Towing with 2000 Sierra 1500 ex cab 4x4

TonyD · February 9, 2004

I am new to towing. I was given an old 1974 Fleetwing camper. I would say it is around 10' long. I have the hd towing and was wondring how many pounds roughly the thing ways and what special precautions I should adhere to. Thanks.

Shaners · February 9, 2004

Pulling a 10' camper will be easier on your truck than pushing snow with your Fisher plow!!! Tow away and have fun camping!!!

JayMan · February 10, 2004

You can get the tow package with either 3.73 or 4.10 gears. According to my 2000 Towing Guide, you can PULL 9,500 lbs with the 4.10's or 8,100 lbs with the 3.73's.

All the usual applies here: make sure the trans, axles, transfer, etc, are freshly serviced. Make sure the cooling system is ok, etc etc. The wiring harness adapter should be in the console (If equipped) or glove box. Otherwise your dealer has it.

Most electric brake controllers, especially Tekonsha, offer their brake controller with the proper wiring harness adapter all set up, just plug it in.

Mega Dogmeat · February 10, 2004

The brochure I have for my 2000 Silverado says that the 4WD 1500 version is rated at towing 8,500 lbs with 4.10 gears on a 5th wheel hitch, and 5,000 lbs off the bumper .... The version with 3.73 gears is rated at 7,500 lbs on the 5th wheel and 5,000 lbs on the bumper ...

I am guessing your 10' trailer weighs ~3,000 lbs, in which case you should have no problem at all towing it ...

The heaviest trailer I've ever pulled with my 2000 Silverado and 3.73 gears was ~5,500 lbs (car hauler with a 91' camaro vert') on it, and my truck pulled it pretty darned well, even on the interstate ....

TonyD · February 10, 2004

Thanks all.. still confused though..

The wiring harness adapter should be in the console (If equipped) or glove box.

What do you mean? I plug the camper plug into the outlet near the hitch on the back of the truck right?

Mega Dogmeat · February 10, 2004

I think the harness they're talking about is for wiring up your own electronic brake controller .....

TonyD · February 10, 2004

Is this something the dealer should have supplied me with when I bought it from them? I bought it used in Nov 03 with 31,000 miles on it

JayMan · February 10, 2004

The brochure I have for my 2000 Silverado says that the 4WD 1500 version is rated at towing 8,500 lbs with 4.10 gears on a 5th wheel hitch, and 5,000 lbs off the bumper .... The version with 3.73 gears is rated at 7,500 lbs on the 5th wheel and 5,000 lbs on the bumper ...

I am guessing your 10' trailer weighs ~3,000 lbs, in which case you should have no problem at all towing it ...

The heaviest trailer I've ever pulled with my 2000 Silverado and 3.73 gears was ~5,500 lbs (car hauler with a 91' camaro vert') on it, and my truck pulled it pretty darned well, even on the interstate ....

The 5,000 lb rating is straight tow with NO weight-distributing hitch setup : stabalizer bars on the tow frame with a sway-control device

I think the 2500HD and 3500 are raised to 6,500 lbs straight tow, again without a weight-distributing hitch setup.

I use a weight-distributing hitch on mine and have towed to 9,000 lbs no problem.

I kept my 2000 GMC Sierra brochure and it states with 4.10's you can tow 9,500 lbs (?!?) and with 3.73's you can tow 8,500 lbs. I wonder if that was a typo or if that was optimistic on GM's part?

The harness I was refering to is for the electronic brake controller, which is used to control your electric trailer brakes. With this harness, you no longer have to chop your wiring to make the brake work.

My newest Tekonsha electronic brake controller actually has the optional direct-fit harness that plugs right into the under dash connector. Very slick and works nice.

So that old trailer should be fine. Again, make sure all the fluids are fresh.