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!

[blt2ski]

One thing to remember, hence why towing the motor size does not seem to matter. It takes a certain amount of "calories/btu's etc" to move a given item. so no matter the motor or type, that energy useage is the same. BUT, the same occurs when empty, but some motors like the larger ones, will use more fuel just because they can not shut down as much as a smaller one.

In some instances, where one is not towing a high %, say less than 10% of the time, it might in reality be, just as well to use a smaller motor, know you will get the same mpg as the larger motor, BUT, when commuting, a V6 like the GM 4.3, can get upwards of 22-24 vs the 5.3 or 6.2 V8's will be lucky to get 17-18mpg. As you probably start approaching the 20-40% range, then a larger motor starts to make sense from the actual power perspective and speed up hills to a degree.

Marty

[Brassica]

Thanks for all the well written answers. My searches of dealer inventory show V8 engines with any truck with towing. That would compel us to buy the V8.

I bought lightweight wheels for my Cobalt and achieve 36 mpg consistently in the summer. However, this vehicle will have a lot of vacation-duty as opposed to commuting, so our purchase could and should be steered toward towing. In that case the towing fuel economy is a "lower" priority than climbing ability.

[jbardram]

ib516 wrote:
Wait for the 2015 GM 1500s - they will have an 8 speed auto trans replacing the current 6 speed.

Only with the 6.2l V8. The 4.3/5.3 will still use the 6spd.

[dodge_guy]

On flatlands...absolutely no problems. getting into hills and mountains not so much! go with the V-8! you will not see a mileage difference between the 2.

If you are worried about mileage, you picked the wrong hobby! LOL

[Skelshy]

We tow a 4000 lbs trailer with an 1999 F150 with a four speed automatic. It tows fine, the engine isn't as powerful as a modern V6, and the gears don't give it a lot of choices.

Of course more engine is always be objectively better. It also costs more and uses more fuel when not towing. For us it comes down to how much of the time we tow. Then optimize for that while also considering it will do the other thing.

[RinconVTR]

Pulling the same aero shape trailer, I get the very same MPG from a Toyota 5.7 V8 as I did with a Honda 3.5 V6, at the simlar speeds. For a time I thought I was down a bit with the V8, but its practically dead nuts the same range of high 8-11mpg (even 12 on rare occasions) depending on conditions and speed.

Towing lesser trailers back in the day with 4.3 Vortecs provided...you guessed it...the very same MPG I see today.

Non-towing, the Toyota V8 is not known for getting over 18mpg highway, while I could get 22-24 with the Honda V6. This does not appear to be the same situation you have with the truck options you are considering. Go with the V8.

[blt2ski]

I would not have an issue pulling a 4K trailer with a current 4.3V6 and a 6 sp. That has more HP than my 5.7 Vortec V8 at 255 and 335 lb ft of torque. I have a lot tall geared rig despite 4.10 gears in the axel. I only have a 2.48 first gear, the 4.3 will have a 4.1 first gear and a 3.42 axel, or should have a 3.42 axel.

I've actually been toying with trading my 2000 C2500 on a new 1500 with a 7200 gvwr pkg if I could find one in a reg cab as I have, might lose 1000 lbs max of total payload, registered gvwr in Wa st will be 8K gvw as is my C2500, so no real loss there. Both will weigh in at about 4800 lbs empty. Towing upwards of 8K lbs of low frontal area rigs, ie bobcat, small trackhoe etc on an equipment trailer........WHat is not to like about the new rig frankly.

If the trailer is reasonably aerodynamic, should pull fine getting low double digits, ie 10-12 mpg towing, and low to mid 20s on the freeway, around 18 in town. That is what my older 4.3's got with less than 200hp doing what I just described, along with the 4 sp auto to boot, which is not as good as the newer 6 sp!

Marty

[spud1957]

Interesting the last years of the Ford 5.8L V8 in the F250, it was rated at 210HP and 325TQ and a 4 speed tranny. If he was pulling with that there would be no opposition.

With the current 4.3L GM V6 @ 285HP and 305TQ and a 6 speed tranny there should have no problem pulling that.

[ib516]

Wait for the 2015 GM 1500s - they will have an 8 speed auto trans replacing the current 6 speed.

[phipps33]

I pulled an approximately 3500lb trailer out west several years ago with my Sierra with the 4.3L and she really struggled on the hills. Shortly after returning from the trip it trashed the tranny. It's a good engine, almost 250,000 miles on the engine and she's still going strong.

[spoon059]

You might be really surprised at real world results with the V6. Its been my experience that the smaller engine on a larger truck is always working a little bit harder than a V8 would. Especially towing, that V6 is going to be working harder than the V8. That harder work will equate to real world mileage being roughly the same.

If the V8 is getting 18 mpg (which is attainable), then the V6 at 4% better would be 18.7 MPGs. Now if you are towing a lot, that V6 is probably going to be getting 7-8 MPG (estimate) and the V8 would be getting more like 10-11 (estimate).

I would seek out real world numbers from people and make an educated decision armed with those facts.

Honestly, for a minimal (and less than 1mpg is minimal) loss in unloaded mileage, you are getting a HUGE bump in power when towing/hauling. It was a no-brainer for me going from the 4.6 V8 to the 5.7 V8. I leave 1 or 2 MPG on the table with the big V8, but man does that big V8 produce some power!!! I can always drive more gently to squeeze out a little better mileage... its a LOT harder to squeeze out an extra 80hp...

[Campfire_Time]

The numbers work and you have plenty of reserve capacity. You should be fine.

However, if you have not purchased the truck, seriously consider the V8. 4% sounds like a lot but its not. You would be amazed at how well you can do with the V8. The mileage you get has a lot to do with driving habits. And you'll find the V8 so much more capable and pleasurable to tow with. You may also find that your towing mileage with a V8 is better than the 6. I get 11 towing the combo below. The same trailer with my old Trail Blazer that had an I6 got 9 towing. That's an almost 20% difference. I would never buy any truck without a V8 again.

Seriously, if gas mileage is that much of a concern you might want to consider a different way to vacation.

[RamRider]

We pulled two light weights including our present unit with a Chevy V-6. our issue was not power but transmission over heating (220-250 deg), I would recommend a good transmission cooler if you go this route.

Also we get better fuel economy (10-20% better) with the Ram Hemi versus the V6 chevy when pulling, Non pulling Hwy mpg is also better with the Hemi.

Enjoy your travels.

2013 Bullet 217 RBS
2013 Ram Hemi 1500

[kvangil]

You should be fine.

[mcsurveyor]

From your post, it sounds like you haven't purchased the truck yet. You would be well within the weights for the V6 model and I'm sure it would tow just fine. Out in the windy prairie and in the mountains, you will probably wish you sprung for the V8, and quite honestly, I don't think you'd see the 4% fuel economy difference in the real world with the V6.

That said, if you do get the V6, I'm very interested to hear your towing reports and the mileage you are getting.

Best of luck!