Tow ratings question on 1500-2500

[Devils Cut]

Hello, I'm new to the towing world so...

I have a 1995 K2500 4WD 5.7 4:10 and Chevy listed the tow capacity at 7,500#. Friend has a 2018 1500LD 4WD 5.3 that lists 11,000# How is that possible? I am confused.

Looking to pull an enclosed car trailer that will be right at the 7,500# limit.

Thank you.

 

[0xDEADBEEF]

Old tech vs newer tech.

 

[351FUN]

You know there's a 23 year difference in those trucks right? We like to **** talk the new trucks because we're stuck on this old junk, but reality is the new trucks can outperform ours by huge margins. Hell just look at the one in my flair, stock 1983 5.8L hp was about 150. 1992 5.7L was about 210. 2021 3.0L is 400. Suspension and especially tire tech has improved so much in that time.

 

[HotWheelsBurban]

Is this K2500 6 lug or 8 lug? If it's a 6 lug, it's a 2500LD, also I know the tow ratings are lower on the K models because of the weight of the 4wd components.
Personally, I think that GM erred on the side of caution by under rating the 400s. I know I've had my C3500 crew cab, rated at 9000# gvw, at that or a little bit over, and it hauled/towed fine. You just needed a bit more room and time to stop it, even with the big JD8 brakes.
I also think the ratings are a bit high on the newer trucks....but they have sturdier frames(fully boxed) and higher horsepower and torque than our trucks. I have a buddy who tows a 12' enclosed trailer full of model cars and supplies (and I do mean FULL, I've helped him load and unload it!) with a '19 K1500 Burb with a 5.3, and the truck is noticeably working hard with that trailer. And he has had a new transmission put in it....
So personally I think your 2500 5.7 will out pull the newer 5.3 off the line. The LS gets into its happy place at a higher rpm point than the 5.7 or even the 7.4 do.

 

[0xDEADBEEF]

So personally I think your 2500 5.7 will out pull the newer 5.3 off the line. The LS gets into its happy place at a higher rpm point than the 5.7 or even the 7.4 do.

The Gen V 5.3 is a lot closer "down low" to the 5.7 than you might think. It's just even happier above that.

 

[Devils Cut]

Is this K2500 6 lug or 8 lug? If it's a 6 lug, it's a 2500LD, also I know the tow ratings are lower on the K models because of the weight of the 4wd components.
Personally, I think that GM erred on the side of caution by under rating the 400s. I know I've had my C3500 crew cab, rated at 9000# gvw, at that or a little bit over, and it hauled/towed fine. You just needed a bit more room and time to stop it, even with the big JD8 brakes.
I also think the ratings are a bit high on the newer trucks....but they have sturdier frames(fully boxed) and higher horsepower and torque than our trucks. I have a buddy who tows a 12' enclosed trailer full of model cars and supplies (and I do mean FULL, I've helped him load and unload it!) with a '19 K1500 Burb with a 5.3, and the truck is noticeably working hard with that trailer. And he has had a new transmission put in it....
So personally I think your 2500 5.7 will out pull the newer 5.3 off the line. The LS gets into its happy place at a higher rpm point than the 5.7 or even the 7.4 do.

Yes, it is the 8 lug HD. Thanks for the reply!

 

[Devils Cut]

You know there's a 23 year difference in those trucks right? We like to **** talk the new trucks because we're stuck on this old junk, but reality is the new trucks can outperform ours by huge margins. Hell just look at the one in my flair, stock 1983 5.8L hp was about 150. 1992 5.7L was about 210. 2021 3.0L is 400. Suspension and especially tire tech has improved so much in that time.

Yep, just thought maybe marketing was pushing up the ratings (3,000+ pounds is a big jump for a supposedly lighter duty truck) Thanks for the input.

 

[HotWheelsBurban]

The Gen V 5.3 is a lot closer "down low" to the 5.7 than you might think. It's just even happier above that.

His Burb is pretty quick when not loaded, of course he has a heavy foot. But I can tell it struggles a little bit with the trailer. I'm going to ask him if he's ever scaled it. The Burb he had before this one, was an '08 Denali with the 6.0, and I know they ran the snot out of it.

 

[b454rat]

My 99 CCSB has a 10.5k rating I believe. I looked (briefly) at a '22 Silverado 4 banger K1500 had a 9500 rating. This I find embarrassing, humiliating, amusing amongst many other things. But no way in hell would I tow that much with a 1/2 ton, I don't give a f#ck what the rating says. The motors might have more power, bigger brakes, 35-speed trans, but the frames are **** on these. These will rust out in a couple years. Least the older trucks have thicker frames...

 

[Erik the Awful]

For a short while in college I was an engineering major, and the rule for engineers was a 50% safety margin. The example we were given was a dam. If the calculations say the dam can withstand 3 million pounds of force from the water pressure, you rate it for 2 million pounds of force. I think bad accountants and ignorant management have pushed that margin closer.