Silverado 1500 Towing

[genekiwi]

Anyone know the towing capacity for a 2013 Silverado 1500 Crew Cab 5.3 engine with 3.42 rear end with trailer package?

Can't find anything on line. Dealer says 9600 pounds but not sure about that.

Considering buying one to tow about a 7500 pound trailer.

I know it will not be the fastest but that is okay.

Thanks

[Need-A-Vacation]

I never felt a lack a power with our '10-1500 CCSB 5.3, 6spd, 3.42 4x4. Where I found (or learned the hard way! Lol) it lacked was payload for our set up! Higher tw, cab high fiberglass topper, etc, all contributed.

If there was a 2500 (LD) it probably would have been perfect for us! 5.3, 6spd, 3.73 CCSB with about 2500lbs of payload! Lol

Continue to keep us posted about your beast!

[genekiwi]

ok Ok I was only repeating what the lady told me, nothing more.

I thought her trailer was a bit long and maybe heavy for the F150 but that was just my observation.

I don't know what the weight rating is for the F150 but I think she would be pushing the ccc if nothing else.

[JIMNLIN]

APT wrote:
Thank you Hybridhunter for once again singling me out. The spreadsheet screenshot is not flawed. Its application for the situations you suggest (top 2 gears) may not be relevant, but it certainly is not flawed.

Peak wheel torque for most of today's naturally aspirated V8s in full sized pickups is around 4500rpm in first gear, which is well under 130mph. Today's V8's have a fairly flat torque curve (85-90% available from 2000-5000rpm. I agree they are not as good as Ford's 3.5" Ecoboost.

Ignore wheel torque and stop at column E for torque multiplication.

If you wish to continue that discussion, please PM.

Hybirdhunter makes a excellent point. With no road speed the chart doesn't give any real word numbers for towing. Now if we were racing the chart is some what interesting.

Its much easier to use a chart with mph/gear selection/rpms/etc.

[APT]

I think the only way to get 5mpg towing a TT is by driving 80mph, uphill which it seems the Ecoboost could do. That reference is suspect. I have never heard anyone get 5mpg towing a TT in the last 20 years. Uphills, sure, but not average hand calculated round trip towing.

[f150camper]

genekiwi wrote:

APT wrote:
Thank you Hybridhunter for once again singling me out. The spreadsheet screenshot is not flawed. Its application for the situations you suggest (top 2 gears) may not be relevant, but it certainly is not flawed.

Peak wheel torque for most of today's naturally aspirated V8s in full sized pickups is around 4500rpm in first gear, which is well under 130mph. Today's V8's have a fairly flat torque curve (85-90% available from 2000-5000rpm. I agree they are not as good as Ford's 3.5" Ecoboost.

Ignore wheel torque and stop at column E for torque multiplication.

If you wish to continue that discussion, please PM.

Not sure what all the charting is about but jus a comment on the ecoboost.

Met a lady with a 30 foot box and about 33 foot long. Ford F150 with ecoboost. She was very happy that they were getting 5 mpg with the truck.

I'll stay with the Chevy 1500.

I get between 11 and 12 mpg towing our TT at 65mph with the ecoboost.
And 21mpg at 65mph not towing.

[genekiwi]

APT wrote:
Thank you Hybridhunter for once again singling me out. The spreadsheet screenshot is not flawed. Its application for the situations you suggest (top 2 gears) may not be relevant, but it certainly is not flawed.

Peak wheel torque for most of today's naturally aspirated V8s in full sized pickups is around 4500rpm in first gear, which is well under 130mph. Today's V8's have a fairly flat torque curve (85-90% available from 2000-5000rpm. I agree they are not as good as Ford's 3.5" Ecoboost.

Ignore wheel torque and stop at column E for torque multiplication.

If you wish to continue that discussion, please PM.

Not sure what all the charting is about but jus a comment on the ecoboost.

Met a lady with a 30 foot box and about 33 foot long. Ford F150 with ecoboost. She was very happy that they were getting 5 mpg with the truck.

I'll stay with the Chevy 1500.

[IndyCamp]

Thanks for the update, OP!

We have the same truck and tow a 7,400 pound trailer (loaded). We have taken it throughout the Midwest and South, including the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee.

