Towing with the 5.3 V8

Kuff · June 18, 2014

So I just picked up a 2014 Solaire 247RKES Eclipse on the weekend. Originally the tongue weight from factory is 570 lbs or so. Add on the batteries (2x 6v), two 20 lb propane tanks and all the gear loaded and it comes in at 750 lbs on my Sherline tongue scale. The trailer shipped came in at around 5700 lbs and I am guessing loaded I am around 6500-6700 lbs (Will be weighing it tomorrow).

Now the part that concerns me is at 750 lbs of tongue weight this puts me really close to the max payload (yellow sticker on door) of 1686 lbs. Take 4 adults, tongue weight, WDH, bakflip cover, bakbox and running boards and it leaves you with pretty much nothing.

1686 (Payload)

- 750 (tongue)

- 50 (equalizer 4 point)

- 700 (4x adults)

- 55 (bakflip)

- 20 (bakbox)

- 50 (bestop wireless nx running boards)

= +61 lbs left

If you take GVWR of 7200 lbs it works out a bit different. According to the cat scale it came in around 5580 lbs with a 1/3 of a tank of fuel (add 100lbs on to make it full), so 5680 lbs full of fuel. Also I am not sure if it included the weight of me as I had to get out of the truck and hit the button while off the scale.

7200 (GVWR)

- 5680 (truck full of fuel)

- 750 (tongue)

- 50 (equalizer 4 point)

- 700 (4x adults)

= +20 lbs left

Being that close to max payload and GVWR is concerning. Now I could shift/remove some weight from the front storage and still get a +10-12% tongue weight but would rather not. How anal are they in the United States if you are that close to max payload/GVWR... Only reason I put 4 adults down as the odd time we go with friends places and this is a worse case scenario.

I find it hard to believe that they make even 1/2 tons like this, as I don't think I am towing anything too crazy. Just does not seem to be a lot of wiggle room. I see people all the time towing 27-30 foot trailers with mid 90's 4-runners or early 2000 Dodge Dakotas and obviously it is not hard to tell that they are way over their weight limits.

music · June 19, 2014

Something you left out is that the wdh will transfer weight off the truck and onto the trailer axles. That said, I'm not worried by your setup . GM allows a decent buffer between gvwr and axle/tire ratings, where Ford pushes them pretty close. I'd also go over gvwr a bit before purposely unloading the tongue. This is just an opinion, but I've been towing in a similar situation for a good while, and have never worried about overloading the truck. I didn't like the stock tires much for towing, especially at these weights, but I finally wore them out and recently got some LT tires. I will say that getting the hitch right is more important as you start bumping up to gvwr, but I'm sure you know this.

As for US laws, there are none for what you're asking. The DOT regulates commerce only, while states regulate personal vehicle use. State rules vary, but I've yet to see one that references manufacture gvwr.

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Kuff · June 19, 2014

Something you left out is that the wdh will transfer weight off the truck and onto the trailer axles. That said, I'm not worried by your setup . GM allows a decent buffer between gvwr and axle/tire ratings, where Ford pushes them pretty close. I'd also go over gvwr a bit before purposely unloading the tongue. This is just an opinion, but I've been towing in a similar situation for a good while, and have never worried about overloading the truck. I didn't like the stock tires much for towing, especially at these weights, but I finally wore them out and recently got some LT tires. I will say that getting the hitch right is more important as you start bumping up to gvwr, but I'm sure you know this.

As for US laws, there are none for what you're asking. The DOT regulates commerce only, while states regulate personal vehicle use. State rules vary, but I've yet to see one that references manufacture gvwr.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

Axle weight I am way under in the rear. Only 2340 and I think the max is 3850 lbs.

Now the WDH the RV dealer sold me was an interesting one. They did not set it up proper and I got on the highway and ran the speed up to 100 km/h, front end was light and man was is squirrelly. Pulled over as soon as I could, checked my pants and then tightened up the chains a link or two. After that it was pretty good. Originally they said they were selling me a equalizer (as I wanted the sway control), wasnt really paying attention and it was a run of the mill WDH. Going to send it back and tomorrow I am getting a Equalizer 4-point installed by some professionals. Should be much better at that point.

music · June 19, 2014

I use the Reese dual cam, and think it's great. I'll bet you're going to be very pleasantly surprised with a properly set up Equalizer, vs what you have now.

