Towing Performance Best Bang For The $$

[sxmax]

Have an 04 suburban with 3.73's 4wd with FF 5.3l. Looking for more towing performance and better driveability. Pull a 28ft race trailer and need a little more, than stock in 3rd gear with tow haul. Custom Tune? Programmer? Exhaust work? Intake? What is going to be my best route? Especially looking to hear from the 1/2ton guys that pull campers and have done mods that make a difference!

[C & A s Dad]

I tow a 6500 lb camper with an 02 Yuk XL 2wd FF 5.3 but mine has 4.10s. It has done a good job but I will list the mods I have made in the order of what I would consider bang for the buck.

 

1) AirLift Air bags installed in the rear coils. I run them at 25 to 30 PSI when towing and at 10 when not towing. They added a tremendous amt of stability and control to the truck.

 

2) Putnam XDR Class V reciver. I removed the OE flex hitch because I could not get good weight distribution with my Equal i zer WD hitch.The OE reciever was flexing like crazy and would not let the Equal i zer do its job. The Putnam is a man of a reciever and will not flex

 

3) Hypertech Max Energy. I was looking for a little more grunt in the 2200 to 3000 range. I tow in 3rd with TH mode and although the little 5.3 did well with the 4.10s, I wanted a little more. I have only towed once with it since adding the Tuner but it was evident with the first hill I approached that the tuner had helped. I have always run 93 octane due to my towing so I have the tuner set to the 93 tune. I am sure a good custom tuner could do better than a hand held unit if you want to do the research. For me, I wanted something conservative, trouble free and easy to remove if I needed to take it to the dealer. I would also tell you to look closely at the dyno charts from Superchips and Diablo. You will see the Max Energy produces it's gains down low, not at 5500 RPMs. Again, I am sure a good custom tuner could do the same for you or even better.

 

The Max Energy has also helped my MPG in daily driving. I just returned from an almost all highway trip to New Orleans and back and averaged 19.2 with Interstate driving I made this same trip about 2 years ago the same time of year before the tuner and got 18.4. It will get around 21 if traveling on non interstate roads at 60 or less.

 

4) True Flow cold air intake. I chose this unit because it retains the factory airbox and just replaces the tube with a really nice looking metal tube with silicone connections. It also uses a foam filter instead of an gauze or paper filter. I will admit, this is problably the least effective mod. I wouls say it helps in the hills a little and my records indicate it helpme my MPG just about .5 mpg.

 

I would suggest you stick with the OE exhaust. Two reasons. The droan against your trailer will get old very quickly. Also, many exhaust set ups really hurt the low to mid range torque but help at the upper RPM range. Not what you need for towing.

 

Hope this helps

 

PS one last thing. If you have not upgraded the OE trans cooler, you may want to consider it. I can share more info on the subject if you are interested.

[Outbacker]

The change's that I have done to help my towing experience is I replaced the OEM hitch with the Putnam class V, and I switched out my mirrors with the extendable towing mirrors. And like C&A's dad said, get a tranny cooler in there if it is not already in place. Not too sure if you need a brake controller, but I would recommend the Tekonsha Prodigy.

 

Cheers.

[mccoyx4]

Would you tell me what settings you use on the Max Energy? I am not getting promising results with mine?

[yukondan]

I did a custom mail order tune 3 years ago. I told the tuner I towed and that towing was #1 priorty and street performance was secondary. Better fuel millage towing (only 3/4 - 1 mpg than stock PCM) lots more mid range power pulling up mountains 6 - 8 % grades. and the tranny just shifts better weather in Tow/Haul or normal mode.

 

Added a gauge cluster from a 1500HD series truck to get me a tranny fluid gauge.

 

Just added a scangauge to monitor more engine functions while towing (I'll see how that works out) as I'm leaving in 1-1/2 weeks for a vacation to the mountains.

 

 

Best suggestions for towing:

 

Keep maximum trailer weight (w/ all your junk) to 80% or less of the Trucks maximum tow capacity

Keep 12 - 15% of trailer weight on the tongue (Tongue weight) helps prevent sway

If you have a travel trailer use sway control (I use a Reese dual cam and never have sway issues)

Change your tranny fluid and filter often VERY inportant in a 1500 series w/ the 4L60 series tranny

Get rid of the rubber valve stems on your trailer tires and get good metal ones ( I learned the hard way about this one)

repack your trailer wheel bearings once a year and replace the inner grease seal with a duel lip spring energized name brand (Like CR etc.)

[C & A s Dad]

Would you tell me what settings you use on the Max Energy? I am not getting promising results with mine?

 

 

I have the settings written down but not with me.

 

Here is what I remember:

 

Premium Fuel

Rev limiter moved up almost to the max to avoid hitting it with increased shift points

1-2 shift increased 300 RPMs, 2-3 and 3-4 increased 200 RPMs.

Trans shift firmness increased to the first option of 25% firmer

My gearing and tires are all stock so I did not change any of this.

 

When you say you are not getting the promised results. Are you speaking of towing perf or performance in general? Mine certainly made no big changes in actual 0-60 times and 1/4 mile times. it did improve these times but only by .2 to .3 of a second. It did help the throttle to feel more responsive, helped my mpg and certainly helped the low to mid range grunt when towing.

[mccoyx4]

I've done the changes that you have made also. By promising results, I mean that I do not see any real noticable difference while towing a 5000Lb camper nor have I seen an increase in MPG (15.6 prior/15.8 after) while not towing. I do notice a "little" better throttle response but nothing to write home about.

 

Just looking for suggestion and options. I will admit, I want to have my cake and eat it too. I'd like better mpg while not towing and more torque while towing. If this means reprogramming for different senarios, that is fine.

