Looking for Tow vehicles. Came across a 2012 4D Chevy Silverado Extended Cab 4.3L 195 hp 6 Cyl. Both the manuf and a towing web page claim it can tow 9700 lbs! With 195 hp?? Anyway, calculated max capacity with loaded trailer, truck payload, water, etc... and it does come in a little higher (not a lot) than what I would need.Still, I can't see how that engine can pull me up some mountains in Ga and the Carolinas.Am I wrong? It's a decent deal.Thanks

What is the tow capacity on the yellow door sticker? That is the rating for this particular truck. We tried towing with a 4.0 liter V-6 Ranger in the B.C. mountains, after two trips we had enough. The trailer was within the limits according to Ford but somebody had obviously never tried it. Save your nickels for a more capable vehicle.

Tow capacity is not on the yellow sticker. That is tire and loading payload sticker based on stock tires which goes out the window if you change out tires to something with a different load rating.

You’re right. That ain’t the truck to tow 9700lbs with and it’s absolutely not rated for that much either, so you got some bad intel. Don’t fark around with the low end base engine half tons of you’re towing more than a pop up or canned ham trailer. And even then the performance will be lackluster.

That most likely is the gross combined weight rating (GCWR). Max tow rating for that engine was around 5000# in that vintage Silverado. What size trailer do you have? If that truck was a 2014 or newer with the 4.3L it would be much more competent.

The owners manual says the 2012 Extended Cab V-6 with 3.23 axle is rated for 4400 lbs.

Chevy Silverado V6 | Good Sam Community

blt2ski
Moderator
May 26, 2019
If you want a 4.3, get a 2014 or later model. Those are around 300 hp and lbs of torque. This is a redesigned 4.3 vs the 2013 and earlier models, as noted a 350 with 2 cylinders lopped off. I had a tbi and a vortec version in Astro vans. The vortec was a beast vs the tbi. Still, I would not want to tow over about 4-5000 lbs with it. I've been looking at the 14 and newer ones. With the 6sp auto, It would do ok with upwards of 6-7000 lbs. Won't be the quickest thing on the block, but still do what I would call, reasonably well.

Marty
Greg_B
Explorer
May 25, 2019
Had a 4.3 in a work truck back in the 90's that had 200 horse. Good solid motor but not well suited for towing. Its unbelievable the same motor in 2012 would actually have 5 HP less.
trail-explorer
Explorer
May 24, 2019
Skip the 4.3 That engine has been around since the late 80s / early 90s.

It's old skool - essentially a 5.7L with the back two cylinders whacked off.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
May 23, 2019
I wouldn’t go over 6k with my 5.3L V8 so I’d never consider a Chevy 6.
ib516
Explorer II
May 23, 2019
Are you sure it's only 195hp? I thought the V6 had more beans than that....

ON EDIT: I googled it and yep...a whopping 195hp. Wow, welcome to 1992, er, I mean 2012 GM.
Big_steve
Explorer
May 23, 2019
DBH_MI wrote:
The owners manual says the 2012 Extended Cab V-6 with 3.23 axle is rated for 4400 lbs.

I figured it would be less. I was just floored when two different sites said that engine could do 9000 pounds.
Big_steve
Explorer
May 23, 2019
Grit dog wrote:
In a separate topic, at the same time basically you asked about 5ver vs TT.
That thread, with respect to this thread is like oil n water. Truck you're looking at won't even remotely work for the trailers you're asking about.

If it matters, I'm trying to decide between Class C, TT, and based on what I read on the 5ver thread, no longer considering a 5th wheel.
Grit_dog
Navigator
May 23, 2019
In a separate topic, at the same time basically you asked about 5ver vs TT.
That thread, with respect to this thread is like oil n water. Truck you're looking at won't even remotely work for the trailers you're asking about.
DBH_MI
Explorer
May 23, 2019
The owners manual says the 2012 Extended Cab V-6 with 3.23 axle is rated for 4400 lbs.
ktosv
Explorer
May 23, 2019
That most likely is the gross combined weight rating (GCWR). Max tow rating for that engine was around 5000# in that vintage Silverado.

What size trailer do you have? If that truck was a 2014 or newer with the 4.3L it would be much more competent.