Any Experiences towing with V6 2WD Silverado ?

This is pulling large grade in NCaroline up the smokies with a 5.3 pulling 5500 lbs trailer fully loaded. I dont floor my truck ever. I let the engine work.

1st gear 30 mph and 3500 rpm.

Infact I take my foot off the gas some to keep at 3500 rpm.. Remember I have 4 speed..

Notice engine temps 230f but trans temps with cooler 175f or so.


https://www.flickr.com/photos/93289479@N04/35822079640/in/datetaken/


And this is 2nd gear trying to pull highway grade. Im trying to not let it go into first gear.

30 mph and 2200rpm. Second gear is a dog if you don't get momentum for the hill. But there is nothing you can do. I couldn't speed up.. I could just maintain..

Imagine if I towed 7500 lbs as Chevy says I can??? LOLOL ha ha ha

https://www.flickr.com/photos/93289479@N04/39374281641/in/datetaken/

I'll tow trailers up to 2x the GRAWR with out thinking twice. The OPs rig has a 3950 GRAWR, so around 8000 lbs, plus 20-25% depending upon speeds etc.

It takes 105HP to motivate a rig at 15K lbs and 70 sq ft of frontal area at 60 mph. 15K with with 90 sqft is 135HP. Some other comparisons, 18K at 70sqft is 115HP, 25K at 70 sqft is 135HP at 60 mph. Reality is, for some of you worried about weight! Frontal area can add many more hp than just weight! about 1000 lbs additional, is equal to 2 sq ft of additional front area!

Another number to think about, at 15K lbs, one needs about 40hp to pull 60 mph per 1% grade.

Lets assume OP is at 15K and 90 sqft. 135 to go 60 mph. He has 285hp, no issues. 285 less 135 is 150hp. 150/40 = 3.75! so potentially, the OP can pull a 3-4% grade at 60 mph assuming the motor is WOT/Redlined......Lets ask another question, how many of you pull longer grades at WTO/redline? I don't!
This rig will probably pull a 3-4% grade like my sons reg cab 1500 with a 4.60E trans, and 4.8 V8 with similar hp/torque spec with 3.42 gear, 1" smaller diam tires at around 50-55 mph. Yes we did that towing my C2500 home on a trailer when the fuel pump went out 60 miles from home. Yes we were in 2nd gear pulling 5000 rpm, motor was not screaming. My votec 350 with 255hp/335 torque 4.10 gears with the closer space taller geared 4l80E is similar. By the way, Rich's 1500 has an overall low 1st gear and 2nd gear better spaced setup than my 2500!

I really do not see an issue with the OP pulling a 6K trailer. Assuming they do not mind slowing into the low to mid 50's on a steeper 4-6% freeway grade.

If they can not quite hold direct lets say, but power is there in higher rpm, with a RWD, 1 diff, $1000 switch RA out to 3.73 gears, away you go!

Another point, this truck has around 2000 lbs of payload capacity on the RA. I'm looking at reg cabs, figure they have up to 2200-2400 on the RA. They typically have a ton of payload to the gvwr, plus 700 to axel capacity totals. Load correct, potentially 2500-2800 lbs of total payload if loaded and spread correctly. Where I live, I would have to register at 8000 lbs gvw. Reality is, 8000 less a 4800 lbs tare truck, 3200 lbs on the truck before I am literally illegal per state weight laws!

Buy the trailer and GO CAMPING!

Marty

Dadoffourgirls wrote:
I may have towed my 9k trailer with a 2014 Double Cab 4.3 V6 a couple of times. Never over 50 miles away. Never over 60 mph. The truck moved it. Did not race anybody. No mountains to climb.

Exactly the point I was trying to make, where you tow is just as important and what you tow.

Rover_Bill wrote:
I've been VERY HAPPY towing my 7K TT with my V6 Canyon for two years now (15K miles). As long as your truck has Tow/Haul (and you use it), you will be OK.

