What does your truck do on steep inclines?

[clutchd]

Has your husband worked on many modern diesel engines in pickups?

The modern diesel trucks do not smell like the older versions, yes when fueling diesel has its smell just lime gasoline does.

Second no truck pulling up a 6% grade feels like the trailer is not back there. Yes it will do it with less effort and more efficient, but not to the point of being on flat ground.

[Justice12t]

Originally Posted by RSchleder

If you aren't among the --you need a 3/4 or 1 ton truck for a Scamp, and want to stick with a nice comfortable truck to drive when NOT towing, I have the truck for you.
The Ram half ton with HEMI, 392 geared rear end, along with 4 corner factory air suspension with automatic leveling is the truck for you!

Well if we are going in this direction than here we go...

The GMC Sierra 1500 with the 420HP/460lb-ft torque 6.2L, 8 speed tranny is the truck for you! Max trailer package and 3.42 rear gives you just under 12k towing and about 2100lb payload. Unloaded I can average 18-20 mpg plus. Well appointed SLT interior gives you great comfort both when towing and not. This truck will make you feel as secure while towing as possible...(in the 1/2 ton league that is)...

Love the truck...glad to see the big 3 seem to be stepping it up...OP good luck in whatever you decide to do...be safe and

[RSchleder]

It appears the "poster" has more than 1half ton choice! Outstanding, I was not aware GM had such a husky half ton. I'm sure it's a great truck!!!

[The_Rhino]

Originally Posted by RSchleder

...I have the truck for you. The Ram half ton with HEMI... It maintains the MPH within 5 mph on the 6% grades, does not heat up and stays at the speed I dictate going down the "other side". Mileage is not great. in the area of 7-10 mph when towing. Of course, it's much better when not towing and gets around 17-19 mpg.

The Ram 1500 has about the lowest payload in its class, so for about the same money I recommend getting a Ram 2500 gas - ours has a payload of 3,000. Newer 2500s come with HD rear coil springs and a 6.4 Hemi option. If you upgrade to a diesel, you have to move-up to a 1 ton because the heavier diesel takes-away too much payload... So IMO, for TT's in the 8,000 range, a gas 3/4 ton offers the best bang/buck... In fact, we bought a 2 year-old Ram 2500 CC w/balance of powertrain warranty for only $14K...

Our 2011 Ram 2500 CC w/5.7 Hemi had no problems towing our 8,000 lb. TT (15,000 GCVW) throughout the Smoky Mts. last summer. 95% of the time the tranny dropped just 1 gear & I always had peddle left. A couple times it dropped 2 gears but I maintained 60 mph with peddle left - I just didn't want to burn more gas than I had to... It was in the 80's outside & my engine & tranny temps didn't rise enough to be noticeable.

For a number of years I worked for several employers who managed fleets of 1/2, 3/4, and 1 ton trucks. The diesels were ALWAYS more expensive to maintain mainly because diesel mechanics & parts ain't cheap. Newer diesels have lots of extra emissions junk added, so even more stuff to go wrong...

Of course there are folks on this forum who can afford to buy a $50K truck every 5 years before the warranty expires, so they never see a repair bill... However, our $14k gasser takes our 15,000 GCVW to all of the same places & if the kids ding it unloading their bikes & don't have a meltdown...

[f5moab]

Originally Posted by Justice12t

Also consider that your 05 runs in the range of 285HP and 335lb-ft torque...

Compared to the newer GM 5.3L V8...355HP and 383lb-ft of torque...

So even just upgrading to a newer 1/2 ton would help. A 3/4 ton plus would be bonus...just my penny...

I agree. Granted my trailer is only 3K loaded, but out here 6/7 grades are everywhere and I have had no problems with the 3.42 gearing. In fact, think there were some 8% grades from Jackson down to Vernal and then down to Price UT.

Trans temps go up to around 205, but in this day-and-age, no problem.

And if you need more, get the 6.2L. It's a lot cheaper than a diesel.

[Justice12t]

You make a very good point.

[RCW]

One thing to keep in mind is that there is a huge difference between a 6% grade at 1000ft and one at 7000ft!

[Fairenatic]

Its not all about horsepower or torque, although the diesels have an advantage in that department. Its also about truck size. Bigger brakes, bigger coolers for the engine and transmission, better transmissions, and added features like exhaust brakes. But, most of all, just sheer weight. Its the weight of the truck that really makes for a ride where the trailer is not all over the place in the wind or when passing a semi.

You can gussy up a 1/2 ton all day long but at the end of the day, a larger\heavier truck is just going to handle a load much better.

[Jim34RL]

I have own two different trucks pulling a 5er. One was a 2001 gas 6.0L Chevy 2500HD pulling a 2006 M-270 RKS Ameri-Camp. That weighed close to 7,400 LBS and the truck could hardly pull that on flat ground. The RPM's were close to 3,500 just to get the 5er to start to move on flat ground. I told my DW that we either sell the trailer or the pick-up truck and buy a diesel after only two times pulling the 5er.


We ended up buying a 2008, 2500 Ram MEGA CAB, 6.7L Cummins, 6 speed auto with 3:73 gears. I am now towing a 2016, 34RL Cedar Creek with this truck. We traveled out west this year taking I70 through the Rockies and on into Utah. I went through the Eisenhower Tunnel doing the speed limit and traveling in 5th gear. My EGT'S were under 850F, transmission was under 180F and Boost pressure was around 25 to 30 PSI, and towing mileage was an average of 12.16 MPG. Truck ran flawless with the integral exhaust brake retarding the truck as needed. I will never own a gas engine vehicle again for any reason. Even my DW drives a 2011 VW Jetta TDI.

