Towing Trailer

[5kings]

I have a 2003 Yukon XL 5.3 3.72...towing capacity is 7,400 pounds...would like to towing a TT approaching that limit...is there anything I can do to the vehicle to give me another 1,000 pounds of towing capacity. Would swapping oout to a 4.1 gear help, would power chips help.

[dannyukonxl]

the 4.10's would help the most but its going to cost a pretty penny, another route would be intake and a custom pcm tune, im sure you could get it to 9000 pounds but i wouldnt feel safe with 1500 suspension and drivetrain components, i would look closely at a 2500 if you go over 8000 pounds, i would say the gears would help the most though

[Wingnut]

I wouldn't go over the limit on a 1500. The drivetrain and chassis just aren't made to handle it. It will be a bear to handle in ANY adverse conditions.

 

If you only tow three times a year, and not halfway accross the country....Maybe... But if you tow regularly, over long distances, or on hilly/windy terrain, I would say...No way, get a 3/4 ton.

 

The money you spend getting that rig beefed up, 4:10 gears, add-a-leaf, weight distro hitch, PCM mod, etc....You'll be out more money than if you traded it on a bigger, more capable rig.

 

I've towed a 6000 lb.+ boat every weekend, local and cross-country in a 1/2 ton with the 5.3, and I would have to say that there were many occasions where I think that a 2500 would've been a MUCH better choice.

 

That's my .02 anyway.

[flyer]

I use a 2001 5.3 Yukon XL, 3.73 gear to tow a TT with a GVWR of 7000#. I have pulled from Kansas to Yellowstone and back. Any large hills will kill this combo and a 40 mph head wind is even worse. I have seen days when the best speed in third was 55 mph. It would do about 65 in second, but I'm unwilling to pull at 4500 rpm just to make time.

 

A 4.10 gear will put your rpm at 65-70 up around the torque peak and would probably help a great deal. My only mod is a K&N and a Gibson Single Side catback. The exhaust helped some, but mostly it just sounds better.

 

Also, when loaded, my combined weight was within 200# of the max allowable and the rear axle weight was only 40# under max capacity. This was all within GM's specs, and it was a complete pig to drive.

 

My opinon is to buy 2500 big block, get a lighter trailer or get a big bag of patience. Long hauls while max performing your rig will wearout both you and your family.

 

After two long trips (Yellowstone and Florida) I'm staying close to home until I decide on a new tow rig. GM really needs a Deisel Burb or XL. Right now I'm eyeing an 05 F-250 Power Stroke crew cab. Come on GM, stop me from swithching sides.

 

[catiaeng]

What a delimea.....

 

I had a 96 Tahoe, 5.7 4x4, w/ 3.42. We purchased a travel trailer, towed it a few times within 50 miles and once about 600 miles. The Engine had all the power I needed, but what I really needed was better rear end gear. I added a stiffer rear spring in the leaf, 'E' range tires, and a K&N fipk, all to get more out of the Tahoe. I spoke to many people at campgrounds when looking for another vehicle, and end the end purchased the truck in my sig. If your going to tow a large trailer, you need to have a drivetrain to pull the rig. Don't sell yourself short, get a 2500.

 

BJ

[sirhuntalot1]

What a delimea.....

 

I had a 96 Tahoe, 5.7 4x4, w/ 3.42.  We purchased a travel trailer, towed it a few times within 50 miles and once about 600 miles.  The Engine had all the power I needed, but what I really needed was better rear end gear.  I added a stiffer rear spring in the leaf, 'E' range tires, and a K&N fipk, all to get more out of the Tahoe.  I spoke to many people at campgrounds when looking for another vehicle, and end the end purchased the truck in my sig.   If your going to tow a large trailer, you need to have a drivetrain to pull the rig.  Don't sell yourself short, get a 2500.

 

BJ

 

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I had a 98 1500 ext cab w/ 305 342's and pull a 2003 27 ft Trailbay 6500 lbs wet

Everytime truck seen a hill coming it would start crying. Tranny not going to hold up under those conditions but i only made one long trip. 300 + miles into chattanooga. Wont do that again. See sig for new truck its a world of a difference I know all the gas station owners by name but sure is a lot safer ride. I use the old truck just to run back and forth to work now. 2500HD suspension setup for snowplow makes it a 1 ton, I can drop trlr on hitch and it hardly budges// dont even use the weight dist. bars anymore. Luv dis truck Oh yeah concerning the brakes-the 98 305 had disc front drum back/// 2003 2500hd has them all around abs. The braking if so much better along with the 1 ton suspension. No comparison between the 1500 and the 2500HD.

I believe u have the powerhouse to pull that trlr just not the susp./ braking.

I know not everyone has the money just to keep changing trks at the drop of a hat. I would run your combo for shorter trips and you would be ok but too many long shots with that drivetrain and u will have problems later down the road, I know I started getting some slip and hard shifting with the 1500, now at 87000 mi, and knew if i kept using it to pull, i would end up rebuilding or putting a new tranny in it, then would still be in the same situation along with being out the money for repair bills, so i bit the bullet along with a chewing from the better half

To help out- when towing get a prodigy brake controller $99 RVWholesalers.com

this controller is one of the best out there - no delay for when trlr brakes start braking and adjust pressure as u adjust pressure on your trucks brakes.

 

Every little bit helps

[GM GIMP]

Even if you get springs, tuning, gear etc. you still will have the 1500 brakes. Your trailer probably has brakes but what if they quit working as mine did without warning? The 3/4 ton has brakes and weight that'll get you stopped.

[snoman]

the 4.10's would help the most but its going to cost a pretty penny, another route would be intake and a custom pcm tune, im sure you could get it to 9000 pounds but i wouldnt feel safe with 1500 suspension and drivetrain components, i would look closely at a 2500 if you go over 8000 pounds, i would say the gears would help the most though 

 

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No custom tune is going to make a 5.3 tow 9000lbs well with a 3.73 gear in a fullsized truck. The 5.3 likes to reve up and makes its best power above 3000 RPM. A set of 4.56 gears would realy play nice and with OD you will still have a decent cruise RPM and have it usabale when towing some too. With proper gearing, hitch and brake controller 8000lbs or so is quite doable with a 1500 but when you get up to 10,000lbs regulalry it is time to be in a 2500 chassis or better with the exception of a 1500HD which is really a 3/4 ton truck chassis and axles.

[C & A s Dad]

I have an 02 Yukon XL 1500 5.3L with 4.10s. The 4.10s raise the factory tow specs to 8400lbs. I still would not want to push it to this limit. I would recommend that you keep it at least 1,000lbs back of the max whether you change the gears or not. The 5.3L will handle this if you are not planning on towing in any serious mountains. I have a friend who towed 8200lbs in some very flat country with a 3.73 1500 Burban and swore he had no problems.

 

However, there are a couple of things that you need to do. Remove the wimpy OE Trans cooler and install a real cooler. I used a stacked plate premium series from CARQUEST Auto Parts and was able to install it right where the factory cooler was. I had them get me a universal installation kit that came with some metal straps and rubber lined mounting gromets and it worked great and looks OE. If you do this yourself, remove the grill, don't try to work behind it. It is very easy to remove. Also, replace the OE Trans Fluid with a premium syn fluid such as Amsoil. There website will also instruct you on how to remove ALL of the old fluid and not just 4 or 5 qts. If your truck has many miles on it, I would also suggest that you change the rear diff gear oil and make sure you put it back up with a good syn gear oil. Of course if you feel like you need more HP from the 5.3, you can look at exhaust, intakes and a tuner computer.

 

Hope this helps.