GM Half-ton Max Tow Package - Worth the upgrade?

[Harvestmoon]

Looking to see if anyone has experience owning a GM half-ton with the factory "max trailering" package. From the GM web site, the stated inclusions of note are "Heavier duty rear springs and increased RGAWR" and "9.76" rear axle". The only engine options are the 5.3L or 6.2L V8's, and either is geared at 3.42.

Stats with and without max trailering:
GVWR 7300 vs. 7000
Base curb weight: 5250 vs. 5070
Payload 2050 vs. 1930
RGAWR 4150 vs. 3800

Towing capacity and combined weight ratings are not a concern to me. I'd consider this package mainly for the increased RGAWR and heavier rear spring. I'm currently towing our 22MLE (runs about 5800 lbs loaded) with a 2017 Silverado 1500. It tows fine except like most standard half tons, it starts to ride low and get bouncy with much more in the bed than a couple of bags of groceries. And of course like most I bump up against the payload and RGAWR before anything else. All of the videos I have seen with guys towing anything on the newer 2022-23 GMs, including GMs own promotional video for towing with the 2.7L turbo-I4, show the trucks riding very low. In my current truck, I added some helper coil springs in the back (it's a coil over shock), and then there are the roadmaster springs and air bags etc. I just don't like the idea of buying a new truck and then having to go to the aftermarket add-ons right away. The downside of the max tow package is that dealers never stock them, which means factory order, which in today's world still means wait until they have the parts to make it, and then pay window sticker.

IMO, the 22MLE is firmly in half-ton territory, and I have no intention to tow anything bigger or go to a 3/4 ton truck. The half-ton max tow package seems to have some real meat in it and not just playing dress-up, since it adds 180lbs to the curb weight. Does anyone have the max tow and is there a noticeable performance difference, particularly for a level and composed ride while towing? Thanks.

[Second Chance]

It all depends on what you plan to tow. Towing capacity is not the same as payload and 120 lbs. net gain on payload doesn't seem like a lot to me.

Rob

[FlyStar]

I owned two of those max tow GM Silverado’s in a row. 6.2 liter gas. Used them to tow my 30’ Airstream @ 8000 lbs. it worked great. I thought. Plenty of power and all within weight specs. However it had a bit of porposing sometimes and a bit of “pushing” going down mountains. It was safe but. Now that I’ve experienced a Duramax 2500 with this bigger rig. I would have been much happier with this bigger truck even with the lighter Airstream. I’m sold on the 2500 size truck for the enhanced feeling of safety and stability. It’s not just a “feeling” but it’s hard to describe exactly. Much less / no porposing is one thing. Much less / no pushing going downhill or when semis go by. And I’m sold on the diesel for going down mountains. So much so that I would get a used Duramax 2500 instead of a new 1500 max tow if the budget was an issue.

[Harvestmoon]

I owned two of those max tow GM Silverado’s in a row. 6.2 liter gas. Used them to tow my 30’ Airstream @ 8000 lbs. it worked great. I thought. Plenty of power and all within weight specs. However it had a bit of porposing sometimes and a bit of “pushing” going down mountains. It was safe but. Now that I’ve experienced a Duramax 2500 with this bigger rig. I would have been much happier with this bigger truck even with the lighter Airstream. I’m sold on the 2500 size truck for the enhanced feeling of safety and stability. It’s not just a “feeling” but it’s hard to describe exactly. Much less / no porposing is one thing. Much less / no pushing going downhill or when semis go by. And I’m sold on the diesel for going down mountains. So much so that I would get a used Duramax 2500 instead of a new 1500 max tow if the budget was an issue.

Thanks for sharing your experience. I'm mostly a flatland tower but want to be able to travel anywhere with confidence. Sounds like your 6.2Ls were like my 5.3L in that the effectiveness of engine braking is fairly minimal. It seems like the V8s should have better engine braking than they do. With my 22MLE only weighing in at 5800 lbs., I've not had any issues slowing it down, but then again I've not tackled any serious terrain with it yet. In what seems like a bit of irony, GM will no longer build the 3.0L Duramax in 2023 1500's with the max tow package.

