Towing

[Jondp2013]

I’ve got a 2015 CCSB 5.3L with 3.08 gears and I’m looking to tow a 6x12 trailer (weighing 2290 lbs) with 3 motorcycles (weighing about 2100 lbs), for a total of 4400 lbs about 1400 miles. I’ve got 33x11.50 tires on it. I’m seeing that max towing is 6400 lbs and max GVWR is 12,000 lbs. Any thoughts from any of you more experienced haulers? 

[Jacoby]

You won’t have any problems. Get to it. 

[TXGREEK]

I’ve got a 2015 CCSB 5.3L with 3.08 gears and I’m looking to tow a 6x12 trailer (weighing 2290 lbs) with 3 motorcycles (weighing about 2100 lbs), for a total of 4400 lbs about 1400 miles. I’ve got 33x11.50 tires on it. I’m seeing that max towing is 6400 lbs and max GVWR is 12,000 lbs. Any thoughts from any of you more experienced haulers? 

You’ll be absolutely fine. Just give yourself extra room for braking (keeping it in tow/haul mode) and be aware your acceleration will be much slower needing that extra time to get to your safe towing speed of your choice. Good luck!


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[16LT4]

Manufacturer tow/payload limits are FAR below what the truck can safely handle; for liability reasons,  there is a HUGE margin between what the truck can "handle" and what it can HANDLE.

 

I pulled 3-4k in 2012 with my '84 GMC with 110 hp V6 and 5 speed manual, over 400 miles through the hills of Western NY, over Shawangunk Ridge, and then through NYC traffic to the east end of LI when I moved my crap from the storage unit I kept after college.  No trailer brakes.  Slight inclines had me immediately downshifting to 4th, steeper ones to 3rd, and I'd downshift for off-ramps.  45 mph in the right lane with hazards in 3rd going up a hill, OMG!  That's how we did it for decades.  That truck weighs under 3k lbs, but has a 1500 lb payload.  Recently, a friend hauled a 36 ft. center console boat on a triple axle trailer from FL-NY with an Ecoboost F150.  No, I don't think most 1500 owners even scratch the surface of what the trucks are actually able to do when in capable hands.

[Donstar]

I agree with the previous members but have a couple of comments.  The weight of your trailer, at least where I live, requires that it has its own brakes. I regularly towed a 6 X 12 without brakes but it had a GVWR of 1900lbs.  When loaded it was very hard on the truck's brakes.   Also, if your truck is leveled to accommodate the larger tires, you will probably be driving nose high.  This is not ideal especially when driving at night.  (headlights)    You will have ample power.  My travel trailer when loaded is heavier and I have a 4.3.   

[Jondp2013]

I do have leveling kit on it with the tires. And the trailer does have hydraulic surge brakes (Uhaul utility trailer). The truck has 61K miles, has been full serviced religiously according to the manual, and has K&N cold air intake. Having brakes checked before I go

[Donstar]

17 minutes ago, dukedkt442 said:

  No, I don't think most 1500 owners even scratch the surface of what the trucks are actually able to do when in capable hands.

 

I agree to a point.  I can also share some pretty impressive towing stories with my 70's &80's half tons.  However, I also learned from these adventures and am much more cautious.  I try to stick reasonably close to the manufacturers recommended specifications.  You are definitely right, imo,  about underutilizing the power of these trucks.  It is placing too much stress on the rest of the hardware that is a concern!

[Jondp2013]

Thanks everyone! I feel that it be just fine, I am just inexperienced with towing long distances. I had a 19 foot boat for years and towed it with a 93 Chevy Shortwide with a 350 and it was no problem. But it was never 1300 miles one-way. I just want to make sure I don't damage my truck and burn up my tranny. Any other words of wisdom or concerns you all see? I believe the truck has a tranny cooler on it. It has the temp gauge on the computer screen on the dash, so I am assuming this means I have the cooler. 

