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Towing a Toy Hauler with 5.3L

Josh121

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Badass69 Senior Enthusiast

Badass69

Posted
Posted

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.

Pretty sure. Engines sitting in a barn don't account for much.... And I am sure no matter what the vehicle is being discussed you conveniently have one in your barn....lol. If you actually have done anything with either of them you have one sorry sack of a 6.2 to think otherwise honestly. Weight of the truck has nothing to do with engine output characteristics.... especially when you factor a 7000+ load into the equation. You can't make torque happen at a given rpm that it doesn't exist at.

 

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using Tapatalk

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Jon A Senior Enthusiast

Jon A

Posted
Posted

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.

 

10 year old 2500's had 12.8" disks, front and rear. 2014+ 1500's have 13" front and 13.6" rear. Just in case you wanted to know what you were talking about.....

 

 

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.

 

Based upon what? Wishful thinking? Looking at the dynos upside down? It's true they're rarely compared side by side in tests since they're in different classes, but they've both been tested a lot and you need to have your head buried pretty deeply in the sand to really think this. The difference in power is huge.

 

As one example, here the 6.0 ran the 1/4 in 17.0 empty:

 

 

 

http://blogs.cars.com/.a/6a00d83451b3c669e201a3fd41ac2d970b-pi

 

 

 

Here the 6.2 ran the 1/4 in 15.3 seconds with a 1750 lb payload!

 

 

 

http://blogs.cars.com/.a/6a00d83451b3c669e201b7c804a4b6970b-pi

 

 

 

And of course, people who have towed the same trailer up the same hills with both like the guy above have already told you how different they are.

George C Enthusiast

George C

Posted
Posted

My wife's 6.2 would destroy my 6.0 in just about any scenario.

What I would give to have the 6.2l option in a 2500HD....

peejaykay Enthusiast

peejaykay

Posted
Posted

I have the CAT scale tickets to prove it, towed at 16, 680 GCW from Los Angeles to Charlotte, NC this past summer. Steep grades up and down, never overheated, never locked up the brakes going down and never had a "shit I wish I had a bigger truck right now" moment. Trailer scaled @ 9600lbs.

 

Proper prep of the truck and trailer are critical when towing at "the line". The driver's skills, abilities and comfort level factor into what you're willing to do with your truck.

 

I have a propride WDH, it is a top-of-the-line WDH system. This may have also contributed to my trouble free experience for over 10k miles of towing so far. Good luck. BTW, I have a 3.73 5.3L.

George C Enthusiast

George C

Posted
Posted

I have the CAT scale tickets to prove it, towed at 16, 680 GCW from Los Angeles to Charlotte, NC this past summer. Steep grades up and down, never overheated, never locked up the brakes going down and never had a "shit I wish I had a bigger truck right now" moment. Trailer scaled @ 9600lbs.

 

Proper prep of the truck and trailer are critical when towing at "the line". The driver's skills, abilities and comfort level factor into what you're willing to do with your truck.

 

I have a propride WDH, it is a top-of-the-line WDH system. This may have also contributed to my trouble free experience for over 10k miles of towing so far. Good luck. BTW, I have a 3.73 5.3L.

Man, this is getting deep, and hysterical too!

Please, don't ever hook a stock Duramax to your trailer.

Heck, don't try it with a 6.2l either.

Suddenly "driver skill and abilities" become a even more of a joke, and truck and trailer prep is done by stopping at a Starbucks for coffee and a scone.

You simply set the cruise on 65 mph and enjoy the scenery.

Txjose Senior Enthusiast

Txjose

Posted
Posted

 

 

Man, this is getting deep, and hysterical too!

Please, don't ever hook a stock Duramax to your trailer.

Heck, don't try it with a 6.2l either.

Suddenly "driver skill and abilities" become a even more of a joke, and truck and trailer prep is done by stopping at a Starbucks for coffee and a scone.

You simply set the cruise on 65 mph and enjoy the scenery.

Clearly butthurt because his 2500 can't fit into starbucks drive-thru. Lol

 

If they are within the towing and payload why do they need a 2500?? So 1500s are cruisers and if you want to tow a lawnmower you need a 2500?? Get real.

 

 

 

Sent from my Note 4 on Tapashit

diyer2 Senior Enthusiast

diyer2

Posted
Posted

IMO

1500 would probably do it but if towing a toy hauler regularly or for long distance I would want a 2500.

SouthpawHD Enthusiast

SouthpawHD

Posted
Posted

I have the CAT scale tickets to prove it, towed at 16, 680 GCW from Los Angeles to Charlotte, NC this past summer. Steep grades up and down, never overheated, never locked up the brakes going down and never had a "shit I wish I had a bigger truck right now" moment. Trailer scaled @ 9600lbs.

 

Proper prep of the truck and trailer are critical when towing at "the line". The driver's skills, abilities and comfort level factor into what you're willing to do with your truck.

 

I have a propride WDH, it is a top-of-the-line WDH system. This may have also contributed to my trouble free experience for over 10k miles of towing so far. Good luck. BTW, I have a 3.73 5.3L.

There is no doubt that a 5.3 can tow 9600 and your $2,000 WDH plays a HUGE part in that.

 

I researched ProPride and Hensley hitches extensively but ultimately decided in my case that I would be better off applying that $2,000 towards a 3/4 ton truck.

99-ls1-ss Enthusiast

99-ls1-ss

Posted
Posted

I have the CAT scale tickets to prove it, towed at 16, 680 GCW from Los Angeles to Charlotte, NC this past summer. Steep grades up and down, never overheated, never locked up the brakes going down and never had a "shit I wish I had a bigger truck right now" moment. Trailer scaled @ 9600lbs.

