[BLANK1]

I have a 24ft 10,000# rated enclosed car trailer that I put my 3600# '68 GTO in. I used to have an '03 Ram 1500 w/Hemi and it pulled pretty good. I'm looking to get another used truck and was looking at the GMC/Chevy 4X4's in the 2000-2004 model years. I found a GMC 1500 Z-71 with the 5.3L and was wondering if this truck would be capable of pulling what I have? I suppose a 2500HD would be better. Just wondering if the 1/2 ton GMC/Chevy trucks with the 5.3L will hold up? I have the weight distributing hitch and sway control setup also. If not I will just look for another Ram.
Thanks,
Bret

[Jagtec1]

I have heard that the tranny will take a beating in the 1/2 ton GM trucks. They use the 4L60E. I have a 2003 Avalanche (5.3L), and would not consider towing an enclosed due to potential safety issues. You need a 3/4 ton (2500) to effectively tow an enclosed trailer...and do it safely. A 1/2 ton will do it, but it will be white knuckle driving, unless you do all flat towing are are only going 20 miles or so.

JMO.

[Mr Twister]

WAY to much for any 1500 series truck. Test drive a Duramax. Prices are down right now, you probably can find some real deals out there. I sold an 03 Avalanche that would pull well up to about 6k lbs, Anything more and it felt like pending death. Plus if you get in an accident and you are over the vehicles tow rating, there are serious liability issues.

[steve v]

I had an '03 1500 with a 5.3 in '03 & it was about all it could do to pull my 24' Haulmark when it was empty. It would have been pretty scary to pull it loaded up. I traded up to an '04 2500HD with the 6.0 & it pulls well for 90% of road conditions. Going thru the Smokey Mountains area is a little slow but we only drive thru there 1-2 times a year.

[Jim Scites]

I agree with Mr Twister, drive a duramax and you will never look back. They get about 20 MPG or maybe a little better and you will forget the trailer is behind you on flat ground.

[Mr Twister]

Originally Posted by Jim Scites

I agree with Mr Twister, drive a duramax and you will never look back. They get about 20 MPG or maybe a little better and you will forget the trailer is behind you on flat ground.

Well, mine gets high 17's @70 unloaded. It's an LBZ (I think they use more fuel than the others), undownloaded/i.e. unchipped. Slow down and the MPG shoots up to 20ish. Pulling my boat is 12.5 MPG with AMPLE power to yank that 28 foot boat around. I really like it, but I am looking at a new dually if the dealers want to sell one bad enough. Too much is just enough- hehe

[Jerry H.]

I sold these trucks new and the other posters are correct. The minimum GM truck you need is the 3/4 ton 6.0 liter. The 5.3 is probably powerful enough to pull your trailer, but not safe enough to stop it. And a 4wd even lowers your towing capacity over a 2wd.

[Old Goat Racer]

4WD lowers TC 200# on a 1/2 ton. No question about the Duramax if ya don't mind paying a buck more for fuel. 4.10 gears over 3.73 increases TC 1000#

[Pearlbluebird]

I pulled this 28 footer through the mountains home. 2500 HD 2 wheel drive 6.0 LTR.
Not an issue. Felt great. This time of year I won't have to worry about fuel gellin either.

[Old Blue 66]

Originally Posted by Jerry H.

I sold these trucks new and the other posters are correct. The minimum GM truck you need is the 3/4 ton 6.0 liter. The 5.3 is probably powerful enough to pull your trailer, but not safe enough to stop it. And a 4wd even lowers your towing capacity over a 2wd.

Id agree with this simply because it just came up in conversation the other day at dinner. BUT, the questions that also needs to be answered is how often do you plan on towing with that truck.

I have a friend that has an Avalanche an he swears the truck does a nice job of pulling his enclosed trailer but he only uses it three times a year.

[Old Blue 66]

Originally Posted by Pearlbluebird

I pulled this 28 footer through the mountains home. 2500 HD 2 wheel drive 6.0 LTR.
Not an issue. Felt great. This time of year I won't have to worry about fuel gellin either.

That boats a monster!!!!!

[David Holmberg]

The brakes, transmission and cooling systems are bigger and better in the 3/4 ton + trucks.

In my local race group we have
2 - 2500HD's with the 8.1- Tows great almost the same power as a Diesel. 7-8 mpg towing 28 ft trailers @ 10K.
1- 2500HD with a 6.0 has way less power than the 8.1, trouble from a dead stop, and get slightly better mpg, but not much.
2 - 2500HD's with a Duramax/ Allison. Incredible power, and 11 -13 mpg towing, 20 empty.

Diesel costs more, and the is maintenance higher and more often.

I've had two Duramax's and two BBC Suburbans, besides riding with others.

If I were to do it again today, I'd find a 05 - 06 2500 HD with an 8.1 - Allison. You will have all the power you need, they sound great, no funny smells at stop lights, cheaper fuel, but fill ups come more often.

JMHO.

[74gto]

I agree with the above posters, but have another issue to add.

I used to tow a 26' Pace trailer with a 3/4 ton Chevy regular cab. Worked OK, but now have a 2WD 3500 DUALLY and won't go back to a single wheel. Lots more stable, and if you blow out a tire in the back, other one will keep you up.

[Transam Stripper]

If you'll go drive a Chevy Duramax you won't look back. I was one of the guys who refused to go diesel. But now that I did I don't know if I'll ever go back. I got my '07 Chevy in November '08 for 42k. Not braggin but I got a deal. It has the Rocky Ridge package 8" lift 20" rims on 35's 60k truck hard to pass it up.

[muscle_collector]

did chevy ever get all the problems with the duramax worked out?

[Pontiacmuscle]

When I towing alot I always used 1 ton Chevies with my latest truck being an '87 C3500 Kodiak Custom Crew Cab Dually 454 TH400 2WD. Pulled anything I hooked up to it but only got 10 mpg empty or towing. Ive had 2 diesels and loved them even though they were both 6.2s. If I was going to buy a new truck it would definitely be a Duramax. The cost may be higher but you get more out of them IMHO....

[Jerry H.]

If I were to do it again today, I'd find a 05 - 06 2500 HD with an 8.1 - Allison. You will have all the power you need, they sound great, no funny smells at stop lights, cheaper fuel, but fill ups come more often.

Just wondering when they stopped making the 8.1 available. I thought 04 was the last year, but I could be wrong. Like David, with the price difference of fuel, if I could find a nice used 8.1, I would seriously consider it over a Duramax.

[Old Blue 66]

Doesn't anyone use a Ford???

[David Holmberg]

Originally Posted by muscle_collector

did Chevy ever get all the problems with the duramax worked out?

The only real problems were:
Injector problems on the 01 to 04 models. And that wasn't as big as made out on the net, like any problem you only hear about the bad ones. But GM stepped up and gave a 10 yr, 100K warranty on them.

And the 05's had a tendency to run hot when towing in high heat.
Again, not all of them, as I have a friend in Tampa with an 05 that tows an 18K bobcat everyday, and never had an issue.

So, yes the problems that were there weren't that big, and have been taken care of.
I've had an 03 and a 06, both were/are excellent trucks.

Side note, I don't know anything about the 07.5+ trucks, other than they don't get as many MPG due to the emission changes.

[CDN2PLS2]

This is a good topic,I've been thinking of getting an enclosed and a Newer truck.