Topic: towing my truck with a 5.3 chevy

[yota_krawler]

So i am already tryin to prep for the round up. I know its far away but money is tight and I do not want to miss it again. Anyway I do not have a tow rig but I have a trailer. My buddy is going to use his truck to pull mine.

He has an 01 chevy 1500 4x4, stock, auto, it has the 5.3 in it. Not sure specs or anything on it but can it pull my pickup? what do i need to do to get it to pull? I know we wont break any records getting there but anything helps

[BikerTrash]

I would hope it can, Towed my 4runner around for years with a ford with a 4.6 untill I bought my dodge.

[Cheesemaker]

It will work.  I just went to TSF this saturday, and everybody there that had towed their rigs there was using a Chevy 1500 2wd/4wd.  Just don't use overdrive and take it easy and you'll be fine. 

[red]

yep take it outta od and it should be fine

[Yota-Freak]

these newer 327's are garbage when it comes to the gaskets and whatnot...but do pack a bunch in power. probably tow two truck...might have problem on the hills though

[COToy91]

it is all i have ever used. If it has tow haul mode use it, it will prolong shift points and pull better. Like everyone else has said, dont use o/d. It will be very slow on the passes, but mine has over 200,000 and still tows fine.

[yota_krawler [OP]]

cool thats what i wanna hear. I was thinkin about puttin airbags on it, tranny cooler, and trailer breaks. Should be fine right?

[88_Pathy]

It will be fine.

[axled89]

x6.

[COToy91]

cool thats what i wanna hear. I was thinkin about puttin airbags on it, tranny cooler, and trailer breaks. Should be fine right?

I have trailer brakes, it wont sit level so you could add bags if you wanted. Tranny cooler is built in

[Cheesemaker]

cool thats what i wanna hear. I was thinkin about puttin airbags on it, tranny cooler, and trailer breaks. Should be fine right?

Probably a good set of overloads would be cheaper and just as good.  Good call on the t-cooler and trailer brakes.   Factory tranny coolers run through the radiator, but best bet is to get an external one with a electric fan on it.  Works way better than a factory setup.  I've seen people plug a external on the return side of the factory lines.

Look for a shift kit or a programmer to make it shift better.  The firmer the shifts the less wear to the bands.

[yota_krawler [OP]]

so i found out by research that the gvwr is 8600lbs with 4.10 gears. so that might work


also we need to put a hitch back on it, the person before him took it off. So i found one that is rated for 10,000 and its 200 bucks, is that to much hitch? And what are good break controllers???

[Dan The Man]

$200 seems like a lot unless its an aftermarket hitch. Not sure what the stock hitch is rated for, but we've got 2 or 3 stock ones laying around. Where are you located?

As for the brake controller. The Tekonsha Prodigy is one of the best.

[red]

the 'prodigy' or 'p3' brake controllers are my favorites but not cheap.

[toyotanner]

i have a 99 chevy 4x4 std cab auto 5.3 vortec w/ K&N intake, superchip, and exhaust... and it tows my 1st gen no problem

[BLACKDOG]

My dad has towed my truck on an equipment trailer a few times with his '03 tahoe, no problem. 

[83yota]

as far as the brake controler the prodigy is the best (IMO) but if your putting it in your buddies truck I dont think i would spend that kind of money for 1 trip unless he is going to go half with you or you get to keep it. the truck will do fine just take it slow and easy

[sweetmeat]

Alot of throttle and a gas card you should be just fine

[toyotanner]

drawtite brake actuators are my favorite i used to install them and its a sinch