What factors Determine Tow Rating
 

Been viewing YouTube and reading Reviews on the new 2019 Silverado with the 5.3 and 6.2 Engines.

The 5.3 has a slightly higher tow rating despite less hp.

What factors determine a vehicles tow rating?

D

Re: What factors Determine Tow Rating
 

I would expect a number of factors do. Such as but not limited to vehicle weight, engine power and torque, brake system (rotor/ drum size), suspension components etc, transmission torque capacities, gear ratios etc ...

Re: What factors Determine Tow Rating
 

Tow vehicle weight and axle ratio are two big factors, Dan. What you're looking for is Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) which is the actual maximum weight on each axle and Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) with is the total weight of both truck (with fuel AND cargo) and the fully loaded trailer. There are any number of variables the factory uses, but every truck has a recommended GCWR that must be taken into consideration. Are you going to be using a 5th-wheel or tag trailer? Different hook-ups will also effect the weight you can carry. You may also notice that the vehicles with higher tow ratings are equipped with steeper axle-ratio's, which will effect your fuel mileage. Take your trailer to a public scale and get a fully loaded weight as well as a tongue (or 5th-wheel) weight. Then compare those figures with the tow ratings for the Silverado. As long as you don't exceed those numbers you'll be fine!


http://webcontent.goodsam.com/traile...wGuide2018.pdf

Re: What factors Determine Tow Rating
 

You might want to check out Trailer Boat magazine. They road test trucks at their maximum loads and compare trucks with different engine combinations. I have a friend that tows a 24' enclosed trailer. He had a 5.3 powered truck previously and upgraded to a 6.2 truck. He said there is no comparison, the 6.2L is a much better tow vehicle.

Re: What factors Determine Tow Rating
 

Let me save you a lot of time and energy. Get a Ram with a Cummins and you won't have to worry about what you are pulling or ever will pull.

Re: What factors Determine Tow Rating
 

On GM Silverado 1/2 ton pickups you can get two different tow packages with a 5.3 L and with their max tow package you step up to a 6.2 L . Two nice options to get is a higher capacity cooling package and an integrated brake controller .

Re: What factors Determine Tow Rating
 

So far not planning on towing more than 6000#.
Trailer and car are at 5800#
Pulling with Caprice wagon with a 350LT1.

Can make the tougher sustained mountains holding 70mph.
Engine temperature on hot days is about 230 F.
Been replacing transmissions about every year and half.
The new PerformaBuilt is doing better.

Dodge RT Durango has 8 speed.
GM uses 8 and 10 speeds.

Preferences to use the 6.2 over 5.3 are consistent.
Just more torque and power.

Was looking at the GMCanyon Diesel.
Has tow rating 7600#

Dodge RT at 7400# but has more torque and power.

GM Tahoe and Pick ups are at 8400#

Re: What factors Determine Tow Rating
 

All of these performance ratings are great but if you are planning on leaving town......GET THE VEHICLE WITH THE BEST BRAKES AND THE MOST WHEELS ON THE GROUND.....THE PERFORMANCE IS NOTHING WHEN YOU ARE HAULING *** AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS START TO COME ON IN FRONT OF YOU !!!!!!!!!!!

Re: What factors Determine Tow Rating
 

Are you talking about the Silverado 1500?

With all due respects, I would not tow three tons of stuff behind a half-ton pickup on a public road shared with other motorists.

For starters, the 2019 Silverado 1500 comes on P-metric (passenger car) tires. Light-duty truck (load range "C") tires are an option. No load range "E" or even "D" truck tires are available on the Silverado 1500.

Half-ton trucks do not come with full-floating rear axles, so if you break a rear axle outboard of whatever is retaining it, you lose a rear wheel and half of your braking system.

I don't know what rear end GM is using for the particular Silverado 1500 variant that you're considering, but historically, GM's half-ton pickups have used C-clips at the inboard ends for axle retention, which means that if you lose a C-clip or snap an axle anywhere outboard of the C-clip, you lose a rear wheel and half of your braking system.

Half-ton pickups also have much smaller brakes, smaller wheel bearings, and so on, which makes them less safe when towing.

Modern light-duty trucks have a lot more horsepower than older light-duty trucks did, the transmissions are certainly getting better, and the manufacturer's tow ratings have increased because of this, but I wouldn't tow three tons of stuff with anything less than the sturdiest 3/4-ton pickup, and even that would be a big compromise.

The smart choice would be a one-ton with proper load range "E" tires, dual rear wheels, and a full-floating rear axle. Keep in mind that even a one-ton 3500 is still technically a light-duty truck.

