Jump to content

Z85 Towing Question

Barnes16

Recommended Posts

Barnes16 Enthusiast

Barnes16

Posted
Posted

I have a 2016 1500 LT Crew Cab 2wd Short Box with the 5.3L V8 and 3.08 gears.

 

I have been looking around for a camper lately so I have been doing a bunch of research on what my truck can handle. I thought that I didn't have a hitch but it turns out there was one under there that uses the bumper hole (I thought it was just the bumper for light trailers).

 

31ad765a778200a00bad253488d15e40.jpg

 

When I realized this I already had a Class IV hitch which I'd imagine is an upgrade regardless and from what I've seen, what you want for pulling a camper.

 

I was looking at the RPO codes and I noticed that I had Z85 which I saw was a "CHASSIS PACKAGE, HIGH PAYLOAD FIRM RIDE" and Handling/Trailering, heavy-duty, includes 46 mm piston monotube shocks and 34mm front stabilizer bar. It may also have heavier springs and increased payload.

 

My door pilar label does not show anything regarding payload. I got 6,400 lbs (max trailer) with a 12,000 GCWR from the owners manual.

 

My question is, does that translate to anything in terms of payload? Does the Z85 add any capacity to the GVWR or max trailer weight? Or does it just make it more controlled/comfortable?

 

Is the Z85 actually anything additional or is it pretty standard? Anything else you have would be helpful.

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

calgator73 Senior Enthusiast

calgator73

Posted
Posted

Check your registration or manual for gvwr and your door jamb for available payload. Gvwr should be 7200

 

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

muddkatt Senior Enthusiast

muddkatt

Posted
Posted

I thought that I didn't have a hitch but it turns out there was one under there that uses the bumper hole (I thought it was just the bumper for light trailers).

 

When I realized this I already had a Class IV hitch which I'd imagine is an upgrade regardless and from what I've seen, what you want for pulling a camper.

 

I was looking at the RPO codes and I noticed that I had Z85 which I saw was a "CHASSIS PACKAGE, HIGH PAYLOAD FIRM RIDE" and Handling/Trailering, heavy-duty, includes 46 mm piston monotube shocks and 34mm front stabilizer bar. It may also have heavier springs and increased payload.

 

My door pilar label does not show anything regarding payload.

My question is, does that translate to anything in terms of payload? Does the Z85 add any capacity to the GVWR or max trailer weight? Or does it just make it more controlled/comfortable?

 

Is the Z85 actually anything additional or is it pretty standard? Anything else you have would be helpful.

 

 

It sounds like this might be your first truck and have no experience with trailers. All of these trucks (1500 series) that have factory tow hitches are class 4. They are easy to spot, you will see the 2inch square tube below the center of the bumper.

 

My 2001 Sierra has the Z85 suspension, my 2015 has the Z60 suspension. Although the trucks are 2 different design series apart, I like the Z85 suspension much better for towing a trailer. I am not sure how to describe the difference in ride quality, but the Z85 has a little more sway in cornering, and is much less jarring over things such as speed bumps. The Z60 is more of a sports car feel.

 

Your "problem area" is the 3.08 gears. They are not intended for, nor will they pull the load of a heavy trailer. I have 3.73 gears in the 01 and I wish I had 4.10s. I use that truck to pull trailers and it has probably 150,000 miles of just trailering miles. The 15 has 3.42 gears and it pulls about the same as the 01 due to having more HP and the 6 speed transmission. If I were to use it for pulling, I would re-gear it, or trade it for a different truck.

 

Without knowing what you intend to tow, its hard to advise you on what you can or can't tow, but your truck is not a tow max and it will have a lower tow capacity than most trucks due to the 3.08 gears. Look in your glove box and on the sticker with all of the codes, look for GU4, GU5, GU6, and GT4. Post which one your truck has.

Barnes16 Enthusiast

Barnes16

Posted
  • Author
Posted

It sounds like this might be your first truck and have no experience with trailers. All of these trucks (1500 series) that have factory tow hitches are class 4. They are easy to spot, you will see the 2inch square tube below the center of the bumper.

 

My 2001 Sierra has the Z85 suspension, my 2015 has the Z60 suspension. Although the trucks are 2 different design series apart, I like the Z85 suspension much better for towing a trailer. I am not sure how to describe the difference in ride quality, but the Z85 has a little more sway in cornering, and is much less jarring over things such as speed bumps. The Z60 is more of a sports car feel.

