Towing w/my 05 Burb Question

[texashunts]

New to the forum and I've found alot of good info on my issue. Having said that, I thought I'd post my question.

 

Specifics:

2005 Burb

Tow Pkg, Prodigy, Equalizer hitch

2006 28RSDS (camper) 6,700 lbs loaded

 

And.......

 

Just got back from a long trip and I was having trouble holding my speed. First off, I tow in 3 gr in towing mode. On flat terrain, I'd get speed to about 70 in 2nd (apporx. 4500 rpm). It'd gr up to 3rd. Gas pedal is pressed just to the point of not gring down. Speed would slow to about 62 and gr down for the climb back to about 70. this was 5-15 minute cycles depending on circumstances. I had a good head wind heading down there and a cross wind coming back.

 

Other times I can hum right along w/o any problems. I'm a bit confused but in the end I basically think I'm too close to my towing max or at it.

 

Is there anything I can do such as install some performance items like chips, exhaust, gearing change etc. to help out?

 

Thanks in advance.

[asilverblazer]

Slow down to 60mph, the truck can tow that weight but not at 70mph. Just because that max weiht is on there do not expect the truck to be able to maintain speed as easily, after all we don't expect it to maintain its unloaded 1/4 mile time, or it's unloaded mpg, or braking distances, as well as handling characteristics. It only makes sense then to lower our "cruising speed" expectations too. Adding some performance may help that, but keep in mind what is going to happen if "I need to make an evasive manuver at 70mph with xxxx pounds behind me." Simply slow down, save some gas, save some wear and tear on your truck, and maybe a life too.

[100R1]

Whats your rear gear ratio ?

 

Sounds like you are not in your peak torque curve for towing or you are at or over your maximum towing limit. Rule of thumb is to not exceed more than 80% of your maximum towing capacity. including passengers and luggage etc. in the tow vehicle.

 

 

Have you put your trailer on a CAT scale to verify the actual towing weight (wet, ready to go camping)? Manufactures listed dry wight can be 10 - 20% below what most people find in the real world. Then you add all of the extras for camping and you can go over the maximum allowable weight of the tow vehicle.

 

I pull 5,500 lbs(CAT cert) travel trailer w/ a Yukon 5.3 / 3.73 and have no problems maintaining posted speed limits using overdrive & tow/haul mode until any hills / mountains start any hunting of gears at which time I move from overdrive.

[kc300c]

Whats your rear gear ratio ?

 

Sounds like you are not in your peak torque curve for towing or you are at or over your maximum towing limit. Rule of thumb is to not exceed more than 80% of your maximum towing capacity. including passengers and luggage etc. in the tow vehicle.

 

 

Have you put your trailer on a CAT scale to verify the actual towing weight (wet, ready to go camping)?  Manufactures listed dry wight can be 10 - 20% below what most people find in the real world. Then you add all of the extras for camping and you can go over the maximum allowable weight of the tow vehicle.

 

I pull 5,500 lbs(CAT cert) travel trailer w/ a Yukon 5.3 / 3.73 and have no problems maintaining posted speed limits using overdrive & tow/haul mode until any hills / mountains start any hunting of gears at which time I move from overdrive.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

100R1 & Texashunts,

 

My set up is and was just like yours. I had a 2002 Z71 Suburban and just traded it in for a 2007 with the same 5.3L w/ 3.73 gear. I traveled with my 02 for 2 years hooked up to an 04 Keystone Outback 28BHS. I never weighed my 02 burb setup, but I did my 07. My GCW is 12,850#. That is 150# less than the 13,000 max GCW the burb is rated. I have to think that my 02 burb setup was very similar. We are maxed out and have to expect to have some difficulties staying at highway speeds especially considering the wind resistance caused by the trailer. I treat it like a game. It makes the trip more interesting and makes the time go by quicker. I challenge myself to keep the gas pedal just at the right position to keep the tranny from shifting down while getting every RPM I can get out of it. Granted by the time we reach our campsite, the first thing I do is run back to the fridge and pop an ice cold Budweiser to settle the nerves. I figure over the road truck drivers do this day in and day out with heavy loads. They struggle up inclines and the world doesn't end, why can't I.

 

It took me a couple of trips to realize that I have to accept things I cannot change. I travel quite a bit in my car for my business and am always in a hurry to get to my next appointment. I have had to unlearn that behavior. Once you do, you just go with the flow. You may get to the campsite an few minutes or an hour later than you would have unloaded, but so what. Just leave a little earlier.

 

We leave for Disneyworld on Friday with our burb and camper. I'll let you know how it goes. We did it 2 years ago and had no problems. We drove in tow/haul and in 3rd gear and averaged about 67 or 68 MPH.

 

Good luck.