 

Proper prep of the truck and trailer are critical when towing at "the line". The driver's skills, abilities and comfort level factor into what you're willing to do with your truck.

 

I have a propride WDH, it is a top-of-the-line WDH system. This may have also contributed to my trouble free experience for over 10k miles of towing so far. Good luck. BTW, I have a 3.73 5.3L.

Can you give more information or a link to what you have? I'm going to be towing my tractor, a few times a year, which will weigh around 10,000lbs with tractor, implements and trailer and I want the best hauling gear that I can have. Safety and peace of mind mean a lot to me.

gmckenzie Enthusiast

gmckenzie

Posted
Posted

This is the Pro Pride http://www.propridehitch.com/

Hensley is similar. Both designed by the same guy.

 

Very expensive. I have a Equal-i-zer 4 point that works very well and is 1/3 the price.

I tow a 34' TT loaded weighs 8,200.

 

Ignore the dry weights of a trailer and plan on towing weight being the dry weight + carrying capacity. Keep the total trailer weight 80-85% of the truck towing rating.

 

Then you have to figure out what your tongue weight is. Figure about 15% of the trailer weight. This is where most 1/2 tons lack capacity.

 

I really doubt your truck will pull what you are thinking of.

99-ls1-ss Enthusiast

99-ls1-ss

Posted
Posted

This is the Pro Pride http://www.propridehitch.com/

Hensley is similar. Both designed by the same guy.

 

Very expensive. I have a Equal-i-zer 4 point that works very well and is 1/3 the price.

I tow a 34' TT loaded weighs 8,200.

 

Ignore the dry weights of a trailer and plan on towing weight being the dry weight + carrying capacity. Keep the total trailer weight 80-85% of the truck towing rating.

 

Then you have to figure out what your tongue weight is. Figure about 15% of the trailer weight. This is where most 1/2 tons lack capacity.

 

I really doubt your truck will pull what you are thinking of.

I have a crewcab short bed with the 6.2 and Max Trailering being built right now. I think (really hope) it will pull 10000lbs since it's rated at 11800lbs.

 

How does someone determine what 15% of the trailer weight is? I don't have scales that are capable of that. I can move the tractor back and forth to get the weight distributed but how do I know when I've reached the right balance?

1300c Enthusiast

1300c

Posted
Posted

I tow trailers every day weighing between 4,500, and 10,000 lbs, and have for 12 years. My father has since 1975. In our family business we have both new 2500hd duramax trucks, and 1500 5.3l trucks. My biggest two concerns towing are not if the engine can pull but can the truck properly stop what I'm towing in just about every single situation, and in a Reese hitch trailer making sure the weight is distributed for a proper tongue weight. So make sure that the toy hauler at least has electric brakes on both axles.

 

But since power is what everyone is talking about I believe the more the better. This won't be popular probably but 5,000-7000lbs a 5.3l with 3.73 would be fine. 5,000-10,000lbs the 6.2l with an 8 speed works well. If you can swing a diesel than 10,000lbs, and over a duramax, or nothing for me.

 

Also being a tow hauler the wind resistance becomes a bigger issue for a smaller engine like a 5.3l in a half ton truck. Our 3/4 trucks really shine when it gets windy because they are designed to pull those loads better like that.

 

If it were me I'd get a 2500hd with the duramax, and enjoy the drives better with your family. I wouldn't even consider the 6.0l. I pulled our trailers test driving one and it stayed at 4,000 rpms the whole time.

99-ls1-ss Enthusiast

99-ls1-ss

Posted
Posted

I tow trailers every day weighing between 4,500, and 10,000 lbs, and have for 12 years. My father has since 1975. In our family business we have both new 2500hd duramax trucks, and 1500 5.3l trucks. My biggest two concerns towing are not if the engine can pull but can the truck properly stop what I'm towing in just about every single situation, and in a Reese hitch trailer making sure the weight is distributed for a proper tongue weight. So make sure that the toy hauler at least has electric brakes on both axles.

 

But since power is what everyone is talking about I believe the more the better. This won't be popular probably but 5,000-7000lbs a 5.3l with 3.73 would be fine. 5,000-10,000lbs the 6.2l with an 8 speed works well. If you can swing a diesel than 10,000lbs, and over a duramax, or nothing for me.

 

Also being a tow hauler the wind resistance becomes a bigger issue for a smaller engine like a 5.3l in a half ton truck. Our 3/4 trucks really shine when it gets windy because they are designed to pull those loads better like that.

 

If it were me I'd get a 2500hd with the duramax, and enjoy the drives better with your family. I wouldn't even consider the 6.0l. I pulled our trailers test driving one and it stayed at 4,000 rpms the whole time.

What if I will only be pulling around 10K lbs 3 to 5 times a year and a boat that weighs around 5,500 lbs a few times a year? In your opinion, would that warrant stepping up to a 2500 diesel? I know people on here like their 6.0 2500 trucks and that is fine but if I'm going to get a 2500 I would only consider the diesel motor.

George C Enthusiast

George C

Posted
Posted

Clearly butthurt because his 2500 can't fit into starbucks drive-thru. Lol

If they are within the towing and payload why do they need a 2500?? So 1500s are cruisers and if you want to tow a lawnmower you need a 2500?? Get real.

Sent from my Note 4 on Tapashit

Last I checked, my truck is the same dimensions as a DC 1500.

My wife can get our dually and our 26' trailer through a Starbucks drive thru. I think you might be able to drive a 2500 DC too.

And yes, your last statement is correct, except for the " get real" part.

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