2020 Tahoe Max Trailering Package?

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Bob2C

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@swathdiver. I have the max tow package and under normal driving my trans temp is around 193. It takes about 40 min under cold start to reach that with town driving. Do you think towing thousands of pounds the trans will hold steady or will it approach 200 or more?
 
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Jeff_01

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Curb weight includes a full tank of fuel. Hitch capacity is 600 pounds without a Weight Distribution Hitch and 1,000 or 1,100 pounds depending on the year with one.

All you really need to add are air bags in the springs and if you have the Z55 suspension, the shocks will take care of that. Without the Max Trailering Package, your main issue is getting rid of heat, you may be lacking the external engine oil cooler, external transmission cooler, possibly the bigger fans. You'll want to remove the thermostat for your transmission to get the temperatures down.

So I have my RPO sheet and here is what it has.
GU4 - REAR AXLE 3.08 RATIO, NP0 - TRANSFER CASE SINGLE SPEED, KC4 - ENGINE OIL COOLING SYSTEM, KNP - HD AUX TRANS. COOLING SYS, NP0 - TRANSFER CASE SINGLE SPEED, ZW7 - PREMIUM RIDE SUSPENSION

The RPO for the towing package has the same oil/trans cooling package code (KC4 & KNP) so it would seem that no upgrade would be needed for my model. Where it differs is in the axle ratio @3.42, transfer case (2speed) and suspension Z85.

Upgrading the suspension to match the Z85 seems like it would come with a whole host work/issues to match the autoleveling system with a new compressor and linking that all to work through the computer. My assumption is that it's not worth the effort based on a couple of comments earlier about there being long term issues with the z85 and people preferring to replace that with something else. My question goes back to a suggestion to add airbags to mine which has the Nivomat shocks. Is an airbag addition still something that would help? Are there other options?

A second question is about the gearing. If I wanted to try to get to the 3.42 from the 3.08, would I also need to change to the 2 speed transfer case? Or could I keep the rest of the setup the same and just change out the gear?


-Jeff
 

swathdiver

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@swathdiver. I have the max tow package and under normal driving my trans temp is around 193. It takes about 40 min under cold start to reach that with town driving. Do you think towing thousands of pounds the trans will hold steady or will it approach 200 or more?

Bob, remember that your transmission has a thermostat, it will heat up more slowly when towing. I think they mostly did it for emissions and removing it is better for the long haul, heat is what kills them. Now they are built to take heat but the fluid breaks down. So let's say you went on vacation pulling a trailer and the trans got up to 240 or more for a few hours. When I got home one of the first things I'd do is put new fluid in there, the old stuff is all used up.


So I have my RPO sheet and here is what it has.
GU4 - REAR AXLE 3.08 RATIO, NP0 - TRANSFER CASE SINGLE SPEED, KC4 - ENGINE OIL COOLING SYSTEM, KNP - HD AUX TRANS. COOLING SYS, NP0 - TRANSFER CASE SINGLE SPEED, ZW7 - PREMIUM RIDE SUSPENSION

The RPO for the towing package has the same oil/trans cooling package code (KC4 & KNP) so it would seem that no upgrade would be needed for my model. Where it differs is in the axle ratio @3.42, transfer case (2speed) and suspension Z85.

Upgrading the suspension to match the Z85 seems like it would come with a whole host work/issues to match the autoleveling system with a new compressor and linking that all to work through the computer. My assumption is that it's not worth the effort based on a couple of comments earlier about there being long term issues with the z85 and people preferring to replace that with something else. My question goes back to a suggestion to add airbags to mine which has the Nivomat shocks. Is an airbag addition still something that would help? Are there other options?

A second question is about the gearing. If I wanted to try to get to the 3.42 from the 3.08, would I also need to change to the 2 speed transfer case? Or could I keep the rest of the setup the same and just change out the gear?


-Jeff

You could leave the transfer case when changing the gears. Are you sure yours has ZW7 AND auto leveling suspension? Do you have a "G" code like G65 or G69? I'm not very familiar with the K2s. Z85 on my body style was reserved for the 2500s too. That throws me off. You have Nivomats too? I thought those went away with the 800s?

If you have ZW7 and G65 then you should not have an air compressor.

It is great news though that your powertrain is already set up for increased cooling capacity.

Now before you go changing the gears, make sure a tuner can reprogram your transmission's computer accordingly. Talk to BlackBear, I read a while back that nobody could talk to the new transmission computers but that may have changed.

Answering the my other questions will help me answer your first.
 

Bob2C

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Bob, remember that your transmission has a thermostat, it will heat up more slowly when towing. I think they mostly did it for emissions and removing it is better for the long haul, heat is what kills them. Now they are built to take heat but the fluid breaks down. So let's say you went on vacation pulling a trailer and the trans got up to 240 or more for a few hours. When I got home one of the first things I'd do is put new fluid in there, the old stuff is all used up.



Thanks for clearing it up. I don’t normally tow, but may this summer with a travel trailer.
 

Jason101

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@swathdiver. I have the max tow package and under normal driving my trans temp is around 193. It takes about 40 min under cold start to reach that with town driving. Do you think towing thousands of pounds the trans will hold steady or will it approach 200 or more?

