Increasing Half Ton`s Towing Capabilities ?

[agallant80]

Re: Increasing Half Ton`s Towing Capabilities ?

If you want to increase towing capacity according to your manual than add a WD hitch for any loads over 5K. Here is a clip from your owners manual.

 

[dazk14]

Re: Increasing Half Ton`s Towing Capabilities ?

In general, Running your rear tires to max side wall PSI can often significantly minimize trailer sway.FWIW

 

[bigdee]

Re: Increasing Half Ton`s Towing Capabilities ?

Towing capacity is determined by the manufacturer. Stopping ability is included. Of course this assumes the trailer you are towing includes properly operating brakes.

Exactly....and not everything about towing is cut and dried. You have to factor in the human equation that Snow mentioned in post #4. Even less than adequate brakes can suffice if you adjust your driving technique. And no amount of brake capacity will offset inadequate trailer brakes.

I like to relate towing to driving a 4x4 in snow....a 4x4 can only STOP if common sense is used.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Increasing Half Ton`s Towing Capabilities ?

With my 1/2T PU and Wellcraft in my sig in tow, I once took off and the wire harness plug for the trailer got pulled out slightly out of my driveway. When I reached my first stop sign, I had a rude awakening as my electric/hydraulic brakes didn't come on.

 

[BRICH1260]

Re: Increasing Half Ton`s Towing Capabilities ?

I just checked my invoice. I have the 3.73 rear end and do have the tow package which i believe does include a transmission cooler. I am seeing tow ratings all over th eplace, but I do believe my Owners Manual says 7500K. I may look into upgrading the front disc calipers.

 

[Maclin]

Re: Increasing Half Ton`s Towing Capabilities ?

BRICH, my same truck (4.7l) with 3.55 ratio instead of the 3.92 ratio goes down to 6750 from 7750. By way of comparison, my truck with 3.92 is only 400 pounds lower than same truck with larger 5.7l engine with 3.55 ratio. The 5.7l with 3.92 jumps to 9500.

 

[Maclin]

Re: Increasing Half Ton`s Towing Capabilities ?

Just meant to show how the gear ratio has the most effect regarding tow capacity.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Increasing Half Ton`s Towing Capabilities ?

We're upgrade the front disk brakes but ignoring the fact that the tow capacity is only #5K w/o a weight distribution system in use.

FWIW: I tow a #5,600 with a 1/2 ton Chevy with a factory "heavy" tow package. 5.3, 3:73 rear, air suspension, trans cooler, etc.
I've left a 6 wheel (no brake on second axle) skid mark more than once. Brakes are not it's weak point. Dropping into 3rd gear to pull the slightest hill is the problem, not to mention dragging the rear on the ground, even with air bags. I would want to pull another #1000+ any distance with this thing.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Increasing Half Ton`s Towing Capabilities ?

I just checked my invoice. I have the 3.73 rear end and do have the tow package which i believe does include a transmission cooler. I am seeing tow ratings all over th eplace, but I do believe my Owners Manual says 7500K. I may look into upgrading the front disc calipers.

I wouldn't bother.

 

[dazk14]

Re: Increasing Half Ton`s Towing Capabilities ?

I wouldn't bother.

I couldn't agree more...and I think the OP is torturing himself...but still smart to ask.

Get good brakes on both trailer axles and you'll sometimes forget anything is behind you when breaking.

6300 lbs is really not a difficult tow, and yes you let the hill dictate your speed. You'll get a sense of "firm" throttle and it should be nowhere near the floor long term.

You'll also learn to push up the speed nearing the bottom of a hill and using that momentum to ease the load on engine/tranny going up.

For sway control, don't discount the effect of raising rear tire pressure. Going from 28psi to 36 can be very noticeable and some can go 40+ that really improves the side to side tightness of the rear end.

I don't recall you answering how this trailer will be used and the conditions it will see.

 

[SilverSS07]

Re: Increasing Half Ton`s Towing Capabilities ?

Make sure to look in the owner's manual about towing in overdrive. I'm not sure what transmission your truck has but most tell you not to. If you leave it out of o/d it will also help you slow down. Definitely look into a weight distribution hitch- it made a night and day difference towing a heavy trailer with my truck.

 

[gm280]

Re: Increasing Half Ton`s Towing Capabilities ?

Usually a trailer towing package comes with more then a transmission cooler. My vehicle came with a factory trailer towing package which includes a transmission cooler, factory installed receiver hitch, a much larger radiator, larger diameter front and rear sway bares, a larger alternator, larger size disc brakes front and rear, and firmer and bigger diameter gas shocks. So there are more things to consider then just a simple transmission cooler... You could even install larger diameter disc brake rotors that are slotted and drill to help keep them cool during down grade stopping.

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: Increasing Half Ton`s Towing Capabilities ?