 

Your "problem area" is the 3.08 gears. They are not intended for, nor will they pull the load of a heavy trailer. I have 3.73 gears in the 01 and I wish I had 4.10s. I use that truck to pull trailers and it has probably 150,000 miles of just trailering miles. The 15 has 3.42 gears and it pulls about the same as the 01 due to having more HP and the 6 speed transmission. If I were to use it for pulling, I would re-gear it, or trade it for a different truck.

 

Without knowing what you intend to tow, its hard to advise you on what you can or can't tow, but your truck is not a tow max and it will have a lower tow capacity than most trucks due to the 3.08 gears. Look in your glove box and on the sticker with all of the codes, look for GU4, GU5, GU6, and GT4. Post which one your truck has.

If my towing experience is relevant, it consists of boats, atvs, enclosed, and a pressure washing trailer. I am new to Silverados but give me a little credit, I think I would know if there was a 2" receiver under my bumper and there is not. Which is why I ordered the Class IV.

 

My code is GU4, 3.08. When you say "they won't pull the load of a heavy trailer" what are you calling heavy? I don't plan on going above the maximum. I'd plan to stay under it. Y as much as possible just to be safe.

 

I've been looking for light campers for the most part. Under 27' and even at that length some of the light models are under 6500lbs

 

4a5846e86fa394f70dc4536cd1a8094c.png

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Barnes16 Enthusiast

Barnes16

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Check your registration or manual for gvwr and your door jamb for available payload. Gvwr should be 7200

 

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

My door jamb says nothing regarding payload and all of the numbers from my OP are from the manual.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

NathanielDDay Enthusiast

NathanielDDay

Posted
Posted

I find the proclamations that the 3.08 is a dog towing to overblown.

 

Is it ideal? No it is not. If I had ordered from scratch I would not have purchased the 3.08, but a screaming deal that allowed me to purchase a truck much nicer than I could afford when buying new was worth the compromise with what I tow.

 

My main trailer is an aluminum livestock trailer. I pull that about 80% of the time and 100% of my long trips. I have taken it from Indiana to Baltimore twice, to upstate NY and all over the Midwest for livestock shows and livestock transport. I have no issues maintaining speed or feeling safe when towing. Now, I am not one to blast along at 80 and expect my truck to climb a hill without downshifting or not dropping in speed like some guys so I may not be the best comparison

 

The other 20% of the time I haul either a box trailer or a flatbed that I load with feed, hay and straw. These are all local trips (within 45 minutes of the farm) and I have never encountered a time when I was worried about my set-up. Admittedly, I can't haul 100 hay bales (7500-9000 lbs) at a time like I could if I had a max trailering package, but I make due with 2 smaller loads.

 

It has been a while since I went to the scales, but my typical load out is around 6000 lbs.

 

Be smart and safe and you will be ok.

calgator73 Senior Enthusiast

calgator73

Posted
Posted

My door jamb says nothing regarding payload and all of the numbers from my OP are from the manual.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Looks like this?

 

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

muddkatt Senior Enthusiast

muddkatt

Posted
Posted

This book is often referred to as the Bible for towing capacity.

 

http://www.trailerlife.com/trailer-towing-guides/

 

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

His truck would be maxed out at 6400 pounds according to that guide. IMHO a TT could not weigh much more than 5000 lbs to allow for gear and supplies such as filling the water tanks, etc.

 

OP, I misunderstood the part about you having to add the tow hitch. Your original post sounded to me like it was already there, but you had not noticed it. My apologizes, wasn't trying to offend you.

calgator73 Senior Enthusiast

calgator73

Posted
Posted

Looks like this?

 

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

Stupid phone 192c04da9a58fd3f2bb11eb9fac614ba.jpg

 

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

calgator73 Senior Enthusiast

calgator73

Posted
Posted

That sticker will tell you your available payload before you max out your configuration it will not tell you how much weight is on your rear axle.

 

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

calgator73 Senior Enthusiast

calgator73

Posted
Posted

Your rgawr is 3950.... so here is how you calculate your available payload. First load up your truck the way you would when you go camping - the trailer. Go to your local cat scale and get your weight ticket. 7000 lb - that ticket will be your overall available payload. The next step is to determine how much is available on the rear axle versus the front. Take 3950 - your drive axle weight from the ticket and that will be how much available you have on the rear. Because of how far the hitch is behind the drive axle any weight added behind the hitch will actually result in more weight on the rear axle so be conservative if that matters to you. A weight distributing hitch can help a little but you can't do much more than flr on the front axle.