You don't need to pay for a fancy diesel engine to tow a car trailer. Escalating wants and desires of consumers fuel the current horsepower and torque race in light-duty trucks, but the truth is, modern pickups are not lacking for horsepower, no matter which engine you choose. People have successfully and safely towed massive amounts of stuff with no more than about 200 horsepower, forever. Diesel fuel typically costs more than regular gasoline in the U.S., which makes it nearly impossible to recover the additional cost of a diesel engine option based upon any actual fuel savings that may or may not occur.

If you skip the foofy stuff, you can get a one-ton dually for no more money than a typical loaded half-ton. GM's "W/T" (Work Truck) comes to mind- they may come with rubber mats and vinyl seats, but they are far from stripped. GM's one-ton dually W/T comes with big 4-wheel power disc brakes, ABS, power steering, air-conditioning, power windows, tilt steering column, cruise control, power door locks, a 6-speaker audio system with blue tooth, a 7" touch screen, a rear-vision camera, an Eaton locking rear diff, a 2.5" hitch platform, trailer wiring, integrated trailer controller, heavy-duty 6-speed automatic transmission, heavy-duty engine oil cooler, 150-amp alternator, heavy-duty transmission cooler, 4.10 rear end gearing, and a standard 360-horsepower Vortec 6.0 V8 gas engine. Looks like they start at $40,595, and you'd probably be able to negotiate a price less than that.

Re: What factors Determine Tow Rating
 

Operating well within the rated towing capacity of a vehicle (like for example towing a 6,000-pound trailer behind a one-ton dually that has a 13,800-pound rated towing capacity) would be much safer than towing something that is at or near the maximum rated towing capacity of a vehicle (like for example towing a 6,000-pound trailer behind a vehicle with a 7,400-pound rated towing capacity).


It's not like you're 100% safe towing 7,399 pounds and the truck spontaneously blows up at 7,401 pounds- the laws of statistical probability are at work here. If you're maxxed out on your towing capacity, then it stands to reason that you would be expected to be the first one to have problems. Heck, I've seen plenty of tire, brake, wheel bearing, and rear drive axle failures in half-ton trucks that have never carried or towed a load.

Re: What factors Determine Tow Rating
 

Have to disagree completely, I wouldn't think twice about a modern half ton truck towing that amount of weight. They have way more brake now, way more tire which lets the brakes really work, ABS that actually works without locking up tires, way more gears in the trans, heavier duty trans, heavier duty rear axles, tow/haul modes for the trans that really help via engine braking, fantastic OEM trailer brake controllers, trailer tire pressure monitoring. More capable than what a 3/4 ton truck was not long ago. Now I wouldn't feel comfortable with over 6 tons behind one like they advertise them being capable of, but 3, oh yeah, they'll do that very well.

Re: What factors Determine Tow Rating
 

Modern 3/4-ton and one-ton trucks come with all of those things too.

Half-ton trucks may be better than they used to be in some ways, but half-ton trucks have never come with full-floating rear axles or load range "E" tires, and those things were standard on 3/4-ton trucks for many, many years.

Conversely, 3/4-ton trucks have never come on P-metric (passenger car) tires, and 3/4 ton trucks have never had their rear axles held in by something as flimsy as C-clips.

Re: What factors Determine Tow Rating
 

I don't have a dog in this fight but I know in the last 2 years we've towed 7K lbs. (24' enclosed trailer and car) with a very well equipped late-model GM 1/2 ton truck. We then sold that truck and bought a 3500HD DRW 4WD Duramax and towing the same set-up was night and day difference. I'm not even talking about the power either. The 1/2 was a constant white knuckle event with sway even with good weight distribution bars and a sway control kit. All of that disappeared with the one ton. Tow with a DRW truck one time and see if you ever go back.

Re: What factors Determine Tow Rating
 

Concur on this post...!
The newer trucks have really stepped up in towing performance.
Been watching lots of YouTube video about these newer trucks.

They tested the Denali Canyon (V6 & Diesel) and Durango SRT.
Towed them up and down a long mountain, called the Gauntlet.
They had no problems up or down the mountain.

My wagon has been beefed up, Class 3 hitch, Electric Brake.
Metco Lower control arms and front and rear SS bars.
Rebuilt the brakes and front suspension.
Moser Street performance axles and new bearings.
Tahoe springs, airbags, electric pump.
Tires are Nitto 275/50/17's with a load rating of 2200 lb per tire.
All other brands hover around 1900lbs.
My set up has weight distribution bars and forgot to install them once and had no sway problems.
I love the Featherlite trailer, very smooth around a curve.
Trailer and car weigh between 5700-5800lbs

I do not have any problems braking with the Caprice and Trailer.
Drives nicely with no twitchy behavior.
Though do drive with a high SA (situation awareness).
In wet weather I am a lot more careful, rarely exceed 65 mph.