The VIN tells you everything about your veh, Unless it has been tamperd with. trailer brakes are a must. good to go IMO

 

[jpwilly]

Re: Increasing Half Ton`s Towing Capabilities ?

Our 07 Suburban owners manual states that "You can tow in DRIVE (D). You may want to shift the transmission to THIRD (3) or, if necessary, a lower gear selection if the transmission shifts too often (e.g. under heavy loads and/or hilly conditions)".

Keep in mind the sprag is what holds the input shaft when you are in DRIVE and the sprag is prone to failure in stock transmissions. When you tow in 3 you actually lock in another band this holds the gear instead of the sprag. Think of a sprag like a one way clutch or ratchet it allows the input shaft to spin in one direction but not the other. A great way to illustrate his is when you put your truck in FIRST 1 manually then accelerate and let off the gas it slows with the engine rpm instead of coasting. This is why using DRIVE to tow can harm the sprag because it's the sprag is holding the input shaft from going the other direction when pulling that 10000-15000lb load up a hill. If you have ever seen this flimsy thing called a sprag in person you know what I'm talking about. I can hardly imagine one could hold that much Tq but they do most of the time! LOL

Aside from the sprag, In newer transmissions most of the wear occurs during shifts or in between gears. The 3/4 clutch pack is also prone to failure in the 4L60E transmission. If it's hunting up and down and unlocking (that's when you see 200 rpm more in the same gear on the tach than normal) you need to downshift and if you don't your wearing things out prematurely by overheating them. There are a few weak spots in the 4L60E, 4L65E, type trannys i.e. the sun shell, the sprag, and the 3/4 clutch pack. All should be upgraded when rebuilding. Us the "Monster Shell", 29 element 2 cage sprag, and high performance (race / towing) clutch packs. Upping the line pressure from stock 190 to 225 will make for firmer shifts (reducing wear by shifting faster).

Best - Joel

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Increasing Half Ton`s Towing Capabilities ?

To see what the truck has on it, you just need to look up the RPO codes that the truck was built with.
GM-Trucks.com | RPO Code Lookup

 

[gm280]

Re: Increasing Half Ton`s Towing Capabilities ?

Our 07 Suburban owners manual states that "You can tow in DRIVE (D). You may want to shift the transmission to THIRD (3) or, if necessary, a lower gear selection if the transmission shifts too often (e.g. under heavy loads and/or hilly conditions)".

Keep in mind the sprag is what holds the input shaft when you are in DRIVE and the sprag is prone to failure in stock transmissions. When you tow in 3 you actually lock in another band this holds the gear instead of the sprag. Think of a sprag like a one way clutch or ratchet it allows the input shaft to spin in one direction but not the other. A great way to illustrate his is when you put your truck in FIRST 1 manually then accelerate and let off the gas it slows with the engine rpm instead of coasting. This is why using DRIVE to tow can harm the sprag because it's the sprag is holding the input shaft from going the other direction when pulling that 10000-15000lb load up a hill. If you have ever seen this flimsy thing called a sprag in person you know what I'm talking about. I can hardly imagine one could hold that much Tq but they do most of the time! LOL

Aside from the sprag, In newer transmissions most of the wear occurs during shifts or in between gears. The 3/4 clutch pack is also prone to failure in the 4L60E transmission. If it's hunting up and down and unlocking (that's when you see 200 rpm more in the same gear on the tach than normal) you need to downshift and if you don't your wearing things out prematurely by overheating them. There are a few weak spots in the 4L60E, 4L65E, type trannys i.e. the sun shell, the sprag, and the 3/4 clutch pack. All should be upgraded when rebuilding. Us the "Monster Shell", 29 element 2 cage sprag, and high performance (race / towing) clutch packs. Upping the line pressure from stock 190 to 225 will make for firmer shifts (reducing wear by shifting faster).

Best - Joel

I can attest to the sun shell weak area. I've replace a few in my days with one called "The Beast". Those beast sun shells fix that problem.

 

[Mischief Managed]

Re: Increasing Half Ton`s Towing Capabilities ?

The simplest way to increase towing capability on any vehicle is to put lower profile (smaller diameter) tires on it. It improves the torque at the drive wheels and improves the power of the brakes while simultaneously improving handling.

 

[Maclin]

Re: Increasing Half Ton`s Towing Capabilities ?

Higher numerical differential gear ratios are incrementally easier on the transmission also.

 

[jpwilly]

Re: Increasing Half Ton`s Towing Capabilities ?

I can attest to the sun shell weak area. I've replace a few in my days with one called "The Beast". Those beast sun shells fix that problem.

Yes that's right it's "The Beast" If GM would just fix those last three things in the 4L60E's they would be very reliable. Now they have the new 6 speed transmissions and I don't know much about them.