[Butch Wilson]

Oh yeah ! He needs a new truck ! Don't get hung up on the technical part, he needs a new truck !

[Big Red and 30WR]

Originally Posted by raytwntrvlr

I am tempted to call BS on you Big Red. I have a Cummins pulling a 8K TT and mine sure downshifts going through the Rockies. Also the trans and engine temps do increase although not to a degree to concern me. I guess it could be the 6 speed auto.

Is it like towing on flat ground? No way!

But I will agree with you on this.... It's the best TV I ever had.

Happy Camping to all

Call it whatever you want , Was running 75 on the flat and came up the grade 75 no change in rpms tranny never kick down a gear either , engine temp was 190 , tranny temp was 165 . I thought wow, no way my 08 duramax would of done that.

[asquared]

While diesel is ideal for mountain towing, if you aren't towing the NC Mountains a lot then there are plenty of gas options for you. My old armada v8 rated to 9100 lbs struggled on those 6 and 7% grades towing my 5700 lb dry /7300 lb loaded tt.... read first gear and 15 mph by top of mountain. I upgraded to 3/4 ton diesel and couldn't have bern happier.

That said if you want gas...look at the Ford eco boost hd/max tow. It will be more than enough for that tt. The dodge hemi half ton should half enough engine, big thing is double check the payload. I would seriously consider the dodge hemi 3/4 ton as your best option.

Check out catscale.com to find a scale near you (several in the Charlotte area). Go weigh your current rig. Get one weight just truck, no trailer and one weight truck and trailer no wdh, and one weight tv with tt and wdh. You will have front tv axle on scale pad 1, rear tv axle on scale pad 2 and tt axles on scale pad 3.

You can now determine your loaded tt weight and loaded tongue weight. Use these numbers when truck shopping. Make sure the door jam payload is above the loaded tongue weight.

two questions... 1) were you in tow haul mode and 2) did you hear down going up and down hill?

[asquared]

Originally Posted by Big Red and 30WR

Call it whatever you want , Was running 75 on the flat and came up the grade 75 no change in rpms tranny never kick down a gear either , engine temp was 190 , tranny temp was 165 . I thought wow, no way my 08 duramax would of done that.

If you are running st tires you are very likely running over your tire speeds. Most ST tires are rated to 65 with a few saying 75. Mine say 75 stamped on side but rep for that manufacturer said it is actually more like 72. Either way 75 is too fast for towing a giant sail, no matter what you are towing with.

Oh and my 14 duramax maintains speed without struggling at all with 12000 lbs on 7% grade

[Big Red and 30WR]

Originally Posted by asquared

If you are running st tires you are very likely running over your tire speeds. Most ST tires are rated to 65 with a few saying 75. Mine say 75 stamped on side but rep for that manufacturer said it is actually more like 72. Either way 75 is too fast for towing a giant sail, no matter what you are towing with.

And they are china bombs too.

[Big Red and 30WR]

Originally Posted by asquared

Oh and my 14 duramax maintains speed without struggling at all with 12000 lbs on 7% grade

Don`t say that they will say BS you can , I would agree with you .

[RSchleder]

Just a friendly reminder here------his trailer weighs 5900 lbs empty. Not sure why he needs a truck that can tow 12,000- 15,000 lbs with a hauling weight of 1500+ lbs!
Yes, I know, there's always the "next trailer", bigger is always better, diesel is BEST--aka, haul your 13' Scamp with a 1 ton dually.

[4B11T]

I wouldn't buy a 3/4 or 1 ton to tow a 5000# trailer! I have a Chevy 2500 at work and its awful to drive without weight on it.

[Justice12t]

[QUOTE=Its not all about horsepower or torque, although the diesels have an advantage in that department. Its also about truck size. Bigger brakes, bigger coolers for the engine and transmission, better transmissions, and added features like exhaust brakes. But, most of all, just sheer weight. Its the weight of the truck that really makes for a ride where the trailer is not all over the place in the wind or when passing a semi.

You can gussy up a 1/2 ton all day long but at the end of the day, a larger\heavier truck is just going to handle a load much better.[/QUOTE]

So a 1/2ton weighs in around 5300LB (DLB Cab, 4x4) and the 2500HD weighs in around 6800LB (same configuration)...both gas...While I will give you some things are slightly bigger you are also attempting stop stop a heavier truck with brakes that are barely bigger...
Now I am not trying to start anything here just merely showing that you don't always get bigger with bigger...and by the way...I agree because of the weight/stability...heavier built frames and payload the 3/4 ton options is the better...
Just needed to stick up for us 1/2 ton guys slightly...

PS...diesel is a different animal all together...and there will be one in my next truck...

[Justice12t]

Originally Posted by RSchleder

Just a friendly reminder here------his trailer weighs 5900 lbs empty. Not sure why he needs a truck that can tow 12,000- 15,000 lbs with a hauling weight of 1500+ lbs!
Yes, I know, there's always the "next trailer", bigger is always better, diesel is BEST--aka, haul your 13' Scamp with a 1 ton dually.

Actually excellent point. I got a little side tracked by all the talk. Can tell that it is time for...

[Big Red and 30WR]

I thought last fall of going back to a gasser , but towing in the 12k range I knew I wouldn`t be happy with a gasser. I would go back to a gasser if I towed under 8k thou.