what do i need?

[jdelrizzle]

hey guys well i got a 4.8 with gu5, 4 speed, i know the most i can tow is about 4700 pounds, as far as my towing set up i really dont have one its an sl model, i dont plan on towing much, but there will be times where i will need to tow at least 600 miles, Im in the military and well i need to be able to move on demand (that includes all my stuff) any how the biggest u haul and all my stuff will not exceed my towing capacity. Now question is what all do i need, I know i will need a hitch and an external trans cooler, I noticed I have the the wiring harness for the lights but im not sure what i need to put at the end of that harness, do you think its hooked up and ready to go, does it need a fuse in the box for that harness to get power, help me out, I know theres alot of expierenced guys on this forum that know all about towing.

[nickvrebel]

this will finish off your wiring, it should fit your bumper just like factory:

http://www.etrailer.com/Custom-Fit-Vehicle-Wiring/GMC/Sierra/2011/PK11916.html?vehicleid=2011208765

Wiring harness will be live once hooked up.

 

You need the receiver hitch. Considering your weight limitations no need to spend the money on a Class V when a III will do:

http://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch/GMC/Sierra/2011/13322.html?vehicleid=2011208765

 

Then just the draw bar and a ball (2" drop "standard" bar and @" ball is the most common)

 

Transmission cooler is optional, some people put too much faith in them. If you aren't towing heavy loads on a regular basis just heed the warnings if you get one across the dashboard and pull over if you need to until the temps are more reasonable.

[jdelrizzle]

Hey thanks for your input, I probably should have researched a little more before I posted, but any how I already have a wiring harness it came factory, it's a 7 point, It doesn't have an adapter, I'm pretty sure there not hard to come by. I took a volt meter to the harness and it has power, at least 5 of the wires do, the other two aren't hooked up. The two that aren't hooked up are the 12v battery power and the trailer brake, my owners manual confirms it, it also says to have the dealership hook up the other wires, I found the wires and where they hook up to ( stud 1& 2) I also see we're the fuses are and where they go, do I really need the dealer to hook them up, is that technical? If i hook up the brake wire will the brakes on trailer work, or do I need one of them brake controls ( I don't think I do) what does or how does that brake wire work or do, does it get the brakes functioning on the trailer, I now the 12v battery wire is to supply power to accessories in the trailer, Im just confused as to what will the brake wire do I mean I keep reading about hooking up some thing under the dash board to get a brake controller going, pretty sure I don't need to do that.

[TimmyG]

You can hook it up yourself, what are you towing? Mainly rv campers use the 12v not mainly others. If you need an adapter to change it from a 7 pin its probbly not used at all

[jdelrizzle]

What the about trailer brake do I have to hook it up or will I be okay without it, as far as wiring it up, I'm not towing much 3500 at most

[SparkySparks]

If you are pulling a U-Haul trailer I think most of them have surge brakes so they are controlled by the force of the trailer pushing against the receiver, not by the wire harness. For your truck to apply brakes on the trailer (if the trailer is equipped with electric-hydraulic brakes) you have to also install a brake controller along with hooking up the wire under the dash and installing a fuse. If your trailer use only using a 5pin connector then you don't have to worry about the 12V power or the brake controller pin.

[nickvrebel]

most 3500 lb trailers don't even have electric brakes. if that's the case then don't even worry about.

 

regardless, if you do pull a trailer with electric brakes you will need a brake controller or they will not work. DO NOT connect the wire under the hood for the brakes if you don't have a controller connected to the other end, that wire provides the power to the controller and you will have a live wire loose under your dash if it's not connected to a controller. You can connect the auxiliary wire if you want to.

[Loopedout]

Like the others said, your truck will not activate trailer brakes without the brake controller. I just installed one in my truck yesterday and its a breeze. Also did the two red wires under the hood (12v for aftermarket brake controller, and 12v aux power). Easy job.

 

Are you sure your truck will only pull 4700lbs? Seems low. My 4.8L is rated for 6700 max. What is gu5?