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Towing a Toy Hauler with 5.3L

Josh121

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2004lebanshee Enthusiast

2004lebanshee

Posted
Posted

If your around 8-9000 LBS and towing a lot get a 5.3 to be cheap or get a DMax. Fact is you need a DMax. No point in wasting your money on a 6.2. The 5.3 biggest issue isn't so much power as it is brakes and suspension. The 6.2 gives a little better acceleration (not that it matters much when towing) and that's it. It's still a under sized truck in the brakes and suspension department. I would rather have a 3/4 with at 6.0 then that 6.2 as well. Save the 55K for a 1500 and get a real truck. A 3/4 ton D Max. 6.2 isn't in the same league.

 

I tow a 6000LB boat a lot with my 5.3 and it does a great job. Wish the brakes were better. I often get to use my buddies 08 D Max for my boat and my race car trailer and it's off the chart better. That things a monster. A 6.2 cant sniff that thing. Just feels safer.

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HondaHawkGT Senior Enthusiast

HondaHawkGT

Posted
Posted

I was getting at the same thing as Vmax. 3.73+8L90 would be a pulling beast. I'm a guy, more is better. It should at least be a possible combo. No reason they can't at least make it an order option (like a modern day COPO).

1300c Enthusiast

1300c

Posted
Posted

The Duramax is great, but what really makes it shine is the Allison transmission in tow/haul coupled with the exhaust brake on. What the OP is wanting to tow will be a breeze with the duramax. In a 3/4, or 1 ton it's not worth getting one if you don't get the diesel. In a 1/2 ton the 6.2l I test drove, and pulled my 9600 lb trailer with blew away my 15 5.3l with 3.42 rear end. It would be closer with a 5.3l and the 3.73 but I haven't pulled with that combo.

Georgia1911 Enthusiast

Georgia1911

Posted
Posted

Boughta used silverado high country 2014. Does anyone know the code for max trailer pckg in glove box?

 

Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk

 

RPO for Max Tow is NHT.

ZXTOM Enthusiast

ZXTOM

Posted
Posted

My TH is around 4750lbs and about 7500lbs loaded up with everything.

 

I have a 1500 5.3L and it tows it just fine, the brakes are fine. I routinely pull up large grades and yes the engine is working a little harder up the grades. But it does great.

 

I thought about the Dmax but the extra cost just wasn't worth it. I would say 8000-8500lbs would be the max I would be comfortable with in my truck.

redwngr Senior Enthusiast

redwngr

Posted
Posted

Boughta used silverado high country 2014. Does anyone know the code for max trailer pckg in glove box?

 

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It's NHT, but on a 2014 it's only available in a 1LT or 1LZ. It's not available on a High Country and not on a Z71.

2004lebanshee Enthusiast

2004lebanshee

Posted
Posted

I wanna pickup a decent light weight travel trailer. Dry weight around 7k lbs. Couldnt afford a diesel

 

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Here's the deal..

 

A 5.3 with 3.42 will do that just fine. For similar money you could get a 3/4 6.0 and have a much more stable rig with enough payload you could tow the trailer and put people in the truck and be under. If you can afford the DMax don't waste your money upgrading to a fully loaded 6.2. It just gives you 1000lb more rated towing but the payload is the same. YOU WILL PROBABLY NEVER BE ALLOWED TO TOW A 10,000 trailer because you will probably be over the payload of the truck. It gives no more payload capacity, no better brakes, no better suspension, or tranny ect. It will pull a hill a bit better with 8K+ trailer but IMO any 1/2 ton sucks with that heavy of a trailer.

 

Again a 1/2 ton runs out of payload capacity before trailer capacity so the extra 1000lbs its rated for is completely useless. Some will tell you the 6.2 can handle 9,000+ but the fact is if your over the payload and get in a wreck your getting sued. To have a 9,000+ travel trailer your limited to about 2 adults and nothing in the truck to stay under payload. That's useless.

 

Just my opinion so take it for what its worth.

 

So budget

5.3 3.4 or 3.7 gear 1/2 ton 0- 7,500 max IMO.

6.0 3/4 ton 5,000- 12,000 Bullet proof motor better then a 6.2 in reliability. Not as fast though. Rougher ride

 

Not budget

 

6.2 1/2 ton 0- 8,000 max IMO. Better acceleration, Every option, Luxury wouldn't daily tow a 8K trailer with this setup IMO.

D-Max 3/4ton 7,000- 20,000. pull a tank. Or just pull a smaller trailer will no struggle. Could daily tow with and not know anything was there.

foo.c Enthusiast

foo.c

Posted
Posted

I didn't read this whole thing, but today's half-tons are able to do what 3/4 tons did 15 years ago, maybe less.

 

Assuming you use good sense, and set it up right, I wouldn't have any qualms about towing the maximum GM says it can tow. Occasionally.

Jon A Senior Enthusiast

Jon A

Posted
Posted

 

YOU WILL PROBABLY NEVER BE ALLOWED TO TOW A 10,000 trailer because you will probably be over the payload of the truck....Again a 1/2 ton runs out of payload capacity before trailer capacity so the extra 1000lbs its rated for is completely useless. Some will tell you the 6.2 can handle 9,000+ but the fact is if your over the payload and get in a wreck your getting sued. To have a 9,000+ travel trailer your limited to about 2 adults and nothing in the truck to stay under payload. That's useless.

 

The 2015+ NHT's have ~2,000 lbs payload, depending upon options. That's more than enough for a 10,000 lb trailer unless you're trying to haul a load of bricks in the bed at the same time.

 

Facts can be elusive in threads like this.....

Colliewood Enthusiast

Colliewood

Posted
Posted

The 2015+ NHT's have ~2,000 lbs payload, depending upon options. That's more than enough for a 10,000 lb trailer unless you're trying to haul a load of bricks in the bed at the same time.

 

Facts can be elusive in threads like this.....

Does the sticker on the door say 2000 pounds? The brochures say mine is ~1750 but the rear payload on the door is 300 lbs less.

 

Withe a 10000 trailer you'll likely have 1000 lbs of tongue weight eating up payload.

Badass69 Senior Enthusiast

Badass69

Posted
Posted

Does the sticker on the door say 2000 pounds? The brochures say mine is ~1750 but the rear payload on the door is 300 lbs less.

 

Withe a 10000 trailer you'll likely have 1000 lbs of tongue weight eating up payload.

Well my truck isn't max tow and is a loaded double cab 6.2 4x4 and it's payload is 1678 lbs. With the extra 400 lbs going to a 7600 lb gvwr I don't see why it would not be over 2000 lbs payload. Nothing they change is actually going to make the truck any heavier lol.

 

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Nathan79 Enthusiast

Nathan79

Posted
Posted

What are the hitch ratings on these max tow trucks?

 

Travel trailer will have ~13% tongue wt + hitch equipment can overload the hitch max.

1300c Enthusiast

1300c

Posted
Posted

I'm going to try to download a picture which isn't my strong suit so bear with me.

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