steelpony5555
Copperas Cove Texas
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The only problem I see is your rear end. If you stay in Texas the 3.42 gears may be fine. You get into some hills they may be a problem. Either way if you find they are a dog it is easy enough to change the gears out and not have to buy a new truck.
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SteveRankin
Sequim, WA
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steelpony5555 wrote:The only problem I see is your rear end. If you stay in Texas the 3.42 gears may be fine. You get into some hills they may be a problem. Either way if you find they are a dog it is easy enough to change the gears out and not have to buy a new truck.
That's my primary concern, too. While it's possible that you may have too much tongue weight, I'm guessing not. Of course, that's assuming that you had a full tank of fuel and the same people & stuff loaded that you will normally have.
But, those 3.42 gears were designed for getting good fuel economy empty, not for towing. Especially with the 5.3L engine. As noted, it's not too expensive to change the axle ratio (assuming it's a 2WD truck) and you'll probably want to do that if you leave the flat land of Texas.
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dougsee3
Calgary AB
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Your weights are good your TT is light enough and you are well under any gross weights. You also will not have any power problems at the weight you are towing, with the 3.42 gears and the 6 speed transmission.
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gmcsmoke
Butler
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dougsee3 wrote:Your weights are good your TT is light enough and you are well under any gross weights. You also will not have any power problems at the weight you are towing, with the 3.42 gears and the 6 speed transmission.
^this
3.42's with a 6 speed = a 3.90 final drive ratio.
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steelpony5555
Copperas Cove Texas
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Well since 3.42's is the deepest rear for a Silverado I guess your stuck with it. Just seems like your gonna be doing a lot of extra shifting if you get into some hills. The deeper 1st and 2nd tranny gears will get the load moving, just be thankful we live on level ground. It should get pretty good gas mileage though.
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thomasg43
Rice, TX
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Thanks everyone. The only thing on my mind now is the tongue weight. I don't know if the scale people would let me spend enough time on the scales to unhook everything, drive off, weight, then return to hook up. Are there places to rent the Sherline scale?
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WHS
Waitsburg, Wa.
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I am a 1/2 ton tower and proud!
Seriously, you will be just fine. You are well within your limits and with the 6 speed you have plenty of options to find the sweet spot. I have a very similiar set-up, but with the 4spd and have almost 100K on my Silverado halfer now. I have towed all over the PNW without a problem anywhere. SO, unless you are one of the I have to go 70mph over Snoqualmie crowd, then just put her in TH mode and slow down and enjoy the adventure.
HC
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Ron Gratz
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thomasg43 wrote:Thanks everyone. The only thing on my mind now is the tongue weight. I don't know if the scale people would let me spend enough time on the scales to unhook everything, drive off, weight, then return to hook up. Are there places to rent the Sherline scale?
If you need to get on and off the scales quickly, you can determine tongue weight by the following:
1) measure the axle loads with the trailer attached but with no weight distribution applied
2) drive off and disconnect the trailer -- then return with TV only and measure axle loads again
3) tongue weight is equal to the sum of TV axle loads in 1) minus the sum of TV axle loads in 2).
Or, if you can spend more time on the scales at one time, you can:
1) position TV and TT so the tonue jack can be lowered onto a scales pad (or onto an approach) which is separate from the TV's axle pad(s)
2) measure the axle loads with the trailer attached but with no weight distribution applied
3) as a "reweigh", lower the tongue jack until the coupler lifts off the ball and measure the axle loads a second time
4) tongue weight is equal to the sum of TV axle loads in 2) minus the sum of TV axle loads in 3).
Ron
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