Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 12-07-2017, 01:48 PM   #1
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 67
Silverado 1500 with 3.08 gears?

Wondering what people do or have towed with their Silverado 1500 with the 5.3L and 3.08 gears. Mine is rated for 6200 lbs towing (4x4 crew). Curious how it does. Thanks!
Brendon44 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2017, 02:00 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Bobaloo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Virginia
Posts: 338
I pull my MiniLite with mine and it does great. When I'm in the mountains it will tac up to 3000rpm at 60mph but it feels like the truck is just in the groove. If you are in the high mountain regions of the US, maybe not geared low enough.
__________________
2013 Rockwood 2504
2015 Silverado 1500 4x4 Z71 Double Cab
Diablo and Lew Custom tuned
Tony & Catnis, campin' kitties
Bobaloo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2017, 02:15 PM   #3
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 67
I live in Central Florida and don't plan on going to the mountains with it. Bobaloo do you know how much weight your loaded trailer is?
Brendon44 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2017, 02:39 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Bobaloo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Virginia
Posts: 338
It is right at 5500lbs.


Bob
__________________
2013 Rockwood 2504
2015 Silverado 1500 4x4 Z71 Double Cab
Diablo and Lew Custom tuned
Tony & Catnis, campin' kitties
Bobaloo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2017, 02:47 PM   #5
Site Team
 
Flybob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 15,243
You need to look at all the numbers mainly the cargo capacity ( sticker on drivers door jamb). Towing capacity is a marketing feature and not a good judge of what you can tow. You will get a wide variety of answers as some folks are ultra conservative while others tow considerably over limits. Just about any vehicle will pull the trailer down the road. Doing it in a way that is safe and not a white knuckle ride is what you want. Do your homework, Don't trust the RV salesman and make your own decision. What others are willing to be comfortable with may not wok for you. Also if this is your first camper, be aware that odds are that you will be looking to upgrade to a larger one sooner than later so plan ahead.
__________________

2015 Freedom Express 248RBS
TV 2015 Silverado HD2500 Duramax
TST Tire Monitors
Honda 2000I + Companion
2 100W solar panels
Flybob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2017, 02:56 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Bobaloo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Virginia
Posts: 338
FlyBob is right, my cargo capacity is 1740lbs and I highly recommend an equalizer hitch and sway control.
__________________
2013 Rockwood 2504
2015 Silverado 1500 4x4 Z71 Double Cab
Diablo and Lew Custom tuned
Tony & Catnis, campin' kitties
Bobaloo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2017, 03:10 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Waynesville
Posts: 14,428
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brendon44 View Post
Wondering what people do or have towed with their Silverado 1500 with the 5.3L and 3.08 gears. Mine is rated for 6200 lbs towing (4x4 crew). Curious how it does. Thanks!
3.08 Gears are Not for towing,but you are stuck with them unless you want to spend Big $$$ for 2 sets of gears and Lots of labor! Youroo!!
__________________
youroo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2017, 03:36 PM   #8
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 67
Yep, would have never gotten the truck if I knew they were 3.08s. was told it was 3.42s.
Brendon44 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2017, 03:39 PM   #9
Grammar Pedant
 
67L48's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Frederick, CO
Posts: 1,580
3.08 could be OK if you have a 6-speed transmission. Some say that 3.08 and 6 speed is better than a 3.73 and 4 speed.
__________________
Every time you use an apostrophe to make a word plural, a puppy dies.

TV: 2019 F-350 Lariat 4WD CCSB 6.7 PSD 3.55, 3,591 lb payload
Former RV: 2018 Rockwood Mini Lite 2504S
Former RV: 2007 Fleetwood/Coleman Utah
Former TV: 2005 F-150 King Ranch 4WD SCrew 5.4L Tow Package
67L48 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2017, 03:41 PM   #10
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 67
Yes. It is a 6 speed. 2015. 1/2 ton V8 that only tows 6200 lbs. Rather embarrassing.
Brendon44 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2017, 04:21 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 10,907
You need to make sure that anyone telling you they tow great (or not so great) has the EXACT same Silverado you do. My 2009 Silverado owners manual listed 99 (yeah, ninety-nine!) different permutations of the 1500 with tow ratings ranging from 4,000 to 12,000 lbs.