And your Canyon weighs considerably less than the OP's V6 Silverado. With a full tank of gas, no one in it and no cargo my V8 Silvy weighs 5600 lbs as it sits on the weigh scale ... that's FAR more weight the engine has to drag around than your Canyon's - a BIG difference. Famous last words from one who won't be riding shotgun with the OP as he attempts to tow this much trailer with his V6 Silverado - "you will be OK". :S

I may have towed my 9k trailer with a 2014 Double Cab 4.3 V6 a couple of times. Never over 50 miles away. Never over 60 mph. The truck moved it. Did not race anybody. No mountains to climb.

Another idea is to rent a trailer around the same weight for the weekend and see if the performance is satisfactory for you. Everyone has different standards on what is acceptable.

I've been VERY HAPPY towing my 7K TT with my V6 Canyon for two years now (15K miles). As long as your truck has Tow/Haul (and you use it), you will be OK.

SCSignman wrote:
I have a 2WD 2015 V6 Silverado (6900 GVRW) and wife loves RV with 5200 lbs. UVW

Can Truck handle that much weight?

Any real world experience would be appreciated!

The ecotec 4.3

The engine is SAE certified to 285 hp (213 kW) at 5300 rpm and 305 lb?ft (414 N?m) at 3900 rpm on regular unleaded gasoline

Now compare to my 2006 5.3l

My 2004-2007 5.3 engines made 295 hp and 335 lb·ft of torque.

We need to know what 2wd truck you have.

Your power is fine IMO as its similar to mine.

You have 6 speed I have 4 speed.

1. Look in glove box for RPO code to see what rear you have. Its either 3;21 or 3;42

Mine says (GU6) 3.42

2. What 2wd truck? Long bed?, Reg cap?, Double cab? Crew cab???

3. There is a door tag/sticker. Whats that say your max payload capacity is? Mine says 1480lbs

But here are your options really. What one is yours?

Lowest 5500 highest 6100.

1500 Std Bed 2WD 4.3L V-6 6,100 lbs (e)3:21
1500 LB 2WD 4.3L V-6 5,900 (e)
1500 double cab 2WD 4.3L V-6 5,600 (g)3:42
1500 SB crew cab 2WD 4.3L V-6 5,600 (e)
1500 Std Bed crew cab 2WD 4.3L V-6 5,500 (e)

Your better off with this..

425 tw and 5500 gvw with 4280 dry.

https://www.jayco.com/products/travel-trailers/2018-jay-feather/22rb/

You can tow the other one and I see no issue but do install the biggest trans cooler you can fit.. as that may be the weakest link... And maybe engine temps. Possibly an oil cooler too..

I tow 5500-6000 all day.

Tow haul mode will be your friend. Let her rev!!!!!



Ill wait to hear back from you.

http://www.chevrolet.com/content/dam/chevrolet/na/us/english/index/articles/truck-life/trailering-and-towing-guide/02-pdfs/bb-quantum-trailingtowing-printablechart-silverado1500-012617.pdf

SCSignman wrote:
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.

I towed our previous K-Z Spree 240BH-LX which averaged ~ 5500 lbs loaded & ready to camp with an average gross tongue weight of ~ 750 lbs with my 2006 5.3L Silverado, later my 2005 5.3L Avalanche, each running the older wide ratio 4-spd transmission to a 3.42 axle ratio. Although each vehicle towed this trailer well enough I certainly felt the weight, always towed in 3rd, downshifting to 2nd when negotiating serious upgrades. As I recall I was towing at well over 90% capacity and used up pretty well all available payload capacity.

Today I tow a much smaller couple's trailer with our 2012 5.3L Silverado running the newer narrow ratio 6-spd to the same 3.42 axle ratio. Below are screen shots of my towing calculator which clearly shows that although this trailer typically averages ~ 4800 lbs loaded & ready to camp with an average gross tongue weight of ~ 625 lbs I've pretty well maxed out this truck's available payload capacity.





While a Silvy with a V6 may weigh a bit less, with a bit more payload capacity, it's ability to pull any trailer heavier than this would certainly be a challenge.