Towing with a new vehicle

[dseepersad]

So, we just purchased a new tow vehicle...2018 Chevy Silverado 1500 with 5.3L V8 and 3.42 rear axle ratio and tow package (not max tow package).

We know it will have no problem towing our 21SS.

My question is: I was reading the manual trying to figure something out and looked at the section on towing; it says no towing for the first 500 miles (no problem) but then it says, when you are towing not to exceed 50 mph for the first 500 miles of towing.

My husband can't believe this is true.

Thoughts? Opinions?

[cmysstailights]

Do the i itial 500 break in, change oil then enjoy

[rbq]

Remember years ago having a new Astro van pulling my PUP. Dealer suggested not maintaining the same speed, but vary the speed up or down every 10 minutes or so. Good luck with the new truck. Wishing for one myself.

[Hersbird]

Lawyers. Like it would protect their negligence if they had not tightened the hitch bolts and you were going 60 MPH when all hell breaks loose.

[bikendan]

My new 2007 5.3 3.73 Avalanche had the same requirement.
I followed it because I had to make a 4400 mile roundtrip to pick up our new Roo 23SS.
Personally I wouldn't tow without doing the break in period first.
But the 50mph thing is weird. I seem to remember that it was 50mph during the 500 mile break in period.

[babock]

Follow what the manual says.

[dseepersad]

Thanks all.

We won't need to tow at all for the first 1,000 miles or so that he drives the truck back and forth to work.

But, we have a trip coming up in late September and he just can't see us doing 50 mph on the interstate the whole way to the campground and back (we are only going about 70 miles away from home).

[Dave Lyon]

My 2009 GMC K1500 with the same motor had the same requirement. I was able to put 500 miles on it prior to towing.

FWIW my 2017 GMC 2500 has the same requirement.

[woodrockin]

As others have stated, follow the manual, change the oil and enjoy! Congrats on the new truck btw.

[CAT-RN]

Well do what you want. But trucks are bought every day to make a living with. Drove out of the dealer —hooked to their loads and head cross country. These new vehicles are ready to go when you buy them. In my opinion it won’t make two cents worth of a difference either way.

Russell

[woodrockin]

Originally Posted by CAT-RN

Well do what you want. But trucks are bought every day to make a living with. Drove out of the dealer —hooked to their loads and head cross country. These new vehicles are ready to go when you buy them. In my opinion it won’t make two cents worth of a difference either way.

Russell

Rings need time to seat, gears need time to mesh, there's nothing wrong with following the manual to make the best effort to negate a problem.... You're right, anyone can do what they want, but there's a reason recommendations are made...

[KyDan]

I just have to say-- many of you recommend following the owners manual for break in period but then you recommend changing the oil at 500 miles (after the "break in period") even tho the manual doesn't recommend an early 1st oil change.
So you are basically saying follow the manual on one thing and ignore the manual on another item....

My 2¢ take it easy the first 500 mi then use it as you need to.

FWIW I think the Chevy 5.3 is a great engine and pretty bullet proof. I had my last one for 13 years and towed my rigs all over the country more than once!

[CAT-RN]

Originally Posted by woodrockin

Rings need time to seat, gears need time to mesh, there's nothing wrong with following the manual to make the best effort to negate a problem.... You're right, anyone can do what they want, but there's a reason recommendations are made...

I just don’t agree : Half of those recommendations are lawyers way of covering manufacturers butts.

When I got my 2014 F-350 I drove into my dealer with a 36’ gooseneck on my 2011 F-350. Unhooked in back lot. Transferred everything and hooked up and drove out in the new one. I have 120,000 mile on the 2014 now. Never an issue. Has pulled big loads from day one.

My theory is use them day one as you use them for their life. I personally have got along fine operating that way. Had very few warranty issues. But when I had an issue I found the dealer could care less how you drove them.

Again my two cents. You might want some change ? Either way great by me.

Russell

[BriaBeck]

My theory is this:


New owner babys his new truck for the first 500 miles or whatever the book says. Fine.


At 501, he hooks up to his RV, loads it up, and down the road he goes. This engine and powertrain is going to "break in" all over again, because it is seeing loads and stresses and temperatures that it never ever would have seen by being babied the previous 500 miles.


So, why have 2 break-in periods? Hook it up and go... It will break-in better being under a load than it ever will being driven with an egg under your right foot...


And, if something lets go (it won't, unless there is a problem right out of the gate) you're brand new under warranty rather than 500 miles out of warranty because you babied it for the first 500 miles of it's life...

[Brewhedd]

I believe what the manual is stating is no towing for 500 miles then after that do not exceed 50 mph for the next 500 miles towing. I try to follow the manual but when I bought my last 1/2 ton truck I didn't tow for 500 miles. Within the first couple hundred miles I drove with brief bursts of hard acceleration which I believe seats the rings. After the first 500 miles I hooked up my Rockwood and towed at 65 mph because I'm not driving down an interstate at 50 mph. The engine was fine. When I bought my current 1 ton I followed the same procedure.

[wrvond]

Why all the fuss? It's just a Chevy after all, not like you're going to keep it any length of time.


Whenever I buy a new vehicle, the first thing I do is read the owner's manual. There is a ton of useful information in there. The manual for my truck is 642 pages! I'm pretty sure Ford didn't spend the money printing this thing just to fill the glove compartment.


My manual specified driving 1000 miles before towing, so that's what I did. If I felt I was so much smarter than the folks that designed and built my truck, I'd build my own and make my own recommendations on how to use it.

[valleyduo]

Originally Posted by CAT-RN

I just don’t agree : Half of those recommendations are lawyers way of covering manufacturers butts.

When I got my 2014 F-350 I drove into my dealer with a 36’ gooseneck on my 2011 F-350. Unhooked in back lot. Transferred everything and hooked up and drove out in the new one. I have 120,000 mile on the 2014 now. Never an issue. Has pulled big loads from day one.

My theory is use them day one as you use them for their life. I personally have got along fine operating that way. Had very few warranty issues. But when I had an issue I found the dealer could care less how you drove them.

Again my two cents. You might want some change ? Either way great by me.

Russell

X2. Again, sheerly opinion but have never had any problems.

[babock]

A previous thread on this exact same subject had a post which explains that it's not the engine but the gears in the rear end that needs the break in.

I have to laugh at the lawyer comment.

[Cypressloser]

It's the transmission and differentials that need breaking in, you can definitely feel the difference after 500 miles when the drive train starts to loosen up. It doesn't matter what piece of equipment, Chevy pickup, KW, combine or track hoe.

IMO, tow if you need too but take it easy.

[rrmccorm]

I have had 18 brand new vehicles in my lifetime and I always (except once) varied my speed the first 500 miles and did not tow anything until then. The one time I didn't, I towed my boat 200 miles with 200 miles on the truck. It is the only vehicle that I've ever owned that consumed oil. 1800 miles to the quart. Blamed it on the early tow! All the others did not need oil added between 5k miles changes.