D

Re: What factors Determine Tow Rating
 

Clear up your private messages my friend! Tried to PM you back but your box is full.

It was great to hear from you as well. What are the plans for the SS now that Pure Stock has changed?

Re: What factors Determine Tow Rating
 

Private message done.

As for Pure Stock. Going to stay for another year.
Have the Stocker Cam and Springs from Bullet cams.
This year upgraded the Heads with better valves and fresh springs.
Made a few adjustments and managed a 12.74 best in warm weather.
Few more mods, enough to run K/SA index as a Pure Stocker.

Once season is over add a Roll Bar and Harness.
Upgrade the 10 bolt with Ford ends, better spool/axles and 4.88’s.
Install an 8 gallon tank.
Enough to run stock legally and safely.
Or run the Association races as Pure Stocker

If enough time freshen the block, add the new cam and springs.
Will freshen the trans and add a converter to match the cam.
Going to stick with 4L60E for now.

Still finishing up the 1969 Impala which may be set up as a Biscayne.
Going to be painted a medium blue with light flake.
Will have a nice graphic on it called Biscayne Bay.
This was my old Stocker from the 70’s and 80’s.
It should be light enough to run J/SA.

D

Re: What factors Determine Tow Rating
 

Just take a stroll through the pits at a local points meet. That will answer all your questions regarding 1/2 ton pickups. Do you want to save money,.....or save your life....??

Re: What factors Determine Tow Rating
 

Your wallet is what will determine your tow vehicle. You can tow a 6000# trailer staying within reason of posted speed limits with just about any full size car or 1500 p/u. If you can afford $40,000 + you can get a new 1500 p/u with a 12,000 GVW rating.

The most important thing is a good trailer brake controller and good trailer brakes. Lousy trailer brakes will even make towing a 6000# trailer a challenge with a 3500.

Re: What factors Determine Tow Rating
 

The only person that will really push you to a 1/2 ton is a salesman with a lot full of half tons for sale! I agree, the new half tons are much better than they used to be. They might just let you drive over your head. 3/4HD and one tons are much more stable, safer braking, and will be more reliable as they age. A half ton that barely makes the grade is stressed a lot more for my comfort level.

Re: What factors Determine Tow Rating
 

X2, also in one of the related threads someone mentioned the financial benefits of possibly just renting a truck for towing a trailer a few times a year. Not wanting to use my Motorhome for a quick 5,000 mile trip to pick up my new race car I rented a 3/4 Ford from Enterprise Rent a Truck and with the 6.2 gas motor it performed flawlessly for far less $ per mile than I could have done otherwise, new trucks are so pricey renting may make sense for you as well.

Re: What factors Determine Tow Rating
 

Good idea!
Especially for long hauls.
Not going to tow more than 6000lbs.
Save the wagon for local trips.
D

Re: What factors Determine Tow Rating
 

No, they're not a floating axle, but in the case of a Ford for many years now they've been a 9.75" ring gear with 35 spline axles. I'm sure the other brands are comparable. They've got great big disk brakes and your comments about the axles breaking and coming out is just fearmongering, show me all of the examples of that actually happening. As for the tires, I just looked up specs on an 18 F150, I see OEM tires with a load rating of over 2500lbs each. More than adequate for what Dan wants to do.



The current "half tons" which are rated for payloads as high as 3270 and towing as high as 13200 will do this easily and safely. No, I wouldn't feel safe in one with my 30' tag in the wind even though the truck is rated high enough for it, but we're talking about Dan towing only 5800 lbs here.

Re: What factors Determine Tow Rating
 

We just towed a 95 Mustang from Columbus Ohio to San Antonio TX with a 2016 F150 with a 5.0 engine and got 16.5 mph on the way back. Going thru Kentucky and Tennessee the truck drove very good. We traveled about 70 to 75 mph.

Re: What factors Determine Tow Rating
 

this^^^ and this vvvv

Re: What factors Determine Tow Rating
 

When I started trying to race again, I pulled mine on an open trailer with my wife's 1/2 ton, 350" Tahoe. Could have used more brake. Put brakes on both trailer axels. Bought a 2500 Suburban made all that much more comfortable.
Bought my 24' ATC (all aluminum) enclosed trailer. Very light for an enclosed trailer. Can't tell it is heavier than the steel Open trailer.

