My truck now has a GM Goodwrench L31 5.7L Vortec with TBI, said goodbye to the 305 forever
refreshed NV3500 with new clutch (the larger 12" clutch meant for a 350 application)
3.08 gears and 31x10.5 Load C tires
I have a brake controller, Z82 trailering package including the KC4 oil cooler.
Everything mechanical from the radiator to the driveshaft has been replaced, rebuilt etc.
Am I out line thinking I can tow a 5500 lb 24 foot travel trailer with this combo. Factory says 5500 max trailer weight with 3.08 gears but I have towed a car on a 16 foot trailer that was about this weight and it pulled fine however, I no a travel trailer is a completely different animal. Keeping my trips local in the Texas hill country 100 miles or less till I can obtain a better truck.
Everything else seems to look good payload wise, just the overall weight Im a little concerned about. In the not too distant future, I may look into finding a 3.42 (whole rear end) from a suburban or something that I can swap in. One major disadvantage of this transmission is the Reverse gear is alot taller than the 1st gear so backing a heavy trailer into a complex area or uphill will be hell on my clutch. A 3.42 upgrade would be the equivalent of what my 1st forward gear is with the 3.08. NV3500s have a pretty steep first gear so it gets thing moving pretty easily even with the 3.08s.
refreshed NV3500 with new clutch (the larger 12" clutch meant for a 350 application)
3.08 gears and 31x10.5 Load C tires
I have a brake controller, Z82 trailering package including the KC4 oil cooler.
Everything mechanical from the radiator to the driveshaft has been replaced, rebuilt etc.
Am I out line thinking I can tow a 5500 lb 24 foot travel trailer with this combo. Factory says 5500 max trailer weight with 3.08 gears but I have towed a car on a 16 foot trailer that was about this weight and it pulled fine however, I no a travel trailer is a completely different animal. Keeping my trips local in the Texas hill country 100 miles or less till I can obtain a better truck.
Everything else seems to look good payload wise, just the overall weight Im a little concerned about. In the not too distant future, I may look into finding a 3.42 (whole rear end) from a suburban or something that I can swap in. One major disadvantage of this transmission is the Reverse gear is alot taller than the 1st gear so backing a heavy trailer into a complex area or uphill will be hell on my clutch. A 3.42 upgrade would be the equivalent of what my 1st forward gear is with the 3.08. NV3500s have a pretty steep first gear so it gets thing moving pretty easily even with the 3.08s.