GO_BLUE_VETTES

Going to pull my C5z on an open trailer. 1/2 ton truck shopping.

Sierra 1500 SLT or Tundra Limited DoubleCab?

Sierra 5.3L or 6.0L w/ 4spd or 6spd depending on model year

Tundra with 5.7L & 6 spd

Last C5

Get a 6 liter engine as a minimum. At least here in the Pacific Northwest, where you're crossing one mountain pass or another all the time, the 5 liter engines just get worked to death.

SIK02SS

I completely agree. I have a 5.3 tahoe and I hate it, used my friends 6.0 Denali and loved it.

a lot of people on here tow with there 5.3 and think it's great, but I don't like it. Pulling through hills/mountains with a 5.3 will sometimes have it 5800rpms for prolonged periods trying to stay at 55, acceleration from a stop is dog slow and acceleration from a cruise is just as slow

Datawiz

I've towed with my Tundra for nearly 2 years and fugging love it. Not one defect, descent mileage and no effort to pull a car. HP/Torque are awesome.

Z11409

Either electric or surge brakes on both axles of trailer.

fej

I love my 06' Duramax 2500 crewcab. I get 15mpg towing, and can step down and go around a semi like there isn't even a trailer back there. I DD it as well and get at least 19mpg every tank hand calculated.

My friend tows a lighter trailer with the same 01z in a 6.0 crew cab with slightly bigger than stock tires and gets 9-10mpg towing, no where near the same passing power either.

I am not sure what your budget is, but you could likely find an 07 with a LBZ in it (prior to the DPF burnoff crap that costs you 1-3mpg) sitting on a lot that a dealer would sell you quite cheap. I will not go back to a gas engine in a truck for towing or for a DD either.

G'luck with the purchase. I would opt for the towing package, add a brake controller and you are gtg. I like my prodigy unit a lot.

Fej

Cr0usEEE

I have been towing my 16' open trailer with camaro on it all season with my 08 5.7 tundra. No complaints and after adding an exhaust (it sounds to much like a camry stock) I get routinely 13.5mpg towing at 75mph....more if I slow down.

Running up big hills/mountains the engine will turn higher rpms of course but I don't think it has ever dropped to 3rd gear pulling a hill at interstate speeds.

Spinner_89

I belive that in the US, you can get a Limited TRD. (In Canada it's one or the other) The TRD will give you better suspension for towing, as well as the larger mirrors (limited has the small mirrors). Very nice truck - love the amount of room and the full width power rear window!
Lots of power. I'm a chevy guy but the new Tundra's are right up there and will probably keep it's residual longer. See if you can get 24hr a test drive (or at least for an afternoon) and hook up the trailer to see how it feels - Happy Test driving....

oldmansan

I have the Tundra TRD 4X4 with tow package etc. I bought it specifically to tow my other car and trailer out to California with the bed full of whatever essentials my kids and I needed. I was going through the mountains and passing people that couldn't maintain speed due to the grades without breaking a sweat. Lots of power and lots of room. I have the Double Cab and it has plenty of creature comforts.

San

nwc6

electric brakes give you a bit more control in wet/slick conditions..surge brakes can be scary if road surface is slick, with downhills involved. They can be a pain to back up inclines also as the actuator wants to put pressure to the system. My vote would be electric with Prodigy controller..

Jason

Of your choices, get the GMC. Biggest motor you can afford and a manual trans.

c4cruiser

I have an '08 Silverado 4wd Extended Cab LTZ with the 6.0 VortecMax motor and it does a good job of hauling my 87 on a steel trailer. Car and trailer weighs about 5400 and the truck will easily pull it at freeway speeds (and above.... ) with no issues. It will even accelerate going up easy grades with the trailer attached.

The Sierra can be configured in the same fashion. The '08 Silverado only came with the 4-speed OD auto trans and it works fine. The 6.0 motor has the VVT system that allows for 4-cylinder operation when cruising on level ground. When towing, you may never see it used, but for running empty on level ground it does help to raise the mileage somewhat. The 6.2L motor is a flex-fuel (85% ethanol) engine and everything I have heard is that the E85 does not provide the power or economy that the 6.0 regular gas motor does.

On the flats, I can get just over 12 mpg at 65-70. The truck can tow 8500 lbs and has the ability for a total GCWR of 14,000 lbs.

The truck has the integrated trailer brake controller, StabiliTrak, HD towing package, and 4 wheel disc brakes.

Here's my setup:

urtoslo

Just picked up an '08 Silverado regular cab 2500HD two wheel drive. Comes with the 6 liter gas engine, 6 speed auto trans and 373 rear. I can't even tell the Speci Miata is back there and towing the ITE Corvette is equally effortless. It's got satellite radio, Onstar and it's own phone number!

Carolina C4 Racer

You have an AMERICAN car, so tow it with an AMERICAN truck!
The 6.0L w/ a 6 speed would be my choice but the 5.3 with the proper tow package will be more than adequate and get better mileage on the daily commute.

I have a 99 Silverado 2500 w/the 6.0. Currently showing 172k flawless miles & still getting 12.5 mpg towing 6000 lbs at 75+

Datawiz

Regardless of the origin of the vehicle you race, buy the vehicle that best fits the job and your budget.

The Chevy Dealer that services my racing "American" car, keeps trying to get me to buy a tow vehicle from them. God forbid I tow with a Toyota. Christ, the dealership is slathered all over my race car.

LehmanZ06

Where ?

I can't make out where the dealership name is, because when I look at your car I get real dizzy

PS....03 Sierra Denali Quadrasteer......best handling tow vehicle ever ! (they don't make Quadrasteer anymore...so get the lowest mile example you can....mine has 161,000 now and going strong)

Bill Dearborn

I tow with an 03 Tahoe that has the 5.3. Works fine pulling my 5500 lb open trailer up the hills in the upstate NY area. The LS engines are some of the finest in the world and you have one in your Vette so why not have one in your tow vehicle? Besides Toyota truck quality really isn't anything special.

Bill

GS023

spectator2

I tow a 10Klb enclosed with a surburban 2500 6.0L, 6sp, it does a fine job. Before that I had a 5.3L Tahoe and a 6Klb trailer w/car, again 80mph no problem.

Falcon

Either you have the 4:10 rearend or you never encountered a hill.

I towed a 24' enclosed topping out at about 10K with a 6.0 3/4 Yukon and as long as it was level ground, it was fine. Get to a hill and it would pant like a dog on a 95* day.