Definition Of Towing Struggles ?

[Ejs4029]

Ok what is your definition of your TV struggling ? My 2006 Chevy 2500HD gasser with the 6.0 and 4 speed automatic transmission before it was stolen in August I thought was a competent TV until I encountered some steeper terrain in the Western USA during a trip in 2014 I was towing a 6000lb loaded TT and in some areas I had my foot to the floor and was going maybe 40MPH with the engine screaming at 4000 RPMS to pull some hills. So is that struggling ? or just enjoy the journey it’s not a race and something most campers just deal with and are ok with ?

In June of this year I bought a new 2016 Rockwood 2703 about 1500lbs heavier loaded then my previous TT . So when my TV stolen in August and not recovered I needed to replace it granted my TV was going on 10 years old and I’m sure the gas engines of today are more powerful and the transmissions are more advanced so I thought maybe I wouldn’t have these what I call towing struggles if I went the ¾ ton gasser route again. Well I didn’t give the gasser a chance this time and I hope I made the right choice.

To make a long story short my wife and I decided on 2015 Dodge 2500 diesel I haven’t towed with it yet since it only has 160 miles on it so far some I’m looking forward to trying this combo out in the hills and report back how it does.

[Bama Rambler]

You'll be very happy with the diesel. You'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner.

[itat]

You wouldn't typically need a diesel to tow the Rockwood 2703WS, but you shouldn't have any "towing struggles" with the diesel.

[lewgoins]

You'll definitely enjoy the diesel, I have a 2010 Dodge 2500 diesel and haven't had any problems towing my 30 foot Work and Play toy hauler. The trailer with motorcycles (heaviest things I tow) usually weighs between 10K and 11,500 pounds and even going from Florida to Tennessee or out to South Dakota/Wyoming (Sturgis) I never had to wind the engine up.

[SuicideSaints]

I towed with a Hemi in the ram, then I towed with the 5.9 diesel. Night and day difference. Both trailers similar in weight (7500#s), although the new trailer is more aerodynamic. I tow hills and mountains constantly. I lived in Colorado and I currently live in Utah. Some will say gassers handle "lighter" TTs just fine, I dont agree based on the terrain I tow. The hemi struggled, it struggled in wind, hills and mountains, went to an older ram with the 5.9. It did better. I felt more stable and it held speed just fine. I got rid of the 5.9 due to it being older and it had the 4spd auto tranny. We got a good deal on it and we were using it to see how we liked towing with a diesel while not braking the bank if it was the wrong decision. We then got a used 2012 6.7 diesel with 6k miles. I LOVE that thing!!! I love everything about it. The towing capability, it never slows down, it accelerates up hills/mountains. I can set the cruise at 65 and it never loses speed (minus the famous I70 pull coming out of denver heading west). It is stable and the interior is extremely comfortable.

[53jimc]

Much the same here, on a smaller scale. I bought a used Surveyor to fit my Z71 with 5.3l thinking it would do fine. It did, on fairly flat pulls. The hills were a different story. Constantly revving high and sucking down the gas. Last trip with it we got about 6mpg. I just couldn't stand the struggle.

I bit the bullet and bought a 2005 F250 6.0 and the difference is night and day. The diesel is way more powerful and no struggles at all pulling the tiny (relatively) surveyor and 12mpg to boot.

If I had known I was going to get a diesel, I would have bought a bigger camper. It is hard to resist the spiral.

I know a lot of the folks here say the newer gassers with the 6,7,8 speed trannys and more torque pull as good as a diesel, but I just couldn't go 50k for a new truck so I got what I could.

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by SuicideSaints

The towing capability, it never slows down, it accelerates up hills/mountains. I can set the cruise at 65 and it never loses speed (minus the famous I70 pull coming out of denver heading west).

"famous"... I knew it was mountains, but I was surprised by truck not being able to get up past 45mph coming out of Denver and heading west. In fact, i posted on another thread about it and asking if that was normal.

[SuicideSaints]

Originally Posted by ependydad

"famous"... I knew it was mountains, but I was surprised by truck not being able to get up past 45mph coming out of Denver and heading west. In fact, i posted on another thread about it and asking if that was normal.

I grew up in Denver and we camped all over the mountains as well as hauled up that "hill" numerous times a year. My dad always had older 150s loaded to the max. We would be in the far right getting passed by the semi's. This was a main proponent in my decision to go diesel even if I didn't really need one. I have pulled that hill empty and even lost speed,, when there's a head wind it is even worse. The hill is the worst hill I have ever been on, it is steep and long. It is no joke!

Thats normal for that specific hill. Length, grade coupled with the mile high elevation makes it tough.

[aceinspp]

Originally Posted by itat

You wouldn't typically need a diesel to tow the Rockwood 2703WS, but you shouldn't have any "towing struggles" with the diesel.

X 2 You may or may not ever encounter the famous I 70 grade so you could have stayed with the gas. Later RJD

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by SuicideSaints

I grew up in Denver and we camped all over the mountains as well as hauled up that "hill" numerous times a year. My dad always had older 150s loaded to the max. We would be in the far right getting passed by the semi's. This was a main proponent in my decision to go diesel even if I didn't really need one. I have pulled that hill empty and even lost speed,, when there's a head wind it is even worse. The hill is the worst hill I have ever been on, it is steep and long. It is no joke!

