Towing Questions

[SMOKEEATERFF]

I have asked this question on another forum with no response. I have a Silverado 1500 5.3 L 3.42 gears 2wd Ext Cab reg bed. I am looking at purchasing an 18 ft bumper pull tandem axle with brakes on both axles. I have a Ford 4000 which ways around 4800 lbs and a brush cutters that weighs around 750 lb. The trailer weighs around 2400 lb. My truck is rated to tow 9600 lbs. I come in at around 7950. I know I am safe as far as being under 9,600 lbs but do you think I will have any problems? This is what I have to work with. The furtherest I will tow is about 35 miles which will be twice a year everything else will be around 15 miles or less. And I won't be hauling butt either.

 

[George2615]

Make sure the trailer you buy is rated to haul your 7950 lb load (probably a 10K trailer). Your truck should have a transmission cooler. If not, then you should add one. Get a good quality trailer brake controller for the truck and adjust it properly. If the truck has tow mode function use it. Towing almost 8K will require higher shift points to prevent lugging the engine. Take your time and leave plenty of braking distance. By towing sensibly I don't see where you would have any problem.

 

[Diamondpilot]

What year is your Silverado? Reason I ask is unless its a very late model the 3.42 geared trucks are just not rated for that much.

The 5.3L is a good motor but is way down on torque and this makes them a pig. I have never owned one but I have friends who do and we travel in groups of upto 20 at a time 800 or more miles and my Titan and F-150 I had would flat eat them up merging on the highway, on the hills, ect. These are 2004 to maybe 2008 model years. None of them own any GM products anymore. When they did tow they would get in the 8mpg range with 7,000# or so behind them.

As for a trailer you will need a 10,000# rated trailer. It will weigh about 2,500# empty and leave you with a honest 7,500# to get the job done with. If your are is flat you will be fine for short hauls but if hilly or going long distances you will be wanting a bigger truck real quick.

Chris

 

[SMOKEEATERFF]

Yes I have a towing package with heavy duty cooler. My truck is a 2011 according to my manual the 3.42 gear setup will let me tow 9600 lbs. I will purchase a good trailer brake to go along. The trailer I was looking at was rated for 10,000 lbs and the dealer said the weight was 2400 lbs. After crunching numbers I should be good. Just trying to make sure I have my bases covered. No real steep areas. Short hauls, longest would be 35-40 miles one way twice a year at most. I'm not going to be in a hurry hauling that much weight.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Yes I have a towing package with heavy duty cooler. My truck is a 2011 according to my manual the 3.42 gear setup will let me tow 9600 lbs. I will purchase a good trailer brake to go along. The trailer I was looking at was rated for 10,000 lbs and the dealer said the weight was 2400 lbs. After crunching numbers I should be good. Just trying to make sure I have my bases covered. No real steep areas. Short hauls, longest would be 35-40 miles one way twice a year at most. I'm not going to be in a hurry hauling that much weight.

You should be good to go. I looked up your truck in my book and you are right, a 2011 ext cab 2 wd reg bed will tow 9,700#. So much has changed with GM and Ford since they steeped upto 6 speed gear boxes. Used to be a 3.42 truck was limited to 6,500# or so.

You will surly need a WD hitch also so add $250 or so into the budget for that. Dont forget about some quality chains and binders. For that load I would recommend you go to Lowes and buy 2 of the 20' Campbell 5/16" grade 70 chains and have them cut into 10' sections. This is the best price going on these chains and they are American Made. Get 4 more hooks for the other ends and you now have 4 10' chains and you can secure all 4 corners. Once loaded set the mower down and put a 2" ratchet strap over it holding it secure to the deck and you will be all legal.

Chris

 

[Hollow]

You should be fine, make sure you set the proper hitch weight. Generally you'll want to pull the tractor forward until you set the rear of your truck down about 2 1/2" to 3". If your truck is equipped with a transmission monitor then keep an eye on the temperature. Good luck and have fun. :thumbsup:

 

[SMOKEEATERFF]

Hey Chris how important is a wd hitch. I know the purpose and all. Just never used one before. It seems if I secured the tractor in the proper spot on the trailer I would be okay. I may be missing something, like I said I haven't hauled anything large enough to warrant using one. Thanks for your help.

 

[Hollow]

Hey Chris how important is a wd hitch.

You won't need one unless your pulling something that the weight can't be adjusted like a camping trailer.

 

[deerefan]

I have asked this question on another forum with no response. I have a Silverado 1500 5.3 L 3.42 gears 2wd Ext Cab reg bed. I am looking at purchasing an 18 ft bumper pull tandem axle with brakes on both axles. I have a Ford 4000 which ways around 4800 lbs and a brush cutters that weighs around 750 lb. The trailer weighs around 2400 lb. My truck is rated to tow 9600 lbs. I come in at around 7950. I know I am safe as far as being under 9,600 lbs but do you think I will have any problems? This is what I have to work with. The furtherest I will tow is about 35 miles which will be twice a year everything else will be around 15 miles or less. And I won't be hauling butt either.

