2014 Silverado Double Cab EcoTec LV3 4.3

[ocracokenc]

Hello guys!. I am interested how many here are towing Travel Trailers with this truck. We are looking for a camper for around $10,000 to take to NC and back. I am not new to having a camper and had a few over the years with the last being a 30' Sandpiper but I towed it with a F350 and a 7.3 diesel and that was in 2006.

I do tow a 24' Bay boat with this truck that is about 5,100lbs and to be honest it does better than my 2008 Silverado with a 5.3 and the 4L60E did. So I am interested it what people are towing with the new V-6. Thanks for having me on the forum.

[RamRider]

We had plenty of power to pull our Bullet 217RBH with a 2011 chevy single cab V6, We had issues with the transmission over heating (230 deg) so I would recommend a trany cooler at the very least. Our usual trip is 350 miles from Central Texas to Padre Island and back. MPG was 10-12. We traded the Chevy up for a Ram Crew cab with Hemi because we needed the interior space.

Best of luck to you

[Dadoffourgirls]

I towed my trailer with a 2014 Double Cab V6 three trips. One was 50 miles each way, one was 25 miles each way, and one was 10 miles each way.

My tongue weight was nearly my payload. I had nothing in vehicle, and no passengers. I had 25 miles of freeway on the 50 mile trip. Mine had built in brake controller. I was over on gross combined and trailer weight.

I had no issues, and no pedal to floor need. In fact, it towed in 4cyl mode at 25 miles an hour.

A trailer in the 5k range will be fine. You know what to expect.

[ocracokenc]

APT wrote:
Just keep in mind that towing a high walled TT is nothing like towing a boat. You'll be down one gear at all times compared to the boat. If you can live with that while towing, then go for it. Stay under 4500 pounds dry. Let that engine spin when it needs to. Use tow/haul mode.

I am also thinking it will be 4th and keep the speed down. I have no problem spinning the engine. I bought a truck to use it and I personally feel higher RPM's is better the lugging. I grew up on a dairy farm so I have a lot of towing time under my belt. I want to thank all you guys for the help and when I find one I will post some pics.

[APT]

Just keep in mind that towing a high walled TT is nothing like towing a boat. You'll be down one gear at all times compared to the boat. If you can live with that while towing, then go for it. Stay under 4500 pounds dry. Let that engine spin when it needs to. Use tow/haul mode.

[ocracokenc]

ktosv wrote:
Nice truck! As you stated you are looking for something about 5000# loaded it should tow fine as others have said.

I towed a 5000# GVWR hybrid travel trailer with an 05 Suburban with the 5.3L/3.42 and 4 speed. That was several years ago, there was six of us and two dogs and I thought it towed great. Your power and torque are slightly less than my 5.3L but you have the 6 speed that makes up for that.

I did all of my towing in 3rd, I would believe you would be fine with 4th and who knows, you might possibly be able to use 5th. My 04 3/4 ton Suburban with 3.73's couldn't tow in OD (4th) with the trailer in my signature, but my van with 3.42's will tow all day long in 5th (OD).

I tow the boat in 5th and turn around 2100 and it does fine. I towed it from north Georgia to Florida and it stayed in 5th just about the whole time. If I pushed it some to get around a car it would go to 4th. If I floor it the truck will really go. I know the boat is streamlined but it is around 5100lbs or so loaded out. If I had to tow in 4th it would put me at 2600 and dead in the meat of the torque band and I would just let it eat as they say. The 6L80E transmission I have is the same one that goes behind the 420hp 6.2 so I do not think I will hurt it LOL

[ocracokenc]

MFL wrote:
Scotty, you are right, that is a nice looking truck! I like the front end on the new Chevy. The dark color is rich looking.

That is a lot of boat too! I am wondering how you are going to pull the camper, and the boat? It would be a shame to leave the boat home, when camping by a lake!

Jerry

The color is called tungsten metallic and it is almost black. I have thought about camping at a nice campground by a lake and the boat at home. If it is not too far I will go get it LOL. I still have not found a TT but we are going this week to look at a few.

