2015 5.3L 3.42 Axle Ratio; Travel Trailer Max Tow Weight?

EddieK82 · November 27, 2019

I am looking into getting a travel trailer and I was wondering what the max recommended weight would be for my truck to pull. I know it says "5.3 liter, double cab, standard box: 9,200 pounds" and then the 1600lbs max truck weight, but was is the max that would be recommended for long, constant towing? Getting a new truck is out of the question.

I am looking to pull a travel trailer up and down the east coast where I would park for a month or so at a time to see the country, maybe over to Texas, not sure about going through mountains yet.

Any information anyone has from experience would really help me out in my decision on what TT I can comfortably purchase without worrying about burning out my truck.

Thanks!

HeySkippyDog · November 27, 2019

The 9200 pound listing for your configuration is for the trailer weight itself.

You will have to figure out what the tongue weight is, which is the weight imparted onto your truck through the hitch.

On your driver door sill, it will show a weight for "Gross vehicle weight rating", or GVWR.

Your truck probably weighs about 5400 pounds with you in it and a full tank of fuel.

Take the GVWR and subtract 5400 and the tongue weight of the trailer. The result is the remaining amount of capacity to put in your truck for luggage, gear, other passengers, etc. As long as you don't get a negative number, you're not overloaded, and your truck is capable of carrying the trailer and your desired extras.

Your tongue weight is gonna matter more than trailer weight.

More axles on the trailer will lower the tongue weight. If the tongue weight causes you to exceed GVWR, it doesn't matter what the trailer weight is. It's too heavy.

Depending on how the trailer is configured and what that does to the tongue weight really determines how heavy that given trailer can be behind your truck.

Hope that helps.

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HeySkippyDog · November 27, 2019

On the other side of the coin, if tongue weight doesn't cause you to exceed GVWR, but the trailer is over 9200, it is too heavy of a trailer in that (primarily) your braking system will be overwhelmed and it isn't safe to tow it.

You can mitigate this case somewhat with good trailer brakes and a trailer brake controller with the gain turned way up so it drags you to a stop when you step on the brake, but don't do this if you don't have to. Now it'll be straining your driveline.

Too heavy of a trailer can cause a "tail wagging the dog" scenario and that is NOT fun. The trailer being significantly over 9200 is gonna push that truck all over the place unless you've got dry conditions on straight road with no surprise braking situations.

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EddieK82 · November 27, 2019

8 minutes ago, HeySkippyDog said:

On the other side of the coin, if tongue weight doesn't cause you to exceed GVWR, but the trailer is over 9200, it is too heavy of a trailer in that (primarily) your braking system will be overwhelmed and it isn't safe to tow it.

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Thanks for all the help. I understand the max towing capacity, but I read on other forums that you don't really want to pull max on a constant bases? Is that bad for the truck? Someone said to try and keep it at about 80% if I'm towing often?

HeySkippyDog · November 27, 2019

Thanks for all the help. I understand the max towing capacity, but I read on other forums that you don't really want to pull max on a constant bases? Is that bad for the truck? Someone said to try and keep it at about 80% if I'm towing often?

You're right, running it at the max will wear the truck out sooner than giving it some margin.

The margin you choose depends on how long you need/want that particular truck. There are too many unknowns to give a specific margin. Driving gingerly vs driving more aggressively is subjective.

To be fair, a 1500 really isn't meant for constant towing. It's for occasional towing of a boat, and basic homeowner stuff. You'll want to upgrade your brake pads and rotors, put new shocks in (depending on mileage), and maybe consider having the transmission thermostat removed to keep your transmission temps low as possible.

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HeySkippyDog · November 27, 2019

I will say this, you did yourself a major favor by getting a 5.3 and 3.42. That's the axle ratio you want for towing.

Do you have V4 mode disabled? If not, get a Range Technologies V8 module and plug it in and leave it in.

Make sure you always push the tow/haul button on the end of your shifter with a trailer.

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EddieK82 · November 27, 2019

Just now, HeySkippyDog said:

I will say this, you did yourself a major favor by getting a 5.3 and 3.42. That's the axle ratio you want for towing.

