I am planning on taking an extended trip that will include time in Leadville, Colorado at 10,000 ft, and other western states. I am looking for advice from those who have done mountain and high altitude towing with a similar set up to what I have (see below). Will this be safe and dowable? I will be will under my max payload and tow rating by a wide margin. I did tow my old pop-up with a minivan through the mountains years ago - a case of ignorance is bliss.Using the formula below, I understand that by the time I hit 7000 feet I will have lost 68 hp. % HP LOSS = (ALT x 0.03 x 1) / 1000 Tow vehicle: 2008 Silverado 1500, Crew Cab, 5.3 L, Z71, 3.73 gear, Prodigy Brake controller (about 10 years old - can't remember the model number)Camper: 2016 Freedom Express 231RBDS, 26'10", 5100lbs unloaded, 6100lbs estimated loaded.My old camper was about 900 lbs less than my current camper. I was surprised how much of a difference that 900 lbs made when going uphill. On the flat I can't tell any difference.Tom

You definitely will at elevation. If you can do 25MPH consider yourself lucky.

That rig is going to be working real real hard. Take it real easy and use the tranny to slow down on the downhill side of things. You are pushing the limits in my opinion. I would be more concerned with the tranny and brakes than the motor, all though it will be working hard!In fact I think you may want/need a beefier truck for that trip. I re read and you plan to go through all the western states on a extended trip in and out of the mountains. I think you are bringing a knife to a gunfight. :( Your trailer is just a too heavy. JMHO

A HD radiator and transmission cooler would be a big help. Take it slow and easy, pull over now and then to cool it down, and don't hold up other traffic. You can be ticketed if there are 5 + vehicles behind you.

Keep it in the lower gears to keep the rpms up.

My truck has the tow package with the factory HD transmission cooler and radiator. I will be adding a cold air intake, a fresh tune up, new tires, new high quality brakes, and a set of Supersprings before we depart wonderful Ohio - which is just about 1000 feet above sea level across the entire state.

Mountain Towing | Good Sam Community

Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Apr 03, 2016
DON'T ride the brakes......use tranny downshift as necessary to decrease/hold speed down when descending

Stab brakes.......use them to aggressively reduce speed by 10 mph and then get off of them so they can cool and don't fade on you

Slow and easy.....stay in control and pull over if holding up traffic. RELAX.
valhalla360
Navigator
Apr 03, 2016
If the trailer is within the trucks ratings and the truck is in good running order, no real concerns. You might go up the hills slowly but just get in line with semi's.

Take your time coming down and use a lower gear as your first line of braking. Then use the brakes hard but for short bursts so they stay cool.
CampingN_C_
Explorer
Apr 03, 2016
Being it's a 1500 there's no trans temp gauge. I'd recommend a replacement pan with a temp port and an aftermarket gauge on the dash. You would also gain some extra fluid capacity. I believe they make them for the 4L60e that you should have. I might would even look into a larger cooler than the OE one. The "HD" one that's on there isn't much. I only say that because I had a 2500HD with the 6.0 and the stock cooler was tiny.
I would flush the coolant and replace rear end gear oil as well.
Save you $$$ on the CAI, just replace the OE filter.
Mike_LeClair
Explorer
Apr 03, 2016
CampingN.C. wrote:
Being it's a 1500 there's no trans temp gauge. I'd recommend a replacement pan with a temp port and an aftermarket gauge on the dash. You would also gain some extra fluid capacity. I believe they make them for the 4L60e that you should have. I might would even look into a larger cooler than the OE one. The "HD" one that's on there isn't much. I only say that because I had a 2500HD with the 6.0 and the stock cooler was tiny.
I would flush the coolant and replace rear end gear oil as well.
Save you $$$ on the CAI, just replace the OE filter.

This is well said IMHO. Lots of good advice in other posts as well. Change out ALL of your fluids front to back, give her a premium tune up, make sure that the running gear on the trailer is spot on and get a trans temp gauge in easy sight on the dash of your truck. Personally, I would save your $$$ on a CAI, to me they are all about marketing hype. The engineers that build these trucks are pretty clever at determining ideal air/fuel ratios. Put it a GOOD air filter and you should be able to suck in enough air to keep your fuel mix quite happy.

Cheers and enjoy your trip. Give us some updates if you can!

Mike
Bionic_Man
Explorer
Apr 03, 2016
6100 pound trailer with a 2008 1500? I believe you are over thinking this.

Use the gearing as suggested when going down hills and take your time. You will be fine.
jerem0621
Explorer II
Apr 03, 2016
Yea, I'd worry about the day or two worth of strong headwind more than the relatively small amount of time you will be pulling the mountain. Those are really good trucks and you shouldn't have a problem pulling that trailer as long as your truck is well maintained.

Just be prepared to gear down and let the 5.3 rev into the powerband...I wouldn't be surprised to see 4000-4500 rpm while pulling.

Thanks!

Jeremiah
raceman6135
Explorer
Apr 03, 2016
CampingN.C. wrote:
Being it's a 1500 there's no trans temp gauge.

It may have one. My 2008 GMC Sierra 1500 has one and can be read in the DIC display, accessed by using the DIC buttons. If the vehicle does not have DIC buttons, use the trip meter reset button to scroll through until the transmission temp is found.
bogie514
Explorer
Apr 03, 2016
My truck does have a transmission temperature gauge; as Raceman6135 said, it is in the Driver Information and has to be selected.

Thank you for all the great advice.

Tom
time2roll
Nomad
Apr 03, 2016
No worries. Plan to go slow at times. If you can get past the speed issue you will have a great time.
You have more truck and less trailer than me and I have definitely been up those 10,000' mountains.
mileshuff
Explorer
Apr 03, 2016
With a typical diesel turbo'd truck I'd assume any HP loss is minimal. I do a lot of mountain towing so one reason I won't go back to gas.