5700-6700 LB trailer with a GM 6.0 2500 gasser?

[aceinspp]

Originally Posted by Mr Havercamp

I have had 3 different 2500's with the 6.0, 2007 reg cab, 2013 extended cab and the current GMC extended cab. My Roo weighs over 6K loaded and the truck stays loaded with a ton of gear.....and firewood. I have also towed some equipment in excess of 6 tons a time or two. Mostly its a dedicated tow and fun vehicle. Plenty of 6-7% grades here in PA. It does the job. I can go more than 50 thats for sure up a 7%, how about 70 or more if ya want? I have been known to pull out and pass on an uphill, the truck is capable. This 2015 has the 4:10 rear, the others had 3:73's. The 4:10 makes a big difference. You can not even get the 2500 6.0 with the 3:73 any more.

Here's the trick....the telltale meter only go's to 5K RPM for a reason, do not be afraid to put it in M, click the - button a click or two and take it up there, maybe tie some lead to your foot. It will not hurt anything. It likes to be run about 4400 RPM with a load on. A lot of people are scared of the sound it makes at those RPM's, I like it. On a side not I have never seen the 6 speed go over 190* even on a 90+ degree day pulling the mountain here with my foot into it.

I get between 8 and 9 mpg towing, almost the same as when I had the 1500's. Not towing and strictly highway, I have broken 18mpg a few times.

X 2 I have the same set up in my 2015 2500 Chevy. I tow about 9000 and still climb the hills/ grades at speed. Later RJD

[wind power]

Do you folks think I will need a weight distribution hitch?
The TT is a 25 footer and could weigh as much as 6500 lbs....if not mistaken the tongue weight is around 600 lbs.
I only had it set up for a sway bar with the f-350

As a side note, Im looking at a 2001 chevy 2500hd 4x4 with the 6.0
LOL i also saw one that had the 8.1 but thought that big block chevy might have been raw-hided a little too much.

I have always been a ford person and my-father-in-law worked for ford. However when I popped open the hood on the 6.0 I was surprised by the room to be able work on something.

While it might be a much older truck, I can always shoehorn another motor/and or a transmission in it eventually down the road

[BigLou80]

Originally Posted by wind power

Do you folks think I will need a weight distribution hitch?
The TT is a 25 footer and could weigh as much as 6500 lbs....if not mistaken the tongue weight is around 600 lbs.
I only had it set up for a sway bar with the f-350

As a side note, Im looking at a 2001 chevy 2500hd 4x4 with the 6.0
LOL i also saw one that had the 8.1 but thought that big block chevy might have been raw-hided a little too much.

I have always been a ford person and my-father-in-law worked for ford. However when I popped open the hood on the 6.0 I was surprised by the room to be able work on something.

While it might be a much older truck, I can always shoehorn another motor/and or a transmission in it eventually down the road

I know this will probably make some heads on this site explode but I have never used a WDH and probably never will. I currently have a curt class 5 XD hitch it's good for like 2000lbs of tongue weight.

As for the 2001 I loved my 2002 with the 6 litre but it's not nearly as powerful as the current generation of 6.0

[BigLou80]

Originally Posted by wind power

Do you folks think I will need a weight distribution hitch?
The TT is a 25 footer and could weigh as much as 6500 lbs....if not mistaken the tongue weight is around 600 lbs.
I only had it set up for a sway bar with the f-350

As a side note, Im looking at a 2001 chevy 2500hd 4x4 with the 6.0
LOL i also saw one that had the 8.1 but thought that big block chevy might have been raw-hided a little too much.

I have always been a ford person and my-father-in-law worked for ford. However when I popped open the hood on the 6.0 I was surprised by the room to be able work on something.

While it might be a much older truck, I can always shoehorn another motor/and or a transmission in it eventually down the road

I know this will probably make some heads on this site explode but I have never used a WDH and probably never will. I currently have a curt class 5 XD hitch it's good for like 2000lbs of tongue weight.

As for the 2001 I loved my 2002 with the 6 litre but it's not nearly as powerful as the current generation of 6.0. Another bonus is nearly instant heat compared to a diesel

The three major problems are 1) the reverse band in the tranny can break $50 part but the whole tranny needs to be disassembled to fix it. 2) pump rub on the transfer cause causing the fluid to leak out, 3) the frame can have issues if the truck was plowed with and not ordered with the plow prep package.

I experienced the first 2 but I retired the truck with over 250K of plowing and towing only because the body finally gave it up from all the salt. Truck ran and drove great

[The_Rhino]

Originally Posted by wind power

Do you folks think I will need a weight distribution hitch...