Came with 5 lug 15" wheels, and Goodyear Trailer tires. (Said Trailer right on the sidewalls) It moved around a lot in crosswinds, and meeting big trucks. Had brakes on one axle. I found 8 lug hubs with brakes that fit the axles. Put those on both axles, bought 16" wheels to fit, l put the same 245-75-16 Michelins on it that I use on the Suburban. Tows so much better. Stopping is much better, cross winds & big trucks no longer effect if. I would never go back to a 1/2 ton, or 15" trailer tires. Whole new deal now.
Same spare fits truck or the trailer. I also have used only Michelins on everything we owned for about 30 years now.

Hope I don't sound like I think I know everything. Just sharing what I experienced.

Re: What factors Determine Tow Rating
 

Been studying quite a lot about towing.
Next project adding more gear and tow specific designed converter..
The Caprice wagon currently uses 3.08 gears, had 2.56s before.
Typically run in Drive on hilly terrain on flatter grades in OD.

Mountains with sustained 7 percent grades.
Such as going north on Rt 15 PA / RT 99 NY
The engine is floored but able to hold 70mph, 3000/3200 rpm.

Driving west from Keystone in Pennsylvania (Rt 22/Rt 99) the grades were a lot steeper.
Managed to get over the Rt 22 grades at 35 mph in second gear.
Wow the engine and trans were hot.

Installing 3.73s to ease the westward and northern routes over the Appalachian Mountains.
Found a Hughes Towing Converter designed for towing .
Plus takes 7 quarts of Trans fluid and helps reduce trans temperature.

Eastward away from the Mountain/Hills in Maryland 3.08's are fine.
Also have a set of 4.10's, but think the 3.73's are fine for 27/28 inch tire.

Dan

Re: What factors Determine Tow Rating
 

Bingo.

Re: What factors Determine Tow Rating
 

Exactly.


...and other people's lives too- there are other innocent familes out there on the roads, that may not be as keen on risk-taking.

Re: What factors Determine Tow Rating
 

Yup. I'm born and raised in the car business (although I worked in the back end, not the front end), and I can't even begin to tell you how many times I have seen some coke-head car salesman blowing smoke up somebody's butt regarding this subject.

They're afraid that if they tell the customer that he would be safer towing a 3/4 ton, a one-ton, or a one-ton dually, that he'll lose his sales commission to some other coke-head car salesman down the street, when the other guy offers to sell him a half-ton pickup and a 5th wheel hitch to go with it.

Re: What factors Determine Tow Rating
 

Jim is right on the money. I would venture to guess that there isn't, and won't be, anybody who says they've used both 1/2 and 3/4 tons pickups and would be completely satisfied with a 1/2 ton. I've used 2500 HD Chevys for decades and have never, in any situation, felt I had "too much truck" for the task. I think the real truth with people who say a 1/2 ton works fine as a trailer puller is that they either don't have, or don't want to spend, the extra money.

What factors Determine Tow Rating
 

Wow this got off on the deep end..

You guys changed the situation to fit your argument.
I know few Enclosed Trailers and Car that are at 7000 lbs.
Most weigh a lot more as Enclosed Trailers start at 2500 lbs.

Enclosed Trailers have aerodynamic and weigh distribution issues.
Especially when you add tools, parts, tires, extra fuel and fluids.
Then either passing or getting passed by a Tractor Trailer.

Yeah you better have something robust to handle your rig.
Again max weigh of my car and trailer is 6800 lbs.
Most of the time it is at 5650 or 5700 lbs and never an issue with wind.

I asked the question what Determines Tow Rating of a Tow Vehicle.

Closest clear comment was good Brakes, Axle.
Then another about Brake Controller and Hitch Setup.

Towing an Enclosed Trailer is a different beast.
I get it is better to have extra capacity, especially dealing with wind.

Nobody mentioned who had the better suspension.
Know that some owners add airbags to keep squat to a minimum.

Not comments about who had the best transmissions?
Little comment about engines, ie: 4.6, 5.0, 5.3 vs 6.2 or Diesel.

The Big Three are adding more Turbo Diesels.
How reliable are they over time.
How to maintain them over a gas engine?


D

Re: What factors Determine Tow Rating
 

All I know is that I have driven both ends of the spectrum on weight rating and the factory ratings seem to be written for flat ground normal conditions with no need for emergency braking and of course a brand new vehicle. If this fits you, read the brochure, drink the factory Kool aid and buy the cheapest one. It can certainly work in those conditions. I tend to keep my vehicles for hundreds of thousands of miles! I need more tolerance than the minimalist design for cost containment.

