2014 Silverado 1500 4.3 v6 - towing questions

You won't win any races or be grinning ear-to-ear when accelerating, but you will be ok. Just take your time and don't get in a hurry. The 4.3 is a good motor. Keep it well-maintained, fresh oil change often, and consider adding a transmission cooler also. Take care of it and it will take care of you.

bikendan wrote:

gac914 wrote:
As someone whose pulled a hybrid for over 10 years, you might be fine, as the newer gen 4.3 v-6 is a strong engine.

You need to post more info, especially the truck's specs, payload capacity and factory tow package or not.

Also make, model and year of the hybrid.

I posted most of the truck specs in my original topic. It's a 2014 Silverado 1500 4 wheel drive double-cab, (not crew-cab) with the 4.3 L V6 and six speed automatic, and a 3.42 axle ratio. The trailer is a 2001 KZ Coyote, which is 25 foot long with the tent extensions folded up, and also has a side slide. It double-axle, and he is selling it with a "stabilizer hitch." He formally towed this with a Chevy Tahoe V8, I believe.

what's its payload capacity? it's on the driver's door yellow sticker.
it says "passengers and cargo should not exceed xxxxlbs."

Edit, never mind. Sarcastic comment removed.
The truck will handle a small trailer.

Not going to win any races, but the truck will handle it fine.
Brake controller is $100. I might think about a trans cooler if I was taking it to the mountains but wouldn't even worry about that in the Midwest.
Power spec is about the same as a 350 small block from the 90s and 100hp more than the 80s lol!
Go for it. Unless the naysayers want to start a gofundme for your new truck!

gac914 wrote:
As someone whose pulled a hybrid for over 10 years, you might be fine, as the newer gen 4.3 v-6 is a strong engine.

You need to post more info, especially the truck's specs, payload capacity and factory tow package or not.

Also make, model and year of the hybrid.

I posted most of the truck specs in my original topic. It's a 2014 Silverado 1500 4 wheel drive double-cab, (not crew-cab) with the 4.3 L V6 and six speed automatic, and a 3.42 axle ratio. The trailer is a 2001 KZ Coyote, which is 25 foot long with the tent extensions folded up, and also has a side slide. It double-axle, and he is selling it with a "stabilizer hitch." He formally towed this with a Chevy Tahoe V8, I believe.

what's its payload capacity? it's on the driver's door yellow sticker.
it says "passengers and cargo should not exceed xxxxlbs."

I wouldn't.

I think youll be fine as I towed 5000 lbs with my 4.3 s10. The thing with the 4.3 is it makes all its torgue at 2800 rpms only. I had the 4 speed trans. You having the 6 speed ( which I am not familiar with). I kept mine in drive (3rd gear) which kept me at 2800 rpms while towing at 70 mph.. Perfect powerband.

I dont know what gear you will keep it in with the 6 speed. I assume when you put 4th gear as thats what it should say on the shift column?

I would forget about running in OD..

Also your weak ling is that I dont think those 4.3's came with a trans cooler. Fit the largest cooler you can behind the grill.

We have friends selling a hybrid 25 FT TT, with a dry weight of 5500 pds. 2001 kz coyote

I looked up this unit in the nada guides. They only made two coyotes in that year with slides. a 23C and a 25C model. Both are 3394 and 3666 lbs dry.

If this is true then the GVW is what your refering too. And with that said you will have no issues towing this unit. The TW is probably no more then 500 lbs.

My coachmen in the pic was pulled with an s10 4.3. Unit weighed 3900 lbs empty. Loaded I was up near 4500 lbs or so. It had a 420 lbs TW. My limiting factor was the trans which I added a cooler. and my axles were only rated at 2700 lbs on the truck. I only had 500 lbs to work with and towed with only me in the truck.

But the s10 compared to your 1500 is apples to oranges.

Tow it, go camping, and have fun.

For reference post what the axle ratings state on your door tag
Post your payload tag limit
Post your tire max pressure and ratings on the side wall..
Get a prodigy P3 controller

I had that engine in a 1999 Silverado regular cab and actually put a 1200 pound TC on it for for very limited use. I also pulled a landscaping trailer a couple hundred miles at times but I wouldn't bother trying to 5500 very far. It was a fantastic truck and engine though and was traded in during cash fo clunkers program.

I also had a 2013 1500 Silverado 5.3 ext cab pulling a 5000 lb TT plus a bunch of stuff in the bed which put it about a 150 lb over it's pay load. It worked really well pulling that rig but for me I never would have gone over 6000. It was rated at 9700 but I cant imagine it's enjoyable, probably more like white knuckleish. It may be best to get a 3/4 ton and have many years of easy driving pulling most anything you like.

As someone whose pulled a hybrid for over 10 years, you might be fine, as the newer gen 4.3 v-6 is a strong engine.

You need to post more info, especially the truck's specs, payload capacity and factory tow package or not.

Also make, model and year of the hybrid.

I posted most of the truck specs in my original topic. It's a 2014 Silverado 1500 4 wheel drive double-cab, (not crew-cab) with the 4.3 L V6 and six speed automatic, and a 3.42 axle ratio. The trailer is a 2001 KZ Coyote, which is 25 foot long with the tent extensions folded up, and also has a side slide. It double-axle, and he is selling it with a "stabilizer hitch." He formally towed this with a Chevy Tahoe V8, I believe.

You problem is not the strength of the components (frame, axles, wheels, etc.). Your problem is Hp. You will struggle and put a lot of strain on the drive train (engine, transmission, torque converter, etc.). A year or two you may be alright, long term not so much.

As someone whose pulled a hybrid for over 10 years, you might be fine, as the newer gen 4.3 v-6 is a strong engine.

You need to post more info, especially the truck's specs, payload capacity and factory tow package or not.

Also make, model and year of the hybrid.