 

[aseibel]

9 hours ago, Jondp2013 said:

I’ve got a 2015 CCSB 5.3L with 3.08 gears and I’m looking to tow a 6x12 trailer (weighing 2290 lbs) with 3 motorcycles (weighing about 2100 lbs), for a total of 4400 lbs about 1400 miles. I’ve got 33x11.50 tires on it. I’m seeing that max towing is 6400 lbs and max GVWR is 12,000 lbs. Any thoughts from any of you more experienced haulers? 

That is an enclosed trailer? You're going to feel the wind resistance at highway speed. The only problem you will encounter is your more frequent fuel stops. Driving the speed limit or a bit below will help that. Or just power through and get 12 MPG, haha.

 

You have the same brakes as the trucks with 9,000 lb towing, so stopping shouldn't be an issue either.

[Smitty]

30 minutes ago, aseibel said:

That is an enclosed trailer? You're going to feel the wind resistance at highway speed. The only problem you will encounter is your more frequent fuel stops. Driving the speed limit or a bit below will help that. Or just power through and get 12 MPG, haha.

 

You have the same brakes as the trucks with 9,000 lb towing, so stopping shouldn't be an issue either.

Good point on the brakes, thanks for bringing that up!  I wouldn't have thought of that. 

[Alec DiAstra]

Firstly anyone talking about towing over the limit should be ignored. There are plenty of spreadsheets to calculate proper towing numbers. If you are within the numbers you will be fine. Even at the edge of the numbers the truck will perform nominal but you should expect more bucking and higher revs. 

 

In your case you you literally have about a ton of headroom in your numbers. Just make sure you are using a proper hitch and that your tongue weight is correct.   

[Jondp2013]

It’s not an enclosed trailer. It’s an open utility trailer.

 

I do have leveling kit on it with the tires. And the trailer does have hydraulic surge brakes (Uhaul utility trailer). The truck has 61K miles, has been full serviced religiously according to the manual, and has K&N cold air intake. Having brakes checked before I go

[16LT4]

10 hours ago, Alec DiAstra said:

Firstly anyone talking about needing to stay under limit should be ignored.

Fixed it for ya.  As stated, the limit is designed for the lowest common denominator while towing, as in someone who needs a back up trailer to hitch a trailer and a guide to back it up.  These trucks can flatland tow 12k pounds without issue.  The driver is often the weight limiter, not the truck.

 

That being said, anyone looking exceed the speed limit with any trailer should be ignored, and have their license revoked.  Trucks can speed, trailers shouldn't.  I enjoy calling them in when they pass me.

[Alec DiAstra]

10 hours ago, dukedkt442 said:

Fixed it for ya.  As stated, the limit is designed for the lowest common denominator while towing, as in someone who needs a back up trailer to hitch a trailer and a guide to back it up.  These trucks can flatland tow 12k pounds without issue.  The driver is often the weight limiter, not the truck.

 

That being said, anyone looking exceed the speed limit with any trailer should be ignored, and have their license revoked.  Trucks can speed, trailers shouldn't.  I enjoy calling them in when they pass me.

As stated the limits are the law. period. If you get in ANY sort of accident, your fault or not, and you are over the limit, you are at fault. Towing over the limit is risky behavior and those that do it put themselves and others in harms way. Maybe you need to read the NHSTA guidelines and why they exist. 

Your experience towing does not change the specifications of the truck. Perhaps you should reevaluate your clear disregard for the safety of others on the road. 

[16LT4]

Ha! If all else fails, resort to “it’s the law!” And “you’re a maniac!” comments as the only basis for sticking within specs factory specs. Suddenly towing a few thousand more pounds than spec turns into grossly overweighted, but still one of the lighter tow rigs on the road. We drove buses and heavy vehicles for years with no commercial license before DHS finally decided they wanted us to have CDLs a few years ago. 

 

Better idea, no matter what is being towed, is to stay in the right lane, drive defensively, and stay under the speed limit (which I’m sure you break on a daily basis). That’s the law, too. A truck is a tool, and if you need to push it to get the job done, so be it. Not worth being frightened about being pulled over; cops have better things to do with their time than weigh your boat.  Fear of LEOs is perhaps the least valid reason for staying under spec.