Half ton towing

[Gello]

Can anyone tell me what a comfortable trailer weight a 04 avalanche with a 5.3 can pull. Thinking about buying a bumper pull travel trailer as a second trailer for family members to use and I have this truck with a blown trans. Someone I know told me they've pulled about 8k with no problem, I'm not sure I believe that. Keeping in mind most of our travels are hilly highways.
Thanks mike.


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[LBZ]

Keep it under 20' and around 5000lbs and it should tow it no problem. You could go higher but I wouldn't push it. So many half ton owners say they can pull 8k, 9k no problem and I call BS. Sure it will move it, but you are maxing out your truck to do it IMO. I tow my empty at 7500lb toy hauler with my 6.0 3/4 ton gasser company truck and it's hard on it. Couldn't imagine doing that much weight with ANY half ton.

 

[Gello]

That's what I was think myself.
Thanks


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[Hoojs12840]

I towed 5500-6500 with my Nissan Titan. (27ft toyhauler) The truck was a towing machine, for 1/2 gas pickup. It's tow capacity was up to 9500lbs. I know the truck could have done it power wise and I had a high end brake controller. However I viewed it as just because you can, doesn't mean you should. I drove professionally and anytime you are on the higher end of capacity you must do everything slower and with great caution. Nursing a heavy load is not how I want to spend my vacation.

That said I wouldn't sweat 5-6k with a good brake controller, good hitch setup and properly function equipment on the trailer and truck.

 

[crbonline]

My two cents, limits are not what u can comfortably pull but what u can comfortably stop...stopping should set your limits not pulling capabilities. I was given that advice by my neighbor who has trucked all his life and with logic I could not argue against. Once you know you can stop it safely then it's about if you want to be nice to your motor and tranny...and as long as you stay in the red you'll b fine...the red is not the limit its a warning the limits are near.

 

[Dirtymaxx03]

anyone know what a 28' Baja boat weighs?

My dad towed that heavy bastard with a 2000 5.3 and it did just fine. even pulled some nasty hills pretty good.

 

[Texas Chevy]

Towing my 85 c10 from Texas to Cali on a uhual auto transport trailer with my wife's 2012 suburban was miserable through the mountains between Arizona and Cali on the 8. No clue the weight but trans was getti warm and I had to go slow. Keep it light and save your truck

 

[02greysixer]

Anything over 5k feels like it's too much for any 1/2 ton I've ever owned or ridden in.

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[LBZ]

Anything over 5k feels like it's too much for any 1/2 ton I've ever owned or ridden in.

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x2!

 

[AubleAK]

I towed 8500 twice with my half ton 5.3, was pushing it pretty hard, and the trans did feel that great after that.

 

[02greysixer]

Last thing my dad towed with his 1/2 ton put a hurting on its tranny. It was a jeep wrangler towed on a dolly from fl to nm. By the time we hit west Texas that truck hated us. We ended up unloading the jeep in the mountains north of El Paso and driving it separate because we were scared of losing the tranny in the truck. It never felt the same again. The 4th gear shift and lock up felt very squishy. He bought his lbz not long after that haha

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[Gello]

Thanks for all the advice guys. On the other hand my lb7 towed 16k pretty well through the mountains of Virginia, need twins tho, was tired of down shifting into 4th constantly. Nobody here in jersey can believe this truck can tow this 5th wheel. Nothing like a duramax


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[brandon06dmax]

look at all the heavy ass stuff people towed in the early 90s with cummins and powerstrokes todays gas motors have more snot than they did by miles so I wouldn't worry one bit just be carefull its not getting it going its stoping it

 

[02greysixer]

It's not the fact that newer gas trucks don't have the power. It's where the power is at in the rpms and the ability for all the parts of the drive line to live comfortably at or near max power/load. 1/2 tons aren't built to tow more than a few thousand pounds. Sure they can, but they won't live as long. Especially when pushed to the max ridiculous 10k pound plus tow rating most come with now.

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[Gello]

Agreed!!!


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[pthib1]

While you are replacing the tranny, check your diff ratio. Spend the few extra bucks and go with something in the range of 3.70 to 3.80. And obliviously an electric brake controller. Trust me on the gear ratio.....My 2007 5.3 came with the 3.42.....that sux.

 

[AdaMax]

I hate to admit this but I have been towing my pulling truck with my 2000 z71 . Of course It has 4.10 gears and I put a set of airbags on the rear and a new curt hitch . I also put a 40,000 btu transmission cooler on it .

I am now looking for another truck so I don't destroy this half ton though .

 

[02greysixer]

I hate to admit this but I have been towing my pulling truck with my 2000 z71 . Of course It has 4.10 gears and I put a set of airbags on the rear and a new curt hitch . I also put a 40,000 btu transmission cooler on it .

I am now looking for another truck so I don't destroy this half ton though .

I bet that is a sight. :rofl:

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[AdaMax]

Yeah I get a lot of looks and " hey that little truck actually tows that ? "

 

[LWATSON]

This isn't quite apples for apples but I tow a 4000lb. welding rig with my 1500 2wd shop truck. Its an 02 with a 4.8L, and although it has good power you have to be on the ball towing with it. I have to lock OD out and give it LOTS of stopping room. I tow the same trailer with my dmax from time to time and I can literally forget its behind me. I can relax and sit back and ride. When towing with my 1/2 ton it does the job but I'm almost physically tired after a long ride with a load behind it.