Any Experiences towing with V6 2WD Silverado ?

[SCSignman]

I have a 2WD 2015 V6 Silverado (6900 GVRW) and wife loves RV with 5200 lbs. UVW

Can Truck handle that much weight?

Any real world experience would be appreciated!

[colliehauler]

Shape of trailer makes a big difference as well. A Airstream is a lot more aerodynamic then a box trailer and will pull easier at highway speeds and will burn less fuel to do so. The back of the trailer is as important as the frontal area for wind resistance.

[wnjj]

Keep in mind a boat will tow far easier than a camp trailer of similar weights. The wind resistance is a huge component of towing.

One of the worst loads I’d pulled with my V8 Dakota was a ~2000 lb flatbed snowmobile trailer with 2 sleds on it. The combination of the front shields, a long trailer tongue and stiff winds had the pedal to the mat to barely maintain 55-60 on flat ground at times on one trip.

The same truck pulled a 21’ trailer without much drama,

[SoundGuy]

SCSignman wrote:
Based on an earlier suggestion I hooked up to my boat and pulled it from Greenville to Ashville. 6% grade over 5 miles. I used trailer tow button.

Towing a full height travel trailer is an entirely different experience from towing a boat on a trailer. You won't believe the drag due to wind resistance that quadruples as road speed doubles, with weight having little to do with it.

[SCSignman]

Sorry I also wanted to add that Tran. reached 208, Engine 210. But that was on a mid 60's day. Summer may be higher?

[SCSignman]

Again I appreciate the feedback. Based on an earlier suggestion I hooked up to my boat and pulled it from Greenville to Ashville. 6% grade over 5 miles. I used trailer tow button. Truck down shifted on climb several gears but did not wind out RPMS above 3000 a few times when passing semis. I would normally take it slower but ran 65 without a problem and passed trucks. Boat is deep V 23ft weight on ID tag is 5280 dry. I towed with gear and full tank of gas. Really need to get on a Truck Scale to confirm. However the newer V6 seems to be making a big block V8 guy pretty surprised...Maybe scales will show weight is lighter. I'll post actual data afterwards.

[ib516]

It'll do it, but it'll be slow. In perfect conditions, it'll be ok, but load it up, hit some hills and have a head wind, and you'll not like it so much.

Unloaded vehicle weights (UVW) for RVs is only useful when you're shopping as no one tows an empty RV around. Use the RV's GVWR for a closer estimate to the weight you'll actually be towing. 5200# UVW can quickly become 7000# when loaded for a trip.

[colliehauler]

mkirsch wrote:

The engine is SAE certified to 285 hp (213 kW) at 5300 rpm and 305 lb?ft (414 N?m) at 3900 rpm on regular unleaded gasoline

Yeah, and who wants to travel long distances with the engine screaming at 3900RPM?

Most people freak out if the engine's turning over 2000.

The torque curve on that V6 is very steep/peaky as I recall, meaning it doesn't make much torque until it gets in the higher RPM ranges. You won't be loping along at 1900RPM on the flat ground. It'll be more like 2800.

My V-10 manual transmission truck runs 3200 RPM at 75 mph where the engine makes the most power. It's a lot harder on a engine to lug it at lower rpm then to let it work when towing. 170k miles on that truck and runs very well.

[mkirsch]

The engine is SAE certified to 285 hp (213 kW) at 5300 rpm and 305 lb?ft (414 N?m) at 3900 rpm on regular unleaded gasoline

Yeah, and who wants to travel long distances with the engine screaming at 3900RPM?

Most people freak out if the engine's turning over 2000.

The torque curve on that V6 is very steep/peaky as I recall, meaning it doesn't make much torque until it gets in the higher RPM ranges. You won't be loping along at 1900RPM on the flat ground. It'll be more like 2800.

[lawrosa]

wnjj wrote:

lawrosa wrote:
This is pulling large grade in NCaroline up the smokies with a 5.3 pulling 5500 lbs trailer fully loaded. I dont floor my truck ever. I let the engine work.

1st gear 30 mph and 3500 rpm.

Infact I take my foot off the gas some to keep at 3500 rpm.. Remember I have 4 speed..

Notice engine temps 230f but trans temps with cooler 175f or so.


https://www.flickr.com/photos/93289479@N04/35822079640/in/datetaken/


And this is 2nd gear trying to pull highway grade. Im trying to not let it go into first gear.

30 mph and 2200rpm. Second gear is a dog if you don't get momentum for the hill. But there is nothing you can do. I couldn't speed up.. I could just maintain..

Imagine if I towed 7500 lbs as Chevy says I can??? LOLOL ha ha ha

https://www.flickr.com/photos/93289479@N04/39374281641/in/datetaken/

Lugging at 3500, you’re leaving a lot of HP behind. Spin that motor up a bit. When they spec the tow rating, Chevy probably assumes you’ll actually let the motor run instead of holding back on the go pedal.

Hardley lugging @ 3500 rpm. Im right in the torque band. Why gas it up and rev to 4000 to go 5 mph faster. If I let it shift to 2nd it will dog and kick back to first anyway..

I wasnt struggling in that first video. I was just letting the engine work, and that was a comfortable RPM and speed for me.

Since the 4l60 trans has such a low 1st gear I can pull any grade with 6000 lbs on the hook. Not fast but it will do it.

But as in the second video I was lugging there a bit. It was an in between 1st and 2nd gear thing... Oh I wish I had a 6 speed, but it is what it is...

