I have a 2017 Silverado with max towing of 6100lbs, it is a 5.3 w/ 3.08. My TT is 5000 lbs dry. My Truck feels strong enough on flat land but I've never taken it anywhere with a real grade. We'd like to go to the Smokys with the TT, bad idea?

That trailer will be over 6,000 lb wet if you are married :B Seriously that poor 5.3 is going to protest not to mention the transmission and brakes and mileage will be atrocious. You need more truck or less trailer.

bshack wrote:I have a 2017 Silverado with max towing of 6100lbs, it is a 5.3 w/ 3.08. My TT is 5000 lbs dry. My Truck feels strong enough on flat land but I've never taken it anywhere with a real grade. We'd like to go to the Smokys with the TT, bad idea?Generally a 1/2 ton is OK up to 7000# without any concern.. But yours has a small rating and it is just an advertising number... By the time you read all of the fine print, it won't be able to tow anywhere near it's rating.... And your TT DRY, is probably about what your truck is capable of. So it will work, IF you tow it empty, and don't bring anyone or anything with you.... You have a mismatch.

bshack wrote:I have a 2017 Silverado with max towing of 6100lbs, it is a 5.3 w/ 3.08. My TT is 5000 lbs dry. My Truck feels strong enough on flat land but I've never taken it anywhere with a real grade. We'd like to go to the Smokys with the TT, bad idea?Ouch. The 5.3 has the beans, but that 3.08 is not going to help the effort. Your TT is probably around 6500 loaded for the road. How many people in the truck? A trip to the scales might be in order.

It won’t be easy and no one gets good gas mileage towing. The Smokies have decent grades but they’re generally a fairly short pull. Remember, the way down is the risky part. Uphill you just push the go pedal. Downhill you have to drive the truck. Drop to lower gears, hit your brakes hard and frequently and you should be ok. You won’t want to do this often over years but you should be ok for your vacation. Happy travels!!!

Thanks everyone, I was expecting it was going to come up short. What about a 5.7 crew cab tundra with 9800 lbs towing capacity? Will it handle the grades going up and down with no trouble with the same 5000lb TT? No white knuckles?

Will my truck tow safely in the Smokys? | Good Sam Community

time2roll
Nomad
Feb 02, 2020
Be prepared to slow down and enjoy the ride. Go have some fun.
bshack
Explorer
Feb 02, 2020
Thanks everyone, I was expecting it was going to come up short. What about a 5.7 crew cab tundra with 9800 lbs towing capacity? Will it handle the grades going up and down with no trouble with the same 5000lb TT? No white knuckles?
campigloo
Explorer
Feb 02, 2020
It won’t be easy and no one gets good gas mileage towing. The Smokies have decent grades but they’re generally a fairly short pull. Remember, the way down is the risky part. Uphill you just push the go pedal. Downhill you have to drive the truck. Drop to lower gears, hit your brakes hard and frequently and you should be ok. You won’t want to do this often over years but you should be ok for your vacation.
Happy travels!!!
drsteve
Explorer
Feb 02, 2020
bshack wrote:
I have a 2017 Silverado with max towing of 6100lbs, it is a 5.3 w/ 3.08. My TT is 5000 lbs dry. My Truck feels strong enough on flat land but I've never taken it anywhere with a real grade. We'd like to go to the Smokys with the TT, bad idea?

Ouch. The 5.3 has the beans, but that 3.08 is not going to help the effort. Your TT is probably around 6500 loaded for the road. How many people in the truck? A trip to the scales might be in order.
Huntindog
Explorer
Feb 02, 2020
bshack wrote:
I have a 2017 Silverado with max towing of 6100lbs, it is a 5.3 w/ 3.08. My TT is 5000 lbs dry. My Truck feels strong enough on flat land but I've never taken it anywhere with a real grade. We'd like to go to the Smokys with the TT, bad idea?
Generally a 1/2 ton is OK up to 7000# without any concern.. But yours has a small rating and it is just an advertising number... By the time you read all of the fine print, it won't be able to tow anywhere near it's rating.... And your TT DRY, is probably about what your truck is capable of. So it will work, IF you tow it empty, and don't bring anyone or anything with you....
You have a mismatch.
romore
Explorer II
Feb 02, 2020
That trailer will be over 6,000 lb wet if you are married :B Seriously that poor 5.3 is going to protest not to mention the transmission and brakes and mileage will be atrocious. You need more truck or less trailer.

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Will my truck tow safely in the Smokys?

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