[COGrandDes]

Thanks for sharing your experience. I'm mostly a flatland tower but want to be able to travel anywhere with confidence. Sounds like your 6.2Ls were like my 5.3L in that the effectiveness of engine braking is fairly minimal. It seems like the V8s should have better engine braking than they do. With my 22MLE only weighing in at 5800 lbs., I've not had any issues slowing it down, but then again I've not tackled any serious terrain with it yet. In what seems like a bit of irony, GM will no longer build the 3.0L Duramax in 2023 1500's with the max tow package.

If I were towing your rig...based on all the gas engines and diesel engines I've towed with---I would get the regular 6.6 Duramax or mini Duramax any day for the torque and most importantly the exhaust brake. Exhaust braking is where it's at when towing. Exhaust braking is so much more effective than engine braking from a gas engine. My friend has a new Chevy Silverado RST 1500 with the mini Duramax and is regularly towing 9-10K lbs in CO and it runs and works amazing. The truck is getting over 40 MPG empty and in the high 20s towing. My recommendation would be to look at that option before buying gas.....IMHO. My other friend is towing a 21' Lance dual axle camper with a similar Silverado with the mini-D and says it's amazing as well.

[LMagelitz]

The truck is getting over 40 MPG empty and in the high 20s towing. My recommendation would be to look at that option before buying gas…..IMHO.

Ouch says the guy with a 6.6 Duramax and 9.x mpg…
But my camper is too heavy, and I LOVE that 6.6 engine.
@Harvestmoon , I’m on board with COGrandDes. I’ve towed with both. I’d get either the baby DMax in a half ton, or even more preferably go to 3/4 ton with the 6.6 DMax. The exhaust brake gives an added means of getting the combo slowed down in the mountains. When you need it, you will be really glad you have it. You can’t have “too much truck” when you get in a bad situation.

[NB Canada]

Ouch says the guy with a 6.6 Duramax and 9.x mpg…
But my camper is too heavy, and I LOVE that 6.6 engine.
@Harvestmoon , I’m on board with COGrandDes. I’ve towed with both. I’d get either the baby DMax in a half ton, or even more preferably go to 3/4 ton with the 6.6 DMax. The exhaust brake gives an added means of getting the combo slowed down in the mountains. When you need it, you will be really glad you have it. You can’t have “too much truck” when you get in a bad situation.

It isn’t getting high 20s towing a travel trailer. I think that was a stretch
A diesel in my case is too much truck
I drive 10000 km a year. 6000 miles. That type of driving is not good for a diesel imo

[COGrandDes]

It isn’t getting high 20s towing a travel trailer. I think that was a stretch
A diesel in my case is too much truck
I drive 10000 km a year. 6000 miles. That type of driving is not good for a diesel imo

Your critical posts are always intriguing to me. How would you know what my friends are getting for fuel economy when towing? Do you have the mini-D-Max truck and combo that they have? And I have driven all my diesel trucks 6K miles per year and as I mechanic and car nut....it's fine! MY new 2022 GMC Sierra is one year old this month and it's got 6500 miles on it. What is the so-called issue with 6K miles per year? I would love to hear.

[FT4NOW]

If I were towing your rig...based on all the gas engines and diesel engines I've towed with---I would get the regular 6.6 Duramax or mini Duramax any day for the torque and most importantly the exhaust brake. Exhaust braking is where it's at when towing. Exhaust braking is so much more effective than engine braking from a gas engine. My friend has a new Chevy Silverado RST 1500 with the mini Duramax and is regularly towing 9-10K lbs in CO and it runs and works amazing. The truck is getting over 40 MPG empty and in the high 20s towing. My recommendation would be to look at that option before buying gas.....IMHO. My other friend is towing a 21' Lance dual axle camper with a similar Silverado with the mini-D and says it's amazing as well.

Any idea what the payload capacity is on your friend's Silverado? Just curious, since the diesel engine would be heavier, and it's still a half ton truck. I'd love a truck that got close to 40mpg empty, but it's obviously going to be very limited on what it can tow.

[uwskier]

Does that package come with anything else? Towing mirrors? Additional cooling? Beefier alternator? Bigger battery? I know these things used to be part of the half ton tow packages over the years.

I imagine GM isn't building the 3.0L DMax with heavy trailering capabilities for the same reason Ford limits HDPP to more basic trim levels. They're trying to force us all to buy behemoths.

On the engine braking, are you shifting it manually? I camp in the mountains with my GM 5.3L and 2600RB. I can come down I-17 near Black Canyon City in AZ, or down from the Payson AZ area without touching the brakes. These are 6% grades running about 60 MPH.