Towing a Toy Hauler with 5.3L

jamin87ss · January 29, 2016

Odd, a 10 year old 3/4ton GM truck has 12.5in. disk brakes, have you bothered to see what the brake size is on the new 1/2ton...

I think we already know that you don't know the brake size of your truck or else you would not have posted that.

If I'm not mistaken I think there 13in, but I don't know 100% but I have driven both towing the same boat, and I stand bye my statement, theres alot more to it, transmission, active grade braking, gear selection, and more it all adds up,

redwngr · January 29, 2016

Odd, a 10 year old 3/4ton GM truck has 12.5in. disk brakes, have you bothered to see what the brake size is on the new 1/2ton...

I think we already know that you don't know the brake size of your truck or else you would not have posted that.

I guess if were gonna compare brakes, we should compare to what the current 3/4 ton uses. They had a big increase in 2500 GM brakes starting with the 2011.

http://www.maxxtorque.com/2010/12/2011-duramax-lml-review-built-to-tow.html

Arth · January 29, 2016

Well let me add I just got done towing about 6300 pounds. I was the only one in the truck plus my toolbox and fuel. Gotta say if you are towing with the 5.3 it's a dog in my opinion. I am coming from a 2014 Hemi that has 50 HP and 23 TQ over this engine so it was a change for the worse not to mention the Hemi had the 8 speed. Keeping the load moving was easy. Stopping felt... okay. The brakes on my truck have always felt a little weak. Overall the truck handled the load great I thought.. never felt like I wasn't in control.

I have a 2015 Crew Cab standard bed SLT with the 5.3 6 Speed transmission with 3.42 gears.

As required, picture.

Figured the Uhaul trailer weights 2200 pounds and the Jeep 4000 pounds.

Red_5 · January 29, 2016

Radiator is useless.... It is a trans cooler that you want.

One of the reasons I bought a new truck was for engine water cooling. I frequently tow decent hills/mountains in heat heading to our desert race tracks. My old tow vehicle, even though was rated to tow 8500 pounds and my enclosed trailer is only about 6000 pounds, struggled to stay cool. I frequently would find myself with the windows down and the heater on trying to not overheat.

I do agree that the OP is trying to pull too much trailer with his truck. Definitely wouldn't work out here very well.

jamin87ss · January 29, 2016

jamin87ss · January 29, 2016

sorry, not sure why the pics doubled up,

Nathan79 · January 29, 2016

Not sure what you guys are smokin. The 6.0HDs 2500/3500 2015 model year will out tow out pull all day long your 1500s. I have a 2500 with 6.0, it is a beast and the driveline and frame is much much more heavy duty that the 1/2 tons. 2015 2500s come with 4.10 rear ends and 20,500 GCWR, 10.5" rear end and 3k payload.

It's not even close.

jamin87ss · January 29, 2016

yes it is, we are just saying that the 1500 is very capable, but know its not towing 20k, but for most it will do the job, for me running 18000 miles a year, the boat ramp is 1.8 miles away, 5 if i need gas, 2/3 trips a year that are about 100/150 miles one way all highway, just doesn't justify the 3/4 for my particular needs, I am at the max capacity yes when full of fuel and gear, but it tows very very good, and certainly tows better then the 05 3/4 I have used, which is what I was comparing it to in my previous statement, I'm sure the newer 3/4's handle alot different, just look at the brake pictures posted above,

Txjose · January 29, 2016

Not sure what you guys are smokin. The 6.0HDs 2500/3500 2015 model year will out tow out pull all day long your 1500s. I have a 2500 with 6.0, it is a beast and the driveline and frame is much much more heavy duty that the 1/2 tons. 2015 2500s come with 4.10 rear ends and 20,500 GCWR, 10.5" rear end and 3k payload.

It's not even close.

I have both and can say without a doubt the 2500 can pull more.... I mean its a 2500 come on. But i havent towed anything that pushes the 2500 to its max but it tows like a pig and thats just on a Featherlite trailer.

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Georgia1911 · January 29, 2016

Not sure what you guys are smokin. The 6.0HDs 2500/3500 2015 model year will out tow out pull all day long your 1500s. I have a 2500 with 6.0, it is a beast and the driveline and frame is much much more heavy duty that the 1/2 tons. 2015 2500s come with 4.10 rear ends and 20,500 GCWR, 10.5" rear end and 3k payload.

