Towing Update and Question
#1
Towing Update and Question
OK, I posted a few questions regarding towing a 26' enclosed car trailer with a 2600lb race car, spares and tools in it with my 2003 Z71 Suburban. The trans was on it last legs, flaring regularly. Had it rebuilt with an upgraded clutch pack, mild shift kit, corvette servo, beast sun shell, and 5 pinion planetaries. It shifts very well now. The flex fuel 5.3 is weak and the next thing on my list. The truck really squatted with the trailer on there, so I also added air bags to the coils and a load distributing hitch, both major improvements! I was disappointed with how little power the 5.3 has, but it is stock and unturned. There were times a mild hill would have me down from 65 to 45 before I crested it, maybe slower.
One thing I learned from my most recent outing, don't tow on "P" tires, get "LT"s. What a difference! with the passenger car tires, even pumped up to 40 psi, the truck had an unnerving wiggle over bumps and bridges. With the LT's it is very steady.
Next on the list is the engine. I have a 6.0 core engine sitting in my shop that I am tearing down to build for it. The plan is for new rings and bearings, valve job, mill the heads a little for compression, new oil pump, water pump, beehive springs with Ti retainers, picked up cheap, mild cam, LT headers and y-pipe and a tune. Trying to get as much torque as I can without overdoing the 4L60E, or I guess it is now a 65 with the new planetaries. I picked up a cam very cheap, it is a Crane with 0.500"lift, and 206/214 duration, supposed to be a great torque cam for the 4.8 and 5.3 engine trucks. From all I read on here, more cam would be a positive for this 6.0, but I don't want to change the converter, gears or overpower the transmission.
So, my question is keep this cam or go with something bigger? With 0.7L more cubes, more cam, headers and a tune, I know I will have lots more power, and torque, but more is always better until it tears the trans apart!
I apologize for the length of the post, but appreciate your comments.
One thing I learned from my most recent outing, don't tow on "P" tires, get "LT"s. What a difference! with the passenger car tires, even pumped up to 40 psi, the truck had an unnerving wiggle over bumps and bridges. With the LT's it is very steady.
Next on the list is the engine. I have a 6.0 core engine sitting in my shop that I am tearing down to build for it. The plan is for new rings and bearings, valve job, mill the heads a little for compression, new oil pump, water pump, beehive springs with Ti retainers, picked up cheap, mild cam, LT headers and y-pipe and a tune. Trying to get as much torque as I can without overdoing the 4L60E, or I guess it is now a 65 with the new planetaries. I picked up a cam very cheap, it is a Crane with 0.500"lift, and 206/214 duration, supposed to be a great torque cam for the 4.8 and 5.3 engine trucks. From all I read on here, more cam would be a positive for this 6.0, but I don't want to change the converter, gears or overpower the transmission.
So, my question is keep this cam or go with something bigger? With 0.7L more cubes, more cam, headers and a tune, I know I will have lots more power, and torque, but more is always better until it tears the trans apart!
I apologize for the length of the post, but appreciate your comments.
#5
TECH Enthusiast
^^^^^ x2 GEARS make a HUGE difference. My Ram had 4.56s and I had the factory tow package gears in both of my Titans.
I pull a 23, (27' overall)6,000 lb travel trailer that is 11' tall with my 97 G1500 Express and it is definately noticeable. I am going from 3.73s to 4.56s myself but I have a 4L80E and plan to tow in overdrive. I wouldn't go under 4.10s with a 4L65E and would tow in 3rd not 4th.
I am putting my 1/2 ton body on a 1-ton frame but for the time being a set of helper springs, rear anti sway bar, KYB Monomax shocks, and a really good equalizing hitch combine to make it a very pleasant tow.
I pull a 23, (27' overall)6,000 lb travel trailer that is 11' tall with my 97 G1500 Express and it is definately noticeable. I am going from 3.73s to 4.56s myself but I have a 4L80E and plan to tow in overdrive. I wouldn't go under 4.10s with a 4L65E and would tow in 3rd not 4th.
I am putting my 1/2 ton body on a 1-ton frame but for the time being a set of helper springs, rear anti sway bar, KYB Monomax shocks, and a really good equalizing hitch combine to make it a very pleasant tow.
Last edited by Fast355; 09-01-2015 at 05:48 PM.
#6
I did tow with a friends ECSB Z71 truck with a rebuilt trans with a shift kit and a tuned 5.3 with loud true duals. It had shocks for a lifted truck with no lift, so the shocks were dead bottomed. That made it uncomfortable, and it still didn't have the torque, so I feel like the 6.0 is the answer.
I did tow both in 3rd in tow/haul
Thanks for the input on the cam! In the grand scheme of things, it won't be that much more money, and I think I will like the result much more!
Mike
I did tow both in 3rd in tow/haul
Thanks for the input on the cam! In the grand scheme of things, it won't be that much more money, and I think I will like the result much more!
Mike
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