So unless you know that the responder's Silverado is exactly the same as yours, any response they give you is still suspect.
__________________
1988 Coleman Sequoia - popup (1987-2009) - outlasted 3 Dodge Grand Caravans!
2012 Roo19 - hybrid (2012-2015)

2016 Mini Lite 2503S - tt (2015 - ???)
2011 Traverse LT, 3.6L, FWD
2009 Silverado 1500 Ext Cab, 5.3L, 4x4, 3.73
2016 Silverado 2500HD Dbl Cab, 6.0L 4x4, 4.10
rockfordroo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2017, 04:23 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Greensboro NC
Posts: 1,140
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brendon44 View Post
Yes. It is a 6 speed. 2015. 1/2 ton V8 that only tows 6200 lbs. Rather embarrassing.
No need to think it's embarrassing. If it pulls what you need, where you need, then it's all good!
ronheater70 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2017, 07:20 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,219
Quote:
Originally Posted by ronheater70 View Post
No need to think it's embarrassing. If it pulls what you need, where you need, then it's all good!


X100
__________________

2011 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
2010 F250 4X4 5.4L 3.73 LS
EQUALIZER E4 1200/12000
lbrjet is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-08-2017, 01:45 PM   #14
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Tucked into the woods
Posts: 52
Just make sure you have a good transmission cooler. Then you should be good to go.
mikegernes is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-08-2017, 03:24 PM   #15
Senior Member
 
clarkbre's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Snohomish, WA
Posts: 1,151
It'd be a tight fit for 5 but here are some options:

Salem FSX 207BH

Wildwood FSX 207BH

Wildwood FSX 190SS
__________________

2017 Forest River Surveyor 247BHDS...
...Tugged by a 2016 F250 XLT FX4 SuperCrew, Shortbed 6.2L, 4wd, 3.73...
...Joined with a Husky Centerline TS 800-1200lbs WDH
clarkbre is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-08-2017, 04:23 PM   #16
Junior Member
 
wdpowers's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 6
I have a '08 Silverado 1500 5.3L 4x4 with the 373 rear end. I pull a 2104S Rockwood Mini like there is nothing there. WDH & SC helps.
__________________
2017 Rockwood Mini 2104S
'08 Silverado 5.3L RT 4x4
wdpowers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-08-2017, 04:33 PM   #17
Senior Member
 
clarkbre's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Snohomish, WA
Posts: 1,151
Quote:
Originally Posted by wdpowers View Post
I have a '08 Silverado 1500 5.3L 4x4 with the 373 rear end. I pull a 2104S Rockwood Mini like there is nothing there. WDH & SC helps.
That 3.73 rear end likely plays a large role in your ability to tow. What's your overall towing capacity?

The OP's capacity is 6200lbs total. The motor and tranny are up to the task; however, the 3.08 was built for MPG, not torque.

Knowing that the OP is in a relatively flat area (FL), I would even consider a trailer that is empty up to about 4500 lbs and diligently packing it light as to not exceed 5500 or so.
__________________

2017 Forest River Surveyor 247BHDS...
...Tugged by a 2016 F250 XLT FX4 SuperCrew, Shortbed 6.2L, 4wd, 3.73...
...Joined with a Husky Centerline TS 800-1200lbs WDH
clarkbre is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-08-2017, 05:08 PM   #18
Junior Member
 
wdpowers's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 6
I believe its rated at 8600. Your right , the 373 does the trick but gas mileage sucks.
__________________
2017 Rockwood Mini 2104S
'08 Silverado 5.3L RT 4x4
wdpowers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-08-2017, 05:34 PM   #19
Senior Member
 
clarkbre's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Snohomish, WA
Posts: 1,151
Quote:
Originally Posted by wdpowers View Post
I believe its rated at 8600. Your right , the 373 does the trick but gas mileage sucks.
It's a trade off. Similar to when people lift trucks and install larger diameter tires. The larger diameter tires make the tranny and engine work as if it had much higher gearing; creating a loss in power.

My truck originally had equivalent to 32" tires and I replaced them with 33" tires. The 3.55 gearing in my truck is now equivalent to 3.43 so it's not a drastic change. Especially, since some F150's come with 3.31's from the factory
__________________

2017 Forest River Surveyor 247BHDS...
...Tugged by a 2016 F250 XLT FX4 SuperCrew, Shortbed 6.2L, 4wd, 3.73...
...Joined with a Husky Centerline TS 800-1200lbs WDH
clarkbre is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-08-2017, 05:45 PM   #20
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 10,907
Brenden: After you read Post #16, go back and read Post #11.
__________________
1988 Coleman Sequoia - popup (1987-2009) - outlasted 3 Dodge Grand Caravans!
2012 Roo19 - hybrid (2012-2015)

2016 Mini Lite 2503S - tt (2015 - ???)
2011 Traverse LT, 3.6L, FWD
2009 Silverado 1500 Ext Cab, 5.3L, 4x4, 3.73
2016 Silverado 2500HD Dbl Cab, 6.0L 4x4, 4.10
rockfordroo is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
500

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:54 AM.