I tow a 6,800 pound trailer with my 2017 LT Max Trailering Package and my trans stays right around 200 degrees while towing (after heating up). I only have 14,000 miles on my engine, and its been like that since I purchased it new.
 

Jason101

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Thanks for the quick reply swath. I'm also working on getting the RPO codes to help dig into this more.

-Jeff

I have a 2017 LT with Max Trailering. I can get you my RPO codes if you still need them. I know I have heavy duty suspension, trans cooler, etc as part of those RPO codes.
 

vcode

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Transfer case doesn't care what gears are there, but don't forget you need to do both axles, front and rear. Not a cheap date and could pose warranty issues......
 

RobH

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I have a copy of the Chevrolet 2020 Trailering Guide. It is too large for the Forum to allow me to upload it. If you PM me your email address, I will email it to you.

The Max Trailering package does not change the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) of a Tahoe. What it does is change the GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating) of a Tahoe and a trailer. Without the Max Trailering Package the Tahoe GCWR is 12,000 pounds. With the Max Trailering Package, the GCWR is 14,000 pounds, which gives an additional 2,000 pounds of trailer that can be towed. Note that in the "Notes..." below from the Trailering Guide, any Tahoe with the "...standard Heavy-Duty Trailering Package includes an auxiliary external transmission fluid cooler and engine oil cooler."

As you noted in your June 18 post on your VIN RPO sheet, you already have the
"KC4 - ENGINE OIL COOLING SYSTEM,
KNP - HD AUX TRANS. COOLING SYS

My 2016 LT with the NHT Max Trailering Package has the exact same KC4 and KNP cooling packages. On my 2016, the Max Trailering Package RPO code is NHT. Perhaps Chevrolet changed the Max Trailering Package RPO code to MHT between 2016 and 2020. I don't know.

Your current Front and Rear axle gross weight ratings should be on a placard on your door jamb along with your tire sizes and tire pressures to achieve your GVWR and Gross Axle Ratings. It should resemble this. My placard is down low on the pillar between the left front and left rear door openings.

Cert_Label.jpg

Interestingly, the NHT Max Trailering Package required the 18X8.5 Wheels and P265/65R18 tires in 2016 and 2018. Don't know about 2020.

For what it is worth, I have a copy of a 2018 Tahoe Order Guide. It states that the Max Trailering Package requires the two speed transfer case on 4WD Tahoes. I don't know if the two speed transfer case is rated for more power than the single speed transfer case. The low setting on the two speed transfer case would help pull a heavy boat and trailer up a steep boat ramp.

You can add manually adjusted air bags from the AirLift company https://www.airliftcompany.com/ in the rear suspension coil springs or add air shocks and run the inflation air lines to a tire type air valve fitting near the trailer hitch. That used to be done all the time until the factories realized they could charge bucks for installing an on board air compressor and air shocks with automated leveling. If you wish, you can pay more bucks to get an onboard air compressor.

According to AirLift, their air bags do not increase the load capacity (GVWR) of a vehicle. They don't make a three-quarter ton vehicle out of a one-half ton vehicle. They only provide a means for leveling the vehicle when loaded, so the headlights don't point up in the sky and blind oncoming drivers with your low beams. It also raises the rear end up so that it is in the center of its range of motion.

You can have a shop add an aftermarket trailer brake controller. Used to be done all the time. Still done when the factory hasn't installed one.

You can put the 3.42 axle ratio in your front and rear axles. Or, you can just run your transmission in Tow Haul mode and the M5 gear selection when towing. Unless you are pulling a 6400 pound boat and trailer up a steep boat ramp, you should have no problem.

The following two paragraphs are a cut and paste from the 2020 Trailering Guide. The first paragraph is a neat table with columns in the Guide. The formating gets lost with the cut and paste. But the info is there.

Taho 2 = Tahoe 2WD
Burb 2 = Suburban 2WD
Taho 4 = Tahoe 4WD
Burb 4 = Suburban 4WD

SUBURBAN/TAHOE TRAILER WEIGHT RATINGS (LBS.)
ENGINE | AXLE RATIO -| GCWR | Taho 2 | Burb 2 | Taho 4 | Burb 4
EcoTec3 5.3L V8 with Max Trailering Package
-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 3.42 | 14,000 | 8,600 | 8,300 | 8,400 | 8,000
EcoTec3 5.3L V8 | 3.08 | 12,000 | 6,600 | 6,300 | 6,400 | 6,000
EcoTec3 6.2L V8 | 3.23 | 14,000 | 8,400 | 8,100 | 8,100 | 7,900
When using a weight-carrying hitch, the maximum trailer weight is 5,000 lbs. with a 600-lb. trailer tongue weight. A weight-distributing hitch and sway control are required for trailer tongue weights greater than 600 lbs.

Notes on Suburban and Tahoe: Trailer tongue weight should be 10% to 15% of total loaded trailer weight (up to 1,000 lbs.). Addition of trailer tongue weight must not cause vehicle weights to exceed Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (RGAWR) or Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). The standard Heavy-Duty Trailering Package on Suburban and Tahoe includes an auxiliary external transmission fluid cooler and engine oil cooler.
 
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BMPNUGLS

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Anyone have details on removing the trans thermostat? Or links to the procedure / video? Not familiar with it but interested on how difficult it would be to remove.
 

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