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What are you towing with your 2014?

Brian M

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Knepp1bj Enthusiast

Knepp1bj

Posted
Posted

snarkee, mine is a 35 ft (37 w/hitch) shadow cruiser 2012, 6800 lbs dry. a few more feet and a few more lbs, what you think about your truck hauling that? you have the max tow i assume? 5.3 or 6.2?

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snarkee Senior Enthusiast

snarkee

Posted
Posted

I have a 5.3 3.42 gears 4x4 with heavy 275/70/18 duratracs

 

It tows fine. Climbed a few steep grades without struggle. But following my friend in his duramax made me think lol

Mad Max Enthusiast

Mad Max

Posted
Posted

I'm unsure if I have what I have heard you all refer to as the "max tow" package, so I probably don't, but what exactly is included in it and would it be listed on the sticker as "max tow"? My 5.3 LTZ Z71 has some trailer brake buttons and levers on the top left of the dash, a bunch of flip switches in the lower of the center dash that look like some have to do with towing, and the receiver in back along with both round and flat trailer wiring plugs. What may I be missing?

fshouttah2o Enthusiast

fshouttah2o

Posted
Posted

I'm unsure if I have what I have heard you all refer to as the "max tow" package, so I probably don't, but what exactly is included in it and would it be listed on the sticker as "max tow"? My 5.3 LTZ Z71 has some trailer brake buttons and levers on the top left of the dash, a bunch of flip switches in the lower of the center dash that look like some have to do with towing, and the receiver in back along with both round and flat trailer wiring plugs. What may I be missing?

Max tow has 3.73 gears & a heavy duty suspension - perhaps another item or 2.
Knepp1bj Enthusiast

Knepp1bj

Posted
Posted

Snarkee, i always think that next to a dmax as well, but reality is i went to a 2500 and just dont tow enough to justify it...we only do a few trips a year, 100 miles or so, we park our camper at the wifes family cottage most of the summer....so i might as well go back to a smoother ride 1500

cbvet Enthusiast

cbvet

Posted
Posted

I'm unsure if I have what I have heard you all refer to as the "max tow" package, so I probably don't, but what exactly is included in it and would it be listed on the sticker as "max tow"? My 5.3 LTZ Z71 has some trailer brake buttons and levers on the top left of the dash, a bunch of flip switches in the lower of the center dash that look like some have to do with towing, and the receiver in back along with both round and flat trailer wiring plugs. What may I be missing?

a3agase3.jpg

Knepp1bj Enthusiast

Knepp1bj

Posted
Posted

hydrogencyanide, don't mistake me for weight police at all because I have a 37 footer that I towed with a 1500 and had to fight them off all the time...but is your WD set up properly? look a little saggy

fshouttah2o Enthusiast

fshouttah2o

Posted
Posted

Looking forward to your review...been looking into a similar set-up. Nice TT and of course I love the White!!!

Bottom line: no issues towing, fully loaded for weekend camping but no water (7200 lbs dry + gear). Tranny got a little warm on a 5 mile, winding, steep climb but cooled quickly and gave no indications of a struggle. Only once in over 200 miles did I put the pedal to the floor and not get a response (not that I was losing ground either, I was just trying to be a little more agressive).

 

If I were using this setup within a few hundred miles of home, I would have no hesitation whatsoever. Only because I'm due to run cross-country (Northern Cal to South Carolina, via Colorado) in 2 weeks did I come back from this trip and try to track down at 6.2L - no joy. Once we arrive in SC, I'll be back to traveling w/in a few hundred miles and using my Sierra as my DD so the 5.3 will again be fine. I looked at specs on a '15 2500 too - no doubt it'd pull the trailer with room to spare, but as DD it's just overkill and a lot of wasted gas.

 

One other thing - the only thing I really wish I'd done differently is get the max tow - NOT because of the gear ratio, though that would be nice, but because of the suspension. I got a Z71 because I found ride quality of the other trucks WAY too stiff on test drives. Now that I have over 5k miles on my truck, the suspension has really broken in nicely - but when I'm pulling the trailer, it's pulling back at me.

 

Hitting the road for the 3000 mile trek in just 2 weeks!

white1500 Senior Enthusiast

white1500

Posted
Posted

Tranny cooler and aftermarket suspension will resolve the two issues you're mentioning. The axle and ratios are what the max tow package is all about IMO.

fshouttah2o Enthusiast

fshouttah2o

Posted
Posted

Tranny cooler and aftermarket suspension will resolve the two issues you're mentioning. The axle and ratios are what the max tow package is all about IMO.

Standard tow pkg supposedly includes tranny cooler & I still hit 250. Will need the suspension, especially after our 3000 mile journey.
white1500 Senior Enthusiast

white1500

Posted
Posted

Yeah we have oil coolers stock but they're integrated into the radiator, and I'm guessing yours is like this too? If so, an external cooler would be much better.

HydrogenCyanide Enthusiast

HydrogenCyanide

Posted
Posted

hydrogencyanide, don't mistake me for weight police at all because I have a 37 footer that I towed with a 1500 and had to fight them off all the time...but is your WD set up properly? look a little saggy

I'm actually going to move the brackets up another notch. I have an equalizer hitch and need get it dialed in correctly. It is also on a slope in that photo.

Knepp1bj Enthusiast

Knepp1bj

Posted
Posted

I'm actually going to move the brackets up another notch. I have an equalizer hitch and need get it dialed in correctly. It is also on a slope in that photo.

What are the specs on your trailer? truck? hows she pull?

Bcp7272 Enthusiast

Bcp7272

Posted
Posted

Towed my dirt track fwd car 375 miles thru southeast Georgia this weekend. Savannah Ga. to Augusta(hotel) to Modoc S.C. and back. Car,trailer,tools,tires etc weighed around 5k lbs. Managed around 13.5 MPG. Not bad figuring I used to drive my 89 Chevy van(9-11mpg) with no a.c. or my family(1 yr old and wife). Got to spend the weekend with my family doing the things I love while riding in a luxurious truck. Priceless!

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