Any Experiences towing with V6 2WD Silverado ?

I'm pulling a Coleman 1805rb with a 2013 1500 chevy,4.8,3.42 gears,and 4 speed tranny.It's power and torque numbers are real close to that new 4.3.Trailer is 4100 unloaded and a fighting weight of 4500.I do not want any more trailer behind me,although all of my weights fall below the mfg. capacity numbers.You would most likely be fine with a loaded trailer of 5000lbs or less.I would have to put dirt in my Coleman to get it up to the 7000+ gvw rating that is on the trailer.LoL.

Definitely appreciate responses. To answer a few questions: One of the RVs we like is a Jayco 23RL 27'3" with Unloaded at of: 4850 lbs. Max. Carry Wt: 5995.

A trailer with a UVW of 5200 lbs, especially if that quoted number isn't the trailer's actual sticker weight as it left the factory, is sure to weigh well above 6000 lbs loaded & ready to camp. As one who has been towing for a dozen years now with an '06 Silverado, '05 Avalanche, and now a '12 Silverado, all with GM's ubiquitous 5.3 V8 coupled to a 3.42 axle ratio, there's no way I'd tow a trailer this heavy with anything less and certainly no way with a V6 under the hood. Yes, the later version narrow ratio 6-spd I have in my current '12 does help but with a V6 under the hood instead of a V8 that truck is really going to struggle towing this much trailer, not to mention using up all it's payload capacity. Pundits may claim otherwise but I've BTDT.

I would say maybe. While it seems you have the numbers to do it just barely, the real experience at the scale with your chosen camper might put you over the mark.

Often, when they quote unladen weight they are talking about bare bones trailers with not a single option. Then they load them up to make them sell with A/C, TV's, batteries, propane, bigger fridges and the list goes on. As others have said, what is the trailer, and what is it's maximum weight?

Grit dog,
I don't know of a 350 in a pickup with over 255HP, that is the.vortex in my c2500, 355 lbs of torque. The Tbi 350 had 205, or 195 under/over 8400 giver. Along with 4 gears vs OP having 6. With fist being a 4.10 vs 2.48 for the th400/4l80e derivatives. 3.08 for the th350 700r4/4l60e derivatives.
Having had a tin.and.vortex 4.3, my swag is this.version will motivate a 5-7000 lb trailer on par with.my 350 I.have. yes a bit slower, but not enough to worry about!

Marty

SCSignman wrote:
Thanks for the quick responses, even though isn't great news.

Always had 4WD V8's and never worried much. I love the newer V6, but obviously didn't have towing in mind when it was purchased.

Yes not great news but not the end of the world. I agree in general, it will be under powered (by today's standards where you can buy an off the lot truck with close to 1000ft lbs of torque all the way down to the mighty V6 trucks which sit right around 300hp/300tq).
5200 dry weight is likely going to be over 6klbs sail behind you. That's upper end for the mighty 4.3 in my opinion, but I recall towing the same or more behind the old TBI 350s that were in the same ballpark power wise.
Advantage now, the rest of the truck is much more capable, chassis, trans, brakes etc.

All that said,Id want more ponies under the hood or a lighter trailer, but your truck will do it. You'll just be wringing it out more often than a bigger engine. In other words, flatlands and not in a hurry= yes. Mountains, altitude or want to pull the speed limit everywhere = no.

Too many quick to pee in your cornflakes with a lot of details missing. First off, what is the tow rating of the truck and the GCWR? How much people/cargo do you plan to load in the truck? Tongue weight of trailer?

Biggest question is where do you plan to tow? A whole bunch of trucks out there loaded at/over the max and do fine on fairly flat ground heading to local campgrounds 60/90 mins away. If you plan to tow cross country or head up into the mountains then that's another kettle of fish, as they say.

Thanks for the quick responses, even though isn't great news.

Always had 4WD V8's and never worried much. I love the newer V6, but obviously didn't have towing in mind when it was purchased.

A 300HP motor can not handle a 6-7000 lb trailer?!?!?!?!?!? Yeah it is rated for 5000 or so, but with the 6sp trans, it will get you from here to there safe and sanely. Just do not expect to be the quickest person from A to B!
The 4x with 3.42 gears is rated at almost 8000 lbs. BUT, the tire diam is an inch taller, so those 3.42 gears just got reduced to a 3.23 equal as compared to the 2wd. Something I have never understood about some tow ratings.

With what I have said in mind, a 4-5000 lb base weight trailer would be better. Keep it with one of the more aerodynamic rigs, Ie Airstream, On with rounded corners, get a solid fiberglass smooth wall vs the 300-400 lb lighter rig with corrugated aluminum. The wind drag is greater on the aluminum sided rig than the extra weight of the fiberglass will drag the motor down.

I've been toying with this truck for a replacement to my C2500. 50 more HP, 40 lbs less torque, but 2 more gears in the trans. less payload. I pull a 6000 lb equipment trailer these days. I doubt will will do worst than I do now. The votec 350 I currently have, pulls better than the TBI/4bbl 454's Ive had in the base. Smaller motors are not what they used to be power wise, trailer towing potential etc. Same chassis with a 6.2L motor, is rated to 10000 lbs.......

Marty

Trying to tow with an under powered vehicle is a mistake we only make once.

I'm sure someone will come along to say they've towed something heavier all over the country but your combination is really just plain terrible.

You don't want to do this.