Would a Chevy 1500 HD be a good truck to tow with?

Having towed with multiple different rigs, Ford 5.4 With 3.73 rear end a 4-speed, GM 6.0 3.73 and 6-Speed, Ford F250 6.4 Diesel I have to ask a few questions. The interesting part on the hills was it from lack of power? If so I honestly don't believe that going to a 1500HD with the 6.0 is going to be a ground breaking difference. Yes it will be up to the task, and it was designed for that purpose. But your also getting a heavier truck, larger axles, more springs more weight so the power gain is limited with a large load behind it.

If it's a suspension, breaking, stopping perspective on hills that concerns you then yes the 1500HD is better suited to do that job and do it better as the 1500HD is essentially a 2500 Light Duty.

The 6.0 for that model year range puts down 300HP and 360TQ, the 5.3 for 2004 put down 295HP and 330TQ. The gearing will help but it's not going to be anything significant. In fact I have known guys that have "upraded" to 3/4-tons of that generation that have been disappointed because pulling power wise there is no difference, what your gaining is suspension, braking and control of the trailer.

Just FYI it's really worth it to consider what it is your concerned with and wanting to gain.

I don't know about the rest of the guys but 3.42 gears is just too high for good towing. I would use at least 3.73's for towing. I have 4.10's and even they are slow going up hills. But then I don't drive up hill as fast as I do on the flats. there are some out there who do try to do 70 up hills. they will deny it but I've had my doors blown off many a time going up cabbage hill in eastern Oregon.

Zepaholic wrote:
I am a newbie on here.
I bought a 28 ft. 2014 Springdale travel camper & the dealer told me I would be able to haul it with my 2004 1500 silverado (5.3 with 3.42 gears). Well on the way home it was a wake up call that going up a hill will be tough. On the way home no hills just over passes & such it was interesting.
So I am looking to buy a used truck. I have my eye on a Chevy 1500 HD. It comes with the oil cooler & the transmission cooler. It also has 6.0 with 3.73 gears in the rear end. I would assume this would be a better choice than what I have now, but would like to hear opinions. Thanks in advance!

That truck with the 6.0 and the 6 sp trans would be a great choice IMO.

Double post

The chevy 1500HD will do fine with that. It has the 8 lug axles and the heavy duty tranny. There is very little between it and a 2500. Great truck.

Towing a travel trailer is a wake up call for people if they have never pulled one before. The trucks behave totally different pulling a TT than pulling a flatbed or a utility trailer or even a boat.

So, with that said, you will feel that drag behind you no matter what kind of small block truck you get. Even big blocks and diesels feel drag from the trailers.

The big block recommendation is great and there is a reason they were towing kings for years.

However, your truck is probably more than fine. People have been towing those weights with the 3.43 and 5.3 for years now. You will not hurt the truck just let it work and let it do it's thing. Cut the OD off and stay in the slow lane. 60-65 is pleanty fast enough and on hills it's normal to lose a few MPH while climbing. Many of us half ton towers do just that and have for years.

If you are the type of persons that expects the truck to accelerate while towing just like it does unloaded then the 6.0 1500 HD will disappoint you. Because it will be very similar experience. The truck will behave one way unloaded and another when loaded.

Higher RPM, slower speed, feeling the load behind you, losing some speed on some hills is all perfectly normal and part of the natural experience of being an RVer. Even Motorhomes do that to a degree.

You just need to decide what you are willing to find acceptable and what you will not.

Thanks !

Jeremiah

What 28' Springdale model did you buy? I see a 28' bunk house at 7k dry and 8k dry. That will be 8500-9000 loaded. That's outside nearly any half ton I recommend, including the GM 1500HD.

While it would be an upgrade performance wise from your current truck, I highly recommend something with significantly more wheel torque. That means something new enough to get more transmission gears or something like a diesel or 8.1L with far more engine torque.

If you stick to 4-spd trans models, at least get 4.10 axle.

Yep, it is; It has a gvw of 8600# and a curb weight of 5600, giving you 3000# of payload