Towing with a 4.8 chevy, anyone?

[OldCoot]

Sure easy to spend someone else's money.

[Night Stone]

I currently tow with a Chevolet Silverado crew cab with the 4.8L, rear wheel drive and my trailer is a Cruiselite 181BHXL, I have 141k plus miles on truck. With no tow package but the Silverado is slightly modify, throttle plate spacer and free flow muffler(flow master) and a second tranny cooler in line with the factory one, the temps never gone past 210 so far. I have towed up the mountains here on 6% grade at 3500 RPMs and mostly at 2-2500 RPMs, it's doable but I would avoid using the cruise control as it will rev pass 3500 RPMs.

I opted out on upgrading the rear end as this is my everyday vehicle. IMHO I would stick with the bigger motor or a new truck with at least a 5.3L motor, especially since you have a bigger trailer.

But you are towing once or twice a year you should be ok, as long as your traveling on nearly flat grounds and not mountains.

[SKnight]

You'll be tight on your rated weights, but depending on how you load it up you may be fine. Rule of thumb is that most folks carry 750-1,000 pounds over dry weight before whatever fresh water you might carry. I'm at a known 744 pounds over dry, no water, no food, no clothes.

So, trailer dry specs at 4,050lbs, if you add 750lbs, 4,800 total. What I found is that your truck has a 5,500lb towing capacity, with the towing option. Add the coolers, do what you can to get it to the factory towing spec.

You'll be cutting it close, but you'll likely come in ok weight wise. My concern will be in the actual towing of the thing. 302HP is good, but 305ft-lbs of torque concerns me. That's a decision you'll have to make though, might pull it fine.

Good luck with it and keep us posted on how it does!

[Kuba]

Thanks! Will definitely keep you posted on how it goes. You might have to wait till August though

[rockfordroo]

Sure easy to spend someone else's money

That's the best way to do it!!

[davel1971]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

Sure easy to spend someone else's money.

but he owns 2 trucks and plans on selling the bigger one to push the smaller one to its limit. Probably get the same MPG with the bigger one as not having to run it as hard. I'm guessing there is more to this than what we are being told

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by davel1971

... I'm guessing there is more to this than what we are being told

I'm guessing it might not be any of our business either.

He already stated he's going to keep the 4.8 and he's only towing once or twice a year. Regardless of how badly he's overloaded. I don't think he's going to tear anything up unless his once or twice towing is 4 or 5,000 miles each.

[Kuba]

Big one has 205000 miles, its also an extended cab. Being With a 5 yearold kid by myself its a real pain in the ***** with ext cab. I want full doors, full seats. Plus i got the 2011 truck for 8k. Its costing me 6k to fix it. I bought it last year.
As i said earlier, i will tow the trailer once a year. Other than that it stays in one spot

[Kuba]

Btw both of my trucks are gas and propane powered

[davel1971]

gotcha. Making more sense now

[Kuba]

[gmacklem]

Sounds like you are in the same boat I am. I got a really good deal on a 2010 F-150 w/ the 4.6L. Much to my surprise, there were two permutations of the 4.6L and two permutations of the 5.4L in 2010. Of course I have the weakest of the 4 engines. So my tow rating is 5,300 lbs with a CGWR of 10,600 lbs. I am right at the CGWR and the truck really knows its back there. I would never have guessed that there was a full sized v8 truck made that didn't have much better ratings than I have. Heck, the top 5.4L has a CGWR rating of 15,000 to 16,000 lbs. I bet the guy who had the truck before me upgraded for better towing.

[Kuba]

I will definitely weight my truck trailer combo. I stopped at a truck weight station one day and it was saying "error" when i drove onto it. Will have to check that out. As i said earlier i dont have much stuff in the trailer, few cups, plates, 32" led tv, sheets, sleeping bag, some light food in the trailer. I never travel with any of the tanks filled. If i install the extra leafs, wdh, my P3 i think i will be fine. Its the 4.8 that worries me, love the 6L on my big one

[rockfordroo]

I would never have guessed that there was a full sized v8 truck made that didn't have much better ratings than I have.

Yeah, all those truck towing commercials would make you think every truck can do it. In reality, only a small percentage are really set up for pulling that monster trailer you see in the ad.

[beerjay]

A really good deal on a V6 truck is a vehicle optioned for the soccer mom van replacement.
As Truck Trend said earlier this year, the Explorer and Tahoe/Yukon have gone downside with the high rear end axle gearing, soft suspension, and P tires, with weight reductions as well to make it ride better and get more gas mileage in some of their 2013/14 models for mom's taxi.
You can tow, but not a 7000 lb. trailer. Read the build sheet first based on the VIN at the dealer.

[Kuba]

Well, tommorow is the day! I installed a derale 8000 cooler on the tranny. Will see how she does

[vinmaker]

Originally Posted by beerjay

A really good deal on a V6 truck is a vehicle optioned for the soccer mom van replacement.
As Truck Trend said earlier this year, the Explorer and Tahoe/Yukon have gone downside with the high rear end axle gearing, soft suspension, and P tires, with weight reductions as well to make it ride better and get more gas mileage in some of their 2013/14 models for mom's taxi.
You can tow, but not a 7000 lb. trailer. Read the build sheet first based on the VIN at the dealer.

You are so right. I have been looking at the Ford and Chevy SUV's to tow my pop up and am finding that not all of them do.

[rockfordroo]

vinmaker: I pulled my Roo19 with my Chevy Traverse (5200 lb capacity) one season. Wasn't thrilled, so I got the Silverado. The problem wasn't the weight, but the drag.

However, the HW296 is 3135lb dry; even if you tossed in 1000lbs, you'd still be 1000lbs under the capacity. You wouldn't have the sail effect, so I think you'd do OK. Something to consider. The Traverse is a REALLY smooth ride.

I know a guy in CA pulling a small Hi-Lo with his; he says it pulls fine.

[Skippy38]

Kinda close, but I am towing with a 4.7L, 1639 payload, 7300 total towing capacity, and gross trailer weight of about 5600. I have a good WDH and mine still moves the truck around a little which leads me to believe that I am close to max limits.

[ccpeso]

I was worried about towing a fully loaded 26bh (5800lbs) with a 2009 silverado 4.8 ,3.42 axle, 4x4, 4spd trans with tow package, equilizer wd and sway hitch. Had it weighed and all is good except I was about 800lbs over GCVW. We took it Fort wilderness 3 weeks ago. Took I65 from Brighton MI to avoid mountains. It pulled and handled great, averaged about 10mpg. Am about 5hrs from home, took I-75 through the so called mountains and the truck really surprised me. Had no problem up mountains or down. We are now in a great campground north of Lexington KY and will be leaving in an hour. So far average is almost 10mpg. Normally driving a car to wdw I drive straight through (bout 18hr) but towing the camper, 8hr is a good day. Will be doing this again in the spring.