But to the OP, you will be fine IMO.

[wnjj]

lawrosa wrote:
This is pulling large grade in NCaroline up the smokies with a 5.3 pulling 5500 lbs trailer fully loaded. I dont floor my truck ever. I let the engine work.

1st gear 30 mph and 3500 rpm.

Infact I take my foot off the gas some to keep at 3500 rpm.. Remember I have 4 speed..

Notice engine temps 230f but trans temps with cooler 175f or so.


https://www.flickr.com/photos/93289479@N04/35822079640/in/datetaken/


And this is 2nd gear trying to pull highway grade. Im trying to not let it go into first gear.

30 mph and 2200rpm. Second gear is a dog if you don't get momentum for the hill. But there is nothing you can do. I couldn't speed up.. I could just maintain..

Imagine if I towed 7500 lbs as Chevy says I can??? LOLOL ha ha ha

https://www.flickr.com/photos/93289479@N04/39374281641/in/datetaken/

Lugging at 3500, you’re leaving a lot of HP behind. Spin that motor up a bit. When they spec the tow rating, Chevy probably assumes you’ll actually let the motor run instead of holding back on the go pedal.

[lawrosa]

This is pulling large grade in NCaroline up the smokies with a 5.3 pulling 5500 lbs trailer fully loaded. I dont floor my truck ever. I let the engine work.

1st gear 30 mph and 3500 rpm.

Infact I take my foot off the gas some to keep at 3500 rpm.. Remember I have 4 speed..

Notice engine temps 230f but trans temps with cooler 175f or so.


https://www.flickr.com/photos/93289479@N04/35822079640/in/datetaken/


And this is 2nd gear trying to pull highway grade. Im trying to not let it go into first gear.

30 mph and 2200rpm. Second gear is a dog if you don't get momentum for the hill. But there is nothing you can do. I couldn't speed up.. I could just maintain..

Imagine if I towed 7500 lbs as Chevy says I can??? LOLOL ha ha ha

https://www.flickr.com/photos/93289479@N04/39374281641/in/datetaken/

[blt2ski]

I'll tow trailers up to 2x the GRAWR with out thinking twice. The OPs rig has a 3950 GRAWR, so around 8000 lbs, plus 20-25% depending upon speeds etc.

It takes 105HP to motivate a rig at 15K lbs and 70 sq ft of frontal area at 60 mph. 15K with with 90 sqft is 135HP. Some other comparisons, 18K at 70sqft is 115HP, 25K at 70 sqft is 135HP at 60 mph. Reality is, for some of you worried about weight! Frontal area can add many more hp than just weight! about 1000 lbs additional, is equal to 2 sq ft of additional front area!

Another number to think about, at 15K lbs, one needs about 40hp to pull 60 mph per 1% grade.

Lets assume OP is at 15K and 90 sqft. 135 to go 60 mph. He has 285hp, no issues. 285 less 135 is 150hp. 150/40 = 3.75! so potentially, the OP can pull a 3-4% grade at 60 mph assuming the motor is WOT/Redlined......Lets ask another question, how many of you pull longer grades at WTO/redline? I don't!
This rig will probably pull a 3-4% grade like my sons reg cab 1500 with a 4.60E trans, and 4.8 V8 with similar hp/torque spec with 3.42 gear, 1" smaller diam tires at around 50-55 mph. Yes we did that towing my C2500 home on a trailer when the fuel pump went out 60 miles from home. Yes we were in 2nd gear pulling 5000 rpm, motor was not screaming. My votec 350 with 255hp/335 torque 4.10 gears with the closer space taller geared 4l80E is similar. By the way, Rich's 1500 has an overall low 1st gear and 2nd gear better spaced setup than my 2500!

I really do not see an issue with the OP pulling a 6K trailer. Assuming they do not mind slowing into the low to mid 50's on a steeper 4-6% freeway grade.

If they can not quite hold direct lets say, but power is there in higher rpm, with a RWD, 1 diff, $1000 switch RA out to 3.73 gears, away you go!

Another point, this truck has around 2000 lbs of payload capacity on the RA. I'm looking at reg cabs, figure they have up to 2200-2400 on the RA. They typically have a ton of payload to the gvwr, plus 700 to axel capacity totals. Load correct, potentially 2500-2800 lbs of total payload if loaded and spread correctly. Where I live, I would have to register at 8000 lbs gvw. Reality is, 8000 less a 4800 lbs tare truck, 3200 lbs on the truck before I am literally illegal per state weight laws!

Buy the trailer and GO CAMPING!

Marty

[BurbMan]

Dadoffourgirls wrote:
I may have towed my 9k trailer with a 2014 Double Cab 4.3 V6 a couple of times. Never over 50 miles away. Never over 60 mph. The truck moved it. Did not race anybody. No mountains to climb.

Exactly the point I was trying to make, where you tow is just as important and what you tow.

[SoundGuy]

Rover_Bill wrote:
I've been VERY HAPPY towing my 7K TT with my V6 Canyon for two years now (15K miles). As long as your truck has Tow/Haul (and you use it), you will be OK.

And your Canyon weighs considerably less than the OP's V6 Silverado. With a full tank of gas, no one in it and no cargo my V8 Silvy weighs 5600 lbs as it sits on the weigh scale ... that's FAR more weight the engine has to drag around than your Canyon's - a BIG difference. Famous last words from one who won't be riding shotgun with the OP as he attempts to tow this much trailer with his V6 Silverado - "you will be OK". :S