Silverado 1500... Enough?

[Heelbilly]

Hey, y'all.

I'm interested in hearing the experiences of those of you who may tow with a 2007-2013 generation Silverado 1500 with the 5.3 and 3.42 rear end.

My TT has a dry weight of 4900 lbs and I use a weight distributing hitch with my current 2000 Silverado with the 5.3 and 3.73 gears. The "new" truck would have the 6 speed transmission while my current truck just has the 4 speed, so they aren't totally apples to apples in comparison. All other options would be as similar as possible for two trucks a decade and a half apart... Tow package, transmission cooler, etc...

I've owned my current Silverado for a decade but only been in the TT game for less than a year so I'm still learning a lot.

I do not plan to tow any bigger trailer with a half ton than my current TT. If I stepped up in trailer I'd step up in trucks.

I just want to make sure that A) I'm safe and that B) towing with the new Silverado won't be a struggling experience.

My current truck doesn't have any problem. I've towed to the top of the North Georgia mountains without issue.

I know there are a bazillion tow vehicle threads on here and I've read just about all of them as I make this decision.

I really don't "want" to buy a 3/4 truck... I commute in my truck every day.

I appreciate any feedback from folks who've walked... towed... this road.

[Jebby14]

it should pull and handle fine. will be slow thought with the highway gears.

[Need-A-Vacation]

Heelbilly,

Great to hear the new truck is working as you hoped!!!

Keep enjoying the new truck!

[Golfcart]

My silverado with a 3.08 rear end pulls my toys with ease.

Ive put my truck through hell and back. Going right up to its official limits moving utility trailers loaded with heavy equipment, to sliding a 20ft container sitting on the ground across a field when the tractor didnt have enough power to do it

All I ever pay to fix is preventative maintenance. I love my "weak" little truck lol

[Heelbilly]

Hey, y'all. I'm always on here asking for help, so I want to make sure I follow up with this post in case it actually helps anyone else.

I don't regret the 1500 for a second. It handles my trailer with ease. We have probably had it out a dozen times since purchasing the truck last January. I've towed from North Georgia to Disney World, to Myrtle Beach, and to state parks all over the state including all over the North Georgia Mountains. I've never once thought the truck was having a tough time.

As far as how much better in tows than my 2000, the difference is significant, but less because of power or transmission factors and more because of the more intelligent towing abilities of the new truck. Things like grade braking, stabilitrak, etc have all made the towing experience a little more relaxing. Heck, that backup camera doesn't hurt for hooking up either! Ha!

If you're in the market, my personal opinion is that my trailer at about 5000lb dry is about the top of where I'd want to be with my 1500. It cruises along without issue in all conditions. I'm not saying the truck wouldn't handle a little larger trailer; I'm just saying I wouldn't much care for one.

I average between 11-13mpg towing. Commuting to work, though, I've hit as high as 26mpg on a 50 mile average. Not too shabby.

Now, this is an N of 1, so take my experience with a grain of salt, but maybe that will help someone in a similar position!

Thank y'all!

[MFL]

Congrats on the new truck! I like white, and those late model GMs are great looking. Nice pic!! That truck should be way more fun to daily drive, and a big improvement towing, compared to previous truck.

Jerry

[owenssailor]

Good luck. I'm sure you will enjoy it.

[Tachdriver]

Nice

[Heelbilly]

Hey, y'all.

Well, I pulled the trigger. I ended up going with a 2014 Silverado. I'm happy with the deal I got and love the truck so far, although I've yet to tow anything so I'll let you know how that goes. I did end up going with the 3.42 and the 6 speed hooked to the 5.3L. It has a Z71 suspension and the Z82 tow package, although it didn't have the JL1 integrated brake controller so I'll have to move my aftermarket controller to the new truck.

I appreciate all of the help y'all gave me! You made the decision much easier.

...And God bless four doors with two kids. It's a whole new world.

I have a few long tows coming up in a couple of months so I'll let you know how those go.

Happy camping.

Here's a picture: 2014 Silverado

[Nvr2loud]

Samsonsworld wrote:
2010 5.3l, 3.42, 6-sp, towing around 5500-6klbs loaded, spent most of my time in 3rd gear and always felt underpowered. Economy was abysmal.

I've had the opposite results, I went from a 2001 GMC 1500 HD with the 6.0 Liter V8 and 3.73 gearing. Although the old truck was better off the line with the same trailer, the newer 5.3 with the 6spd and 3.42 gears had been much better overall. My fuel economy has been great, at 9-10 mpg when running 6000 lbs I'm very happy.

[Passin_Thru]

I wouldn,t buy another Chrysler product ever. Too much trouble. Cummins are good motors but you should go to the forums for Dodge and read the whines. I bought a low mileage 2006 2500 Chevy HD with a Duramax and 6 spd allison. Pulls well, runs good, a good commuter vehicle and good resale value. You can always put Airride all around to make your tush happy!

[JSS]

2014 1500 Silverado with the 5.3 6-speed, 3.42 gears and an Equal-i-zer WD hitch.

My TT is just over 7,500 lbs loaded and it pulls fine. Not as well as a diesel of course but good enough for me. Granted I live in Florida so I'm not towing over any mountains. I have tow/haul on and run it in 5th gear which holds pretty well.

If I start taking longer trips outside of Florida I might think differently but I'm happy with how it tows.

[Nvr2loud]

owenssailor wrote:
When towing with the truck in my signature I use the Tow/Haul mode all the time. That means top is 5th gear. Torque converter is locked up. Engine braking with downshifts is enabled.

also - I always turn headlights on manually when towing. Among other things I can be assured trailer is still plugged in by seeing the side clearance lights in the mirror.

In Tow/Haul mode my truck will still go up into 6th gear, it just shifts down to 5th with less of a load (basically a blade of grass below the wheels will shift the truck down from 6th to 5th LOL)

[ata3001]

I have the truck in my signature (14 Silverado) which replaced an 07 Ram 1500 Quad cab w/Hemi & 3.92 gear. Current truck has the 5.3L w/tow pkg. (3.42 gear) but with the 6 spd trans. I tow approx 6500 lbs & notice a VERY slight decrease in initial get up & go but not enough to even give it a second thought. No difference at all moving down the hwy at 65 mph. Ram gave me 8-9 mpg towing, Chevy gives me 10-12 mpg towing the same routes (hand calculated). I always use the tow haul mode in both trucks. Sold the Ram with just under 100K miles on it & never a motor or transmission problem, just everything else. That's why I now happily drive a Chevy. You shouldn't have any problems with a 1500.

[lbrjet]

Heelbilly wrote:

lbrjet wrote:
I'm not sure why you are questioning whether a better version of the same truck that you use now would be OK or not. It will be better.

Because I'm OCD... Ha!

No, seriously, I had the current truck way longer than I had the trailer and really just wondered if stepping up to a 2500 would be worth it considering my current truck has only pulled this trailer for maybe 10,000 miles and my new one will be pulling it for hopefully well over 100k. The difference in the rear axles (3.73 vs 3.42) also made my wonder a bit, but rethinking that with the 4 speed vs 6 speed transmission does make sense.

As you all know, trucks are not cheap no matter which one you go with. Just thinking through the best one for the job.

If you are going to pull a 100K miles get the 2500.