[Eisenfaust]

My bro is buying a travel trailer. He plans on pulling it with his tahoe with the 5.3. Its a 2wd, he has a strong enough hitch the only concern is does he have enough grunt to pull it? it weighs about 5400 with the options they had, but full loaded is 7600. Which will doubtfully ever happen. He does have 3.42 gears, which concerns me, should he just roll it and see how it goes? go to 3.73? or 4.10? any advice/info is much appreciated.
Also he wont be seeing heavy mountain use, the trailer doea have trailer brakes as well. Any input is appreciated.

 

[HBjeff]

with 3.42s he is going to struggle up hills and probably fry his tranny or something.

he needs to change gears for sure if he is going to be pulling 7600 pounds. might as well do 4.10s

we used to pull a 7800 lb travel trailer(28 foot) with our expedition and it did ok, but that 5.4 had more low end than these 5.3. and we had 3.73s. any higher of a gear and no way we could have pulled it.

cant be too cautious with trailers. always better to have too much truck than too little.

i vote gear change or smaller trailer

 

[y2kboti]

Definately swap the 3.42s for 4.10s regardless of whether the Tahow will see any hills. Problem w/ the Tahoe is the short wheelbase. Shorter=less stability but the 5.3=decent hp/tq!

 

[jebx]

Sign up here and you can download the ownsers manual in PDF format and it will give you a matrix of towingcapacity by chassis/engine/gears for that year.

https://www.mygmlink.com/main/US/en/chevrolet/home

(Free)
Here is GMCanada link to figure out capacity.
http://www.gmcanada.com/english/truckguide/pick_trail_capacity.html


I don't know on tahoe, but should be within capacity of a 1/2 ton pickup. If it doesn't have a tranny cooler I would add one. I assume you will be using a weight distributing hitch also, that I believe is necessary.

This is from an '01 pickup manual:

C-1500 Regular Cab Short Box (2WD)*
Engine (Trans.) Axle
Ratio
Max. Trailer Wt.
4300 V6 (Auto) 3.08 4,700 lbs. (2 132 kg)
3.42 5,200 lbs. (2 359 kg)
4300 V6 (Manual) 3.08 3,700 lbs. (1 678 kg)
3.42 4,200 lbs. (1 905 kg)
4800 V8 (Auto) 3.42 6,600 lbs. (2 994 kg)
3.73 7,600 lbs. (3 447 kg)
4800 V8 (Manual) 3.42 4,600 lbs. (2 087 kg)
3.73 5,600 lbs. (2 540 kg)
5300 V8 3.42 7,600 lbs. (3 447 kg)
3.73 8,600 lbs. (3 901 kg)

C-1500 Extended Cab Short Box (2WD)*
Engine (Trans.) Axle
Ratio
Max. Trailer Wt.
4300 V6 (Auto) 3.42 4,900 lbs. (2 223 kg)
3.73 5,900 lbs. (2 676 kg)
4300 V6 (Manual) 3.42 3,900 lbs. (1 769 kg)
4800 V8 (Auto) 3.42 6,300 lbs. (2 858 kg)
3.73 7,300 lbs. (3 311 kg)
4800 V8 (Manual) 3.42 4,300 lbs. (1 950 kg)
3.73 5,300 lbs. (2 404 kg)
5300 V8 3.42 7,300 lbs. (3 311 kg)
3.73 8,300 lbs. (3 765 kg)

C-1500 Extended Cab Long Box (2WD)*
Engine (Trans.) Axle
Ratio
Max. Trailer Wt.
4800 V8 (Auto) 3.42 6,100 lbs. (2 767 kg)
3.73 7,100 lbs. (3 220 kg)
4800 V8 (Manual) 3.42 4,100 lbs. (1 860 kg)
3.73 5,100 lbs. (2 313 kg)
5300 V8 3.42 7,100 lbs. (3 220 kg)
3.73 8,100 lbs. (3 674 kg)

C-1500 Regular Cab Long Box (2WD)*
Engine (Trans.) Axle
Ratio
Max. Trailer Wt.
4300 V6 (Auto) 3.08 4,600 lbs. (2 087 kg)
3.42 5,100 lbs. (2 313 kg)
4300 V6 (Manual) 3.08 3,600 lbs. (1 633 kg)
3.42 4,100 lbs. (1 860 kg)
4800 V8 (Auto) 3.42 6,500 lbs. (2 948 kg)
3.73 7,500 lbs. (3 402 kg)
4800 V8 (Manual) 3.42 4,500 lbs. (2 041 kg)
3.73 5,500 lbs. (2 495 kg)
5300 V8 3.42 7,500 lbs. (3 402 kg)
3.73 8,500 lbs. (3 856 kg)

