High pitch whine when towing

[Vigilante375]

So yesterday was the first day I towed with my truck, a 2019 LT Z71 5.3 8 spd with 8500 miles. 

 

Trailer is a 14 ft big tex 60 EC with my 2018 Camaro ZL1. So over estimating, pulling 6k plus about 300 lbs payload in the truck and bed. 

 

The noise I heard was between 15 and 20 mph while on the throttle. When I let out, the sound goes away but getting back on the throttle, the sound slowly builds up. 

 

It sounds like a whine. Something you'd hear from a worn bearing. About the only way to describe it. 

 

Anyone have any experience in this sound? My 2013 Tundra never made this noise when towing. 

 

I've searched but could only find things saying it could be a belt, which I know what a squealing belt sounds like and diesel owners talking about this but it was their turbo and people talking about u joints and suspension making this noise. Which I know it isn't. 

[DemonWorks]

My 5.3 made a whine and sometimes it turned into a chirp when I was going about 40-80mph and after driving for at least 30 minutes. i found I could make it go away by clicking into 4wd. Then it would slowly come back when back in 2wd.

 

there is a bulletin for this to swap out the front axle stub shaft. I did that but now there is an update to add an o-ring. I did not do that but planned on it until I just recently traded the truck in.

 

Can you pinpoint more on where you are thinking the noise is coming from?

 

Basic assumption is rear differential. I partially question the rear sag on your truck when towing as well. My 2019, I towed a 18' dovetail with a ZL1 and it pulled the rear down quite a bit. i also may have had the nose too far forward and plan on setting it up different next time. With your 14', I feel like there must be a pretty large amount of tongue weight?

[Vigilante375]

39 minutes ago, Carbon said:

My 5.3 made a whine and sometimes it turned into a chirp when I was going about 40-80mph and after driving for at least 30 minutes. i found I could make it go away by clicking into 4wd. Then it would slowly come back when back in 2wd.

 

there is a bulletin for this to swap out the front axle stub shaft. I did that but now there is an update to add an o-ring. I did not do that but planned on it until I just recently traded the truck in.

 

Can you pinpoint more on where you are thinking the noise is coming from?

 

Basic assumption is rear differential. I partially question the rear sag on your truck when towing as well. My 2019, I towed a 18' dovetail with a ZL1 and it pulled the rear down quite a bit. i also may have had the nose too far forward and plan on setting it up different next time. With your 14', I feel like there must be a pretty large amount of tongue weight?

To me. It sounds like the noise is coming from the front. 

 

Reasoning is that when I get off the throttle while doing 20 mph, the noise goes away. When I get back onto the throttle, partial throttle. The noise slowly builds back up. 

 

The weight distribution is fine. There's not much room to get the center of gravity correct but I found it. 

 

There is a lot of sag but these Rancho shocks are..... garbage

[BIGDOGx]

On 9/13/2020 at 2:41 PM, Vigilante375 said:

To me. It sounds like the noise is coming from the front. 

 

Reasoning is that when I get off the throttle while doing 20 mph, the noise goes away. When I get back onto the throttle, partial throttle. The noise slowly builds back up. 

 

The weight distribution is fine. There's not much room to get the center of gravity correct but I found it. 

 

There is a lot of sag but these Rancho shocks are..... garbage

There has been plenty of whine discussion all the way back to the k series truck. I have a bad whine all the time and from research on here and what the dealer also states it is the spline style oil pumps these engines have in them that makes the racket. Maybe the newer trucks use something else but this is gm and i doubt it, probably the same pump my 14 uses.

[redwngr]

Are you running in 2wd?

 

[Vigilante375]

2 hours ago, BIGDOGx said:

There has been plenty of whine discussion all the way back to the k series truck. I have a bad whine all the time and from research on here and what the dealer also states it is the spline style oil pumps these engines have in them that makes the racket. Maybe the newer trucks use something else but this is gm and i doubt it, probably the same pump my 14 uses.

Thing is that my 2013 Tundra never did it.  It's just a weird sound.  I'll just have to take a video of it.

 

I'm just wondering if anyone else is hearing the same thing around 15-20 mph while towing anything over 5k lbs.

49 minutes ago, redwngr said:

Are you running in 2wd?

 

Yes, 2wd.

[21GMC]

Vigilante375

 

You ever get to the bottom of this? Mine does the same thing at low speeds when towing, Normally on inclines or small hills. I have the 10 speed.

 

 

[21GMC]

Sorry for the crazy late reply. Never got a notification via email. And to answer no I did not, it still does it, as does two of my neighborhood friends, even one with a New 2024 does the same thing. 

 

I don't like it, but it's there. 

 

Outside that, the truck has been pretty flawless.