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.