Forum Discussion
Tystevens
Apr 10, 2015Explorer
We had a 2005 Suburban w/ 5.3, 4 spd and 4.10 gears. We towed our 27 ft travel trailer, about 6500#, for about 2 years with it. Wasn't great, but we got there. Even w/ the 4.10's, 4th gear was virtually unusable when towing. Flat ground usually required 3rd gear, lots of shifts down to 2nd gear for much of any incline. Kinda slow going, probably 55-60 mph.
After our first long trip to the West Coast with it, we bought a diesel! 2 hrs of 3000+ rpm is one thing; 16 is quite another!
FWIW, the 6 spd does make a big difference. Our '10 w/ 6 spd and 3.42 gears tows much better IMO. Of course, it never gets in to 6th gear, but can hold 5th on flats, and more often has the right gear for the situation due to tighter gear spacing. The most annoying thing in the '05 was where it could easily push 3rd, but couldn't quite hold 4th (or same thing in 2nd and 3rd). Also, the t/h programming in the '10 is much better and much more effective. No hunting, and I seldom have to manually select.
I know this talk of the 6 spd doesn't help the OP much, but I thought I'd throw it out there.
After our first long trip to the West Coast with it, we bought a diesel! 2 hrs of 3000+ rpm is one thing; 16 is quite another!
FWIW, the 6 spd does make a big difference. Our '10 w/ 6 spd and 3.42 gears tows much better IMO. Of course, it never gets in to 6th gear, but can hold 5th on flats, and more often has the right gear for the situation due to tighter gear spacing. The most annoying thing in the '05 was where it could easily push 3rd, but couldn't quite hold 4th (or same thing in 2nd and 3rd). Also, the t/h programming in the '10 is much better and much more effective. No hunting, and I seldom have to manually select.
I know this talk of the 6 spd doesn't help the OP much, but I thought I'd throw it out there.
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