1/2 ton towing observations.. (probably need a 3/4)

Took the new TT on a trip last week. Wet weight is roughly 6500 pounds. Towing with a 1500 Suburban 4x4, 5.3 V8, Sumo-Supersprings.

The Suburban tows great. Better than I expected in every aspect except one, the 5.3 V8. On the way out of town I stayed in the gas trying to keep the speed up. The transmission downshifted from time to time, in tow/haul. In the mountains, not big mountains, more like foothills, it did OK but, slowed on the hills. Not painful but..

When we left to come home it was in a driving rain. I drove home at about the same speeds but, with less effort and there was almost no downshifting on the hills. I just let the speed bleed off some. On a couple of long uphill pulls it may have downshifted but, I wasn't in the gas hard.

As far as handling and braking it did great. Very happy about that. Really no sway issues except one time and that was my fault. I came into a sweeping curve kinda hot and had to make a correction. Had a little sway but, not worth fretting over. When passed by semis the camper was stable.

Overall, the 1500 Suburban did pretty well. However, I know that my next TV will have more engine. The old GM454/Turbo400 in the motorhome pulled more weight with less effort. The 5.3 is kinda weak for towing a 27 foot travel trailer.

There was a guy next to us that pulled a heavier trailer (toy hauler) than ours with an Expedition, the long version. His had the 5.4 V8 and he claimed that he had plenty of power even on the long uphill pulls but, that he had occasional sway issues.

I will say that we spent considerably less in overall fuel cost, for the week, pulling the trailer with the 5.3 including side trips. The old motorhome with the 454 and the Honda CRV combo cost us more in gas in a week.

I've already started passively looking at bigger TVs. In a perfect world I'd get the Excursion 4x4 with a 7.3 diesel. Those things are as rare as hen's teeth.

Tow Vehicles

Lwiddis
Explorer II
Jun 13, 2017
"Overall, the 1500 Suburban did pretty well."
"The Suburban tows great."

Then what's the reason you want to change your TV? The guy next to you saying.... And the newest Excursion is 13 years old.
Terryallan
Explorer II
Jun 13, 2017
ANY TV you buy WILL slow down on hills. Notice the big trucks crawling along in the slow lane, and those are designed to tow over 80,000lbs. Do NOT expect the TV to charge up hills with the TT like it does with out a trailer. You will be disappointed no matter what you get. 3/4 tons slow down, and downshift on hills as well. I have passed many of them going up Saluda grade, and Black mountain.

IF you really want to see how well it does in the mountains. Tow the TT up 16 to Glendale Springs, or 321 to Boone. A serious test would be 226 out of Marion. However. In truth. IF you can hold 45 to 50 MPH going up Black mountain on 40, It is doing pretty good.

Honestly It sounds like your TV, and TT are pretty well matched up. No sway, and little down shifting. you didn't really expect it to stay in high gear going up the hill did you? That is pretty much unrealistic. Unless you are like my ex son in law. A flatlander from the coast. Tried to take a S10 up to Blowing Rock in 5th gear, and then thought something was wrong with it.

In short. Remember. Your 5.3 loves to rev. It makes it's power at higher RPM. Drive it like you stole it, and let it run. It will thank you for it.
Mine like to rev as well, and it sounds GREAT doing it. BTW. I always turn off 6th gear when towing. The engine likes it much better running free at a little higher RPM.
RSD559
Explorer
Jun 13, 2017
Ditto what TerryAllen said. You probably have a "tryin' to save fuel" rear end in your Suburban, which doesn't help when you are towing. No shame in slowing down on steeper hills. Just keep the engine revving in it's sweet spot, and watch your temperatures.
time2roll
Nomad
Jun 13, 2017
4WD increases the cost but honestly a set of gears 10 to 20 percent lower will make a big difference and reduce the downshifts.
Redwoodcamper
Explorer
Jun 13, 2017
I don't agree that anything will slow down on hills. A mildly tuned newer diesel will pull anything up to 10k lbs up 95percent of hills in the country at 65mph. With 5-6k lbs behind it my mostly stock truck will pull some of the biggest hills on the west coast as 70. With 35in tires. And it has almost 280k miles.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Jun 13, 2017
^ Agree with redwood here. Remember some folks have a bit of a pessimistic view on things or just don't know better. I'd give my 10 year old "mostly stock" pickup a good chance of pulling 6-8 percent grades plus with most any TT on the hitch without slowing down if the curves didn't dictate. I know it'll rip 5th gear at 60-65 mph uphill with a boat anchor on the hook and do the same at 75 mph in 6th. My issue is egts, as I have a pretty crude tuner that likes to pour the fuel to a stock turbo that doesn't clear out the lungs as good as it could making that kind of power. Actually better than a good chance, I do it semi regularly. That's the benefit of having the better part of 1000ft lbs on tap.

To the OP, sounds like your sub/Tahoe did well. Don't believe the guy with the 5.4. It isn't the raw powerhouse he's making it out to be.
Yes a 7.3 cherry excursion woild really do the trick, but like you said, they're not getting any less gold plated every day. You can make marked improvements in towing power with several of the new SUVs, but for the price you pay for them you could buy a HD diesel tow pig of your favorite flavor. Crew cab, topper with a carpet kit and it's like a sub without the 3rd row seats!
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Jun 13, 2017
What year suburban do you have? which trans? which gear ratio? these will help us figure out why the sub was slowing down on the hills. the 5.3 when geared properly will not have an issue with 6500lb trailer.
JIMNLIN
Explorer III
Jun 13, 2017
The wifes old '06 5.3 4L60e 4wd 1500 crew cab chevy 3.73 would struggle pulling my 7200 lb blue tractor and 2440 lb trailer. I never ran the tranny in OD gear.
Her new '16 same truck with the new 6 speed tranny 3.42 gears much higher HP/Torque 5.3 tows the same tractor/trailer much easier....however I run the tranny in manual. I can do a whole lot better job of keeping the tranny in the 2300-2800 rpm range than GM computer. I run 3rd gear in the hills and 4 or 5 out on the flats
Now..... I tow mainly with the Dodge/Cummins NV5600 tranny so I understand proper gear selection/tranny heat build up and running the tranny in a gear that has less stress on the engine and tranny.
Campfire_Time
Explorer
Jun 13, 2017
Many 'Burbs depending on OEM equipment top out at 7k for towing capacity. What you are experiencing is what many of us have as we upgraded to larger trailers, you are getting to the upper limits of your truck's abilities. Not a bad thing, just that you have to decide what your comfort level is.
IT_Burnout
Explorer
Jun 13, 2017
X3 I have to agree with what Redwoodcamper said , not trying to change this into a diesel vrs gas thread. But I have had 3 gas tow rigs over the years, and 1 was a Ford V10. Getting over hills with a bit of a grade will mean some downshifting and trans working up and down gears. Using a cruise control in those area just seemed like a way to to beat way to hard on your transmission. The 6.7 I am running now with a mild towing tune will go over most hills on cruise running 65-70 mph and never shift out of 6th gear. Not saying it will do that in real mountainous terrain, but in hilly terrain no down shifting at all.