97 LS can it pull this?

Hey

I was wondering if any of you would know how a 97 Ls with 130K might pull a 1750 lb camper. I have done everything to this truck it runs great just never towed anything with it. Should I be concerned or do you think it can do the job. I have wanted to put a tranny cooler on it so this might be a good reason. Also I have always driven the truck in overdrive. When should I use the other gear selection 3 2 and 1? I've never used anything but D.

Thanks
Jkdon

You should have no problems, just get a good hitch and don't tow anything in overdrive.

it will be fine if you feel it up and down shifting slow and drop down a gear you shouldent have to unless you are on some big hills or mountens and you can tow in over drive as long as it is not up and down shifting all overdrive is is a gear that is 1=1 or higher so if you are on flat ground it will be fine it all depends on the area you live in can use 2 for real steap hills you wont need to use 1 with just 1750pounds also use a higher grad gas or octane boost repost if you have any more ?

thanks for the reply guys, I'm glad to hear it will pull this thing. If I do need to down shift can I do this while I'm cruising along or should I stop and then shift?

thanks

Jkdon

Shift on the fly.........

If it's an automatic you'll want to just drop the lever down 1 gear. No need to stop.

Chevy sayes absolutly no towing in overdrive, and with a trailer that heavy listen to them.
You might want to look into an additional transmission oil cooler in the future as well.

you dont need a higher octain gas, mid augest, and hot as hell, possibly, cross that bridge when you get to it, higher octain burns longer and cooler then lower grades, if your vehical doesn't need it, the higher octain produces 0 benifit to you, the only slight one is better gas mileage to a minimal amount, not worth the extra .16 cents a gallon for the extra 2 miles to the tank

I'm going from a 1500 GMC pickup to an S-10 Jimmy, to try to gain a little on the MPG, and this is my biggest concern with this new truck. I will flush the trans at Jiffy Lube tomorrow when I pick up the Jimmy. I will install a temp gauge in the trans line now, and get a benchmark temp for this unit without the boat trailer on the back. I will install a trans cooler this week, before I ever tow with the truck. I will get the filter and the pan fluid changed after driving the truck for about 1000 miles on the new fluid. Finally I'll hook up the boat and pull the mountain between here and my fishing hole. If the trans doesn't stay in the safe range tempwise the S-10 will get a 4 sale sign and I'll buy a high MPG small car for work and a $1000 V-8 pickup to haul the boat. I never tow in OD even with the big V-8. Heat is the killer of all transmissions, get the trans cooler right now. It is very effective $100 insurance on the trans.

I might be wrong here but I believe that they are the same basic transmission. The differential is smaller, and of course the motor might be smaller, depending upon what motor you had.

I wouldn't count on the mileage being much if any better.

My boat's smaller than yours, but I've never had any problem towing it with my 2.8L over some pretty extreme logging roads.

You should be fine with the extra power

a 4.3 is a 5.7 minus 2, it will haul that boat no problem, but if you want good gas mileage from towing on top of driving, get a desiel