1500 with Max Trailing package

Jimmyjim · July 21, 2017

Running an equalizer hitch.

Shocks were purchased from MRT, they are a sponsor here.

FreeAmerican · July 21, 2017

BTW even on my 2500 hd I used Bilstein 4600 HD shocks. Night and day better!

Krusty · July 21, 2017

Running an equalizer hitch.

Shocks were purchased from MRT, they are a sponsor here.

Thanks - Is a 4-way alignment needed after strut replacement? You had them put in at the dealership or Les Schwab or?

Lgetz · July 21, 2017

Would recommend an alignment anytime something gets moved around suspension wise.

redwngr · July 21, 2017

Just some info for the mix.

GM made huge upgrade to frame, front end and brakes of the HD's in 2011. (and the brakes were already larger than the 1500)

At thetat time, they also did away with the small tank on the HD, and increased the size of the tank on all HD's.

Frame of a 2500 is massive compared to a 1500.

No amount of of airbags, helper springs etc will improve the capacity of the rear axle bearings and the differential (but admittedly we don't hear of problems either).

Assuming truck will be a double or crew,, the 1500 will have a 98L/26USG tank.

A 2500 will have 136L/36USG tank.

When I towed interstate from the great lakes area to Arizona mine 5.3 was always in single digits per gallon.

22 gal x 9.0 = 198 miles between fills.

32 x 9 = 288 miles, still not great, but it's 1/3 further.

Makes quite a difference on a long couple days towing. At lot less stopping 'now' because the next station is beyond the available range. Especially in the west where services are not as frequently available.

Truck choice also depends on how far, how fast and how often it will be used to tow.

Big difference between running 2 lanes vs trying to run long distances on the interstate at +/- 75.

Gearhead1000 · July 22, 2017

Hello everyone. New guy here.

OK I have a bit to add. I am pulling a 28'flatdeck with a 10'camper on it and 2 quads. Tung weight is 1200lb and the axles are 9200lb so total 10400lb. I have the 6.2 with 8 speed, air bags, equalizing hitch with the 800/1200 bars. I upgraded the shocks to procomp. The truck is lifted 4" on33" load range E tires. It has the 3.42 gears and the nice tow mirrors with led backup lights in them. I have 25000km. Yes I am from Canada. I pulled Calgary to Golden and back. 800km through the rocky mountains and got 23.4l/100km or 10 US mpg. The rear axel weighed 400LB over the max rating but otherwise I am in spec. Power is not a problem. I used to pull the same setup with my 06 Duramax chipped with banks 6gun and I pulled Calgary to Moab UT for a month total 6000km avg 21l/100 km or 11-12mpg now I weighed 20000lb with the dmax setup because I carried all my tools as well. And the rear axel was right at the max of 6600lb! So the halfton is not carrying the tools so total weight is like 17000+. It pulls well considering it is a halfton. I would never attempt it with my old 1980 heavy half with the 350 farmer 4speed. The brakes on the truck are bigger than the dmax ones by a full inch front and 1.5 on the back,

So for me it I think it is on the edge of capacity and I feel safe driving it. I miss the avalanche of torque the dmax had but not the ride and cabin noise(speaker phone impossible in the dmax) I am going on another trip to northern Alberta shortly and I am installing my wind deflector. Which I didn't have last time. So I will post again when I get back.

Krusty · July 22, 2017

Running an equalizer hitch.

Shocks were purchased from MRT, they are a sponsor here.

Asked MRT for a shock recommendation for towing with Max Trailing package - they did not mention Fox..........

The Bilsteins have always been a popular upgrade, and on the new models it seems the 5100 version of the shock has the best valving & dampening characteristics for the 2014+ Silverados. Bilstein does not recommend their products for any truck equipped with max-tow packages as that big rear leaf can overwhelm them, although they are still an upgrade from the factory shocks. The fronts will work just fine tho, its the rears where a more substantial shock may be needed. The fronts should help keep it more planted and eliminate some of the front end bounce you experience when towing. I will do a little research and see what I can come up with, we see maybe one max-tow package in ever 250 trucks we work on! Let me know if I can answer any questions.