Do you have V4 mode disabled? If not, get a Range Technologies V8 module and plug it in and leave it in.

Make sure you always push the tow/haul button on the end of your shifter with a trailer.

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My V4 mode is still enabled, didn't even know there was an option to disable it. I will look that module up, thanks!

I have some numbers for someone with more knowledge than I have (I don't have much) to towing with my truck.

The weight of the trailer I am looking at is 8000lbs with a hitch weight of 1100 lbs. Would that be overkill for this trucks components? Should I look at something with a weight of say 7000lbs and a lower hitch weight, or do I need to go lower?

HeySkippyDog · November 27, 2019

1100 pounds tongue weight is over the limit about 100 pounds for a standard Class IV hitch that these trucks come with unless you have a weight distributing hitch which bumps it up.

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EddieK82 · November 27, 2019

Just now, HeySkippyDog said:

1100 pounds tongue weight is over the limit about 100 pounds for a standard Class IV hitch that these trucks come with unless you have a weight distributing hitch which bumps it up.

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Ok, great! Thanks for all the help! I wish I would have known I was going to want to tow something when I bought this truck, I'd have maybe looked at something bigger. I will try and stick to something much lighter for towing.

HeySkippyDog · November 27, 2019

Google tells me that RPO VR4 is for a weight distributing hitch. I don't have that on my current 2017. Anything pertaining to towing that I have is

Z85 - Chassis package, high payload

Z82 - HD trailering equipment (it is a pigtail in the glovebox for an aftermarket trailer brake controller)

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HeySkippyDog · November 27, 2019

You're not sunk, just look for something a tad lighter.

Also remember that you have a double cab with the 6'6" bed. You can 5th wheel too.

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HeySkippyDog · November 27, 2019

5th wheel seems outrageous on a 1500 but I've seen it plenty of times. I'm on the highway 5 days a week.

A lighter weight 5th wheel trailer CAN be mated to a 1500 with a 5th wheel receiver.

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HeySkippyDog · November 27, 2019

Nice truck you got there by the way. I had a 2014 5.3 3.42 double cab Z60 LT, I absolutely loved the front clip design of the 2014/15, but my 14 had lots of 1st year design issues with the AC.

Having kids come along and not being able to fit a carseat in the back of a double cab forced my hand on trading for a 2017 Crew Cab. I definitely appreciate the standard HID lighting over halogen I had before. I see you got the factory HID 2015, man that is sweet.

I grew up on the old 80s/90s Silverados and I love the retro look on a 2014 and 2015 truck.

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truckguy82 · November 27, 2019

100% buy a 2500 for that kind of mileage

just buy a used one, then sell it when your trip is over. Buy smart it it might cost you nothing. Even if you lose $1-$2k it’s still cheaper than the mileage depreciation and wear and tear on your current truck. Towing anywhere near the 1500’s towing limits for thousands of miles will not be fun. You can atleast relax a little with a 2500.

EddieK82 · November 27, 2019

9 hours ago, HeySkippyDog said:

Nice truck you got there by the way. I had a 2014 5.3 3.42 double cab Z60 LT, I absolutely loved the front clip design of the 2014/15, but my 14 had lots of 1st year design issues with the AC.

Having kids come along and not being able to fit a carseat in the back of a double cab forced my hand on trading for a 2017 Crew Cab. I definitely appreciate the standard HID lighting over halogen I had before. I see you got the factory HID 2015, man that is sweet.

I grew up on the old 80s/90s Silverados and I love the retro look on a 2014 and 2015 truck.

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Thanks! I got this truck certified used over in Jersey at the Turnersville Automall. It's had some issues that were fixed under the warranty but it's running great now. Has 65K on it. I love this truck and would hate to have to trade it in for another one. I like the square body on it and the grill is impossible to find in any new models.

This is the LTZ and it has every bell and whistle you can think of. The only thing I'm not very happy with in this truck is the navigation system and how they have the infotainment systems setup. I had a 2011 Acura TSX and it blows this truck out of the water when it comes to that.

Edited November 27, 2019 by Kelly Website-Design