I want one around 23 to 25' with bunk beds in the rear. I am shocked at the amount of campers made without a oven? I almost bought a 2004 Dutchman at a dealer but the floor in the front storage compartment was soft and the front wall had a lot of give to it so the search continues.

[ktosv]

Nice truck! As you stated you are looking for something about 5000# loaded it should tow fine as others have said.

I towed a 5000# GVWR hybrid travel trailer with an 05 Suburban with the 5.3L/3.42 and 4 speed. That was several years ago, there was six of us and two dogs and I thought it towed great. Your power and torque are slightly less than my 5.3L but you have the 6 speed that makes up for that.

I did all of my towing in 3rd, I would believe you would be fine with 4th and who knows, you might possibly be able to use 5th. My 04 3/4 ton Suburban with 3.73's couldn't tow in OD (4th) with the trailer in my signature, but my van with 3.42's will tow all day long in 5th (OD).

[MFL]

Scotty, you are right, that is a nice looking truck! I like the front end on the new Chevy. The dark color is rich looking.

That is a lot of boat too! I am wondering how you are going to pull the camper, and the boat? It would be a shame to leave the boat home, when camping by a lake!

Jerry

[ocracokenc]

The new Silverado

What I tow now

[Mike_Up]

That V6 is pretty competitive. I don't think it's power is that surprising since it is a very large displacement V6.

It's power seems right in line with 4.3L of displacement when comparing it to the older 2006 - 2010 Ford 4.6L 3 valve engine that created 292 HP and 320 lbs of torque at the same rpms.

GM likes to use Pushrod technology so they have only added direct injection where Ford previously liked to use multivalve technology.

Fords Turbo engines use both multivalve and direct injection where their NA engines are only multivalve.

I'm impressed with the Chevy 6.2L but like Ford "previously", it can only be had on luxury trims that make it less capable with lower payloads from those trim packages. I'm waiting for GM to get a HD 1/2 ton like Ford, and like they had in earlier years. That with a lower trim package and the 6.2L will be a good tow vehicle for those that don't need to haul truck campers or plow snow.

[ocracokenc]

It is a nice truck. How can I post pictures here?

[Fast_Mopar]

ocracokenc wrote:

I hate the new gear ratio's but they are going for fuel burn numbers and it will do mid 20's on the interstate. If they would pair the new 4.3 with 4.10's in a heavy duty version it would be interesting for sure. Thanks for all the great info guys

Regardless of gearing, you have a nice truck. Many people do not realize that this new 4.3 V6 is a new design and is not the same as the former Chevy 4.3 V6. The power numbers are impressive, as they are on the Ford and Ram base V6's. In the early 1990's, I almost bought a new Chevy 454SS pickup and it was rated at 230 horsepower in its first year (but more torque).

By the way, feel free to post all you want. You seem more polite than many others here.

[ocracokenc]

blt2ski wrote:
When can I get one of these motors in a typical 8600 gvwr 25 series rig? 4.10's, 6 sp auto, would get upper teens, maybe just into the 20's. Has HP/torque to yank upwards of 10K around with in the proper chassis. It was not too long ago, a BB V8 had all of 200 HP and maybe 350 lbft of torque........at half to 1/4 of the mpg of this motor.........we might have a few winners coming on shortly!

Marty

I hate the new gear ratio's but they are going for fuel burn numbers and it will do mid 20's on the interstate. If they would pair the new 4.3 with 4.10's in a heavy duty version it would be interesting for sure. Thanks for all the great info guys

[blt2ski]

When can I get one of these motors in a typical 8600 gvwr 25 series rig? 4.10's, 6 sp auto, would get upper teens, maybe just into the 20's. Has HP/torque to yank upwards of 10K around with in the proper chassis. It was not too long ago, a BB V8 had all of 200 HP and maybe 350 lbft of torque........at half to 1/4 of the mpg of this motor.........we might have a few winners coming on shortly!

Marty