About to buy a trailer, now not sure if my truck can pull it

Z45 · August 5, 2021

rpo NHT Max Trailering is an extra cost option and not standard on any trim level. To ID a truck with Max Towing look for the big trailer mirrors. No Mirrors, no Max towing. Hard to find new and harder used.

NHT

Max Trailering Package, includes 9.76" rear axle, enhanced cooling radiator, revised shock tuning for increased control, heavier duty rear springs, increased RGAWR and (KW5) 220-amp alternator. NOT AVAILABLE W/Z71 PKG.

On the LT trim

Requires (L84) 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 engine, (Z82) Trailering Package, (G80) locking differential and 18" or 20" wheels and tires. Includes (GU6) 3.42 axle ratio and (JL1) trailer brake controller. Not available with (Z71) Z71 Off-Road Package.

pokismoki · August 5, 2021

get a gmc 2500 if they are available

malibu43 · August 5, 2021

Just now, pokismoki said:

get a gmc 2500 if they are available

3/4 ton just isn't an option for us right now due to budget.

malibu43 · August 5, 2021

Dealer also has a brand new 1500 z71 with the 3.0L diesel. Thoughts?

A tad more money, but affordable. We'll just be eating Ramen for a while...

JimCost2014 · August 6, 2021

1 hour ago, malibu43 said:

Dealer also has a brand new 1500 z71 with the 3.0L diesel.

Sounds like you found your truck.

Amcguy1970 · August 6, 2021

On 8/2/2021 at 2:08 PM, pokismoki said:

you need a MAXTow WT truck option. our little 5.3's aren't built to tow with our cooling system. your gear ratio sucks, but if you went with a 5th wheel trailer you could do it safely in 3.08

if you have the 8 speed transmission your fine, its just not a good ratio for the 6 speed trucks

Huh, might want to tell the engineers who designed and tested the truck in extreme max weight conditions up steep grades in 100 degree heat and let them know... This post can't be serious, can it? A full size V8 truck not designed to tow, haha.

Tyler

jthoske · August 6, 2021

23 hours ago, malibu43 said:

Hey everyone. Thanks for all the info and help. I was leaning heavily toward re-gearing then talked so some other trailer owners and did some research on how re-gearing will (or won't) affect the legal tow rating for the vehicle, and have decided it's better to upgrade to a new truck. I really liked my truck and was looking forward to having it paid off soon, but I think this will be a better choice.

Inventory is pretty low right now, but we found a very low mileage used 2020 1500 LT with the 5.3L V8 and 8 speed transmission that we are going to look at later. Had them send a picture of the door stamp and confirmed it has a Max Payload of 2071 lbs and max tow rating of 9600 lbs. Almost everything else about the truck is equivalent to or better than what I had before. I'm getting another 5 years of drivetrain warranty out of it, which is a plus.

It does need a hitch receiver (which is easy) and a brake controller (which I was going to have to add to my old truck anyway). I may be back here shortly to ask for recommendations for those.

Thanks again for all the help.

I have a 2018 Silverado LT Z71 with the 5.3 and 6 speed (guess that means 3.42 gears?) rated at 9100lbs. I never exceed ~8200lbs with my TT. If I were to buy a bigger truck for towing it would be a 2500HD or 3500HD with the Duramax. But I cant afford what they're wanting for them new or used right now. Plus they are next to impossible to find.

pokismoki · August 6, 2021

2 hours ago, Amcguy1970 said:

Huh, might want to tell the engineers who designed and tested the truck in extreme max weight conditions up steep grades in 100 degree heat and let them know... This post can't be serious, can it? A full size V8 truck not designed to tow, haha.

Tyler

let them know what, they already know, the product the gm engineers designed has been sabatoged by GM's sale engineers. increase the engine temp to 220 degrees, install high temp thermostat in thransmission, add punny engine radiator, ya da yada... there are a few other designed in flaws i wont mention. spend enough time on the forum and you'll get skooled boy!

pokismoki · August 6, 2021

1 hour ago, jthoske said:

I have a 2018 Silverado LT Z71 with the 5.3 and 6 speed (guess that means 3.42 gears?) rated at 9100lbs. I never exceed ~8200lbs with my TT. If I were to buy a bigger truck for towing it would be a 2500HD or 3500HD with the Duramax. But I cant afford what they're wanting for them new or used right now. Plus they are next to impossible to find.

you can find 2500's them in the GMT900 platform, also hemming.com has good deals on low milage trucks

https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/gmc/sierra?year_min=2008&year_max=2022

Edited August 6, 2021 by pokismoki

JimCost2014 · August 6, 2021

Took 4 pages, but this baby is headed straight for the ditch, let the name calling and chest puffing begin.

:

Key Board Warriors #1000001, Live tonight at 8:00 PM EST on your local forum.....

Edited August 7, 2021 by JimCost2014

asilverblazer · August 6, 2021

"A 22ft Keystone Passport with a shipped weight of 4660lbs and a carrying capacity of 1770lbs."

If you can't tow this behind a 1/2 ton truck you're doing something wrong. Plus, I doubt you'll put 1700 ls of stuff in it.

I'm towing a trailer that is literally nearly twice this size with no problems.

malibu43 · August 7, 2021

The 3.0L turbo was bought by someone else 30 minutes before got there. 2 other trucks we were looking at (one another 3.0L) sold this morning just hours after we inquired about going to look after work. It's crazy right now...

Finally got someone to hold onto a 2021 5.3L Z71 RST for us long enough to get down there and make a purchase. Taking it Mammoth to tent camp in a week, and then will pick up the trailer a week after that and put it to work.

Thanks again for all the help!

pokismoki · August 7, 2021

try doing a search on craigslist LA, for "LTZ" I was amaized at what I found...

pokismoki · August 7, 2021

https://ventura.craigslist.org/cto/d/thousand-oaks-pristine-chevy-silverado/7356322569.html

swathdiver · August 8, 2021

On 8/7/2021 at 12:11 AM, malibu43 said:

The 3.0L turbo was bought by someone else 30 minutes before got there. 2 other trucks we were looking at (one another 3.0L) sold this morning just hours after we inquired about going to look after work. It's crazy right now...

Finally got someone to hold onto a 2021 5.3L Z71 RST for us long enough to get down there and make a purchase. Taking it Mammoth to tent camp in a week, and then will pick up the trailer a week after that and put it to work.

Thanks again for all the help!

Take a short trip with your rig as is. Afterwards, you'll probably want to get the gears, go for the 3.73s. Whatever you do, get rid of the transmission thermostat, it's a killer. Look up "flip the pill".

From here you can at your leisure upgrade the rear spring pack, radiator, whatever to have the truck in your driveway do the job needed to your satisfaction. No need for eating Ramen.

My 2012 NHT Sierra will pull your rig all over the country without any mods. If you can find one, sell yours for a profit and get one of these which certainly costs less in payments but more in maintenance and repairs because of age, possibly, depending on mileage and records.