Towing with the Boss

[Pops]

I purchased a 2022 LTD LT Trail Boss with the 5.3 10 speed trans end of March trading in our 2011 LT 5.3 with the six speed trans, the 2011 had the heavy duty tow package with the 3.73 rear end, she towed our trailer pretty good but always seemed to need a little more power especially in the mountain passes.
We put about 1100 kms on the new truck then we hooked up for the first time and traveled from BC to Alberta, towing through the mountain passes and back, we now have approximately 7100 kms on the clock with approximately 5000 of those kms towing.
The new boss did not let us down, she pulled awesome, the 10 speed trany was perfect, she handled the mountain passes with ease.
I must say though she was a little thirsty for fuel especially through the mountains but I kinda expected that being the motor was still new and tight.
We averaged about 450 kms (about 23 kms / 100 (about 290 miles) per tank ouch. Temperatures remained normal with no significant increases. This truck is so much better towing than the older one, I’m so impressed
Out rv weighs in about 6800 lbs loaded

 

[Trail Brian]

Congrats !! Not sure what you were expecting ? your numbers seem normal to me ... it is a 6800 pound trailer ...I knows that part of the world so those are big hills and tight corners in some areas..

 

[Texcl2]

We are spoiled by new trucks, my 1993 f250 7.3 diesel had 150hp and 360 pounds of torque. My new 2.7ho trailboss has 310 hp and 430 lbs of torque! It tows just fine too but I reserve my heavy duty truck for loads of concrete and brick, suspension and brakes are more important than power there.

 

[Pops]

We are spoiled by new trucks, my 1993 f250 7.3 diesel had 150hp and 360 pounds of torque. My new 2.7ho trailboss has 310 hp and 430 lbs of torque! It tows just fine too but I reserve my heavy duty truck for loads of concrete and brick, suspension and brakes are more important than

Congrats !! Not sure what you were expecting ? your numbers seem normal to me ... it is a 6800 pound trailer ...I knows that part of the world so those are big hills and tight corners in some areas..

Most are normal but there’s some you need to prepare for or those brakes won’t work too well on any truck, I found the 10 speed transmission worked wonders on those long twisty down hills holding her back allowing for very few brake applications

 

[clstark7]

I purchased a 2022 LTD LT Trail Boss with the 5.3 10 speed trans end of March trading in our 2011 LT 5.3 with the six speed trans, the 2011 had the heavy duty tow package with the 3.73 rear end, she towed our trailer pretty good but always seemed to need a little more power especially in the mountain passes.
We put about 1100 kms on the new truck then we hooked up for the first time and traveled from BC to Alberta, towing through the mountain passes and back, we now have approximately 7100 kms on the clock with approximately 5000 of those kms towing.
The new boss did not let us down, she pulled awesome, the 10 speed trany was perfect, she handled the mountain passes with ease.
I must say though she was a little thirsty for fuel especially through the mountains but I kinda expected that being the motor was still new and tight.
We averaged about 450 kms (about 23 kms / 100 (about 290 miles) per tank ouch. Temperatures remained normal with no significant increases. This truck is so much better towing than the older one, I’m so impressed
Out rv weighs in about 6800 lbs loaded
View attachment 3810

That 10-speed really is impressive. I was able to go 80 mph on I-90 and I-25 while towing a Subaru on a flatbed with ease. It probably wasn't as heavy as your camper, but it was still a decent load! My old six speed struggled with our camper just going 70 mph up some hills.

Superchips had some dyno graphs on their website when they finally came out with their tuner (they had to figure out how to unlock these ECM's first), and the 10-speed was putting more power to the ground than the 8 or 6 speeds with the 5.3. It also gets better gas mileage than those other transmissions. You hear some peope say that a 10-speed would be annoying because it is shifting all the time, but It's difficult to argue with the numbers!

 

[Pops]

That 10-speed really is impressive. I was able to go 80 mph on I-90 and I-25 while towing a Subaru on a flatbed with ease. It probably wasn't as heavy as your camper, but it was still a decent load! My old six speed struggled with our camper just going 70 mph up some hills.

Superchips had some dyno graphs on their website when they finally came out with their tuner (they had to figure out how to unlock these ECM's first), and the 10-speed was putting more power to the ground than the 8 or 6 speeds with the 5.3. It also gets better gas mileage than those other transmissions. You hear some peope say that a 10-speed would be annoying because it is shifting all the time, but It's difficult to argue with the numbers!

So true my best mileage shows 9 litres per hundred kms

 

[Omega9i6]

I have a 2020 TB LT 5.3 and I am looking to start towing a travel trailer that weighs 8,238lbs. (Bumper tow) what should I do to the rear suspension before hand?

 

[Pops]

I have a 2020 TB LT 5.3 and I am looking to start towing a travel trailer that weighs 8,238lbs. (Bumper tow) what should I do to the rear suspension before hand?

Probably you would have to look at better shocks, personally I believe 5-7 thousand pounds is okay for a half ton to tow, anymore than that one should probably have a 3/4 ton or better yet a 1 ton truck
8,238 lbs is that your fully loaded weight or dry weight?

 

[Omega9i6]

Dry

 

[Trail Brian]

pops has a great point …. might be pushing it … particularly mountain passes just my 2 c’s

 

[Pops]

Dry

add a couple of passengers and you may be exceeding specs,
Sounds a little heavy for a half ton

 

[baron]

Hey all, I have a 2020 TB 5.3 with max tow. This is what the sticker on the truck shows... what are thoughts on max travel trailer weight (dry weight) to pull that won't be overdoing it? Do I need to factor in another 500-1k pounds loaded? Will be my first time pulling a camper.

 

[Holt9190]

That 10-speed really is impressive. I was able to go 80 mph on I-90 and I-25 while towing a Subaru on a flatbed with ease. It probably wasn't as heavy as your camper, but it was still a decent load! My old six speed struggled with our camper just going 70 mph up some hills.

Superchips had some dyno graphs on their website when they finally came out with their tuner (they had to figure out how to unlock these ECM's first), and the 10-speed was putting more power to the ground than the 8 or 6 speeds with the 5.3. It also gets better gas mileage than those other transmissions. You hear some peope say that a 10-speed would be annoying because it is shifting all the time, but It's difficult to argue with the numbers!

We have a 2022 TB with the 5.3 and tow a 20ft 3500 lb trailer. I never go over 65mph. 80 is way too unsafe

 

[bossboy302]

Just finished a cross-country tow with 2022 Trailboss LTZ w/ Duramax. Towed a 20 ft. Featherlite enclosed car hauler carrying a 1969 Boss 302 Mustang race car (total approx. 6500#) from S F Bay Area, Ca to Cranston, RI. 3,062 miles. Not so much as a burp. Comfortable, quiet, and over 15 mpg average for trip. Wife took several turns at the wheel over the 4 1/2 day journey. Oh, and she's 68 (I'm 70). Truck is great.