 

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

calgator73 Senior Enthusiast

calgator73

Posted
Posted

Even with full load restoration you're going to have problems with pitch sensitivity when you are driving over rough roads with a lot of tongue weight and that's just because you're driving a half ton pickup. I hope this helps

 

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

Barnes16 Enthusiast

Barnes16

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I guess my sticker does have the payload for the truck, I was looking for trailer info when I looked at it.

 

I appreciate all of the help. I don't plan on maxing it out. I've been a passenger in a half ton towing a 30' that was flirting with the max load when we were passed by a semi; make you pucker a little.

 

Most of the campers that I've looked at were 3000-5000. I'm also doing what I can to help it out control when I got LT tires, Weight distributing hitch, and maybe an add a leaf or air ride. I know that's not going to increase the weight I can pull.

 

Thanks again for the help and advice.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

  • Forum Statistics

    250.4k
    Total Topics
    2.7m
    Total Posts

  • Member Statistics

    342,739
    Total Members
    8,960
    Most Online
    JimmyB4
    Newest Member
    JimmyB4
    Joined

  • Who's Online   0 Members, 0 Anonymous, 625 Guests (See full list)

    • There are no registered users currently online

  • Latest Articles

  • Posts

    • Another JR
      Trim level custom/pro

      By Another JR · Posted

      Are you going to take long trips in it?  If so, try out the seats in the various trims. For me the lower trim level seats were not comfortable. 
    • mikeyk101
      2014 - 2018 Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra

      By mikeyk101 · Posted

      I have a 2016 that I bought new and still own. I'm around 129,000 miles now. The biggest problem was a transmission failure about 2 years ago around 95000 miles. No warning, just failed while driving down a back road. A reman GM transmission installed and it's been fine ever since. A few other minor problems along the way. I am in no hurry to replace it. It's been paid off long ago and do plan on driving this as long as I can.   I will admit I am leery about all the additional electronics in the newer models and feel that it is just more potential problems. I think there's actually more than I would have wanted in this 2016 but so far so good. I think even if something major like lifter failure happened, it would still be cheaper to at worst, drop a new engine in than buy a new vehicle. 
    • KARNUT
      OCI, not when but why?

      By KARNUT · Posted

      I’ve own several successful businesses. I’ve bought homes and lived in different states. I’d witness several generations buy homes and survive in different economic circumstances. You get awful sippy when people have different experiences than you do. You live a life. I’ve lived a life. It seems our experience has been different. You can point out generalized statistics. Some people learn how to thrive when the odds are against them. Living in different states does make a difference in a persons quality of life and economic outcomes and opportunities. That’s a fact Jack. It’s my truth, my life. Hard work and long hours the right environment made my families life easier. And yes moving to a different state increased the odds of that happening. Stats are generalized. People who thrive don’t make excuses. They beat the odds. Others get mad and point to those statistics. I guess that’s you. My post pointed out how you helped people beat the odds. Somehow your panties got in a wad. Go figure. 
    • MrChips
      Road Master Active Suspension

      By MrChips · Posted

      Good question, I don't remember for sure but I believe it was the HD. I will check and get back to you.
    • Grumpy Bear
      OCI, not when but why?

      By Grumpy Bear · Posted

      Point of the post sir was that while both wages and cost are rising EVERYWHERE; the cost is rising faster EVERYWHERE than the ability to buy EVERYWHERE. We're not going down the location rabbit hole. I'm aware of what economic migration is. I've lived in four states including Texas.   It's what "Purchasing Power" means.   I'm not telling you what I think. I'm telling what the government, your government, data shows.   It wasn't an argument. It wasn't a suggestion. It was a statement of FACT. You are absolutely entitled to your own opinion. Your not entitled to your own facts. If you and I were, they wouldn't be facts.    fact /făkt/   noun Knowledge or information based on real occurrences. "an account based on fact; a blur of fact and fancy." Something demonstrated to exist or known to have existed. "Genetic engineering is now a fact. That Chaucer was a real person is an undisputed fact." A real occurrence; an event. "had to prove the facts of the case." The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition • More at Wordnik   If you'd like to disagree call your Senator or Representative and let him know his departments are in error. But you and I? We are not doing this. 

  • GM-Trucks.com Clubs

  • Popular Contributors

×
×
  • Create New...