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towing question

mallardchandler

mallardchandler

1/2 ton status
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My daily driver is a 2008 1500 Z71 with the 5.3. It is stock other than having black bear preformance reprogram the the ecm. The tow rating is something like 4600lbs.
Would it be too rough on her if I wanted to tow my jimmy (~4000lbs) about 500 miles and back? I have access to a good trailer with brakes and can easily have my truck wired for a trailer brake.
 
As long as the truck is anything other than a regular cab short bed, I'd say go for it. Unless you'll be running on icy roads, at that point I wouldn't.
 
mallardchandler said:
My daily driver is a 2008 1500 Z71 with the 5.3. It is stock other than having black bear preformance reprogram the the ecm. The tow rating is something like 4600lbs.
Would it be too rough on her if I wanted to tow my jimmy (~4000lbs) about 500 miles and back? I have access to a good trailer with brakes and can easily have my truck wired for a trailer brake.
Click to expand...

A) your Jimmy unless it is missing the drivetrain weighs closer to 5000 lbs.

B) good dual axle car trailer weighs about 1800-2000 lbs.

C) Add that up.

Rene
 
I figured about 7000 when I towed my K10 to Reno. I had put it on a scale once and it was 4900 and I know the trailer was close to 2000 and thats why I recuited my father in law with his F350 for that 800 mile trip
 
mallardchandler said:
My daily driver is a 2008 1500 Z71 with the 5.3. It is stock other than having black bear preformance reprogram the the ecm. The tow rating is something like 4600lbs.
Would it be too rough on her if I wanted to tow my jimmy (~4000lbs) about 500 miles and back? I have access to a good trailer with brakes and can easily have my truck wired for a trailer brake.
Click to expand...

That tow rating doesn't sound right for a full size 1/2 ton, I googled "tow capacity 2008 1500 z71" and was finding #'s as high as 10,500lbs for a 1500hd truck.
Like others said you are more then likely looking at a total load of closer to 8,000lbs, depending upon trailer and actual vehicle weight.
I am assuming you would be towing from a hitch and NOT a bumper mounted ball, I would double check the tow rating, check the hitch rating, definitely install a brake controller, and if the tow rating is close to the 8k range I would say it is possible.
That will be a heavy load for a small v8, so take your time, drive carefully and leave lots of room for the idiots that think you can stop a truck with a few tons behind it as quickly as they can stop their little import.
 
mallardchandler said:
The tow rating is something like 4600lbs.
Click to expand...

I would double check that as well. I believe its more like 7600lbs. I towed my blazer a short distance on my 2003 1500 and it works. Not sure that I would want to make a trip that far with it. Definitely gonna be hard on that half ton.
 
Yeah, I had an 07 for a work truck, and those things are pretty awesome tow rigs for a half ton. Pulled at least 7k with it a few times and it didn't mind at all. Keeping the trailer balanced properly and not shooting your tongue weight too high are key. Lots of power and awesome brakes though. You won't have any issues with that setup.
 
You should check the owners manual for your truck. My 2009 Sierra Z71 4x4 5.3L has a 7,500# limit. I use it to tow my K5 on my 1800# trailer no problem and mines lifted. Just make sure you get an extra trans cooler because the 4L60E doesn't like heat.
 
I was going off of some number I pulled from a website. I thought that sounded kinda low.

The drive is almost all interstate and almost all flat. I could baby thru the gears and just roll at 65. Idk, I may just say to hell with it and drive the jimmy.
 
Recon! said:
Look in the manual. Internet is not all knowing.
Click to expand...
Yup, gears make a BIG difference on your towing capacity, and it's mostly the transmission abuse that determines it. 3.42's put a lot more stress on a transmission then 3.73's. Larger tires should also be figured in if you want the 4L60 to last.
 
3.73's or 3.42's, it doesn't really matter. You'll be running consistently on an interstate in 3rd gear anyway.

You'll be completely fine, your truck was made to do what you are wanting to do, yeah... at the very ceiling of what it is made to do, but it's still in the park and in play.
 
rjfguitar said:
3.73's or 3.42's, it doesn't really matter. You'll be running consistently on an interstate in 3rd gear anyway.

You'll be completely fine, your truck was made to do what you are wanting to do, yeah... at the very ceiling of what it is made to do, but it's still in the park and in play.
Click to expand...
Doutful, the 07 I towed frequently with did quite well. In tow/haul mode it would downshift on bigger hills and stay in 3rd until it leveled out again. It never had a tendency to wander unless I was on a really hilly highway with cruise on.
 
LAst spring I towed my Jimmy on an 1800# trailer 30 miles, with a few good hills on the way. The trailer weighed, with truck on, about 7,000# (bone stock plain jane on 31's) and I didn't have any issues other than the tongue was a little light to start with. Moved the truck 6" and life was grand. Had I a better rear setup (read at least disc brakes or a full-floater) I'd have gone 500 miles no sweat. The 350 never skipped a beat and any time the torque converter unlocked, I would pull the shifter into 3rd to avoid burning it up, which happened less often than I thought it would.

I think you'll be fine, just go slow.
 
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