Am I Nuts?

With my signature trailer weighing approx 6k before any toys, I was on the verge of overloaded with a '97 K1500 (350/4L60E/3.73). GCW was 11600lbs. I had added a B&M cooler IN ADDITION TO the factory aux cooler along with a trans temp gauge that I located in the pressure test port.

It was hard to keep the torque convertor locked in 3rd. At 65mph I was a little bit under the peak torque of the engine. If the 6000-6500lb load was on a flat bed and didn't grab much wind it would have done ok, but being an enclosed trailer was just too much work. Engine power output was adequate but transmission is not there. I even toyed with using a manual TC lockup switch just to keep temperatures down. 4.10 gears would have helped but not worth the money to swap out. If my truck would have been the NV4500 5spd man trans I might have kept it a little longer, maybe.

Anything other than flat ground and I had one eye glued to the trans temperature. If you plan to go farther than 50mi your transmission is going to hate you and will prove to you the hatred it has in a short amount of time.

I bought a larger truck 2 months after buying the trailer. Same drivetrain as you and I have less trailer.

Id do it with out thinking twice with my 2000 c2500, and it has the vortec 350 also. I pulled my old 24' TT that usually was in the 6500 lb range a couple of times, no issues. I've pulled my equipment trailers upwards of 8K with out issues.....

You probably have the 1500 version. You can tow with 3.42 gears/4l60e trans and have better performance than a 2500 and the 4.10/4l80 trans. As the 4l80 has a 2.48 first, the 60e a 3.08. Overall low with the 60E is 10.55-1, 80e a 10.1-1. The engine with rev, so plan on it reving on hills in the 4000 range. It develops 255hp, 330 lb ft of torque. you'll do fine if you keep your head togother, and not use your right foot for everything.

You mihgt change your gears to 3.73 if that is not what you already have.

Marty

dry weight of 6,200 and towing capacity of 6,500. you will be way over your limit. but then you knew that. but to answer your question, "yes".
bumpy