Too Much Trailer?

SierraPhoto · July 9, 2014

In fact, the 4.3L 2011 sierra is rated at 10,700 in the UK.

LongrangeLauber · July 9, 2014

I'm personally gonna say, you can take it or leave it, I wouldn't exceed the ratings just for fear of someone getting lawsuit happy plus they have them in place for safety reasons. Another thing is what the brakes on the truck are rated for.

mdauwald · July 9, 2014

The actual dry weight of the trailer is 5,690. The tongue weight is 610.

The 4.3L V6 is rated for 6000lbs, and 600 tongue weight or 1200 with a weight distributing hitch. I'll have both a weight distributing hitch, and an anti-sway control bar that hooks to a mini-ball next to the regular ball.

The furthest we would be taking it would be 280 miles north to Dallas, or 280 miles east to Lafayette, LA. Both of which are relatively flat trips. Aside from that it would be 30 mile trips to Galveston Beach, or 40 mile trips to Big Bend State Park, both of which are also flat as cardboard.

I can't see us ever taking more than a cooler of food, and a dufflebag of clothes. We wouldn't be using it with hundreds of pounds of gear for weeks on in trips.

We bought ours for weekend trips and thought a few dishes, food drinks and a change of clothes would be 200lbs. I forgot I was married. My trailer is 5500lbs dry and 6300lbs packed for a weekend. Your wife may vary.

CKNSLS · July 9, 2014

Simple way to solve this. Just swap in steeper gears and it should be rated to tow more correct? See what the book says about a 4.3 with let's say 3.42 or 3.73 gears. Ratings vary based on 2wd or 4wd and depending on tow package. Just a suggestion. Other than that, tow at your own risk. Just don't come to Northern VA lol

Gotta lighten the mood here. People getting angry

In theory you are correct. However, you can't change the factory payload once you truck leaves the factory....even if you switch the gearing.

LongrangeLauber · July 9, 2014

In theory you are correct. However, you can't change the factory payload once you truck leaves the factory....even if you switch the gearing.

Not legally on paper or on your door sticker but if your truck is setup like another truck that came from the factory with 3.73's and bigger brakes, auxiliary trans cooler, and oil cooler then you could. But like I said above cops ain't gonna tear into your rear differential to see what is in there. They are just gonna look at the sticker lol

Sent while in 'Murica...

greg74 · July 12, 2014

I'm not a fan of pushing your truck to the max but as long as its under the maximum towing capacity, then it legally should be fine, not to mention covered under the warranty as well. Will your truck like towing a heavy trailer like this? I doubt it. The 4.3 with 3.23 gears was created for better gas mileage, not heavy towing. I assume the good fuel economy was the reason you bought it in the first place, not to mention the lower cost.

Imcrazy · July 12, 2014

I'm with others, stay under the ratings for weight. Also you can't add the integrated trailer brakes but, you can get a nice aftermarket brake controller for anywhere from $70-200.

If you do have 3.23 gears in your truck, giving you a towing capacity of 5900# I'd say a 5800# trailer is too much. My truck has 3.43 gears and it's rated for 6600#

I don't know much about trailering but, I feel like I'd not want my truck with more than 5500-6000# total weight given my 6600# rating.

#COULDAHADAV8

I do wish I'd gotten the 5.3 myself it was a $1000 option and I'd have upped my towing capacity by 3000#

CKNSLS · July 12, 2014

Yea-GMs got a whole lot of those V6s and they are doing a whole lot of dealing to move them. No matter how good a price you get it doesn't help with the towing capacity.

SierraPhoto · July 13, 2014

I assume the good fuel economy was the reason you bought it in the first place, not to mention the lower cost.

There were many reasons we went with the 4.3, one was in fact the fuel economy. We could have had a V8 for $38K, but we would have given up all the extras and basically ended up with a truck that was only slightly higher than the "work" truck.

For the same $38K, we got better gas mileage, a Texas Edition package, and all the extras we are accustomed to. And since we drive in the metroplex, more than we'll tow, it was the more rational decision.

I'm with others, stay under the ratings for weight. Also you can't add the integrated trailer brakes but, you can get a nice aftermarket brake controller for anywhere from $70-200.

I'm either installing a Drawtite 5504, or a Tekonsha P3... I haven't decided yet.

We do in fact have the 3.23 gears. If re-gearing to 3.42 or even 3.73 will give me more towing capacity... why didn't anyone simply mention that? I'll take my $800 and call my guy down the road and get that done.

Yea-GMs got a whole lot of those V6s and they are doing a whole lot of dealing to move them. No matter how good a price you get it doesn't help with the towing capacity.

Not quite sure what your point is?

LongrangeLauber · July 13, 2014

There were many reasons we went with the 4.3, one was in fact the fuel economy. We could have had a V8 for $38K, but we would have given up all the extras and basically ended up with a truck that was only slightly higher than the "work" truck.

For the same $38K, we got better gas mileage, a Texas Edition package, and all the extras we are accustomed to. And since we drive in the metroplex, more than we'll tow, it was the more rational decision.

I'm either installing a Drawtite 5504, or a Tekonsha P3... I haven't decided yet.

We do in fact have the 3.23 gears. If re-gearing to 3.42 or even 3.73 will give me more towing capacity... why didn't anyone simply mention that? I'll take my $800 and call my guy down the road and get that done.

Not quite sure what your point is?

The steeper gears will technically give you a higher tow rating, but on paper you can still get in trouble for towing more than what your truck is rated for from the factory. I did mention it earlier. And besides with the steeper gears your fuel mileage will drop. Not sure how much but that's just how it goes

Sent while in 'Murica...

BlackZ71Silverado · July 13, 2014

Just bought a 2014 GMC Sierra Texas Edition with the 4.3L V6. It is the Double Cab, regular bed. I believe it has the base 3.23 gears, but it does have the receiver hitch. I'm going to take it back to the dealership and see if they can put the factory trailer brake controller in.

In any event, we are looking at travel trailers and I've found a tremendous deal on an entry trailer. It's a 2000 model but its pushing the limits of the tow rating.

The trailer is 5800lbs dry. I'll be using a weight distribution hitch and sway control bars, and we'll mostly be driving within a 100 mile radius of our home. We mostly just want it to go down to the beach with is 30 miles from home, and a few local state parks for small fri-sun weekend trips.

I realize that its at the upper end of the tow rating, but I want to see if anyone else has experiences towing with the 2014 4.3L. How does it perform?

ETA: I ask because I've got some people telling me it will be fine, and others are acting like the truck couldn't pull itself out of a puddle.

Adding factory brake control is NOT possible. Not being rude but you bought the wrong truck to tow with. Knowing you need to tow, why get the 4.3L?? Doesn't make sense. Instead of asking for a brake control when you take it back, ask for an engine

SierraPhoto · July 13, 2014

Instead of asking for a brake control when you take it back, ask for an engine

I'll forgive your ignorance. Bless your heart.

j-ten-ner · July 13, 2014

I'll forgive your ignorance...

Why? He is right.

Buy the right tool for the job.

so long

j-ten-ner

Imcrazy · July 14, 2014

Adding factory brake control is NOT possible. Not being rude but you bought the wrong truck to tow with. Knowing you need to tow, why get the 4.3L?? Doesn't make sense. Instead of asking for a brake control when you take it back, ask for an engine

I don't totally agree, for the average joe six pack homeowner the 4.3L pulling 6k or so #'s will do the trick. I've pulled with mine a couple times and it did fine with about 3k behind it I couldn't even notice the difference. However, if you want to pull 5k + on a regular basis I'd get the 5.3 with the 3.43 rear end, 9500# should cover a lot of bases.