2009 Tahoe 5.3L 4WD 3.42 Gears

[OttoB]

I'll cut to the chase.

My wife and I (no kids, pets, etc) have our eyes on a TT and we're looking for experienced opinions regarding what would become the setup.

We have a 2009 Tahoe, 5.3L 4WD with 3.42 gears, 6 speed with tow mode. It has the 10k# factory hitch receiver. It is rated to tow 5700#. I have added an auxiliary transmission cooler and am considering adding an auxiliary engine oil cooler.

The TT: Koala 23LS.

Thoughts?

Thanks

[Tystevens]

Check the sticker in the glove box, the rectangular one with a bunch of jibberish on it. If you can find the code "K5L" you have the HD cooling equipment and your rating would be around 8400#. If not, you are probably about right at 5500# or so.

And the gears are fine.

[Campfire_Time]

See my post in the other thread you started. The VIN doesn't give you enough information to determine towing capacity unless you have access to a build sheet from a dealer. If you do indeed have the HD towing package, your towing capacity is either 8200# or 8400# depending on if its a C1500 or K1500. But make sure to double check those RPO codes.

[APT]

Sounds like a good match. The trans cooler is the biggest impact on the tow rating. An engine oil cooler might be a good idea. 6000 pounds loaded is easy for that combo with the proepr cooling.

Equal-i-zer 4-pt WDH would be good. Use tow haul trans mode and I like M5 for highway cruising.

[Dadoffourgirls]

ChooChooMan74 wrote:
The gearing will hurt you. Tow safe and keep the speeds reasonable.

The gearing is fine. ChooChooMan is living in the past!

[OttoB]

The VIN on the Tahoe is where I came up with the 5700# capacity. It does not have the auxiliary cooling package, although I have had an aftermarket Auxiliary transmission cooler added, and it does have the HD Towing package (Z82 RPO Code).

[BUFFALODAN]

Are you sure of the Tahoe's towing capacity? My previous GMC pickup with the same 5.3, 6 speed 3.42 rear end was good for 9500 lbs and towed my trailer extremely well.

Does it have the factory tow package? If so you wont need the aux. cooler(s)

[ChooChooMan74]

The gearing will hurt you. Tow safe and keep the speeds reasonable.

[bikendan]

first, the 10,000lbs. rating is for the receiver ONLY, not for your Tahoe. GM puts that same receiver on a number of different vehicles, all with different towing capacities.

second, if your Tahoe's towing capacity is only 5700lbs., then that's too much trailer.
your 5700 number is rated with only a 150lb. driver in the Tahoe. anyone else and anything else in the Tahoe, lowers that number by its weight.

third, the 23LS has a bogus website "dry" weight of 4700lbs.
this does not include the weights of "options", like awning, microwave, spare tire, oven, a/c and so on.
you can generally add another 400lbs. for the "options", for a trailer that size, making it about 5100lbs. before you add water, propane, battery and cargo.

how did you come up with the towing capacity of only 5700lbs.?

[ib516]

There are many brands. Equal-i-zer is pretty popular, though I have never used one myself.

[OttoB]

How do you like the Equal-i-zer hitches?

Thanks again.

[ib516]

That TT is around 27'.

Gross Vehicle Wt Rating (GVWR) 5,940
Axle Weight 4,125
Unloaded Vehicle Wt (UVW) 4,700
Cargo Carrying Capacity (CCC) 1,050
Hitch Weight 575

Get a friction sway control and a good WD hitch system and you'll be fine.