Edited June 20, 2014 by music

DONKEY KONG · July 2, 2014

2014 Sierra SLT 4x4 (3.42 rear) towing 2015 Forest River Mini Lite 2306 model dry weight 3,800 lbs can hold max weight of 4,800 lbs. Did my first trip up the "GAUNTLET" Denver Colorado to Eagle Colorado through the I-70 pass. The truck did struggle on steeper hills but it did get the job done my trailer probably weighed in around 4,200 lbs with all the gear I had. From Denver to Eagle averaged 9.5 MPG on the way back from Eagle to Denver averaged 12.3 MPG. This was mainly due to the steep grades between the two directions not much wind played a role in this. Braking was great and handling was great due to E2 equilizer hitch. Overall very happy so far with the performance of the truck.

EXSlider400 · July 2, 2014

Great.... 2015 tow ratings are reduced for most trucks due to new standard. I still think it is a smart move but now my truck layout for 2015 is at 6,200 pounds..that is 900 less than the v6.

http://media.gmc.com/media/us/en/gmc/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2014/Jun/0619-gmc-sierra1500.html

Edited July 2, 2014 by EXSlider400

Clocked92 · July 2, 2014

Anyone towing a Malibu wakesetter Vlx with their truck with z71 and 3.42 gears? I think the boat itself is about 5500 pounds. With trailer and fuel it would likely be north of 6000 pounds. It's not like I'd be towing through mountains or anything like that. I want the 6.2 but I just don't know about it.

RobZ71LM7 · July 5, 2014

Towing my heavy load...

I also pull a 20' boat. I've been very happy with the new 5.3, but the tow haul mode is useless.

Edited July 5, 2014 by RobZ71LM7

thewhitestallion · July 6, 2014

Towing my heavy load...

I also pull a 20' boat. I've been very happy with the new 5.3, but the tow haul mode is useless.

you should probably go to some certified scales and make sure that you are not over your gcvw rating... looks like you might be overloading the truck.... lol jk

brendon444 · July 10, 2014

Anyone towing a Malibu wakesetter Vlx with their truck with z71 and 3.42 gears? I think the boat itself is about 5500 pounds. With trailer and fuel it would likely be north of 6000 pounds. It's not like I'd be towing through mountains or anything like that. I want the 6.2 but I just don't know about it.

I tow a 22ft wake boat Sanger v215 and my 2014 3.42 5.3 tows it fine. Would be similar weight to your boat. Your vlx is 3700 dry so fuel trailer around 6000 so really it's not much for a truck. YouTube shows a good comparison of 6.2 vs. 5.3 towing a boat similar to ours. Both tow fine but obviously 6.2 is faster

Kuff · July 10, 2014

I use the Reese dual cam, and think it's great. I'll bet you're going to be very pleasantly surprised with a properly set up Equalizer, vs what you have now.

Got the Equalizer 4-point and it has been fantastic. First time towing with it (800km) was night and day. Only thing I found was the back end suspension was a little soft and on rough roads it porpoised quite a bit.

I have since added air bags (Airlift 5000 Ultimates w compressor) and those have helped a ton on rough roads. Towed it about 1300KM but hadn't adjusted the WDH to work with the air bags, so the sway control was not quite as effective. Going camping again tomorrow and have dropped the hitch head one hole, which according to measurements will put it at the proper height again.

As far as having enough power it does pretty well. A friend was following me with his trailer (and Expedition) and on all the hills he would end up quite a ways back, where as I would just chug up the hills no problem.

Smoothaseggs · June 21, 2015

Truck has 5.3, integrated trailer brake, and 3.08. So far does alot better than my 07.

atta boy ex slider

Love seeing 5.3 with 3.08 pulling.

what's the weight

WilliamBos · June 21, 2015

My 04 had a 5.3/3:73 and towed great. The 11 with the 4.8 and 3:42 is a little sluggish, but is OK. Next truck will have 3:73 if I can find one. I buy 3 year lease returns, 3:73 makes a huge difference towing. May go new next time.

EXSlider400 · June 23, 2015

atta boy ex slider

Love seeing 5.3 with 3.08 pulling.

what's the weight

Tow ratings were changed (corrected in owners manual for early cc SWB 5.3 3.08) now I have the 3.42 and tows even better.

Smoothaseggs · June 24, 2015

Tow ratings were changed (corrected in owners manual for early cc SWB 5.3 3.08) now I have the 3.42 and tows even better.

Remind me...how much weight you pulling around? Are you 4x4? Did you use east coast gear ? Pulling steep grades ? I'm gonna change gears and deciding whether or not to go to 3.73