Towing 8,000Lbs this weekend.

smoedog

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Mar 25, 2012
Messages
238
Re: Towing 8,000Lbs this weekend.

pin it to win it...:laugh:
 

26aftcab454

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
May 12, 2009
Messages
1,510
Re: Towing 8,000Lbs this weekend.

zombie 2.jpg

my old boat was close to 8,000lbs on trl & full o fluids. I towed like a dream from Lake Texoma to the house in DFW area.
I have a 2008 1500 Siverado ext cab 6.0 4180 automatic. It has a tow capasity of 8800lbs.
The trailer had hyd. brakes on both axels.
It was 105 degrees that August day in Texas and I left the transmision in 3rd gear and cruised 65-70 mph with the transmision never getting over 208 degrees . Go slow & easy-brake early, make wide turns and whatch your overhead clearance. I forgot to lower the VHS anntena and broke it off under a gas station awning. The top of the windshield was 10 1/2 ft tall on trl.
 

smokeonthewater

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Dec 3, 2009
Messages
9,838
Re: Towing 8,000Lbs this weekend.

roger that on the antennae.... I snapped one on a tree with my carver... looked in the mirror and saw it fall to the ground... stopped and walked back... there were half a dozen broken and laying right next to mine! friggen WHOOPS!!!
 

hungupthespikes

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Sep 25, 2009
Messages
814
Re: Towing 8,000Lbs this weekend.

^^^^^ now that's funny
Yep, +3 on the antenna :facepalm:
huts
 

emilsr

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Dec 16, 2010
Messages
774
Re: Towing 8,000Lbs this weekend.

How did the tow go? Hope it was uneventful, should have been, but you never know about the "other guy" on the road.
 

agallant80

Commander
Joined
Oct 25, 2010
Messages
2,328
Re: Towing 8,000Lbs this weekend.

Thanks guys, I got so busy with the boat deal this weekend I did not get back to this thread until now. The trip up went fine and the trip back was fine. I felt the extra weight it had much more of an effect on the rear end of the truck than I thought. I set the cruse at 63 stayed in the middle lane and just went. Had to stop about every 2 hours for fuel seeing as I was getting 8 MPG but it made for nice breakd. For those asking the truck is a 2012 Silverado LTZ with Z71 5.3 and 3.08. Honestly it pulled it just fine. No issues.
 

MH Hawker

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jul 13, 2011
Messages
5,516
Re: Towing 8,000Lbs this weekend.

Glad ever thing worked out, and yes with 3.08`s that's a bit of a high gear, but I would guess you also have the 6 speed trans, so it has plenty of low end. Chevy has been using the high gears with the 6 speed to get regular driving MPG but still has plenty of bottom towing, especially with the towing selection switch
 

agallant80

Commander
Joined
Oct 25, 2010
Messages
2,328
Re: Towing 8,000Lbs this weekend.

Yeah, I think the six speed makes a huge difference. It kinda changes the whole way that we look at gear ratios. 3.08 on a 5 speed is not the same as on a 6 speed.
 

captain zac

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Oct 15, 2007
Messages
270
Re: Towing 8,000Lbs this weekend.

might be a little late but might help some people latter

Everytime that I have picked up a used boat I went straight to a tire shop and had them pull the tires and check them
and the hubs

I also like to drive on a snad or gravel road at about 30 mph and slam on the brakes
to check brakes and also check movement of the boat

Harry
 
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