Towing: Is a 1Ton 5.7L gas Chevy ok to tow 10,000 lb 5er?

[Sea_Six]

2000 year model Chevrolet 3500, 5.7L gas engine. Long bed (8 foot).

I don't know for certain the exact engine specs, but Wikipedia lists a 5.7L Vortec engine producing 255hp and 330 ft-lb of torque.

Will this tow my 10,000 pound 32' Jayco 5er safely?

[recycler]

jerem0621 wrote:
Check out this link for the 2000 Towing Guide

2000 Towing Guide

It mentions a HD towing package was required for the 2000 HD 3500 truck with the 5.7 in order to get the 10,000 lb tow rating.

I would do some googleing for the RPO code for the 2000 3500 series HD towing package.

The RPO codes should be listed in the glove box. I am sure a GM expert will chime in with more info here.

I "Think" that I read that the HD towing package consisted of a transmission cooler and a HD radiator.. but I may be mistaken.. I would google that as well if I were you.


Thanks!

Jeremiah

in 2000 the 3500 HD was a chassis cab truck..it has a solid front axle and 34in wide frame in the rear plus a 14,500lbs GVW and a 24,000lb GCVWR..
to the op yes it will safely pull it just don't plan on getting there fast if there is any big hills..

[raston]

To original poster...

Last summer I traveled through the BC mountains in my 07 Dodge Ram 2500 w/ 5.7 Hemi, pulling my 7500lb (dry, probably 8500lb loaded) 5'ver. Did OK but the hills were a real strain. Long climbs in the mountains slowed us right down while the engine screamed.

That convinced me to go diesel. Sold the 07, picked up an 04 Dodge Ram 3500 SRW with a Cummins 5.9. Pulling the same 5'ver for my vacation this year was a whole different ball game... I wasn't going through the mountains mind you, but any hills we climbed (and there were some good ones) the truck didn't even notice them.

So, said all that to say that the 5.7 gaser will be fine on relatively flat ground but will struggle on the big hills. Safety shouldn't be an issue but performance will.

Good luck with you decision.

[jerem0621]

newk wrote:
Years ago I had an '88 2500 with a 350 that I hauled a tall 9' TC with. Against a strong wind I couldn't maintain the minimum interstate speed of 45 mph! It was horribly underpowered. I traded it for an '89 F250 with a 460. It did okay with the TC, but then we got a 10K GVW 5er and were back to struggling. Traded it for a 2000 F250 psd and still truckin with it -- no more power problems. I don't think you'd be happy with the small block.

That's a good point. I think the best years for the 454 were the Vortec years...which I think started in 1996 ish.

Thanks,

Jeremiah

[newk]

Years ago I had an '88 2500 with a 350 that I hauled a tall 9' TC with. Against a strong wind I couldn't maintain the minimum interstate speed of 45 mph! It was horribly underpowered. I traded it for an '89 F250 with a 460. It did okay with the TC, but then we got a 10K GVW 5er and were back to struggling. Traded it for a 2000 F250 psd and still truckin with it -- no more power problems. I don't think you'd be happy with the small block.

[jerem0621]

Sea Six wrote:
I have not yet purchased a tow vehicle. But, I have completely abandoned the idea of anything below a 7.4 liter engine.

I have to decide and purchase a TV before the first of the month when I take possession of the fifth wheel camper. I'll keep looking, but at the last minute I can always buy the TV the seller is using- a 7.4 liter camper special rated to tow 10,000 pounds.

Are you keyholed into a GM product? I see a lot of 460 F350 dually's for sale. Unfortunately you can't get a 4x4 Crew Cab Dually with a standard bed in the OBS (old body style)

The big 454 is a great choice. If you shop carefully you may be able to find a V10 Ford similar to mine or a 8.1 GM Dually. Just trying to give you options.

Thanks

Jeremiah

[Sea_Six]

I have not yet purchased a tow vehicle. But, I have completely abandoned the idea of anything below a 7.4 liter engine.

I have to decide and purchase a TV before the first of the month when I take possession of the fifth wheel camper. I'll keep looking, but at the last minute I can always buy the TV the seller is using- a 7.4 liter camper special rated to tow 10,000 pounds.

[bucky]

The key to gasser towing is RPM. I had to relearn that when I ditched the PSD. My first 7.4 4x4 4.10s towed our former 8600lb TT to western MD and Myrtle Beach many times without issue. Hit the hills at 3000-3500 rpm and accelerate as you go. Below that, you may as well stop and have lunch. Our current 7.4 4x4 4.10s is pulling our 10K empty 5er just fine so far, but haven't tempted fate yet. We just got it in May, no long trips yet. The 5.7 in the 3500 will have the big trans and all of the cooler packages, so if you are going to stay in FL or other flat areas it wouldn't scare me. Single wheel will tow more, dually will tow better. Have you weighed your 5er yet?

