4.7L Towing (about) 4500lbs experience

05christj · Jun 13, 2016

So I am definitly looking to trade my truck as soon as I can.

The trip was about 900 miles from Albuquerque NM, to Austin TX.

The truck has the 4.7L with 6SPD TRANNY (not the 8spd) and 3:55 gears.

I kept tow/haul mode on and set the cruise at 65 the truck struggled the entire time. 99% of the time the truck was in 4th gear and dropped to 3rd at the sight of an incline. And averaged 8.3 mpg (I spent a ton more on fuel than I anticipated)

I need to pay my truck down about 5k to be able to trade it off with out rolling over any money. I will be looking into an ecodiesel or a used cummins. All though I won't be towing the trailer near that far again even the shorter pulls are still going to **** me off that the truck struggles at 65mph.

14hemiexpress · Jun 13, 2016

Don't over look the hemi. The power is there. Although fuel mileage won't be but you will have high upfront cost with either diesel. Diesels will last you a long time but cost big bucks in repairs along the way. I'm not saying a Cummins or eco diesel isn't right for you but I would weigh your options before you pull the trigger.

HemiPower36 · Jun 14, 2016

Maybe a slightly used 2500 with the 6.4 Hemi?

Or, a slightly used 1500 5.7 Hemi 3.92. Tows more than the ecodiesel.

I say "slightly" used so you don't have to blow 5k. You will take a hit with tax/ license fees. But it won't be as bad of an ass ******. Slight ass ******.

silver surfer · Jun 14, 2016

I had the same issues with my 2001 Silverado 4.7L. Even the slightest incline was a slow speed struggle when towing. Traded for a 2015 5.7L Hemi QC 1500. Pulls the hills with no problem now.

05christj · Jun 17, 2016

So it's worse than I thought.

I had the trailer weighed (unhooked trailer on scale and moved truck completely off the scale)because for whatever reason the tax office needed a weight ticket to switch the title.

Well....... it only weighs 3,220lbs. A full 1,300lbs less than I guessed.

reek · Jun 18, 2016

3500 lbs is easily within the 5.7 1500's playground. I was towing 8000 llbs with my 5.7 Express. the go wasn't that much of a problem. I only went to a 2500 since I tow that frequently and I wanted a little less of the tail wagging the dog effect.

dennydodge · Aug 7, 2016

Something does,nt sound right,, A 4.7 , w/355 rears should be able to drag a 3200# trailer backwards. But for what it,s worth, I tow a 6000# + trailer with a 5.7 and 355 rears and it tows like a dream. I will say that when I,m in the mountains or city driving the gas mpg drops noticeably.

dexter · Aug 7, 2016

dennydodge said:
Something does,nt sound right,, A 4.7 , w/355 rears should be able to drag a 3200# trailer backwards. But for what it,s worth, I tow a 6000# + trailer with a 5.7 and 355 rears and it tows like a dream. I will say that when I,m in the mountains or city driving the gas mpg drops noticeably.

I agree. I had an old 3.9L Hemi towing a 3,000 RV and it didn't have any problem in that part of the world.

Albuquerque to Austin is down hill!

socalledchad · Aug 7, 2016

This is older thread. ..but I had the 4.7 with the 8 speed as a loaner for a couple weeks....I was actually surprised how well it did with about 4k in an enclosed 7x14 trailer...it doesn't have the power of the hemi...bUT it was decent

I also had the 5.7 with 8 speed as a loaner...that was a fair amount nicer towing the same trailer vs my 5.7 with 6 speed

Just seems like the 8 spred is always in the right gear...or when it kicks down its not such a change in gearing...but just enough
..but the 6 speed really revs when you need the power. .does the job well but sometimes it does feel like it didn't have to kick so hard ..hah

DannyMK2 · Aug 8, 2016

socalledchad said:
This is older thread. ..but I had the 4.7 with the 8 speed as a loaner for a couple weeks....I was actually surprised how well it did with about 4k in an enclosed 7x14 trailer...it doesn't have the power of the hemi...bUT it was decent

no you didnt. the 8spd was never put behind the 4.7L.

xrsman · Aug 8, 2016

Yeah somethings up. I towed more than that with my 4.7 and didn't have issues. I pulled 3000 lbs down the road doing 115 kmh (70 mph) and didn't struggle. On hills it would gear down and grunt to keep moving, but didn't ever struggle like it seems you are.

My Hemi was a tow monster, never had an issue with needing more power.

My Ecodiesel seems to be just as good as the Hemi, all that diesel torque gets those trailers moving effortlessly. Plus the mileage is much better! My 4000 lb dump trailer is child's play for my Ecodiesel lol.

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

socalledchad · Aug 8, 2016

DannyMK2 said:
no you didnt. the 8spd was never put behind the 4.7L.

Well whatever v6 that has an 8 speed in 2015.?..maybe it was 3.7

GoatRider · Sep 10, 2016

I've hauled a fema trailer loaded with all the belongings of two of my friends, truck was down on the bump stops.
I didn't push it harder than 45 mph though, I knew it wouldn't wanna stop easily and I didn't want the questionable integrity of the camper to deteriorate
Truck pulled like a champ.
Another time I was hauling my dads yard tractor around with a barrel train, the trailer loaded for his 3500, pulled abysmally with my 1500

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4.7L Towing (about) 4500lbs experience

05christj

Senior Member

14hemiexpress

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HemiPower36

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silver surfer

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05christj

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reek

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dennydodge

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dexter

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socalledchad

Senior Member

DannyMK2

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xrsman

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socalledchad

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GoatRider

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