Need some constructive advice please We currently have a well maintained 2005 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD 4x4 extended cab (not crew) and short 6.5 bed with 6.0 gas engine and 4.11 rear that has 126K miles. Tow rating is listed at 10.5 K. We tow a travel trailer that has a dry weight of 8900 and is 38 feet long so we’re really maxed out and the truck has some difficulty on hills and towing stability is marginal and requires much more handling correction then I’ve ever experienced in past 3 TT’s (all smaller) we’ve towed with this truck. It’s been a great truck. Looking at a new truck and comparing models and we do not want a Diesel engine. That being said Chevy/GM has the same 2500HD crew cab 4x4 short bed with the 4.11 rear that is now rated at 13K tow rating. Towing with a Reese Stait Line WDH that is brand new. Questions:1) Would we be gaining anything in the stability and tow power over our current truck?2) Does the age of the current truck effect its tow ability? 3) Why do the newer Chevy/GM trucks equipped the same have a higher tow rating?4) Will waiting on the new 6.2 Chevy gas engine that’s rumored be better? 5) Is the length of our TT matched with our current truck adding to the handling issues?Lots of questions. Not nearly ready to drop the coin on a new truck yet just doing some homework and studying during this long winter. Please understand I’m not against diesel, just don’t like the additional maintenance needed and the added upfront cost is substantial. I’m not against Ford either except I’m not sold on the aluminum bed. Yes I know Chevy is adding more aluminum body parts now but I think the bed should be steel.Thanks for any suggestions.

1. Yes2. Probably not enough to notice.3. Your vintage of 6.0 engine has 300hp and 360 torque. The newer gen 6.0 has 360hp and 380 torque. Also, the 6 speed transmission that has been mated to the 6.0 liter since 2007 is a vast improvement over your 4 speed. Also, the newer trucks have a stronger frame, larger brakes, and class V receiver.4. If the 6.2 ends up in the HD trucks, it will be better but at this point that is purely speculation.5. Yes, the longer the trailer the more likely sway will be a concern.

2003silverado wrote:1. Yes2. Probably not enough to notice.3. Your vintage of 6.0 engine has 300hp and 360 torque. The newer gen 6.0 has 360hp and 380 torque. Also, the 6 speed transmission that has been mated to the 6.0 liter since 2007 is a vast improvement over your 4 speed. Also, the newer trucks have a stronger frame, larger brakes, and class V receiver.4. If the 6.2 ends up in the HD trucks, it will be better but at this point that is purely speculation. I think the chances of that happening at this point are about 05. Yes, the longer the trailer the more likely sway will be a concern.

An additional 60 HP with 2 more gears in the transmission would make a huge difference as far as towing ability. I've towed extremely long trailers and found some sway terribly while another the same length had virtually no sway. The surest way to eliminate sway is to move to a fifth wheel.

If you are having handling issues, the first thing I would do is get more weight on the tongue (like 150 lbs more). Second make sure your WDH w/ sway control (you do have one right?) is properly set up.If you are having Hp issues, that's a reason to go shopping for a new truck. But if your going to spend that much money, get one with a longer wheelbase. That's part of your problems.

Regarding question 1. Someone said he would gain stability with a newer truck. How so? New truck should have larger tires. Would that be part of the reason?

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2003silverado
Explorer II
Feb 03, 2018
1. Yes

2. Probably not enough to notice.

3. Your vintage of 6.0 engine has 300hp and 360 torque. The newer gen 6.0 has 360hp and 380 torque. Also, the 6 speed transmission that has been mated to the 6.0 liter since 2007 is a vast improvement over your 4 speed. Also, the newer trucks have a stronger frame, larger brakes, and class V receiver.