[Captain_Obvious]

I had a '97 K2500 with the 5.7 towing a 5000 lb trailer. It did OK, but going uphill was a challenge. Not the fastest by any means. My thought was "My next truck will have a bigger engine!".

Fast forward 2 trucks - I now have a 2000 K3500 with the 7.4. Even towing 6000 lbs, it still isn't the fastest up hill.

The other weekend I brought a 8k trailer back for a friend with my 7.4. I did it, but I had to watch the hills and downshift to second.

I could not imagine towing 10k with a 5.7.

Looking at the towing guide: http://www.trailerlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Trailer-Life-Towing-Guide-2000.pdf

C3500 (2WD) with 5.7 must have 4.56 gears to tow 10k. If you have the 4.10 gears, you only get 8600 lbs.
Also, you didn't mention 2WD or 4WD - if 4WD, you only get to tow 8300 lbs.

[Cummins12V98]

jerem0621 wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Just curious maybe someone cam clarify. I have a 99 Tahoe and was told 99 was the last year of the 5.7 or was that just in the Tahoe?

My Father in law has a 2001 Chevy Express van... with a 5.7. I am pretty sure that it took a few years to totally change to the LS based motors.

Allimax.. that was a great observation. The old towing charts were very basic.. limited info... just a rating.. If you notice on this one, I don't think it even breaks down the cab configurations..

Thanks!

Jeremiah

Must have been the last year for the Tahoe. My Tahoe has 215K and runs great. Never towed anything with it.

[JIMNLIN]

Sea Six wrote:
2000 year model Chevrolet 3500, 5.7L gas engine. Long bed (8 foot).

I don't know for certain the exact engine specs, but Wikipedia lists a 5.7L Vortec engine producing 255hp and 330 ft-lb of torque.

Will this tow my 10,000 pound 32' Jayco 5er safely?

A 10000 lb trailer ??
If this is a dry weight number the actual weight could be closer to 11500-12000 lbs.

A one ton chevy. A one ton SRW or the DRW ?? Make a big difference.

As was mentioned much depends on the trucks rear axle ratio which can be a 3.73 or 4.10 or 4.56 ratio. GM detuned hp ratings on many of their smallblocks in the HD 3/4 and one tons for longer service life.

The devil is always in the details.

[jerem0621]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Just curious maybe someone cam clarify. I have a 99 Tahoe and was told 99 was the last year of the 5.7 or was that just in the Tahoe?

My Father in law has a 2001 Chevy Express van... with a 5.7. I am pretty sure that it took a few years to totally change to the LS based motors.

Allimax.. that was a great observation. The old towing charts were very basic.. limited info... just a rating.. If you notice on this one, I don't think it even breaks down the cab configurations..

Thanks!

Jeremiah

[retired-tech]

Had a new 98 with a 350. It did ok. I was farming and racing cars back then. hauled more than 10k all the time, and pulling 3 snowmobiles on a car trailer with the cruise at 80mph it got 9. Got 13 empty and I would probably prefer it to the 6.5 I am hauling with now.

3500 trucks had a HP rating at 250 instead of the 255 that 1500/2500 had. all dual wheel trucks had 4.10 gears singles could have 3.73 or 4.10. been a long time since I was a 4.56 in a gm truck. Also the HD truck that shows in the charts is equivalent to a 450/550 ford, not like the 2000 up when HD became the standard truck moniker.

As far as 99 being the last year for the 350,thats not quite right. the gmt400 platform was offered from early 1987through sometime in late in 2000. also the G-vans had them till the body change for I think 03.

[MFL]

My neighbor has a 99 with the 5.7 and 4.10 gears. He is pulling a 10,000# FW, and says it has no power, even on the level roads. It takes so much gas, especially in any wind, that he no longer pulls more than 50 miles out. He is pulling an 04 Hitchiker, with a tall, square front.

Jerry

[allimax]

jerem0621 wrote:
Check out this link for the 2000 Towing Guide

2000 Towing Guide

It mentions a HD towing package was required for the 2000 HD 3500 truck with the 5.7 in order to get the 10,000 lb tow rating.

I would do some googleing for the RPO code for the 2000 3500 series HD towing package.

The RPO codes should be listed in the glove box. I am sure a GM expert will chime in with more info here.

I "Think" that I read that the HD towing package consisted of a transmission cooler and a HD radiator.. but I may be mistaken.. I would google that as well if I were you.


Thanks!

Jeremiah
Well, that was an interesting chart. Did you notice how condensed it was in 2000? It's like a whole book now with all the different configurations and manufacturers out there.