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

malibu43
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malibu43 Enthusiast

malibu43

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Posted (edited)
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?

2015 Trailer Weights.png

Edited by malibu43
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M1ck3y
M1ck3y

If your referring to the 8sp vs 6pd comment its because the 8spd has a numerically lower ratio in every gear. A 3.08 in the 8spd will perform better and the engine won't have to work as hard compared

pokismoki
pokismoki

I tell everyone  the 2500 is a better truck for doing truck stuff, like towing and blue collar work, 1500 are comfy commuters and towing maybe 100 miles in a day twice a week.  more than this the wear

Ross McKenrick
Ross McKenrick

I don't know about gear ratios or transmission cooling, but I want to share that I bought a Little Guy Max teardrop trailer with the following specs (dry weight 3010, tongue weight 310, GVWR 4000-4200

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M1ck3y Senior Enthusiast

M1ck3y

Posted
Posted (edited)
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?

2015 Trailer Weights.png

 

Then the only difference is the gears.

 

*edit*

 

No  there's something wrong with that spec sheet. 

Edited by M1ck3y
M1ck3y Senior Enthusiast

M1ck3y

Posted
Posted
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 Enthusiast

malibu43

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Posted

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. 

20210803_143603.jpg

M1ck3y Senior Enthusiast

M1ck3y

Posted
Posted (edited)
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. 

20210803_143603.jpg

 

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 by M1ck3y
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MikeBMW Senior Enthusiast

MikeBMW

Posted
Posted (edited)

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 by MikeBMW
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M1ck3y Senior Enthusiast

M1ck3y

Posted
Posted (edited)
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 by M1ck3y
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MikeBMW Senior Enthusiast

MikeBMW

Posted
Posted
2 minutes ago, M1ck3y said:

 

What's yours rated for with the 6spd?

C5W - GVW RATING - 7,000 LBS

 

malibu43 Enthusiast

malibu43

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Posted

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.

  • Like 2
JimCost2014 Senior Enthusiast

JimCost2014

Posted
Posted
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. 

  • Like 2
malibu43 Enthusiast

malibu43

Posted
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Posted (edited)
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 by malibu43
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