I have had a couple of duramax diesels and love them. The first was a 2002 LB7 stick shift that I ordered New and put 358k in before selling it. It is well over 400,000 Miles now.

The truck I have now is. 2007.5 duramax with Allison auto. Tows great, but the re-gen for the dpf is the most counter intuitive emissions solution, it burns more fuel to clean the filter. Crazy! I think we are still in the dark ages in terms of the emissions for diesels. If I was to buy a new truck, I would consider a gasser. The chevys make decent power with the 6.2.

You seem to want a half ton small engine. They make a max tow with. 300 hp 5.3 that would pull an open trailer with no issues.

Re: What factors Determine Tow Rating
 

Original Equipment Manufacturers who built 2010 emissions diesels have had an incredibly steep learning curve, that some never conquered. Caterpillar experienced a so total a failure of their design that they finally just threw in the towel and quit building on-road engines (off-road engines don't require DEF systems). I've owned 6.0 gas 2500 HD trucks for years, and as Jim suggests, the power is "adequate" but not impressive. No question diesels are stronger pullers, but with the state of diesel emissions technology that exists right now, I think gas trucks are simpler to own and far cheaper to buy.

Re: What factors Determine Tow Rating
 

You make a good point, Dan. We all focused on a 1/2 ton versus 3/4 ton debate. Take a read through this article. It does a pretty good job of answering the question I think you were originally asking.
http://www.trailerlife.com/towguides...t-tow-vehicle/

Re: What factors Determine Tow Rating
 

If you want to see the criteria that is used to determine how tow rating is actually calculated, look up "SAE J2807" on your favorite search engine.

This is the standard all auto companies use since about 2013 if my memory is correct.

"In response to the confusion that resulted when buyers wanted to compare maximum tow ratings, the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has developed the J2807 set of recommended practices. The tow test procedures designed by the big brains at the SAE consist of a series of rigorous real-world challenges to determine the Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) of a vehicle and trailer combination."

Re: What factors Determine Tow Rating
 

WOW this was a great article..!

The right Gearing is key for towing.
One of the comments on YouTube
The Canyon/Colorado come standard with a 3.42.
The Gas and Turbo Diesel did great up the Gauntlet.
It was commented that 3.73 would have been better for towing.
This one step up adds a good bit of towing capacity.

Seems what ever your are towing.
Rule of thumb was to not exceed 85% of the tow rating.

Another not discussed in the article was tuning the engine for towing.
Not sure if this breaks the Warrantee.
The extra torque from the Tune helps everywhere.

Not discuss were suspension other than Axles.
All rears squat, are air bags added as a towing option on trucks?

Not discussed were Cooling systems, best fluids to use.
Towing package you get bigger radiators and transmission coolers.

Not discussed were lubricants or trans fluid work best for towing.

Trailer Tires were discussed on another forum.

Found this from Discount Tire regarding load rating

https://www.discounttiredirect.com/l...818d10948e2a97

D

Re: What factors Determine Tow Rating
 

Dan here is a 1/2 ton shootout article for you to look over if you haven't seen it.



https://www.hardworkingtrucks.com/ha...days-1-winner/


Here is something to consider. Walk through those same pits that you looked at the tow vehicles from an earlier post and ask what the rated towing capacity of the ball, ball mount and hitch on their truck is. I bet you there won't be very many who can tell you without looking but they will tell you that you have to have a 3/4 ton or heavier.


I have a class IV hitch, 16000lb rated ball mount and 25000lb rated ball and I only tow a just under 7000lb 20' enclosed trailer. The new 1/2 ton trucks are not the 1/2 tons from even 15 years ago.



One question from an earlier reply. Does anyone see or hear of trucks sitting on the side of the road from losing c-clips??



Curtis

Re: What factors Determine Tow Rating
 

Thanks Curtis!
Seems to be Truck competition going on.
GM big trucks are much lighter and Turbo Diesel options.
Fords and Ram look great and nice comfortable interiors.
Along with better suspensions almost sports car like.

D

Re: What factors Determine Tow Rating
 

Brakes!!! I see everything but better brakes. Higher Hp, bigger tow ratings but no big brake package. Most move up for better brakes, they go to commercial trucks just for the Jake and brake piece of mind.
Bottom line is you are asking a small truck to do the work of a larger. Small brakes do not get rid of heat, nor do radiators or trans coolers in smaller trucks.
If you do not exceed the rating you should be fine but most push it...

Re: What factors Determine Tow Rating
 

If you look up the brake dimensions of a current half ton and then just a 10 year old 3/4 ton, you'll find the new truck has the larger brakes of the 2.