Optimizing towing vehicle

[vince2]

I have a 2006 chevy k1500, regular cab, long bed with only 23k miles on it. Has the 5.3 l and 3.42 end gear. Use it mostly in winter for 4-wheel in snow but since I got the trailer, a 5 ton eager beaver with pintle hitch, I have been getting close to the max towing capacity and at times exceeding it. I know that getting a 3/4 or 1 ton truck would be a solution, but I like my truck and want to keep it. Here are some things that I have done to improve the towing. Replaced the hitch with a cat 5 hitch rated at 16k capacity. Replaced tires with LT load E ratings. Considering now to change the endgear to a 4.10 (both front and rear) to increase towing capacity from 7900 to 8900 lbs. and to replace rear shocks with ranchos 9000 adjustable shocks to help with vehicle height in back. Any other suggestions to help the towing vehicle perform as good as possible near the max towing capacity are welcome. Thanks

 

[RedNeckRacin]

Depending on how your states laws are, your improvements might be for your comfort only.

 

[tjcarguy]

I imagine you can use lift bars on a pintle hook ? ---Trevor

 

[pmsmechanic]

For the amount of towing you do I would consider a chip and an exhaust before changing the final gear ratios. Also a shift kit for the transmission would help.

 

[groundcover]

Air bags , trans cooler, upgrade brakes.

 

[DT86]

Yes brakes.

 

[vince2]

Air bags , trans cooler, upgrade brakes.

I have the trailer package, do I still need a trans cooler? Elaborate on upgrade of brakes. My trailer brakes are electric and perform well. Are airbags better than adjustable shocks. I read that many airbags fail within a few years.

 

[ededic]

Truck does not exist without pics.

Sent from my iPad using TractorByNet

 

[groundcover]

The Goodyear air bags seem to do well. Another trans cooler in series may save big money down the road.
When I picked up my '94 F350 twenty years ago the service manager ask if I was going to put a snowplow on it, I said yep that was the idea. He put another cooler on before I even took delivery. Twenty years and hundreds of tons of snow later all I have done is change the fluid.
They have some aftermarket brake packages for trucks but I haven't used them, may be all set if the trailer's are doing their part.
Don't get carried away with too much weight on the tail of the trailer or you might get carried away ! Can get real exciting real quick !

 

[94BULLITT]

Trans cooler, deeper trans pan, tow tune, good brakes(ceramic pads are not good for towing)

 

[Loadstar]

Save money not getting a deeper trans pan and get a gage to monitor transmission temp.

 

[HHR]

Trans cooler, deeper trans pan, tow tune, good brakes(ceramic pads are not good for towing)

What are the downsides to ceramic brakes while towing?

 

[94BULLITT]

I just reread your original post and saw you only had 23K miles so the truck should have good brakes, still may have ceramic pads. Those trucks are known for rusty rotors and brake lines so you may want to inspect that stuff. If you really want to spend money those trucks have 2 sizes of rotors on them. If your truck has the smaller rotors you could upgrade to the larger ones. Flushing the brake fluid would be a good idea if it never has been done.

 

[94BULLITT]

What are the downsides to ceramic brakes while towing?

Ceramic brakes run hotter. They don't get rid of the heat like semi-metallic brakes, they actually hold heat.

 

[vince2]

I have had a brake line replaced in the back last year so the system was flushed and checked. I'm not really wanting to spend money. Want to increase the towing capacity by swapping to a 4.10 gear so that I have a little bit more margin and need to keep the back from sagging, as the headlights aim too high. With my tractor including the front loader at about 5000-5500 lbs and the trailer at 2500 lbs and the max towing at 7900 I'm at the maximum. Thanks

 

[MinnesotaEric]

It is a 4x4, if you change the rear, you must also change the front diff too.

How about a nice rusty 3/4 ton and then wing it over to a trusted tech and tell him he has $1000 to fix everything he sees going out?

 

[94BULLITT]

I have had a brake line replaced in the back last year so the system was flushed and checked. I'm not really wanting to spend money. Want to increase the towing capacity by swapping to a 4.10 gear so that I have a little bit more margin and need to keep the back from sagging, as the headlights aim too high. With my tractor including the front loader at about 5000-5500 lbs and the trailer at 2500 lbs and the max towing at 7900 I'm at the maximum. Thanks

It sounds like you should be fine then. Does the trailer have brakes on both axles? If it doesn't you may want to add brakes to the other axle. It would not be too expensive to do. If you have brakes on both axles I would still check and adjsut the brakes.

 

[motownbrowne]

Weight distributing hitch maybe?

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Weight distributing hitch maybe?

Uprated disk brakes in the trailer.

 

[vince2]

Weight distributing hitch maybe?

I got the cat 5 hitch because with the pintle hitch can't use a weight distributing hitch. Trailer has brakes on both axles. replaced all bearings and brakes are in perfect shape.