Opionions requested - 2015 Silverado Crew Cab 5.3 / trailer towing

[GsBowtie]

Hi Y'all,

 

I have a general question I'm looking for opinions on, either way.

 

I purchased a new 2015 Chevrolet Silverado Crew Cab, LT 4x4, 5.3, Z71 with 3.42 gears in early May of this year.

 

I have about 1300 or so miles on it now. I have a 1989 Skyline Layton TT, which is 6,000 GWV, probably north of 5K somewhere loaded and ready to camp. It's not just the trailer weight, I will have a decent amount of firewood and other camping supplies in the bed of the truck.

 

We have a camping trip planned for next month, which is about 100 miles away one way. There are some mountain passes I will need to pull to get there, but nothing too crazy (South-Central PA).

 

I will probably have about 1500 or so miles on the truck by then.

 

My question is this, having spun wrenches for the past 24+ years (both privately and some professionally) it bothers me a little bit to put a new truck under that kind of load with so few miles on it. Do you all think it will have be broken in enough by then and be OK for this trip? Or would you not tow with it until you have more miles on the truck? Typically I would think when new vehicles have 5,000+ miles on them most of the break-in is completed.

 

I understand the owner's manual says no towing until you have 500 miles on it and maybe it's just over-abudence of caution on my part, but 1500 miles does not seem like enough to put it under that kind of load.

 

I just don't want to hurt a brand-new (and expensive) truck by doing anything to it that would shorten it's overall life (IE by doing this trip with it.). I'm hoping to have this truck at least 10 years, hence my concern.

 

Again, any thoughts or opinions would be appreciated.

 

Thank you,

Greg

[newdude]

The only thing GM calls for on trucks is no towing until you pass 500 miles. There are people that tow right when they buy the truck, no miles, and then they come back with gear whine. We ran into this once. Guy bought a 2014 4.3 double cab. Took it home on his test drive, had to see if it could pull his camper. 2100 miles later...came back needing a ring and pinion set. Premature wear on the gears.

[RobZ71LM7]

1500 miles is plenty of time. If you're that worried that you need something to do then change the engine oil, but even that is not required. As stated above the gears would be my biggest concern, but you're more than broken in now.

[LongrangeLauber]

Towed a 5k pound trailer at 720 miles on my truck. Shortly after, just as my own preference, I changed every driveline oil and engine oil just to get break in shavings out. Not necessary but for my own peace of mind

[GsBowtie]

Thanks for the replies i appreciate them. Looks like I'm being overly cautious. I have a little over 1200 on it now. Hopefully by then i will have that 1500 miles on it so hopefully all will be ok.

 

I plan on doing the first oil change at 5k if my dealer will pay for it or not

[GsBowtie]

I plan on doing a test tow a few weeks before we go so i can get used to towing with the silverado. Looking forward to it coming from a 2000 ford expedition eddie Bauer 5.4. Will be interesting to see what the difference is like. Expy did ok. But i HATED the air ride suspension. Total pita to hook and unhook. Had to keep the truck running or the suspension would air down. I'm glad it's gone for that point alone! Lol

[GsBowtie]

Also looking forward to the longer wb. Even with a smaller 23' tt the short wb expy didn't like getting passed by the big boys. ..and that was with proper hitch set up and tongue weight

[bert wise]

GsBowtie - there is also a break-in period when you start towing (after the 500 mile break-in).

 

So no towing for the first 500 miles;

 

During the first 500 miles of trailer towing do not drive over 50 mph and no full throttle starts.

 

This is from the 2014 owners manual.

[Silverado-Hareek]

GsBowtie - there is also a break-in period when you start towing (after the 500 mile break-in).

 

So no towing for the first 500 miles;

 

During the first 500 miles of trailer towing do not drive over 50 mph and no full throttle starts.

 

This is from the 2014 owners manual.

 

Yep was just going to say this. So at 1500 miles on your odometer, you are fine to start towing at any point now, however your first 500 miles of TOWING needs to be at 50 mph or less. And I'd argue that's for a heavy trailer or load. If you're hauling a 6' trailer with 9 bags of trash in it, I think you're fine to drive the truck like you stole it. In your case, I would advise you to load the trailer up a bit, hook it up to the truck, and drive around town prior to camping trip just to be safe and put some towing miles on it.

[GsBowtie]

Good information. Thanks guys i appreciate the additional information i was not aware of the first 500 trailer towing guidelines. I don't recall reading that in the owners manual

[jordanbmsu]

I have been pulling this big thing around. About 4,000 miles so far and zero issues. knock on wood

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[GsBowtie]

Good grief that thing is huge! What's the overall length on that, ball to bumper? What is the trailers gvw? [Not dry weight as that's a useless number]

 

What are the specs on your truck?

 

How does it handle that big boy? Any tail wagging the dog? Very nice rig though!

[Spurshot]

I'm a Mobil 1 fan. I'd put M1 in before I went on the trip, rather than after. But, I do recognize that any of the properly rated oils for our trucks is much better than not long ago. Either way, I'm sure you'll be fine.

[SILVER SLED]

 

 

Good grief that thing is huge! What's the overall length on that, ball to bumper?

 

That's what she said.

[GsBowtie]

 

 

That's what she said.

Lol nice. There's one in every crowd!