Towing Capacity

JohnF · 06-18-2013, 08:36 PM

In another post I mentioned the upcoming purchase of a friends truck. Today I gathered most of the information I could to check towing capacities and never found those numbers. Attached is an image of the specs. Can I assume this 2011 Sierra 1500 4wd extended cab pickup has what I need to pull my 4000 lb
21FBRS TT?

Wildwood1 · 06-18-2013, 08:51 PM

Yes imho there shouldnt be an issue towing a 4000# trailer with a 4x4 with a 5.3 liter. I towed our 5900 lb trailer (empty) with a 2wd dodge ram with a 4.7 liter v6 without issues. I now use a dodge ram 4x4 with a 5.7 hemi. Both trucks were company supplied.

**ependydad** · 06-18-2013, 09:07 PM

You specifically want to find the two stickers on the doorjamb that tell you:

#1- GVWR and GAWR for front and read
#2 - the amount of pounds the truck can carry in the form of passengers and cargo

Usually with 1/2-ton trucks, you run out of payload (#2) capacity with driver, passengers, pets and stuff in the truck bed long before you hit your maximum towing capacity (only possible if it's a stock truck and *nothing* but a 150-pound driver in it).

**ependydad** · 06-18-2013, 09:10 PM

Most likely the answer is yes unless you have a big family or carry a lot in the truck bed. Here's how to find out:
What can I tow?

1Texan · 06-18-2013, 09:18 PM

If you go to the GMC web site you can go to a section which allows you to pick your truck size (1500, 2500, etc) and then your configuration (extended cab, crew cab, etc.) and then your engine choices. You can then do a comparison of two or three. It will give you all the towing specs. you need (pin/load, gross trailer capacity, etc.)

JohnF · 06-19-2013, 02:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ependydad

You specifically want to find the two stickers on the doorjamb that tell you:

#1- GVWR and GAWR for front and read
#2 - the amount of pounds the truck can carry in the form of passengers and cargo

Usually with 1/2-ton trucks, you run out of payload (#2) capacity with driver, passengers, pets and stuff in the truck bed long before you hit your maximum towing capacity (only possible if it's a stock truck and *nothing* but a 150-pound driver in it).

Here is that sticker.

**bikendan** · 06-19-2013, 02:58 AM

with the 5.3, the HD trailering package and the 6 speed trans, you'll have no problem towing that trailer.

gmacklem · 06-19-2013, 06:07 AM

I would imagine that truck is rated well enough to tow the 21FBRS. I have the 21FBRS and am towing it with a Ford F-150 2wd supercab with the 4.6L v8 and it does just find. Can be tough to pick up speed up hill, but that goes with most towing I think.

**Herk7769** · 06-19-2013, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnF

Here is that sticker.

Check your tires.
I think they might be great for "show" but not for "tow"

JohnF · 06-19-2013, 06:20 AM

It appears the gvrw is 7,000#'s. I weighed the truck this morning and it weighs 5,400 with half a tank of gas. So if I add 400 for driver and passenger, 100 for full fuel, 716 (thats 15% of tt gvwr of 4777) , I'm at 6616 lbs.

Dave Lyon · 06-19-2013, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bikendan

with the 5.3, the HD trailering package and the 6 speed trans, you'll have no problem towing that trailer.

Agree with Dan. You'll have no trouble. Herk raises a goood point wrt tires.

OldCoot · 06-19-2013, 06:49 AM

That truck should handle the trailer with no problems in any way. When towing I would inflate the truck tires to max on sidewall, get a good wd hitch with sway control or add dual friction sway bars and go.

Heck, a full size car with air shocks could pull it even with 15% tongue wt of 600# and a wd hitch as part of the tongue wt will be transferred to the front.

**ependydad** · 06-19-2013, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnF

It appears the gvrw is 7,000#'s. I weighed the truck this morning and it weighs 5,400 with half a tank of gas. So if I add 400 for driver and passenger, 100 for full fuel, 716 (thats 15% of tt gvwr of 4777) , I'm at 6616 lbs.

Looks good to me. Take a look at OldCoot's post above about tire pressure and a good WDH. And Herk's post about your tire load capacity- if it's squirmy after a trip or two, it might be worth upgrading the truck's tires.

MtnGuy · 06-19-2013, 07:01 AM

There is no mention of a towing package, which would include an auxiliary transmission cooler.....a must when towing an conventional upright camper fighting wind resistance.

Also, no mention of the final drive ratio. A higher number (lower ratio) would tow better.

JohnF · 06-19-2013, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtnguy

There is no mention of a towing package, which would include an auxiliary transmission cooler.....a must when towing an conventional upright camper fighting wind resistance.

Also, no mention of the final drive ratio. A higher number (lower ratio) would tow better.

This looks like an auxiliary transmission cooler...correct? Axle ratio is 3.42:1

MtnGuy · 06-19-2013, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnF

This looks like an auxiliary transmission cooler...correct? Axle ratio is 3.42:1

You should be good to go !!

gmacklem · 06-19-2013, 07:34 AM

That doesn't seem like a great axle ratio considering the size tires you have. I had a 2002 F-150 4wd with the 5.4L and 17" rims and it did not seem to run anywhere near as well as my 2010 F150 2wd 4.6L with smaller tires and rims. This 4.6L would run away from my old 5.4L. They both have 3.55 rear gear ratio too.

But all that being said, I am sure your truck will tow the trailer just fine.

mhartzel · 06-19-2013, 08:59 AM

According to the Towing Guide from trailerlife.com
Your truck is rated to tow 9600# with the 3.42 axle.
check page 17, lower right corner at the link provided above.

Taylorgso · 06-19-2013, 09:21 AM

Back in the 80's (in days before the internet and forums), I bought our first travel trailer, after having lived in popups for years! We had a Ford E150 van, and bought a 24' Coachmen Cadet trailer. The van had the small 302 V8 engine; the trailer as I recall had a GVWR of somewhere around 5400#. I have no idea what the axle ratio was. I did add a transmission cooler at recommendation of mechanic who saw the new trailer hitch and asked what I was towing! We pulled that camper all over Eastern US and Canada, never had a problem of any kind, and it always SEEMED to handle well!

But I was totally ignorant of weights, towing capacities, fuel and water weights, etc. We generally had the van and the camper full of "stuff" and I'm now sure I was probably overweight by substantial margin. If I were towing the same setup now, what with the Internet, etc., I'd have probably bought a different TV with 4:10 axle and the biggest engine, upgraded the tires, shed a lot of those pounds in the trailer (we always had full FW tank when traveling), taken it to scales (Don't think CAT scales were even in business then), and lose sleep over whether I had everything within specs.

Just goes to show that occasionally, ignorance is not penalized!

MillerTime · 06-19-2013, 11:00 PM

3.42 is the lowest ratio you can get without getting the towmax package with the 6.2 that has 3.73 gears available.

Should be good pulling that rig!

Oh and yes that is an axillary tranny cooler that is usually included in the tow package, they will also have a receiver hitch and trailer plug at the rear.

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