[BlkZ7105]

Use tow/haul mode in D,not 3rd. When I tow, if I'm on a flat highway I take it out of tow/haul.You can cruise without tow/haul on flat roads. I haul much lighter weight though.My max gvwr is 6700 lbs. I have a 4.8 with 3.42 gears,my trailer weighs 2800 lbs and my bed usually full. One word of advice. 60 mph,65 max for towing is safe.68 mph in right conditions isn't the safest, but doable. Anything over that,it's my opinion your putting lives at risk. There are plenty of people towing on the highway doing 70 mph plus. I see it all the time. That doesn't make it safe in my opinion.

[Oggy]

I have a question about towing in 3rd gear.I seems to me the torque converter is not locked up on my 2005 z71 5.3 with 3.73s the rpms alway stay the same if I tap the brake or accel slightly.I know on my 96 it locked in 3rd but doesn't seem to on my 05?

[BlkZ7105]

I have a question about towing in 3rd gear.I seems to me the torque converter is not locked up on my 2005 z71 5.3 with 3.73s the rpms alway stay the same if I tap the brake or accel slightly.I know on my 96 it locked in 3rd but doesn't seem to on my 05?

 

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I don't think you need to tow in 3rd.Use tow/haul mode.

[C & A s Dad]

TXhunts, I would agree with most of what you have heard here. 100R1 is right on the money. My set up is almost identical to yours. 02 Yukon XL 5.3 but with 4.10s. My camper is 29'8" and 6500 loaded for camping. My truck GCW is 14,000 due the gears and I am at 12,470 (cat certified)fuled with all passengers and gear. My Yuk has done well because as long as I am not in drive I am running in my peak RPM range which is upwards of 2200RPMs. I can run in OD on relatively flat interstate at 70+ without it downs**ting excessively, however I do not do this for safety reasons. If I try to run 65 or less in OD, it simply is running too few rpms and is below the power curve and will downshift far too often.

 

Sounds like your burb may have 3.42 gears. Most were 3.73s, there were some 4.10s and if I am not mistaken, some 3.42s.

 

IMO, your best option is to change your gears to 4.10s. You will not believe the difference it will make. I was afraid of the MPG with the 4.10s but my Yuk wil get over 19 highway and averages low 18s with our style of driving. Not towing of course.

 

Mine does not have a tune but I did add a True Flow cold air intake that will give you about 14 hp and I believe 17 ft lbs of tq in the mid to upper 2,000 RPM range. Right where you need it. Be careful if you begin looking at CAI systems. They are not all what they claim. True flow has an excellent website that will help answer your questions.

[NothinButBowTies]

I have a question about towing in 3rd gear.I seems to me the torque converter is not locked up on my 2005 z71 5.3 with 3.73s the rpms alway stay the same if I tap the brake or accel slightly.I know on my 96 it locked in 3rd but doesn't seem to on my 05?

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Oggy

I believe you are right. I do not notice my T/C locked in third either. What little towing I have done with my truck has always been in OD with Tow Haul Mode.

[kc300c]

TXhunts, I would agree with most of what you have heard here. 100R1 is right on the money. My set up is almost identical to yours. 02 Yukon XL 5.3 but with 4.10s. My camper is 29'8" and 6500 loaded for camping. My truck GCW is 14,000 due the gears and I am at 12,470 (cat certified)fuled with all passengers and gear. My Yuk has done well because as long as I am not in drive I am running in my peak RPM range which is upwards of 2200RPMs. I can run in OD on relatively flat interstate at 70+ without it downs**ting excessively, however I do not do this for safety reasons. If I try to run 65 or less in OD, it simply is running too few rpms and is below the power curve and will downshift far too often.

 

Sounds like your burb may have 3.42 gears. Most were 3.73s, there were some 4.10s and if I am not mistaken, some 3.42s.

 

IMO, your best option is to change your gears to 4.10s. You will not believe the difference it will make. I was afraid of the MPG with the 4.10s but my Yuk wil get over 19 highway and averages low 18s with our style of driving. Not towing of course.

 

Mine does not have a tune but I did add a True Flow cold air intake that will give you about 14 hp and I believe 17 ft lbs of tq in the mid to upper 2,000 RPM range. Right where you need it. Be careful if you begin looking at CAI systems. They are not all what they claim. True flow has an excellent website that will help answer your questions.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

You mentioned possibly changing gear sets to 4.10. This is pretty expensive. I looked into it and you not only have to change the rears but also the fronts if you have a 4X4. At least that was what I was told.

[BlkZ7105]

Oggy

I believe you are right.  I do not notice my T/C locked in third either.  What little towing I have done with my truck has always been in OD with Tow Haul Mode.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

How can you tell if your torque converter locks?Can't say I've ever experienced that.I feel shift points but.........