2010 Silverado Towing Capacity
My Wife and I are in search of a Travel Trailer. We have been looking at a couple different ones, but I am worried about the ability of my trucking pulling these travel trailers. I have done research ...
Forum Discussion
lawrosa wrote:
I have the 1500 with 4 speed 3:42 rear and can tell you I dont want to tow more then I have know at about 5500 lbs fully loaded. I added a large trans cooler.
The stupid 4 speed is my limiting factor.
I would look a travel trailers in the 4000-4500 lb range empty
I've towed for 10 yrs with a 2006 Silverado, then a 2005 Avalanche, both with a 5.3L coupled to the older wide ratio 4-spd and 3.42 axle, the heaviest trailer being our KZ Spree 240BH-LX which averaged ~ 5500 lbs loaded and ready to camp. Both trucks did well enough with this load but as lawrosa says that 4-spd was the limiting factor. I recently replaced the Av for towing with a 2012 Silverado, same engine but more power, same 3.42 axle, but running the newer narrow ratio 6-spd which makes ALL the difference in the world. Our current couple's trailer typically averages ~ 4700 lbs loaded & ready to camp and the truck handles it just fine, running 2000 rpm in 5th @ 100 kph, downshifting as needed to 4th when upgrades or heavy headwinds are encountered. I can't imagine this truck towing with a 3.08 axle (as the OP claims he has) as I would think he'd have no choice but to tow in 4th instead of 5th, with regular downshifts to 3rd, if he's to keep the engine spinning quickly enough to be effective. Certainly, with that crappy 3.08 axle, the lighter the trailer the better. :R
