7100 lb-rated new Silverado towing 4000 pounds

[Brassica]

The 4.3l V6 in the "double cab" truck is rated for 7100 pounds. The trailer would be 4000 pounds wet. The truck would have two adults and 500 pounds of supplies. The trailer would have a frontal area of 60 square feet. GCWR is 12,000 lb, so we have 2,400 lb of margin on that account. Is this truck a good match?

The obvious upgrade is to buy the V8 engine, but I am interested in fuel economy. The V6 is 4% better on the highway.

We are going to cross windy prairies and high passes out west.

A nod to Terryallan on July 18 about the frontal area: http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/27837874/srt/pa/pging/1/page/2.cfm
Thanks all!

[Skelshy]

I tow ~5000 lbs with a 1999 F150 V8 with lower specs than that newer 4.3 V6. It will certainly do it. WIth regards to fuel economy, it's still a heavy truck, the smaller engine will need to make the same amount of power than the larger engine, pull the same weight. It's not out of the question that they will be identical. What I don't know is what the more modern or efficient engine is...

8 speed auto would certainly seal the deal in favor of the v6

[wintersun]

4% unloaded is likely to convert to no difference or poorer fuel economy when towing and more transmission shifting and hunting.

On a trip where you average 15 MPG and over a 1500 mile trip you spend $400 on gas, how does a 4% savings of $16 fit in the overall scheme of things?

I would worry more about passing performance on grades and being able to safely merge with traffic while towing the trailer than on saving $16 on a trip.

[APT]

My brother in law picked up a 2014 Z71 crew cab. The front air dam is so low I question whether it could drive over a curb, let alone off any road. Anyway, solid truck. I like the new 5.3L!

[ktosv]

wintersun wrote:
The new 4.3 V-6 provides 285HP only when burning ethanol gas and as a result of the lower energy value of this fuel the MPG drops from 19 for the old 4.3 engine to only 13 MPG with the new one. That is a lot worse than what one can get with the V-8. No free lunch as the old adage goes.

According to the GM Powertrain website, it looks like the new 4.3L is rated at 297HP with E85. The 5.3L jumps to 376HP.

Brassica, congrats on the new truck. It should do a great job towing a 4000# trailer.

[Brassica]

We drove the 5.3l V8. Didn't even have to take it on the freeway to know that it had a lot more giddi-up. I drove it down some twisty roads and it handled about the same as the Z85-non-Z71 version. I did not think the bigger stabilizer bar and the Brembo shocks would make that much difference and they did not.

The 18" all-terrain tires were mushier than the 18" all-season tires on the other Silverado that we drove. They felt a little mushier as do the twelve Blizzak snow tires with gas-blown micro-cells in the tread that I put on three other cars. That may be a consideration when towing. We might just wear them out with the towing load. The all-terrain tires were not obnoxiously noisy and for that I am thankful.

So, the dealer is obtaining a V8 Z71 Silverado 1500 for purchase. It will be a super off-road machine and we are going to detune it by putting steps under the doors to make it easier to climb in. I can hear the off-road enthusiasts sighing already. The ground clearance !! !!

[wintersun]

The new 4.3 V-6 provides 285HP only when burning ethanol gas and as a result of the lower energy value of this fuel the MPG drops from 19 for the old 4.3 engine to only 13 MPG with the new one. That is a lot worse than what one can get with the V-8. No free lunch as the old adage goes.

[Brassica]

Eaton on YouTube

[blt2ski]

If you find the tires are the noisy part, next set, you go to a more hwy oriented tire, and it will be quieter. Or right from get go, get what ever you can on a trade, get a quieter tire.

The eaton locker frankly, makes 4wd pretty much useless in many conditions. I've had 3-4 rigs with that setup vs without. The with I used 4wd less than 10% of the time with the locker vs without. THere were conditions, locker or not, you need 4wd, but level wet grass, slight amount of slippery rain etc, the locker will get your thru with proper tires in rwd only vs having to go into 4wd.

Marty

[CKNSLS]

Brassica wrote:
That's excellent. ***

On further review, our trailer would be lighter: more like 3200 pounds wet, plus 500 pounds of stuff in the truck.

A truck with the LTZ package does suit our needs for bucket seats and other features, and we apparently have to buy LTZ if we are going to have a truck traded to another dealer and not built to specification. A 5.3l V8 comes with that LTZ truck . Now, Chevrolet is saying both engines get 22mpg highway: V6 or V8. Decision gets easier.

The truck the salesman found for us is Z71-offroad-labeled. It has the "Brembo shocks", noisier tires, skid plate, and a heavy-duty differential. They call it a "locking rear differential" and I don't know how that is distinguished from the "limited slip differential" that one wants and gets with the towing options. This truck does have the towing package.

Is there any compromise with "locking" and "limited slip" differentials? I doubt it. Any opinions? I have to leave for work and this detail is making my head spin. I had not favored off-road suspension, because I wanted a truck that rode a little better on highways and on twisting canyon roads when not trailering.

When not towing the Silverado is very quiet and smooth. I would think the off road package would have some affect on that, at least with the off road tires.

[ib516]

Search "eaton locking differential" on YouTube if you want to see one in action. The eaton company made some promotional videos that show it pretty well and explain its benefits.

[ib516]

The locking differential is a good thing and will not really affect trailer towing. Its only for low spped, low traction conditions like snow, mud or sand. It is superior to a limited slip. The shocks are likely bilstein - they are very good. That said the Z71 package that includes those items will make tye ride a little stiffer.

[Brassica]

That's excellent. ***

On further review, our trailer would be lighter: more like 3200 pounds wet, plus 500 pounds of stuff in the truck.

A truck with the LTZ package does suit our needs for bucket seats and other features, and we apparently have to buy LTZ if we are going to have a truck traded to another dealer and not built to specification. A 5.3l V8 comes with that LTZ truck . Now, Chevrolet is saying both engines get 22mpg highway: V6 or V8. Decision gets easier.

The truck the salesman found for us is Z71-offroad-labeled. It has the "Brembo shocks", noisier tires, skid plate, and a heavy-duty differential. They call it a "locking rear differential" and I don't know how that is distinguished from the "limited slip differential" that one wants and gets with the towing options. This truck does have the towing package.

Is there any compromise with "locking" and "limited slip" differentials? I doubt it. Any opinions? I have to leave for work and this detail is making my head spin. I had not favored off-road suspension, because I wanted a truck that rode a little better on highways and on twisting canyon roads when not trailering.

[CKNSLS]

Dadoffourgirls wrote:

Brassica wrote:
21-22mpg commuting with the V6 is stunning. My Windstar minivan with a 4 liter pushrod engine only got 19 mpg in my typical driving. The minivan also weighed 1100 pounds less. I weighed it at the scrap yard = 4000 pounds. Thanks, Dad!!

So on my fourth day of normal commute/take kids to where they need to be, I am averaging just under 20 mpg (19.9). I did fill up, so I am using accurate numbers.

I have consistenly recieved 20mpg with my 2011 Silverado Crew Cab with the 5.3 at highway speeds when NOT EXCEEDING 70mph. Anything over 70mph the mpg drops.

Many frequent trips between Northern Utah and the L.A. basin.

[Dadoffourgirls]

Brassica wrote:
21-22mpg commuting with the V6 is stunning. My Windstar minivan with a 4 liter pushrod engine only got 19 mpg in my typical driving. The minivan also weighed 1100 pounds less. I weighed it at the scrap yard = 4000 pounds. Thanks, Dad!!

So on my fourth day of normal commute/take kids to where they need to be, I am averaging just under 20 mpg (19.9). I did fill up, so I am using accurate numbers.