K-1500 Regular Cab Short Box (4WD)*
Engine (Trans.) Axle
Ratio
Max. Trailer Wt.
4300 V6 (Auto) 3.42 4,900 lbs. (2 223 kg)
3.73 5,400 lbs. (2 449 kg)
4300 V6 (Manual) 3.42 3,900 lbs. (1 769 kg)
3.73 4,400 lbs. (1 996 kg)
4800 V8 (Auto) 3.73 7,300 lbs. (3 311 kg)
4.10 8,300 lbs. (3 765 kg)
4800 V8 (Manual) 3.73 5,300 lbs. (2 404 kg)
4.10 6,300 lbs. (2 858 kg)
5300 V8 3.73 8,300 lbs. (3 765 kg)
4.10 9,300 lbs. (4 218 kg)

K-1500 Extended Cab Short Box (4WD)*
Engine (Trans.) Axle
Ratio
Max. Trailer Wt.
4800 V8 (Auto) 3.73 7,000 lbs. (3 175 kg)
4.10 8,000 lbs. (3 629 kg)
4800 V8 (Manual) 3.73 5,000 lbs. (2 268 kg)
4.10 6,000 lbs. (2 624 kg)
5300 V8 3.73 8,000 lbs. (3 629 kg)
4.10 9,000 lbs. (4 082 kg)

K-1500 Regular Cab Long Box (4WD)*
Engine (Trans.) Axle
Ratio
Max. Trailer Wt.
4300 V6 (Auto) 3.42 4,800 lbs. (2 177 kg)
3.73 5,300 lbs. (2 404 kg)
4300 V6 (Manual) 3.42 3,800 lbs. (1 724 kg)
3.73 4,300 lbs. (1 950 kg)
4800 V8 (Auto) 3.73 7,200 lbs. (3 266 kg)
4.10 8,200 lbs. (3 719 kg)
4800 V8 (Manual) 3.73 5,200 lbs. (2 359 kg)
4.10 6,200 lbs. (2 812 kg)
5300 V8 3.73 8,200 lbs. (3 719 kg)
4.10 9,200 lbs. (4 173 kg)

K-1500 Extended Cab Long Box (4WD)*
Engine (Trans.) Axle
Ratio
Max. Trailer Wt.
4800 V8 (Auto) 3.73 6,800 lbs. (3 084 kg)
4.10 7,800 lbs. (3 538 kg)
4800 V8 (Manual) 3.73 4,800 lbs. (2 177 kg)
4.10 5,800 lbs. (2 631 kg)
5300 V8 3.73 7,800 lbs. (3 538 kg)
4.10 8,800 lbs. (3 992 kg)

 

[jebx]

If you plan on towing frequently I would look into 4.10s (as others have stated). Driving empty might hurt mileage a little w/4.10s, but towing will be worthwhile. At least a 3.73, that might be a good compromise. You may want to look into some helper springs if the rear end is sagging too much. That doesn't increase capacity but will keep the sagging to a minimum.

 

[HBjeff]

oh the sagging.........i forgot about that. tell him to look into some helper air bags for the rear. they can be run empty to maintain a nice ride all the time, then filled up for the trailer. definatly cool.

i agree that 3.73s are a good compromise, 4.10s wont lower mpgs that much while empty. tahoes come with decently large tires(30inch). and for the cost of the gear change, jumping from 3.42 to 3.73 he would probably not feel much of a change at all. 4.10s cost the same........ :bowtie:

 

[jebx]

I just looked up current tahoe capacites:
http://www.chevrolet.com/tahoe/specs.htm#trailering

Looks like 2wd w/5300 3.42 rated 6700#
3.73 7700#
(4.10 isn't a factory option on 2wd)

Worth noting....

1 Maximum trailer weight ratings are calculated assuming a base vehicle, except for any option(s) necessary to achieve the rating, plus driver. The weight of other optional equipment, passengers and cargo will reduce the maximum trailer weight your vehicle can tow. See your Chevy dealer for additional details.

NOTES: Trailer tongue weight should be 10 to 15 percent of total loaded trailer weight (up to 1,000 lbs.). Addition of trailer tongue weight cannot cause vehicle weights to exceed Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (RGAWR) or Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). These ratings can be found on the certification label located on the driver door or door frame.

 

[BuiltNotBought99]

He should be fine

 

[coonbottom]

it will pull it..maybe not fast but it will..
If he is only going to pull it once in a while..dont worry about the gears but if he pulls it alot then 3.73's would be bout right
I would be more concerned about stopping it! That is alot of ass behind the truck. Make sure them breaks are working good on it.