It's not even close.

Of course the 2500 can carry more, but it's not a question of which tows more, but rather which tows enough for the task at hand. I have a toolbox full of different size tools for different jobs. I don't feel the need to use my Stihl to cut shoe molding.

Badass69 · January 29, 2016

Not sure what you guys are smokin. The 6.0HDs 2500/3500 2015 model year will out tow out pull all day long your 1500s. I have a 2500 with 6.0, it is a beast and the driveline and frame is much much more heavy duty that the 1/2 tons. 2015 2500s come with 4.10 rear ends and 20,500 GCWR, 10.5" rear end and 3k payload.

It's not even close.

Yeah the frame is stronger and the suspension carries more weight. ... but that junk under the hood howling at the slightest grade with any trailer getting mid single digits is pathetic. Put an engine in that makes some torque that isn't all at 4500 rpm plus and you would have a truck that does very well. That gen 4 6 liter was a step in the wrong direction from the gen 3 trucks.... and is just exaggerated worse today. The rest of the truck is strong.... and it will run forever... but it's Honda Vtec powerband is very far from making it a "beast" at doing anything except burning lots of fuel and making lots of engine noise. Shift it's powerband by even 1000 rpm lower and it would do a ton better. If it makes anyone feel better the Ford 6.2 is the same way.... all or nothing.

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SMiller · January 29, 2016

Yeah the frame is stronger and the suspension carries more weight. ... but that junk under the hood howling at the slightest grade with any trailer getting mid single digits is pathetic. Put an engine in that makes some torque that isn't all at 4500 rpm plus and you would have a truck that does very well. That gen 4 6 liter was a step in the wrong direction from the gen 3 trucks.... and is just exaggerated worse today. The rest of the truck is strong.... and it will run forever... but it's Honda Vtec powerband is very far from making it a "beast" at doing anything except burning lots of fuel and making lots of engine noise. Shift it's powerband by even 1000 rpm lower and it would do a ton better. If it makes anyone feel better the Ford 6.2 is the same way.... all or nothing.

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I don't think the power band or even the power alone is that different between the 5.3-6.0-6.2.

Let the motor turn 4,500rpm, that us what it is made for!

Badass69 · January 29, 2016

I don't think the power band or even the power alone is that different between the 5.3-6.0-6.2.

Let the motor turn 4,500rpm, that us what it is made for!

You haven't owned or towed with a gen 5 6.2 and a gen 4 6 liter.... I have. One is absolutely nothing like the other..... Yeah people bitch the 6.2 wants premium but it's characteristics are what I like. It makes really good usable mid range torque.... the gen 4 6 liters can't thanks to the cylinder heads mostly that gm chose to run. Sewage pipe intake ports with low port velocity and heavily shrouded valves in a 4" bore doesn't lend itself to low rpm power..... Move gen 5 technology over to the HD line trucks and they will have a class leader by leaps and bounds.

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George C · January 29, 2016

This thread cracks me up.

Sure, you can tow a mobile home with a four cylinder if your ego or wallet says your truck is big enough...

SMiller · January 29, 2016

You haven't owned or towed with a gen 5 6.2 and a gen 4 6 liter.... I have. One is absolutely nothing like the other..... Yeah people bitch the 6.2 wants premium but it's characteristics are what I like. It makes really good usable mid range torque.... the gen 4 6 liters can't thanks to the cylinder heads mostly that gm chose to run. Sewage pipe intake ports with low port velocity and heavily shrouded valves in a 4" bore doesn't lend itself to low rpm power..... Move gen 5 technology over to the HD line trucks and they will have a class leader by leaps and bounds.

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Are you sure I haven't drove or towed with these trucks? Last time I checked there was a 6.0 and a 6.2 sitting in my barn. I have drove both the 6 and 8 speed 5.3 but do not own one although I am guessing I will order one for my next truck.

I do agree the 6.2 rips, the 6.0 is a slug in the HD but it is a big heavy truck, I figured the 6.2 would feel the same. I would love to see them pull the same load up the same hill in a test, guessing there wouldn't be much time difference.

I would love to see a gen 5 7.0 motor in the '17 HD!!! Still lots of love for the rock solid 6.0 though.