 

Thanks for the replies

[99silverado1500]

Well with that big of a load, a gear change would be the first good option, or stepping up to a new truck with a 6.0 and 4.10s

 

My 5.3 with 3.73s has enough problems on hills with only 4000 in the trailer let alone trying to get into the 5000-6000 lb range of loads. As far as towing PERFORMANCE, id go with new gears, maybe a significant power adder (turbo, supercharger) or a new truck, depends how your financial situation is, but a 5.3 really isnt the ticket for heavy towing no matter what anyone says.

[ChrisNJ]

Well with that big of a load, a gear change would be the first good option, or stepping up to a new truck with a 6.0 and 4.10s

 

My 5.3 with 3.73s has enough problems on hills with only 4000 in the trailer let alone trying to get into the 5000-6000 lb range of loads. As far as towing PERFORMANCE, id go with new gears, maybe a significant power adder (turbo, supercharger) or a new truck, depends how your financial situation is, but a 5.3 really isnt the ticket for heavy towing no matter what anyone says.

 

Jeff, I agree, however I think we live (i'm just across the river in NW Jersey) where towing is tough. I tow 8K and have struggled badly even with 6.0's/4:10's. I then went to 8.1's and it solved the problem. Now with the 8.1's gone I have the 6.2/6sp now and it works pretty well. Still goes to 45mph on the 80/380 hill, but that hill is not typical, as I can maintain the speed limit+ on almost everything else on 80, 81, 84, 78, 287, etc.... Even route 6 from Milford is a test. With that said, I just took the 6.2 for the first time towing down to the shore on the relatively flat garden state parkway, and I felt like I was towing half the trailer, it performed well above my expectations. I think the area has a lot to do with what people need. I bet a 5.3 would have done fine in south jersey, even with my 8K on it, well maybe.

[frogbiscuit]

3) I have always run 93 octane due to my towing so I have the tuner set to the 93 tune.

 

Just curious as to why you run 93 octane, have you made mods to the engine to increase the compression?

[Diabs]

I tow a 29.5ft travel trailer weighing around 6000lbs with my 5.3 It does very well with the 3.73's.

I'm not gonna win any race's on inclines, but I haven't had the big inclines like the Penns. Turn-pike route to the Jersey shores yet! or through Virginia Mts to Florida.

 

Would like to improve the low-end torque and have it breathe easier for the incline's. But as this is a daily driver for my wife, I too am looking to see if a programmed tune would help or some low cost mods could benifit me.

 

Like the replys I'm seeing...

[99silverado1500]

Well with that big of a load, a gear change would be the first good option, or stepping up to a new truck with a 6.0 and 4.10s

 

My 5.3 with 3.73s has enough problems on hills with only 4000 in the trailer let alone trying to get into the 5000-6000 lb range of loads. As far as towing PERFORMANCE, id go with new gears, maybe a significant power adder (turbo, supercharger) or a new truck, depends how your financial situation is, but a 5.3 really isnt the ticket for heavy towing no matter what anyone says.

 

Jeff, I agree, however I think we live (i'm just across the river in NW Jersey) where towing is tough. I tow 8K and have struggled badly even with 6.0's/4:10's. I then went to 8.1's and it solved the problem. Now with the 8.1's gone I have the 6.2/6sp now and it works pretty well. Still goes to 45mph on the 80/380 hill, but that hill is not typical, as I can maintain the speed limit+ on almost everything else on 80, 81, 84, 78, 287, etc.... Even route 6 from Milford is a test. With that said, I just took the 6.2 for the first time towing down to the shore on the relatively flat garden state parkway, and I felt like I was towing half the trailer, it performed well above my expectations. I think the area has a lot to do with what people need. I bet a 5.3 would have done fine in south jersey, even with my 8K on it, well maybe.

 

 

 

 

Yeah, my dads solution to the PA towing challenges was a LBZ Duramax, which takes all hills in 6th and just climbs like their not there, and it pisses me off so badly, as my truck is in second gear almost screaming on the hills on 80, and all over that the duramax pulls like they arent there. He even loads his 6000-9000 regularlly every weekend and its never a struggle. He even gets 14 mpg towing such a load on the highway which I find to be more then respectable. I drop into the single digits towing even 3000 lbs but thats just PA/NJ/NY for you.

[Diabs]

 

 

 

Yeah, my dads solution to the PA towing challenges was a LBZ Duramax, which takes all hills in 6th and just climbs like their not there, and it pisses me off so badly, as my truck is in second gear almost screaming on the hills on 80, and all over that the duramax pulls like they arent there. He even loads his 6000-9000 regularlly every weekend and its never a struggle. He even gets 14 mpg towing such a load on the highway which I find to be more then respectable. I drop into the single digits towing even 3000 lbs but thats just PA/NJ/NY for you.

 

 

That was funny......I too would love to upgrade my TV, but I just did! I've gone from a Trailblzr towing a 19ft TT to my current set-up. I did the PA TP with my old set-up and that TB was screaming all the way up....by the time I was at the top, must been doing 35 -40 mph at 5000rpm LOL

 

I think I've duplicated my old set-up, just that everything is bigger and heavier!

[99silverado1500]

Pa roads are also hell on transmissions especially towing lol. We had a 1997 F350 with a 460V8 that towed about 9000 any time it was running, never was unloaded. It went 80,000 miles till the trans blew apart. We never beat it, its just the roads and the loads killed it.

[mccoyx4]

Thanks all for your responses, I'm looking at a 6L max for my next bowtie but that's off about a year.