What can I tow with my Suburban
Hello all, Very new here to both travel trailers/ towing, and online forums, so please forgive any missteps in advance. I’ve got a 2014 Chevy Suburban LT, 5.3L V8, 4x4, 3.08 axle ratio. Was very di...
Forum Discussion
Welcome to the forum !
Common learning curve you have found yourself in....most half ton TVs are more 'car' than TV's
Common limiting component/system is the rear axle itself and the ratio of the gear set. Though the gearing upstream in the transmission also important....as they are both torque multipliers of the ICE torque at the flywheel
A 3.08 diff ratio has a 3.08 multiplication of the torque at the input shaft of the diff. Meaning that if your 5.3L has maximum torque of 100 ft/lbs (for discussion)...it will multiply that to become 308 ft/lbs at the output shafts (axles)
Plus the gearing in the tranny, which multiplies the ICE torque. So for discussion, the ICE has 200 ft/lbs of torque and first gear is 5.0 ratio. 5 x 200 = 1,000 ft/lbs. Then the 3.08 multiplies that 1,000 ft/lbs x 3.08 = 3,080 ft/lbs to the axles
It is HP that does the work. Formula is HP = torque x RPM / 5252
That is the crux of why a higher numeric diff ratio will tow more, but will require the ICE to rev higher.
Here is the GM towing guide for your Suburban and suggest you read up on it. Ask questions back here.
2014 GM Towing Guide
This is the GM press/marketing brochure
2014 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN SPECIFICATIONS
This is the GM page for a 2014 Silverado half ton pickup and your suburban will be in that range, but in a lesser amount as Sub's weigh more than the pickup that it was derived from
Click For Full-Size Image.
Common learning curve you have found yourself in....most half ton TVs are more 'car' than TV's
Common limiting component/system is the rear axle itself and the ratio of the gear set. Though the gearing upstream in the transmission also important....as they are both torque multipliers of the ICE torque at the flywheel
A 3.08 diff ratio has a 3.08 multiplication of the torque at the input shaft of the diff. Meaning that if your 5.3L has maximum torque of 100 ft/lbs (for discussion)...it will multiply that to become 308 ft/lbs at the output shafts (axles)
Plus the gearing in the tranny, which multiplies the ICE torque. So for discussion, the ICE has 200 ft/lbs of torque and first gear is 5.0 ratio. 5 x 200 = 1,000 ft/lbs. Then the 3.08 multiplies that 1,000 ft/lbs x 3.08 = 3,080 ft/lbs to the axles
It is HP that does the work. Formula is HP = torque x RPM / 5252
That is the crux of why a higher numeric diff ratio will tow more, but will require the ICE to rev higher.
Here is the GM towing guide for your Suburban and suggest you read up on it. Ask questions back here.
2014 GM Towing Guide
This is the GM press/marketing brochure
2014 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN SPECIFICATIONS
This is the GM page for a 2014 Silverado half ton pickup and your suburban will be in that range, but in a lesser amount as Sub's weigh more than the pickup that it was derived from
Click For Full-Size Image.rudderman wrote:
Hello all,
Very new here to both travel trailers/ towing, and online forums, so please forgive any missteps in advance. I’ve got a 2014 Chevy Suburban LT, 5.3L V8, 4x4, 3.08 axle ratio. Was very disappointed to learn the max trailer weight rating is only 5000 lbs. How big of a TT can I safely tow? I’ve basically committed to buying a preowned hard-side, UVW 4200 lbs, 24 ft long. Chevy dealer (and of course the RV dealers) both said it could handle the load fine. Now reading some of these forums I’m not so sure.
Thanks for any help you can give!
