2005 GMC 5.3 Liter Towing

[CoopsRvn]

I will just have to take it easy for a couple of years and see how it does.
Thanks for everybody's input. Learning as I go, the hard way. I may be just overcautious, I need to get comfortable with the higher RPM's and keep the engine/trans cool.

[Ky-N]

The thing that (younger) folks forget or never knew is that in the days before overdrive transmissions were the norm and the lowering of RPM's to improve gas mileage, engines were usually turning @ 3k or more all day long in normal driving. Running an engine @3 to 4K ain't gonna hurt anything but yer wallet.

[CoopsRvn]

I think I am about to get that experience Ky-N.

[keeprr]

Had a 2007 Avalanche, 5.3, 3.73 gears, aux oil cooler. Ran 2400 to 2600 on flat interstate and worked hard in Arkansas mountains. 98 degree days engine temp would climb to 230. Rpms in mountains held to 3500 to 3800 at 45 to 50 mph. Not big mountains. Burnt up the rear end on that trip. Dealer didn't think the 5000 trailer would have been the problem. Truck had 120,000 miles all fluids changed at 100, 000 mile service.
Bought 2500 GMC duramax.

[CoopsRvn]

Thanks Keeprr, now I really will have the pucker factor going up the hills. Good feedback. Plan to baby my 5.3 liter then upgrade. Retired and loving it but on a budget now.

[ebemis]

My 2012 Burb (5.3L w/factory tow & aux coolers) runs ALWAYS in Tow/Haul when i'm dragging the trailer to my favorite camping spots and if you are right around the 2K to 3K ranges for RPM you are working exactly the way it is intended to. My last trip I was even brave enough to run on Cruise Control on the highway when traffic was clear, name of the game is the sweet spot seems to be right around 62-65 mph....just dont push any harder you only end up wasting more gasoline than needed.

I HAVE however increased my fluid change outs, I may be a tad over-cautious or too anal, but I have changed both the Rear-Diff fluid and Trans fluid at ~30K intervals. I do my oil in normal intervals and just pay attention to the temps, in flat HOT Florida things never get out of hand. Climbing I-26 out of SC into NC heading into Asheville has been the highest engine and trans temps I saw, but it was August, Hi-Noon and 96 degrees outside already when I hit it. Even on that day I peaked the engine and trans temps around ~225 +/- and just took it easy on the back side until temps returned to normal ranges.

Once you spend some additional hours towing around the highways, you will get a feel for when you should expect the downshifts to occur, just recognize as someone else already said...that you are basically pulling a billboard straight into a head wind, so there will be "pull" feelings hitting you, this is totally normal.

[tragusa3]

I used to pull that weight in our last trailer with a 2003 Silverado, 4.8 and a 3.42 rear end. Boy did that truck suck at towing! I never could get used to the high rpms all day. I guess it wasn't hurting anything, but I couldn't get over it.

[CoopsRvn]

Thanks for the feedback. Yes, the higher rpms will be hard to get use to.

[stevensmith2859]

Originally Posted by wana65stang

If the truck has factory tow package it should already have a trans cooler, mine does.

I believe up to 2006, they did not come with them. I have an 2004 Avalanche and had to put one on mine.


I have the 5.3 in mine with the 3.73's The dry weight on mine is about 5900 lbs, maybe 6500 Loaded. In tow haul, it handles it pretty well, ALTHOUGH you can sure as hell tell you are pulling something. Most of my trips are 60 miles or less. I had a 130 mile pull into the dead middle of PA up and down some big hills, borrowed my buddies Dodge Ram 2500 Diesel for that job.

[terryallan]

Reason the RPMs surprised you. You have been running around in OD, and not using the engine. For the first time. You heard the engine do something. The simple truth is. You engine is much happier at 2500 RPM than it is at 1700.
If your trany is searching / changing gears a lot. Then you turn OFF OD. the constantly hunting of gears will overheat your trany. Run in a gear that will hold, except on hill. expect it to shift down on long, or steep hills.
Truth is. 2500+RPM makes your engine happy. It is running free, making more HP, and torque, and using all the fuel being fed to it. Trying to run in OD and 1700RPM. Makes the engine work harder. Actually lugs the engine, forcing fuel past the plugs, and out the tail. And could in time cause it to use oil. So just enjoy the ride is knowledge the you engine is happy doing what it was designed to do for the first time in it's life.


BTW. The higher RPM also help keep the tranny cool.

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by terryallan

If your trany is searching / changing gears a lot. Then you turn OFF OD. the constantly hunting of gears will overheat your trany. Run in a gear that will hold, except on hill. expect it to shift down on long, or steep hills.

I see "turn off OD" a lot on this forum. But my Owners Manual doesn't even contain the word "overdrive" or "over drive," let alone talk about turning it "off."

What I think you mean is take it out of Drive and put it in the next lower gear, as my Owners Manual says:

D (Drive) can be used when towing a trailer, carrying a
heavy load, driving on steep hills, or for off-road
driving. You might want to shift the transmission to a
lower gear selection if the transmission shifts too often.

I know as a new truck owner a couple of years ago, this was very confusing for me for awhile. Does ANY truck have a switch that "turns off overdrive?"

[ov845]

Usually a button located on the gear shift selector, press it and a light on dash should appear "OD OFF" or switch/button stating "Tow/Haul" mode.

[Retusps]

Originally Posted by ov845

Usually a button located on the gear shift selector, press it and a light on dash should appear "OD OFF" or switch/button stating "Tow/Haul" mode.

My '06 GMC Sierra, 5.3, 4x4, 3.42 gears, when in "D" is in overdrive. To get it out of overdrive I drop it down one gear ( "3" on the gearshift indicator)

[Retusps]

I too had a hard time adjusting to the increased RPM's! Just turn the radio up!

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by ov845

Usually a button located on the gear shift selector, press it and a light on dash should appear "OD OFF" or switch/button stating "Tow/Haul" mode.

I have no such button. Diesels only?

[ov845]

Originally Posted by Retusps

My '06 GMC Sierra, 5.3, 4x4, 3.42 gears, when in "D" is in overdrive. To get it out of overdrive I drop it down one gear ( "3" on the gearshift indicator)

The "D" is in the circle or oval, there is also D1 & D2. But yes you're right.

[ov845]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

I have no such button. Diesels only?

Hey roo, what's the year, make and model?

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by ov845

Hey roo, what's the year, make and model?

In my signature. As I said, my owners manual doesn't even say overdrive.

[ov845]

[Mr Havercamp]

Its a 6 speed correct, I think that was the first year for it? If so just put it in D and go, use the tow haul only when in hill country or towing something heavy.