4. If the 6.2 ends up in the HD trucks, it will be better but at this point that is purely speculation.

5. Yes, the longer the trailer the more likely sway will be a concern.
Ralph_Cramden
Explorer II
Feb 03, 2018
2003silverado wrote:
1. Yes

2. Probably not enough to notice.

3. Your vintage of 6.0 engine has 300hp and 360 torque. The newer gen 6.0 has 360hp and 380 torque. Also, the 6 speed transmission that has been mated to the 6.0 liter since 2007 is a vast improvement over your 4 speed. Also, the newer trucks have a stronger frame, larger brakes, and class V receiver.

4. If the 6.2 ends up in the HD trucks, it will be better but at this point that is purely speculation. I think the chances of that happening at this point are about 0

5. Yes, the longer the trailer the more likely sway will be a concern.
4x4ord
Explorer III
Feb 03, 2018
An additional 60 HP with 2 more gears in the transmission would make a huge difference as far as towing ability. I've towed extremely long trailers and found some sway terribly while another the same length had virtually no sway. The surest way to eliminate sway is to move to a fifth wheel.
nickthehunter
Nomad II
Feb 03, 2018
If you are having handling issues, the first thing I would do is get more weight on the tongue (like 150 lbs more). Second make sure your WDH w/ sway control (you do have one right?) is properly set up.

If you are having Hp issues, that's a reason to go shopping for a new truck. But if your going to spend that much money, get one with a longer wheelbase. That's part of your problems.
Charlie_D_
Explorer
Feb 03, 2018
Regarding question 1. Someone said he would gain stability with a newer truck. How so? New truck should have larger tires. Would that be part of the reason?
DownTheAvenue
Explorer
Feb 03, 2018
You may want to consider a Hensley or Propride hitch. Either hitch will totally eliminate sway and dramatically change your towing experience. Those hitches, while expensive, are much cheaper than a new truck that will not change your towing experience to a great degree. Your current truck still has much life left.
nickthehunter
Nomad II
Feb 03, 2018
(Post deleted)
1mtnman
Explorer II
Feb 03, 2018
I have the very same truck with 97000 miles, same rearend ratio. I have towed 2 dikfferent TT with this truck however the longest was 24ft.
You are really pushing thelimit with the length of your current TT. I would say your only hope is a Hensley type hitch. I've always used Equalizer type hitches with shorter TT. The other main problem you have is that you have too much TT for the truck. I would not consider any weight load over a loaded 6000 lbs for my truck and then it really struggles in the hills of Colorado. That's one reason I have the TC I now have.
monkey44
Nomad II
Feb 03, 2018
We went from 2003 GM Xcab, SB, 6.0L 3:73 four-speed w/BFG 265 tires, to a 2015 GM, Xcab, SB, 6.0L 4:11, six-speed - BFG 285 tires. The difference is quite a bit in both handling and operating on highway and in the back country. I also believe the suspension has a bit more beef ... and a bit better MPG as well.

We put 214,000 miles on the 2003, and it was not nearly worn out - but we cross-country travel a lot, and were more concerned with the little things wearing out (wires, gauges, electronic glitches, etc) the small easy to repair things that stop you dead when you're way off the highway ... so we traded in.

We haul a 3500 lb Truck Camper - so, a bit different that a TT. But the comparison with same camper on the newer truck, similar engine etc - performance was improved definitely enough to notice driving it, regardless of "any numbers one might dig up" -- Of course, the numbers matter for comparison between vehicles, but I evaluate my trucks under work conditions on the road. We'd upgrade again under the same conditions. That 6.0L engine is a true workhorse.
FishOnOne
Nomad
Feb 03, 2018
Current Trucks:

If you want to stay with a gas I would give a Super Duty with the 6.2 and 4:30 gears a hard look.

The current GM 6.0 and transmission I'm not convinced you'll notice a big improvement.

Future Trucks:

Rumor has it that Ford will be rolling out a new 7.3 gas engine for the Super Duty line.

GM is working on a larger displacement gas engine too, but I'm not a fan of the 2019 half ton styling but not sure how much of the looks will be included in the HD trucks.

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