planing to tow 3500 lb TT

Dry or GVWR?

GVWR

The 5.7 will be down on power, especially at higher altitude. It should handle that trailer, even if the loaded weight is 5K. I think it will work, if drive train is in good condition.

My neighbor towed a 10K dry weight FW, with a 99 Chev 2500 5.7! It was a poor fit, and the wrong thing to do, but just using it as an example. Most of his tows were under 100 miles, so he got by.

Jerry

Thinking about towing 3500 lb TT with half ton chevy w/ 350 eng. possibly in NC mtns. Any thoughts/comments appreciated.

What is there to plan? The trailer's 3500 pounds is nothing as trailers go. Just plan your route and trips. The trailer will be back there when you get to camp. You have more than enough truck and engine for 3500 trailer pounds.

My 2000 C2500 with the vortec 350, 255HP has more than ample power to tote a 3500 lb trailer around. Even got to 45 mph from a dead standstill on a 2-3% grade....yeah it took a half mile or so, but what the hey, there was a 12K trailer, total of 18K gcwr getting moved by that little sb8 motor. Did better than some of the first 454's I had........

Yes you will slow down a bit, but as some or one has noted, a 1500 is more than ample truck for a 3500 gvw trailer. As is the motor....UNLESS, you have an older 2bl or tbi 350, then you have less than 200 hp, and d300 lb ft of torque. If you have a post 95 or 96 when the vortec version came out, then you have 255/335 spec motor. I would not think twice about a 3500 lbs trailer behind my rig. Even a 3.42 geared 1500 is better off than my 2500 4.10 geared 2500. As the tranny in the half ton is lower geared than the one in the 2500. As such, the overall low is better starting off power wise.

Go for it!

marty

NC mountains never get high enough so's you'd notice any loss of power from the altitude, but in any case, you are using enough truck you'll hardly notice the trailer back there. In fact, it'd be good to just check the rearview once in a while to see if it's still there, lest you forget.

gft wrote:
Thinking about towing 3500 lb TT with half ton chevy w/ 350 eng. possibly in NC mtns. Any thoughts/comments appreciated.

Ours on the scales is 3680# with two weeks of supplies no water. pulls fine in the NC mtns at rockies both with 4.7L v8 so the 350 should be fine just watch your loading.

At this level of trailer weight...cars are rated for it...

The main issue for me, is the trailer frontal area. That is the greatest consumption
of power for that setup

Suggest looking at 4.1's and decide which is more important. MPG or
towing performance. The higher numeric diff ratio will affect MPG a bit
and some times get better MPG as the TV won't be working as hard with
a lower diff ratio

Thanks to everyone for comments and advice

Good grief. It'll do fine. If it's straining, let it slow a bit while going up. Just keep the engine RPMs in the power band and don't worry about speed while climbing. I've towed my combo in WV, NC, and MD mountains many times. No issues.