Looking for BH for my newer 06 1500 TV

PAThwacker wrote:

SoundGuy wrote:

SoundGuy wrote:
Towing 7500 lbs with a 2006 5.3L Silvy? ... thanks for my morning chuckle. :W Funny now, but not so much if you actually attempt it ... first tow and you'll be wondering what the heck you were thinking. :R No way, no how is this truck suitable for towing any more than ~ 6000 lbs fully loaded, particularly if it's running GM's ubiquitous non-tow friendly 3.42 axle. Having towed our 5500 lb (fully loaded) KZ Spree for 4 yrs with this same truck over just about every terrain one might encounter I wouldn't have wanted to tow any more. I replaced that truck with an Avalanche - same engine, same wide ratio 4-spd transmission that isn't anywhere near as capable as the current narrow ratio 6-spd, and same non-tow friendly 3.42 axle ratio. Our current trailer is 1000 lbs lighter, ~ 4500 lbs loaded and ready to camp, and even though my passenger load is lighter because it's now just my wife and I our Av does just OK and certainly wouldn't set any land speed records. Towing 7500 lbs? - not a chance. Not only is there insufficient grunt under the hood for this size of trailer but you'll run out of sufficient payload capacity to account for trailer tongue weight transferred to the truck l-o-n-g before you get anywhere near the truck's GCWR. Prove it to yourself - fill the truck tank, mount weight distribution including spring bars, and go weigh it. Subtract your weight from the scale reading and you'll have your particular truck's dead weight as it's sits there ready to be hitched to a trailer. Subtract that number from it's GVWR and you'll have it's actual, real world payload capacity ... and it won't be anywhere near 1500 lbs, guaranteed. Believe otherwise and you're dreaming. ;)

lawrosa wrote:
Well thanks for the uneducated response..

"Uneducated"? Ha Ha ... now that's funny, for all the reasons I already detailed in my post. :R Hey, do what you want but no degree of trucking experience on your part will change the facts of the matter - 6000 lbs total trailer weight is about as much as you should expect to tow with your older 5.3L gas aspirated GM coupled to the older wide ratio 4-spd transmission which in turn is running GM's non tow friendly 3.42 axle ratio. By hey, go ahead, tow more and find out the hard way just how poor the tow will be. :W

Here is more proof for the pudding: 2008 Trailblazer 5.3V8 4l60 trans, 3.42 rear. The same setup in run of the mill half ton pickups. It could not do 60MPH downhill 7% grade. In fact it could not stay 4th gear going downhill. 300HP and commuting rear ends are meant for grocery stores and daycare jaunts!

Just saying but your 08 Trailblazer with the 5.3L and the 4L60 with a 3.42 would only be rated for 11,000 GCWR where OP's 2006 Chev 1500 with the same setup is rated for 13,000 GCWR kinda an apples to oranges comparison... I agree he won't win any races pulling more with the same setup but it doesn't mean that it can't be done safely. Also 4th on those transmission is considered an OD gear with 3rd gear being direct drive. You shouldn't be in 4th towing going downhill anyways you should be downshifting to allow for engine braking if needed.