YES, you need a WDH. IMO the Equalizer 4 1200 offers the best bang/buck for TTs in the <8000 range.

I used to help maintain a fleet of 1/2 - 1+ ton gas & diesel trucks & IMO repairing a 1995-2003 Ford 7.3 can get pricey. Therefore IMO gas 3/4 tons offer the best bang/buck for towing TTs under 9,000. IMO you can typically find a 2-3 year-old gasser for about the price of an 8-10 year-old diesel...

For instance, in 2013 I found a rust-free 2 year-old (2011) Ram 2500 CC w/5.7 Hemi & balance of manufacturer's warranty for $14,000. It tows our 8,000 lb. TT & family of 5 throughout the Smoky Mts. without any issues. It fits in our garage & my DW doesn't mind driving it.

I get 16-17 mpg commuting & 8 mpg towing but easily make-up the cost of gas through lower maintenance costs. It's my daily driver, so I've added 40K miles in the last 3.5 years with only about $400 in DIY maintenance costs. I change the oil myself every 6K using Mobile 1 full synthetic for <$35 including filter...

EVERY mechanic knows how to work on Hemis, so if I have issues I can pick the best shop/price around vs. being overcharged by one of the few reputable diesel shops... Worst case - I know a guy that can swap-in a new Hemi for $3500 w/3 year warranty which is about the same as 2 trips to a diesel shop...

Yes diesels tow better but the new gas engines are not dogs... Ram's 6.4 Hemi & Ford's 6.2 gas have even more torque than my 5.7 without that much MPG difference... I don't recommend the lighter Ford F150 EB for a 7,500 TT unless you get the HD upgrade which places it in the price range of some diesels... They are also hard to find used (w/HD upgrade...)

[timfromma]

Until very recently, I had a 5.7 liter Toyota Tundra. While in for service, I noticed the Toyota dealership had a used Silverado 2500HD 6.6 liter Duramax diesel for sale that someone had traded in. It had 51k miles on it and I got it for under 40k. I now can't wait for my first TT trip of the season coming in mid-April. I still plan on using my WDH hitch which my TT dealer has graciously offered to adjust to fit the new truck.

[Mr Havercamp]

Originally Posted by wind power

Do you folks think I will need a weight distribution hitch?


As a side note, Im looking at a 2001 chevy 2500hd 4x4 with the 6.0

I often do not use a WDH with my Roo 23WS. I have a Reese standard WDH I have had on 2 other trailers and Frankly, I can not even set it up going by the Reese instructions on the 2500. Its set up by taking measurements of ride height and if the front does not raise so much as 1/8" when you drop the trailer on, how do you set it up? I am certainly not going to run back and forth to CAT scales to do the setup. That being said on local trips less than 100 miles I never have used it, just a 2-1/2" bar class 5. I used the WDH which I set up by feel last year doing a trip of about 2000 miles and to be honest could tell no noticeable difference. When I tow a 20' flat with an excavator or hoe using my pintle hitch there is no WD used. It tows fine without but its all about what you're comfortable with.

You did not mention a 2001 in your first post, just be aware we may not be comparing Apples to Oranges, but possibly Granny Smiths to Macintosh. The GM 2500's went through a major redesign during 2006 and again somewhere around 2010/2011. The latest was a complete frame and suspension redesign. Take that FWIW. I could tell a huge difference between the 2007 I had and the 2013.

[northstar1960]

Originally Posted by wind power

Do you folks think I will need a weight distribution hitch?
The TT is a 25 footer and could weigh as much as 6500 lbs....if not mistaken the tongue weight is around 600 lbs.
I only had it set up for a sway bar with the f-350

As a side note, Im looking at a 2001 chevy 2500hd 4x4 with the 6.0
LOL i also saw one that had the 8.1 but thought that big block chevy might have been raw-hided a little too much.

I have always been a ford person and my-father-in-law worked for ford. However when I popped open the hood on the 6.0 I was surprised by the room to be able work on something.

While it might be a much older truck, I can always shoehorn another motor/and or a transmission in it eventually down the road

For what it's worth . i use the andersen wdh with my 2500hd and TH . works great no sway ,
someone mentioned pump rub in the transfer case . this is something if not fixed all ready should be done it will rub a hole in the rear transfer case cover . with new rear cover and the parts to prevent the pump rub your looking at 500 if you do the labor . if the transfer case has not been rubbed through yet then about 100 in parts . . I was lucky as i found the hole/leak before it ruined the transfer case and was able to fix . if you have to replace transfer case then your looking at between 1 and 2 G