Towing Question

chevyhutch · March 6, 2009

I've never towed a camper before so i got a question ?

It weights a little under 4000lbs, so do i need to tow it in D with tow/haul or 3 with tow/haul it will be mostly interstate driving. Do i need electric brakes with this size camper ?

My Truck is -- 2007 GMT 900

Engine- 4.8

Rearend- 342

Which is best gear to tow in and be good on my tranny, engine ?

Thanks, Rodney

MS3DALE · March 6, 2009

Rodney,How ya' doin'? Long time no speak!

Your going to get different opinons on this but....When I towed my buddies 'Vette from down your way (Hickory) back up here to Pittsburgh,I used "D" but did NOT use tow/haul mode on the trip back,And that was as you know using I-40 to I-77 to Rt.19 to I-79.

Of course I also have the 6-liter with 3.73's which made towing it a breeze,The truck didn't even know the trailer/car was back there!!!

Stevens03 · March 6, 2009

Quiet a bit different. The 4.8 is already lacking in torque and the 3.42's are hurting you too. Tow in 3rd and use the tow/haul mode. The reason you want to do that is to keep the transmission from constantly shifting. The shifting causes extreme heat which can kill the tranny.

I'd suggest making sure you have an additional transmission cooler and keep an eye on your tranny temps too. I use to tow alot.

Steven

pm26 · March 6, 2009

Definitely use the tow/haul mode. If you leave in Drive, you will need to go about 70 MPH before the truck will shift into the 4th gear in T/H mode. So the "D" position in the T/H mode would be my recommendation if the terrain is relatively flat.

chevyhutch · March 6, 2009

Rodney,How ya' doin'? Long time no speak!
Your going to get different opinons on this but....When I towed my buddies 'Vette from down your way (Hickory) back up here to Pittsburgh,I used "D" but did NOT use tow/haul mode on the trip back,And that was as you know using I-40 to I-77 to Rt.19 to I-79.

Of course I also have the 6-liter with 3.73's which made towing it a breeze,The truck didn't even know the trailer/car was back there!!!

Hey Rich !

I know your truck does well towing but this POS 4.8 & 342's i know wasn't built for towing.

I would almost trade but i'm just upside down to much right now. When i bought this truck i had no idea i would be towing a camper, We just adopted 2 kids 5 & 3 and we got friends that love camping, so we thought we would give it a try i'm sure the kids will love it !!! I would like to have a CC with 5.3 and 373's

MS3DALE · March 6, 2009

Yeah,As Steven and Pete have recommended,You'll probably want to use the tow/haul mode with you having the 3.42s.

I didn't need to use it with mine having the 6-liter/3.73s.

ajcain79 · March 6, 2009

Yeah,As Steven and Pete have recommended,You'll probably want to use the tow/haul mode with you having the 3.42s.
I didn't need to use it with mine having the 6-liter/3.73s.

Do you have to rub it in? Man, what a di@k!

Stevens03 · March 6, 2009

I'd still bet the truck will pull the weight fairly well. 4000 isn't alot of weight. You'll feel it some on the hills and heavy winds. Just take it easy and you'll have a blast.

I towed several campers weighing in from 2600 lbs to 6500 lbs. You'll not win any races, but you'll be fine. I loved camping, and would do it again in a heart beat, but my wife doesn't share the fun like I do... Personally... we'd get to the site, I'd crack a beer and set up camp, Start the fire and start cooking. Going with friends is nice too, it's great for sharing meals but it does take away from the family thing... The trips we took, (by ourselves) were always the best.

The kids will love it too.

Steven

Outbacker · March 6, 2009

First thing you need to determine is what you tow rating is for your truck. That can be found here http://www.trailerlife.com/output.cfm?id=42175 and the information you need is:

engine size;

body style; and

rear end ratio.

The charts in the link I provided will give you your tow rating for your truck. Now take that number and subtract yourself and anyone else and gear that you will carry in your truck. This is the total weight that your truck and pull.

Look at the sticker on your trailer that shows the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. This is the maximum weight that your trailer can weigh. This means fully loaded up with water, propane, batteries and gear. This number is an excellent reference for determining if your truck can tow it. This GVWR should be lower then the tow rating of the truck. If it is, great. If not, then you need to be aware that your truck may be underpowered to pull the trailer, and you will have to make compromises. Depending on the difference between the numbers will determine how much weight you need to leave at home. Do not fill water tanks, cut back on firewood you may take, that kind of thing. Ideally, your trailer will be below your max tow rating.

Yes you should have electric brakes on your trailer. In Canada any trailer over 3000 pounds GVWR shall be fitted with trailer brakes. You will need a brake controller, and I highly recommend the Tekonsha Prodigy controller. Excellent unit.

Here are some more links for you check out:

http://www.tekonsha.com/prodig.html

http://www.klenger.net/RV_General/Towing_Weights/index.html

http://www.davidsrvtips.blogspot.com/

Good luck and tow safe so you and your family enjoy your time together.

MS3DALE · March 6, 2009

Yeah,As Steven and Pete have recommended,You'll probably want to use the tow/haul mode with you having the 3.42s.
I didn't need to use it with mine having the 6-liter/3.73s.

Do you have to rub it in? Man, what a di@k!

Yeah,but yours would tow even better having 4.10s!!!

Gozer · March 6, 2009

Quiet a bit different. The 4.8 is already lacking in torque and the 3.42's are hurting you too. Tow in 3rd and use the tow/haul mode. The reason you want to do that is to keep the transmission from constantly shifting. The shifting causes extreme heat which can kill the tranny.

I'd suggest making sure you have an additional transmission cooler and keep an eye on your tranny temps too. I use to tow alot.

Steven

I have 6.0L with 4.10's, and I tow my 6500# travel trailer in D or 3 depending on terrain. I usually run in D on flat and manually downshift to 3 before hitting any inclines. Speaking of tranny temps, what is "safe" for these transmissions running DexronVI?

Stevens03 · March 6, 2009

I've heard keeping it under 210, anything above that you start cooking it. Dexron vi is made of synthetic stock but not fully synthetic. I don't exactly know whats a good temp for them. I never seen my trans over 170, even towing, but I've not stressed it yet either. When I towed alot with my other truck, I ran Royal Purple max atf and that never went above 180, even in the summer towing with the air conditioning on.

I've to the 6.0 and 4.10's... towed 6000 lbs and the truck hardly new it was there. I didn't even bother with the tow/haul, it was shifting fairly normal.

Steven

jhoff8487 · March 6, 2009

Your 4.8 w/ 3.42s will tow it alright. You're going to notice it, but it'll be alright. I've got the same setup and have towed 4000lbs before across Indiana and it does it. Your mileage is going to suck, but that's expected. I did mine in 3 with tow/haul engaged. However, on the interstate I had it in 4th for a while during the real flat stretches. The 4.8l and 3.42s get slammed a lot on their towing and really, it isn't as bad as most folks make it out to be. Ideally, yeah, it's not the best but it gets the job done.