I have that exact setup but mine is 4x4. It tows well and the engine is smooth. It does not hunt gears like my 05 did. Some people refer to it as gutless but notice they do not have or drive them. I like how the 6 speed handles the load. I have pulled 7-8k about 6 times, averaging 60 mph on some flat and some hills, mainly backroads and average right at 10mpg. Remember, it does not matter how fast you get there just get there safe. I put an electric brake box in mine and it stops fine. Let me know if you have any questions.

 

[Catfish Man]

Getting the weight distributed on the trailer right is the key, be sure you buy a trailer that is long enough to let you adjust the position of the tractor as needed.

A weight distributing hitch is nice, but not a requirement, if the load is balanced correctly.

 

[jeffsw6]

If your truck is equipped with a transmission monitor then keep an eye on the temperature. Good luck and have fun. :thumbsup:

His truck will go into limp mode and display a message on the DIC if the trans temperature gets too high. Realistically, it won't.

Hey Chris how important is a wd hitch. I know the purpose and all.

I don't own one but I've used them before and it does make a difference, if you have too much squat, it will help. Right now I am trying to decide what W/D setup to buy and personally, I am going to get one with sway control also. IMO if you buy W/D get sway control at the same time because it is cheaper and easier that way.

You mentioned going 35mi twice a year and the rest local. How often is the rest, few times a week, few times a month?

 

[Diamondpilot]

Hey Chris how important is a wd hitch. I know the purpose and all. Just never used one before. It seems if I secured the tractor in the proper spot on the trailer I would be okay. I may be missing something, like I said I haven't hauled anything large enough to warrant using one. Thanks for your help.

You are right but my guess, and this is me going off older GM products, is your hitch has a rating itself. It will be something like 6,000# and 600# of tongue weight for standard pull and 10,000# and 1,000# tongue weigh with a WD hitch.

The guys pulling 8,000# on the factory hitch without a WD hitch are asking for trouble. Been there done that. I tow a lot, about 150 miles a week for the last 20 years and have done just about everything stupid possible.

Using a WD hitch changes the way the load is applied to the hitch. The GM hitches are pretty decent but are far from the best out there. For your purposes I would keep the factory hitch and go with a WD setup.

By the way me calling the 5.3L gutless a fact, not a opinion when compared to Fords 5.0L V8, Toyotas 5.7L V8, Nissans 5.6L V8, and Dodges 5.7L V8. These base V8 engines from all the other manufactures make tons more torque and HP than the 5.3L. It is what it is. Don't get me wrong, the 5.3L is a fine engine that gets good mpg and is reliable but just not the best tower. Yes, I have never owned one but have driven and rode in them and I tow enough to know whats what. Granted, this is all in 5.3L 4 speed trucks and SUV such as Yukons with either 3.73 gears or 4.10 gears. I drove one maybe 2005 5.3L with 3.42 gears and the 4 speed and it would not pull a sick ***** out of bed.

Chris

 

[the6shooter]

I would still get a WD hitch, you would not believe the diff. in the handling of your truck, after not using one. steering and sway. you can really tell, with the WD hitch.
david

 

[SMOKEEATERFF]

I plan on distributing the weight properly. A buddy of mine went with me to get the tractor the other day with his f 150 and 7x20 gooseneck we never knew the load was back there. He had a good brake controller setup. I just wanted some advice from you guys on realworld use.I don't want to tear up a brand new truck. Thanks for all of the info. I believe a 18 ft setup will allow for the proper weight distribution.

 

[SMOKEEATERFF]

Well I work 2 jobs and don't have much time off so I won't be hauling it a lot. Every couple of months. If I get the trailer I may haul it to see how it does. If it squats to bad or sways I will look into a wd hitch. How much do they run? Never looked at buying one.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I plan on distributing the weight properly. A buddy of mine went with me to get the tractor the other day with his f 150 and 7x20 gooseneck we never knew the load was back there. He had a good brake controller setup. I just wanted some advice from you guys on realworld use.I don't want to tear up a brand new truck. Thanks for all of the info. I believe a 18 ft setup will allow for the proper weight distribution.

What motor did he have in that F-150? My father has a 2011 with that new 3.5L Twin Turbo V6 and its a horse. Its the closest thing I have driven to the 4 diesels I have owned.

Don't see a lot of 1/2 tons with GN trailers.

Chris

 

[SMOKEEATERFF]

2004 f150 5.4 l

 

[Diamondpilot]

One other thing I got thinking about. You said your 4000 was 4,800#. That seemed light to me. I have a 861 and it weighs more than that so I looked it up.

According to Tractor Data.Com it weights 4,885# as a base weight and ballasted with wheel weights, front weights, and fluid in the tires it can weight as much as 8,215#.

You really need to have it weighed so you know where you are starting from.

TractorData.com Ford 4000 tractor information

Chris

 

[Hollow]

His truck will go into limp mode and display a message on the DIC if the trans temperature gets too high. Realistically, it won't.

I've got an Avalanche and I can set the DIC to monitor the transmission, I can see what it is doing and adjust my throttle usage accordingly.

 

[SMOKEEATERFF]

It's got one front weight and the fluid in the tires has been removed, no wheel weights. I may try to get it weighed.