Towing with the 5.3 V8

bubbam1952 · March 23, 2014

Guide says there is an external cooler included with the 5.3

What guide are you referring to?

redwngr · March 23, 2014

GM ordering guide.

Here's the page:

http://www.gmfleetorderguide.com/NASApp/domestic/proddesc.jsp?year=2014&regionID=1&divisionID=2&type=0&vehicleID=14683&section=oi_def&page=6&butID=3

bubbam1952 · March 24, 2014

GM ordering guide.

Here's the page:

http://www.gmfleetorderguide.com/NASApp/domestic/proddesc.jsp?year=2014&regionID=1&divisionID=2&type=0&vehicleID=14683&section=oi_def&page=6&butID=3

Thank you!!

R-D · March 30, 2014

My truck I have on order is a 5.3L Crew Cab 4x4 with the All Terrain package (3.42) and a standard box - tow rating is 9500lbs.

We're looking at buying a TT with a listed 6822lb dry weight. Fresh water tank is 40gal (~334lbs), and if the 80gal grey and 40gal black were also full (unlikely to drive with either tank full but just running numbers here), we're looking at another 1001lbs.

Estimating about 500lbs for food/gear on top of that, total weight if the tanks happen to all be full is 8657lbs.

Is this too much trailer for this truck with a WDH?

Thanks!

skmoore22 · March 30, 2014

Good evening,

I pulled my TT for the first time this weekend. My truck managed the short 50 mile trip perfectly. Spec's on the TT are 36' 6" long and weighing in about 8800 lbs loaded. Overall... I am a very happy camper with my setup!!! LOL 5.3 with 3.42

R-D · March 31, 2014

Good to hear and alleviates part of my worry in my question above about towing that much weight.

Your trailer appears to be quite similar to what we were looking at. Is that by chance the Cruiser VS-28BHOB? It appears to be a rebranded Crossroads RV - the one we are looking at is a Maple Country 28BH which is also a rebranded Crossroads.

LTZ2014 · March 31, 2014

My factory brake controller don't seem to be compatible with my electric over hydraulic trailer brakes. Any thoughts or ideas?

jdell · April 1, 2014

Good evening,

I pulled my TT for the first time this weekend. My truck managed the short 50 mile trip perfectly. Spec's on the TT are 36' 6" long and weighing in about 8800 lbs loaded. Overall... I am a very happy camper with my setup!!! LOL 5.3 with 3.42

I have the same setup for a tow vehicle. My TT is on order and it is 35'2", dry weight about 7600 lbs and hitch weight of 925 lbs. Glad to know towing this wont be a problem. What is your hitch weight? Did you do any mods for towing?

skmoore22 · April 1, 2014

Good evening,

So the manufacturer of my TT is Cruiser RVs. The model is VIEWFINDER Signature 32KIBH. Dry weight is 7830 with a tongue weight of 810 lbs. I purchased the TT from Holman RV in Ohio. First class outfit!! So from what I can gather, they made my model TT for 3 years, that being 12,13 and 14. I believe they changed the model late in 14 to what you are looking at. This is my first TT and I am very pleased with it.

The WDH I use is the Equal-i-zer with built in 4 point sway control (awesome system). I have had the truck up to around 65mph towing with very little sway at that speed. I have not done any mods for towing as of yet. All though, I have been kicking around the idea of installing the Timbren Rear Suspension Enhancement System. A friend of mine has them installed on his new F250 and really likes them. I am still not 100% sure I need them.

I think my next mods will be a Blackbear tune, Corsa cat back and CAI.

R-D · April 1, 2014

Thanks for the info. The dry weight on the one we're looking at is 6822 so its good to hear it tows yours (at 7830) well with the WDH! More and more I can't wait for my truck to arrive!

jdell · April 2, 2014

Good evening,

So the manufacturer of my TT is Cruiser RVs. The model is VIEWFINDER Signature 32KIBH. Dry weight is 7830 with a tongue weight of 810 lbs. I purchased the TT from Holman RV in Ohio. First class outfit!! So from what I can gather, they made my model TT for 3 years, that being 12,13 and 14. I believe they changed the model late in 14 to what you are looking at. This is my first TT and I am very pleased with it.

The WDH I use is the Equal-i-zer with built in 4 point sway control (awesome system). I have had the truck up to around 65mph towing with very little sway at that speed. I have not done any mods for towing as of yet. All though, I have been kicking around the idea of installing the Timbren Rear Suspension Enhancement System. A friend of mine has them installed on his new F250 and really likes them. I am still not 100% sure I need them.

I think my next mods will be a Blackbear tune, Corsa cat back and CAI.

I got the Timbrens to put on, heard some good things about them. How come you are not a 100% sure about them? Do you think changing tires to a heavier ply maybe a mod for you? I am not sure about using a P rated tire for towing that kind of weight. Thanks for your info.

skmoore22 · April 3, 2014

Good evening,

The way I look at it is, my truck came from the factory with the p-metric ( 4 ply ) tires on it. Which means to me my trucks weight carrying capacity was set by the manufacturer with the 4 ply tires that it came with. I will tow this TT 6 to 8 times a year for long weekend trips there for I will not be going to far away from home maybe 200 miles. I use the truck as a daily driver so putting a stiffer ply tire on it is not needed in my opinion. The reason I am not 100% sold on the tembren system for helping with towing my TT is (the way I understand how they work), they are more for helping with payload and not towing. Other then the weight of the front of the TT (810 lbs) 2 adults 2 small children maybe 2 small kids bikes and a couple odds and end things I may throw in the bed, I feel my payload is pretty light. Please correct me with my thinking!! Now, if I was going to tow this TT all the time for long distances I would have bought a GMC 2500 or even 3500.

bdbake01 · April 3, 2014

Man's right. Timbren helps more w/ payload than towing. If you're sagging that bad in the rear, torque up the WD hitch or get a bigger one!

jdell · April 3, 2014

Well if you look at it that way, then your right. I use mine about the same amount and maybe furthest trip is 400 miles. I just have a heavier hitch weight of 925lbs but still within payload limits. And I also use the Equalizer 4 point hitch. Now I am scratching my head if I should send them back or keep them.

Thanks for the help.

skmoore22 · April 4, 2014

Well if you look at it that way, then your right. I use mine about the same amount and maybe furthest trip is 400 miles. I just have a heavier hitch weight of 925lbs but still within payload limits. And I also use the Equalizer 4 point hitch. Now I am scratching my head if I should send them back or keep them.

Thanks for the help.

You have them... Spend the half hour putting them on, have a beer :-) and report back with results after towing your TT. Who knows... I might be missing out on the benefits of having them installed on my truck.

Happy Towing!!!