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Towing with a 4.3l?

latreille89

By latreille89
in Towing, Hauling & Hitches

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latreille89 Enthusiast

latreille89

Posted
Posted

Hey guys,

 

I have a 2010 RCLB 4x4 with the 3.73 gears and 4.3 engine. I have a camper trailer I need to move about 200 km in april. After all the calcs, I am still under the 10000lb gcwr and under the max towing weight/tongue weight. The trailer is about 4400lb, nothing will be in it so that's it dry. I have a WD hitch and a brake controller, getting a trans cooler installed next month. Think I'll be ok? It'll be a one time shot. I know it'll be slow moving getting up to speed but I can deal with that.

00Silverado4x4 Senior Enthusiast

00Silverado4x4

Posted
Posted

Since the trailer will be empty, you may want to find some ballast for the tongue. If the tongue is too light you may run into sway problems, if trailer is ~4400, you'll want at least ~440 on the tongue. Sounds like your got your bases covered, should be alright. Definitely be sure all lights work (personal pet peeve of mine), brakes function and keep it slow.

00Silverado4x4 Senior Enthusiast

00Silverado4x4

Posted
Posted

If you have the 4spd, yes your trans will probably be happier that way. If you have tow/haul you'll probably want to activate that as well. I've got the 5.3 and still run in 3rd with tow/haul engaged with my travel trailer and mine is only ~3000 empty/dry weight. Of course once I load up the truck & trailer is considerably more but that's another story.

00Silverado4x4 Senior Enthusiast

00Silverado4x4

Posted
Posted

All in all I say you should be fine since you've obviously have done all the homework that I can think of. Make sure once your done come on back to let us know how it goes. :thumbs:

NitroCherokee Enthusiast

NitroCherokee

Posted
Posted

Biggest thing is to be sure the Torque Converter stays locked up, the longer it is unlocked the more heat it generates in the trans. The 4.3 will do just fine, long steep grades just let her lose some speed and don't overwork the trans

Morgan1986 Senior Enthusiast

Morgan1986

Posted
Posted

I dont have a auto and wonder how do you know if the torue converter is locked up or not ? in my 1500 silverado manual it seemed to tow things fine . Dont think I towed anything that heavy tho. I am in alberta tho and its pretty flat here .

music Senior Enthusiast

music

Posted
Posted

If you have a manual transmission I do not think you have a torque converter. I could be wrong.

 

 

No TC in a manual. The manual uses a 1-to-1 friction clutch. It's the TC that makes a 4-spd automatic outperform a 5-spd manual when towing. It amplifies torque at critical times when the drive shaft rpm is less than the engine rpm, which is huge when pulling out and pretty significant when the next gear is "steep" for the speed. The 6-spd auto has a TC, but doesn't "use" it as much, since the gearing is tighter (less slip velocity). Either way, you definitely want the trans oil cooler, since the TC function does add heat. Towing will produce many situations where the TC isn't locked (by design), but the combination of Dex-VI fluid and an auxiliary cooler should handle anything most of us can throw at it when towing.

latreille89 Enthusiast

latreille89

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Nice to know about the TC. I thought I'd get bashed and told I'm an idiot for thinking I could tow that since I don't have a 5.3 or 6.2. But thanks for the info. I've towed a 20' Tandem before full of wood, prob weighed close to 2500-3000lb and I has no problems, just wanted to make sure i don't hurt the truck.

music Senior Enthusiast

music

Posted
Posted

Nice to know about the TC. I thought I'd get bashed and told I'm an idiot for thinking I could tow that since I don't have a 5.3 or 6.2. But thanks for the info. I've towed a 20' Tandem before full of wood, prob weighed close to 2500-3000lb and I has no problems, just wanted to make sure i don't hurt the truck.

 

 

There's certainly plenty of folks with opinions on things like that, but you've covered your bases for what you need to get the job done. Stopping and heat are much bigger concerns when towing than power. Power/gearing really comes more into play when a person is trying to "optimize" the towing experience at higher speeds and long distances (interstate towing). On local roads, it's rarely an issue, since you can find a good (slower) gear/speed combo for the situation.

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