Towing in 3rd gear rpm high?
Hey guys new to the towing a travel trailer and I Have a 1996 Silverado extended cab 4X4 with 5.7 Vortec and factory 3.73 gears and factory size tires 265/75/16 and the truck only has 50K original mil...
Forum Discussion
budwich wrote:
As for the running in 3rd, as other suggest, should be no problem.
Of course, your fuel mileage will be reduced with the higher rpms but gas has gotten cheaper ... :-)
I've been towing for 10 yrs now with GM's 5.3L engine coupled via the older 4 spd wide ratio transmission to a 3.42 axle, first with a 2006 Silverado and then with a 2005 Avalanche with which I still tow. I always run in 3rd with Tow / Haul engaged and at highway speed with the engine running around 2300 rpm fuel mileage is as good if not better than if running in Drive with the engine lugging around 1500 rpm. Serious upgrades require a manual downshift to 2nd but even when dragging around 5500 lbs I could not only maintain highway speeds but even accelerate, even better now that my current trailer typically averages 4500 lbs. With a 4 spd wide ratio GM tranmsission and either 3.42 or 3.73 one would always want to tow in 3rd with Tow / Haul engaged as that puts the engine in it's sweet spot and help realize it's best fuel mileage return. I would expect the same with the OP's older 5.7L GM.