Thats normal for that specific hill. Length, grade coupled with the mile high elevation makes it tough.

Thanks for clarifying! I'm pulling with a 3500 dually/4.10 gears and 26,000+ combined weight. I was still faster than the semis up the hill. I just have little towing experience and really had no idea what to expect.

I've hit one other grade (headed towards Branson) that maxed me out, also.

[wingedone]

Back in 1988 I had a new F150 XLT Lariat "Heavy Half" with a 5.0L towing a 1988 Jayco Jay Series 2850 that weighed probably 7000 lbs loaded. That poor truck hit 35mph head/side winds in Iowa and would barely to go 45mph up the hills. That was towing struggling. No fun.

Have not used an underpowered vehicle since. Better too much than too little.

Hope your new diesel serves you well. It will have plenty of power.

[schrederman]

My F-150 struggled with my Surveyor and fuel economy was awful in hills and headwind. I bought my diesel Ram because I'm going to upgrade to a larger TT soon. As others have said, the difference is night and day... both in power and mileage.

[northstar1960]

Originally Posted by Ejs4029

Ok what is your definition of your TV struggling ? My 2006 Chevy 2500HD gasser with the 6.0 and 4 speed automatic transmission before it was stolen in August I thought was a competent TV until I encountered some steeper terrain in the Western USA during a trip in 2014 I was towing a 6000lb loaded TT and in some areas I had my foot to the floor and was going maybe 40MPH with the engine screaming at 4000 RPMS to pull some hills. So is that struggling ? or just enjoy the journey it’s not a race and something most campers just deal with and are ok with ?

In June of this year I bought a new 2016 Rockwood 2703 about 1500lbs heavier loaded then my previous TT . So when my TV stolen in August and not recovered I needed to replace it granted my TV was going on 10 years old and I’m sure the gas engines of today are more powerful and the transmissions are more advanced so I thought maybe I wouldn’t have these what I call towing struggles if I went the ¾ ton gasser route again. Well I didn’t give the gasser a chance this time and I hope I made the right choice.

To make a long story short my wife and I decided on 2015 Dodge 2500 diesel I haven’t towed with it yet since it only has 160 miles on it so far some I’m looking forward to trying this combo out in the hills and report back how it does.

if you had those issues with a 6000lbtt You had other main issue with your TV . i have a 03 2500 hd with 6.0 and tow my xlr 29hsf at 9000 lbs with out issue all over the west . i can pull vail pass east bound and the tunnel at 45 at 4000 rpm since the engine red lines at 6 and max torque is created at 4200 rpm the engine is not straining but just running the way gas engines run .

no it's not a diesel but for a gasser it does more then fine and 9mph to boot

[drittal]

Try hauling a 28ft Cherokee 5er from Indiana to Montana with a 1986 GMC with a 6.2l diesel!!!! Now that's struggling. Passed by a backhoe on a windy day...

[drittal]

Originally Posted by northstar1960

if you had those issues with a 6000lbtt You had other main issue with your TV . i have a 03 2500 hd with 6.0 and tow my xlr 29hsf at 9000 lbs with out issue all over the west . i can pull vail pass east bound and the tunnel at 45 at 4000 rpm since the engine red lines at 6 and max torque is created at 4200 rpm the engine is not straining but just running the way gas engines run .

no it's not a diesel but for a gasser it does more then fine and 9mph to boot

Bold for effect.

My father went from a 98 Ram V10 to a 98 5.9 24V expecting a huge gain. He has always felt since then that the V10 actually pulled better until he tuned and put 4" exhaust on. It would drop gears and just flat PULL hills.

[Big Bill]

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[Big Bill]

I woudnt think your 05 with a 6.0 wound have any problem pulling hills

[satdog01]

X2 on daylight between gasser and diesel! Love mine, love passing 18 wheelers on left going up hills in east TN and NC. The other option I love that saves brakes and AIDS in downhill control is the exhaust brake love it. Bottom line go up and down hills at 67 mph with just curse control. Will not go back to gas!

[AquaMan]

Had an '06 2500 6.0L with 4:10 gearing and while it was a stump puller, I hated towing with it on the highway. The truck lasted 6 months after I bought the 7k TT, before I couldn't take it any longer and traded it in on diesel. I live in OH, so I didn't pull in the mountains, but rather long rolling hills. The engine ran at 3500+ rpms the entire 3hr trip to southern OH. Absolutely drove me crazy. Maybe I'm a little more critical, because I've had diesels in the past, but with the 14k trailer I have now, I can run all day at 1700rpms and it's quiet as a mouse. With the 6.0 (4spd auto) I was a nervous wreck after 3hrs in OH and wouldn't even consider going any further.

[Ejs4029]

Northstar1960....Sounds like your 6.0 had more zip then mine in the hills mine had a 4.10 rear but I was running larger tires 35's with a lift kit so I'm sure that didn't help. Honestly if the truck didn't get stolen I would be driving it today it's just that the opportunity with the settlement from the insurance company gave me a chance to step up to getting a diesel.