sled pulling it in the first place). Take off kinda easy in 1st gear. If you give it too much gas off the start, it will spin the tires and wheel hop. Once you get it moving good, give it hell. Momentum really helps when the weight transfer box starts coming forward. Guys with bigger engines usually shift to second about half track, then dump it back into first when it starts to lug down about the last 30 ft or so. With the 5.3, it might fall in its face if you go to 2nd gear. You may just want to keep it screaming at about 5000 rpms in 1st the whole time. Just don't let it hit the rev limiter or you'll lose power and momentum. If the back end starts to hop, let off, because that's when things get broken.

Good luck and let us know how you did.

Hubie151 · August 31, 2010

You should use 4 Low and turn off stabilitrac/traction control if you have it. Using 4 Hi will put too much stress on the transmission and sap too much power (although you're probably not too concerned about the tranny if you're sled pulling it in the first place). Take off kinda easy in 1st gear. If you give it too much gas off the start, it will spin the tires and wheel hop. Once you get it moving good, give it hell. Momentum really helps when the weight transfer box starts coming forward. Guys with bigger engines usually shift to second about half track, then dump it back into first when it starts to lug down about the last 30 ft or so. With the 5.3, it might fall in its face if you go to 2nd gear. You may just want to keep it screaming at about 5000 rpms in 1st the whole time. Just don't let it hit the rev limiter or you'll lose power and momentum. If the back end starts to hop, let off, because that's when things get broken.

Good luck and let us know how you did.

Tow Haul mode?

Big Whiskey · August 31, 2010

Yeah, you can use tow/haul mode. I'm not sure it will make much difference, but it sure won't hurt anything. It may increase the line pressure in the transmission, and if you decide to shift to 2nd, it will shift firmer/harder and keep momentum better.

jro909 · August 31, 2010

you don't deserve a new truck

marine_devildog801 · August 31, 2010

You should use 4 Low and turn off stabilitrac/traction control if you have it. Using 4 Hi will put too much stress on the transmission and sap too much power (although you're probably not too concerned about the tranny if you're sled pulling it in the first place). Take off kinda easy in 1st gear. If you give it too much gas off the start, it will spin the tires and wheel hop. Once you get it moving good, give it hell. Momentum really helps when the weight transfer box starts coming forward. Guys with bigger engines usually shift to second about half track, then dump it back into first when it starts to lug down about the last 30 ft or so. With the 5.3, it might fall in its face if you go to 2nd gear. You may just want to keep it screaming at about 5000 rpms in 1st the whole time. Just don't let it hit the rev limiter or you'll lose power and momentum. If the back end starts to hop, let off, because that's when things get broken.

Good luck and let us know how you did.

That just sounds painful. There is no way I would do this without a purpose-built truck.

Good luck

Eddie 70 · August 31, 2010

Gotta be a pretty young fellow here. We all did crazy things when we were young and did not think about the consequences. I am a little older now and know there is no way I would do this with a truck I paid good money for and expect it to hold up for any amount of time.

Have a blast and let us know how everything works out. I am sure it will be fun.

fraiolib · August 31, 2010

aha yea im 18 and my grandparents bought me my truck for graduation and there was no way in hell i was pulling it, the local fair was last week and everyone was trying to get me to...

BuckFeverZ · August 31, 2010

I've pulled my GMT900 twice now. It's basically stock besides a tune. I pull in 4lo and 2nd gear. I haven't had any problems doing it this way yet. It has plenty of snort in 2nd gear and you will get some ground speed which is important in pulling.

Big Whiskey · September 1, 2010

I agree that its painful to watch sometimes. I've never pulled any of my trucks, and I never will (unless I buy a purpose built pulling truck). But, I know plenty of guys that have taken their daily drivers to the track, pulled wide open in 4 Low at the event (with guys like me cringing and about to vomit), then drove home. I've also seen plenty of trucks smoke a tranny, throw a rod through the oil pan, shear a driveshaft, break u-joints, etc. I'll tell you one thing, seeing stuff like that all summer will sure make you think twice about buying a used truck from a stranger.

I'm not saying that pulling a new truck is a good idea, but the guy wanted advice on what would work best, so I gave him my opinion.

I've pulled my GMT900 twice now. It's basically stock besides a tune. I pull in 4lo and 2nd gear. I haven't had any problems doing it this way yet. It has plenty of snort in 2nd gear and you will get some ground speed which is important in pulling.

That's cool that it still has enough balls in 2nd gear. I've never driven a gas truck with a tune, I'm sure that helps some by improving the shift firmness and reducing torque management. I saw one guy pull a 5.3 and when it shifted to 2nd, it really lost a lot of RPMs and power, but he had 3:42 gears, wide 33-34" tires, and no tune.

AlkyHauler · September 1, 2010

Wait, you are going to do WHAT???

fraiolib · September 1, 2010

Wait, you are going to do WHAT???

my exact feelings when i first read this

MaverickZ71 · September 1, 2010

aha yea im 18 and my grandparents bought me my truck for graduation and there was no way in hell i was pulling it, the local fair was last week and everyone was trying to get me to...

DUDE! Do your grandparents want to adopt any more grandkids?

I know you're young and full of p1ss and vinegar, but you sure you wanna do that to your sweet new truck? I know you're getting some negative feedback from 'old-timers' on this forum like me, but you gotta know that some of us are busting our balls for 6 years to pay for trucks like you got for free! Take care of the new truck and spend a few grand on a specialized pulling rig if you wanna get into that, unless the g-parents will buy you another new truck if you blow that one it up.

fraiolib · September 1, 2010

aha yea im 18 and my grandparents bought me my truck for graduation and there was no way in hell i was pulling it, the local fair was last week and everyone was trying to get me to...

DUDE! Do your grandparents want to adopt any more grandkids?

I know you're young and full of p1ss and vinegar, but you sure you wanna do that to your sweet new truck? I know you're getting some negative feedback from 'old-timers' on this forum like me, but you gotta know that some of us are busting our balls for 6 years to pay for trucks like you got for free! Take care of the new truck and spend a few grand on a specialized pulling rig if you wanna get into that, unless the g-parents will buy you another new truck if you blow that one it up.

im not the OP no way in hell i would ever do that to my truck.....