About to buy a trailer, now not sure if my truck can pull it

malibu43 · August 3, 2021

17 minutes ago, M1ck3y said:

Your cooling system is different. The 5.3 with the max tow gets the 8spd with 3.42 and the same cooling system the 6.2 has. Suspension is most likely different, shocks maybe leafs too.

I don't actually know your cooling system is different but that seems to be the consensus on here. I could do some searching on Google and post a link to the information. But so can you.

*edit*

Wow the 5.3 got 3.73's with the 8spd? That must be a fun truck.

You'll also have a smaller axle then the max tow (9.76)

Thanks, but the row I'm comparing to in the table isn't the Max Trailering Option. Both options I'm comparing are in the EcoTech3 5.3L V8 section, not in the row for the EcoTech3 5.3L V8 Max Trailering option. Or are you saying the trucks that fall into the green boxes I placed actually have a Max Tow package that isn't referenced there?

Edited August 3, 2021 by malibu43

M1ck3y · August 3, 2021

5 minutes ago, malibu43 said:

Thanks, but the row I'm comparing to in the table isn't the Max Trailering Option. Both options I'm comparing are in the EcoTech3 5.3L V8 section, not in the row for the EcoTech3 5.3L V8 Max Trailering option. Or are you saying the trucks that fall into the green boxes I placed actually have a Max Tow package that isn't referenced there?

Then the only difference is the gears.

*edit*

No there's something wrong with that spec sheet.

Edited August 3, 2021 by M1ck3y

malibu43 · August 3, 2021

Just now, M1ck3y said:

Then the only difference is the gears.

Thanks for clarifying.

M1ck3y · August 3, 2021

Just now, malibu43 said:

Thanks for clarifying.

Sorry no, there's something wrong with that spec sheet. It might have been made when gm was transitioning the 5.3 to the 8spd.

Don't trust those specs

malibu43 · August 3, 2021

Interesting. This is from my owners manual. Lists the same options as the spec sheet, but makes no indication of which trucks have Max Trailering package.

malibu43 · August 3, 2021

Found some info that includes a reference to a 5.3L Max Tow Option, but it also indicates that's the one with the 3.73 axel ratio...

https://cdn.dealereprocess.org/cdn/brochures/chevrolet/2015-silverado1500.pdf

JimCost2014 · August 3, 2021

42 minutes ago, malibu43 said:

Found some info that includes a reference to a 5.3L Max Tow Option, but it also indicates that's the one with the 3.73 axel ratio...

https://cdn.dealereprocess.org/cdn/brochures/chevrolet/2015-silverado1500.pdf

Believe the max tow would be: 5.3 - 3.73, and 6.2 - 3.42.

M1ck3y · August 3, 2021

1 hour ago, malibu43 said:

Interesting. This is from my owners manual. Lists the same options as the spec sheet, but makes no indication of which trucks have Max Trailering package.

Your owners manual is correct. But I'm fairly certain the max tow in the 5.3 only had 3.42 gears with the 8spd. And I'm struggling to understand how a 5.3 with 3.42 gears (Not max tow) is rated for the same weight as the 6.2.

Looks like the 5.3 should use the exact same cooling system as the 6.2. Or even if it doesn't, it's irrelevant because it's rated for 9000+ pounds.

So yeah, if your keeping the truck you'll just need gears. I would go with 3.73's if your going to all the trouble and money to do it.

I'd look into this more before going ahead with it though. Try and find build sheets for vehicles online and compare the differences (codes) between yours and ones with the 3.42 (Not max tow)

*edit*

Do you have the 6spd or 8spd? If you have the 8spd, you probably just need gears. If you have the 6speed your better off putting the money into a new truck.

Edited August 3, 2021 by M1ck3y

MikeBMW · August 3, 2021

I have the 6 speed transmission with (from my build sheet):
G80 - AUTO LOCKING REAR DIFFERENTIAL GU6 - REAR AXLE 3.42 RATIO Z82 - TRAILERING EQUIPMENT PKG INCL: AUTO LOCKING REAR DIFFERENTIAL
and it performs quite well when towing.
To be fair, I haven't attempted a trailer as large as the OP has in mind.

Edited August 3, 2021 by MikeBMW

M1ck3y · August 4, 2021

2 hours ago, MikeBMW said:

I have the 6 speed transmission with (from my build sheet):
G80 - AUTO LOCKING REAR DIFFERENTIAL GU6 - REAR AXLE 3.42 RATIO Z82 - TRAILERING EQUIPMENT PKG INCL: AUTO LOCKING REAR DIFFERENTIAL
and it performs quite well when towing.
To be fair, I haven't attempted a trailer as large as the OP has in mind.

What's yours rated for with the 6spd?

Or are they all 6spd! I'm so confused now!! Gm should have stated the transmission beside each and every gear. What a mess.

Edited August 4, 2021 by M1ck3y

MikeBMW · August 4, 2021

2 minutes ago, M1ck3y said:

What's yours rated for with the 6spd?

C5W - GVW RATING - 7,000 LBS

pokismoki · August 5, 2021

trailer package is not the same as MAX tow package i've source two part numbers for the radiators from GM

Edited August 5, 2021 by pokismoki

malibu43 · August 5, 2021

Hey everyone. Thanks for all the info and help. I was leaning heavily toward re-gearing then talked so some other trailer owners and did some research on how re-gearing will (or won't) affect the legal tow rating for the vehicle, and have decided it's better to upgrade to a new truck. I really liked my truck and was looking forward to having it paid off soon, but I think this will be a better choice.

Inventory is pretty low right now, but we found a very low mileage used 2020 1500 LT with the 5.3L V8 and 8 speed transmission that we are going to look at later. Had them send a picture of the door stamp and confirmed it has a Max Payload of 2071 lbs and max tow rating of 9600 lbs. Almost everything else about the truck is equivalent to or better than what I had before. I'm getting another 5 years of drivetrain warranty out of it, which is a plus.

It does need a hitch receiver (which is easy) and a brake controller (which I was going to have to add to my old truck anyway). I may be back here shortly to ask for recommendations for those.

Thanks again for all the help.

JimCost2014 · August 5, 2021

14 minutes ago, malibu43 said:

Hey everyone. Thanks for all the info and help. I was leaning heavily toward re-gearing then talked so some other trailer owners and did some research on how re-gearing will (or won't) affect the legal tow rating for the vehicle, and have decided it's better to upgrade to a new truck. I really liked my truck and was looking forward to having it paid off soon, but I think this will be a better choice.

Inventory is pretty low right now, but we found a very low mileage used 2020 1500 LT with the 5.3L V8 and 8 speed transmission that we are going to look at later. Had them send a picture of the door stamp and confirmed it has a Max Payload of 2071 lbs and max tow rating of 9600 lbs. Almost everything else about the truck is equivalent to or better than what I had before. I'm getting another 5 years of drivetrain warranty out of it, which is a plus.

It does need a hitch receiver (which is easy) and a brake controller (which I was going to have to add to my old truck anyway). I may be back here shortly to ask for recommendations for those.

Thanks again for all the help.

Hmmm, the truck did not come with the factory tow package?

Personally, I might keep looking.

malibu43 · August 5, 2021

2 minutes ago, JimCost2014 said:

Hmmm, the truck did not come with the factory tow package?

Personally, I might keep looking.

With inventory being as tight as it is, finding a 4WD truck with a V8, low mileage, with tow package (hitch and brake controller), with the tow capability I want, and at a price we can afford does not seem possible. Out of all those things I listed, installing a hitch receiver and a brake controller are the easiest things to fix. Unless I'm missing something...?

Edited August 5, 2021 by malibu43