BTW even on my 2500 hd I used Bilstein 4600 HD shocks. Night and day better!

So did I on my 2007 Duramax - made it very planted over railroad tracks etc.

carthman · July 23, 2017

In regards to payload, in the future if I upgraded to airbags along with the stiffer Springs that already come with the max towing package and a good weight distribution hitch would that work to help with payload?

Legally, I would say no. With that said on my NHT I put airbags on and it help tremendously. I have since moved from a TT to a 5th wheel and upgrade to a 3500 dually. Probably overkill since we only go out 3-4 times a year but I'd rather be safe then sorry.

Jimmyjim · July 23, 2017

Asked MRT for a shock recommendation for towing with Max Trailing package - they did not mention Fox..........

So did I on my 2007 Duramax - made it very planted over railroad tracks etc.

I spoke to a Bilstein tech rep. They did not recommend the 5100's for the NHT trucks.

Was never able to get anyone @ FOX to call me back or pick up the phone for that matter.

But after a bit of research and speaking to the guys at MRT, I went with the 2.0's

The Kings and Icons are overkill for how I use my truck.

All I can tell you is the 2.0's made the truck much more stable.

The front end pogo-sticking is gone and the rear end feels much more planted.

I had them installed at a local shop that knows suspension.

Imcrazy · July 23, 2017

These threads crack me up, they pop up often... IMO it comes down to how often you tow.... I've pulled 10k 3 or 4 times with my 2016 1500 5.3, 3.42 gears and a insight brake controller... I had to go about 15 miles one way with a backhoe on 35mph back roads.... I wouldn't want to have taken that combo on the highway just because the trailer is so much heavier than my truck it pushes the truck around a lot... I pulled a 16x8.5 car hauler enclosed trailer a lot last summer when we moved that was a breeze and I would do it on a regualr basis with my truck without hesitation.... If your truck is mostly going to be a DD you'll be ahead by going with a 1500, if you need to tow a lot of 6k+ loads more than a handful of times year I'd start to consider the 2500 since it will get better MPG and be safer/more pleasant to operate while towing. Just like there ain't no replacement for displacement there is no replacement for weight in a tow vehicle.

Spurshot · July 23, 2017

I've seen a new transmission shaft break on one short trip with a heavy load. Twice. I've burned up brakes on steep hills with light loads on much heavier trucks.

I don't think it's about how far or how often. It's about how much margin you have when the unexpected happens.

sdeeter19555 · July 23, 2017

Imo when towing 10k+ yes, the added weight is stiffer frame, heavier suspension components, bigger brakes. Could you upgrade the suspension on a 1500 yes, i did air bags next is sway bar. Then brake upgrade

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You still have a 1500 semi-float axle and can exceed that capacity...regardless of the suspension upgrades, it's still a 1500.

Its like putting lipstick on a pig, it's still a pig...

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Spurshot · July 23, 2017

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Z57zQNujPyY

ponjohn · September 17, 2017

Hi Guys, new here.

Was 2015 the first year for the 2015, 8 speed, 3.42 option?

Did any years before 2014 have a 6.2, 6 speed, 3.73 max tow option?

Thanks.

Gearhead1000 · September 19, 2017

Update. I thought I would share how the last. 5000 miles of towing have gone with the truck. I have been over the continental divide twice and up to northern Alberta this summer. And my weight of truck and trailer has varied from 16220lb to 17450lb. basically carrying 1 quad and gear or 2. I am happy to report that my average fuel economy is 12 mpg US. The truck has pulled like a champ. I also have discovered that there is no way we can tow 10000 to 11700lb trailers and be legal. I have weighed my self several times and also converted a porta power with a gauge to weigh the tong. the front axle is in door plate but the rear is over by 200 to 400lbs. depending how I distribute the load from trailer to box of the truck. The rear is still 500 lbs less than the rims are good for which is 5000 lbs. And get enough tong weight to stay away from the death sway that happens with too little.Other than that it handles it well. Now my rig is not standard issue. Now the pics will say it all but I have arrived at my first question.

How do I make my pics small enough to fit on this site. I am not savvy this way. Because I want to show you what I am running. And my pics are too big like 11MB. Thanks in advance for some tips.