SoundGuy wrote:
WAY too much trailer for a 1/2 ton Silvy, especially with a 3.42 axle ratio. :E I've been towing since 2006 with GMs ubiquitous 5.3L V8 coupled to a 3.42 axle, the first 2 having the older wide ratio 4-spd transmission, my current 2012 having the newer narrow ratio 6-spd. Our current trailer averages ~ 4800 lbs loaded & ready to camp, our previous Spree ~ 5500 lbs, but I wouldn't tow anything weighing any more than ~ 6000 lbs fully loaded with this truck. With a GVWR of 8600 lbs you could easily be running a gross tongue weight of 1100 to 1200 lbs of gross tongue weight, leaving very little payload capacity to account for the weight of everyone and all cargo in the truck when you're towing. :( You need a properly equipped 3/4 ton to tow a trailer this size.
With this setup with this camper, the typical cargo that we would have would be maybe 150lbs of firewood and about 500 lbs of people. perhaps 20 or so pounds of assorted tablets and toys for the kid.
Is your concern as much the transmission as the tongue weight?
Do you have the K5L option?
I thought the 3.42 was better for towing than the others.
I am not sure why you think a truck rated for 9600lbs shouldn't tow over 6000. I was under the impression that using a weight distributing hitch would the concern of the tongue weight. I could certainly be wrong there.