I could not be happier with the way the truck has performed. After hearing some people on this board, I was expecting 5,000 RPM going up a hill and maxing out at 35 MPH. Nothing could have been further from the truth. As long as I anticipated the big hills, the truck did great. Had to get over to pass several big rigs.

Safe travels!

[brittsnbirds]

I use to tow a 6800# Wildwood with a '03 1500, 5.3, 3:73. I had the equal-i-zer hitch system. It did ok, little slow in places. Got around 10 mpg. I traded up to an '09 2500hd, 6.0, 3:73, and got 7-8 mpg. That truck pulled my trailer painlessly. I suspect that I got less mpg with the 2500 because my speed increased. The 1500 would do it but you had to drive it 24/7. The 2500 is just a hair short of setting the cruise and laying back. Personally I would not have gone any bigger with the 1500. Just too much trailer. It will wear you out. Especially with wind and trucks.

I know pull a 34' Sprinter 5th wheel w/ the 2500. And I'm getting better mileage. It pulls SO much easier than the bumper hitch. (sidenote sorry).

Good luck

[APT]

Thank you Hybridhunter for once again singling me out. The spreadsheet screenshot is not flawed. Its application for the situations you suggest (top 2 gears) may not be relevant, but it certainly is not flawed.

Peak wheel torque for most of today's naturally aspirated V8s in full sized pickups is around 4500rpm in first gear, which is well under 130mph. Today's V8's have a fairly flat torque curve (85-90% available from 2000-5000rpm. I agree they are not as good as Ford's 3.5" Ecoboost.

Ignore wheel torque and stop at column E for torque multiplication.

If you wish to continue that discussion, please PM.

[Hybridhunter]

APT wrote:
Fine, here you go. Still not as good as that little V6 and higher engine speed. Exhaust sounds far better, though!



But you are right, the 6.2L/3.73 provides significant power improvements over the 5.3L/3.42, about 35%.

Your spreadsheet is flawed using the max torque number on account of the fact that it only gives a snapshot of what peak torque is available. There is no mention of road speed, so the shorter gearing, which really only helps at lower speeds, and for gear ratio spreads, does not adequately explain anything. For example, to hit peak torque on GM's 6.2, you would theoretically have to go 130mph. Like I said, something missing there.....
And the peak torque of the EB being available at slightly over 2000 rpms, it can put down over 150% more power in the top 2 gears at cruising speed. Not to mention that in the lower gears, you need around 4000rpms to get the number referenced in the spreadsheet.
To give an accurate reflection of wheel power, you need to RPM correct the torque into a horsepower number at a given RPM, and that will reflect what you power will make it from theory to reality.

[jkoons]

We have a 2012 1500,3.42 gear tolling 7000# works good for use.

[dodge_guy]

WOW! You mean you didn't explode into a heaping pile on the side of the highway? LOL.

Glad it's working out for you! Thanks for the update!

[genekiwi]

I know this is an old thread but just thought I would update on the towing experience this year.

We left Florida and travelled across Alabam, Mississippi, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and are currently in Utah.

Truck has performed beyond what I had expected. The grade braking on the long down hills has been great. The 18 mile downhill on 17 to Sedona was a piece of cake. Truck stayed right at 60.

Going back up 17, again was a big surprise. No problems at all.

We have hit a couple of 8% grades but the truck revved up to almost 4500 a couple of times but without any complaint.

Transmission and engine temp gauges stayed with the safe range.

Find that if I let the truck do the driving, I am better off. By that I mean leave it in drive and cruise. It knows what to do.

I don't think the 06 2500 could have done much better with the 4 speed. I am really enjoying this truck.

I really thing the 6 speed tranny makes a big difference.

Getting about 10 mpg which is better than the old truck.

Again, thanks for all the help and advice last year.

[mkirsch]

No reason to freak out if your engine goes above 2000 RPMs. It's designed from the factory to roar around at at least 3000 RPM all day every day for 100,000+ miles.

You're under the limits, and you're happy with the way it performs, and you presumably do not feel that the rig is unsafe at all. That's what counts.

Dunno what you do when camping, you must just sit naked and cold on the floor of the trailer...