This is for all those who tow at max capacity

[dmdomokos]

Yes, I was one of those who towed at close to max capacity and thought it was fine. I had a 2014 Suburban rated for 8000lbs towing a 6250 dry, 7100 loaded Rockwood trailer. We towed up and down the California coast, and some into central California along I5. I added a tranny cooler, LT tires and new reflex shocks. The only real grade was the "grape vine" which is 6-7%, but not sustained. The Suburban would heat up, but then cool down, going 35-45mph. Then my DW planned a 12 day trip to Yellowstone, in August. We barely made it to Las Vegas, going 18 mph in first gear up most grades. The 2000 mile trip was filled with sustained 15 mile or longer grades, temps in the 100s, head and cross winds 20-30mph most of the trip. We limped into the Chevy dealer in Las Vegas with a melted drive belt, blown A/C and a transmission that saw sustained 215 deg temps. We traded the suburban in for a Chevy 2500HD Duramax. I am a convert. I finally felt like I was on vacation. No towing stress, no DW asking on every trip if we were going to make it. The lesson learned, know your limits when towing at max, and they are many, before you end up with a $3k repair bill. The biggest thing I learned is what a stress free towing experience is. I was the guy poo pooing the weight police and the guys always recommending an upgrade to the TVs. Now I know why. So if you're towing at max and experience the constant stress, and you may not even realize how stressed you are, consider the upgrade, you will not regret it.

[Signguy71]

Welcome to the world of a diesel truck, enjoy!

[dmdomokos]

And here's the truck.

[debit]

So true. I love my 6 speed manual diesel.

[Kevinwak]

I hope to join this club soon. Went on many 1000 mile trips with our 6000 pound loaded minilite and my 07 F150 with a 7000 pound tow capacity. Always over the rear axle weight rating by 400 pounds. I was stressed and exhausted. We just upgraded to an F350 diesel and our planning our first trip in it. It will probably be a 2-3000 mile trip and I am less worried then I ever was on the shorter trips with the little truck.

[lbrjet]

I think the difference you are experiencing is between 1500 and 2500 series trucks. I have towed at 98 percent of my max for 25000 miles with my gas F250 over the past six years and it has never skipped a beat. HD trucks are designed to work hard day in, day out.


2010 F250 5.4L 3.73
2011 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
Equal-i-zer 4pt 12K

[firsthere]

Not always practical but I prefer the TV to be heavier than the TT, That's why we have 1 ton truck (7000lbs ) dragging a 5000lb trailer.

[mkgearhead]

This is why I went with a GMC 2500HD diesel when I went from a motorhome to a TT. It pulls the hills like there's nothing behind it. The only time I need to slow down is on curvy roads. The peace of mind is well worth it.

[Shamrockthecasbah]

dmdomokos,

Thanks for sharing your experiences. There's no question that there's no comparison in towing performance between a 5.3 liter Suburban and a Duramax, but the Suburban towing performance that you describe sounds unreasonably poor for a 7100lb loaded trailer. 18mph in first gear up most grades to Vegas! Are you sure there wasn't something else going on there? Did the Burb have the towing package with the 3.42 axle ratio or the standard 3.08? Suburban loaded down with people and luggage in addition to the trailer? Possible something wrong with the truck? Unless you were WAY over your GCWR I would expect better power than that.

I tow a 23IKSS that's about 800lbs less (loaded) then your trailer with a 2003 Suburban 5.3 (285hp)/4sp/3.73 vs your 5.3(320hp)/6sp/3.42. Assuming you have the factory towing package, your drivetrain should tow considerably better than mine. I've had to drop to second gear to maintain 50-55 mph up some grades in western MD and upstate NY, but never anything close to crawling in first gear. Loaded and ready to camp I'm generally at or just below my GVW and GCVW.

[asquared]

Welcome to the wonderful world of diesels. I too was a convert after having struggled up and down a 7% grade towing a 5700 lb dry/7300 lb loaded tt with an armada that had a 9100lb towing capacity. I was over payload by about 200 lbs. My final straw was after not having enough TV to safely control the tt on a 7% long winding downgrade. When I got home I parked the tt and told dh it wasn't touching another hill until I got a better TV... enter my old f250 PSD. Same road as the one I had issues on, I tackled with the f250 and same tt. I touched my brakes 1-2 times. The engine did the rest... and that truck did not have an exhaust brake. I swore then and there, I would never tow over specs again and I would always have a diesel TV. Was the difference from the longer wheel base? Yes. Was the difference from the heavier truck? Yes. Was the difference from the beefier brakes? Yes. Was the difference from the diesel engine? Absolutely. My point is, the upgrade made a world of difference. I now have a 3500 srw that I carefully matched to my fiver. It is within all specs and tows the 12,300 lb fiver beautifully up and down steep mountain grades. Do I think everybody needs a diesel? No but everybody needs a properly matched TV/trailer combo.

Enjoy your beautiful new diesel. It will be a long time before you can wipe that grin off your face when towing.

[325BH]

Originally Posted by lbrjet

I think the difference you are experiencing is between 1500 and 2500 series trucks. I have towed at 98 percent of my max for 25000 miles with my gas F250 over the past six years and it has never skipped a beat. HD trucks are designed to work hard day in, day out.


2010 F250 5.4L 3.73
2011 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
Equal-i-zer 4pt 12K

Exactly.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[polishdon]

Welcome to the cult and great choice, love my Duramax!!!

[Chpusmc]

My Toyota came stock with a tow package rated at 10k. 5.7L, transmission cooler blah blah. I tow about 7k loaded but my gross tow rating is close to the max (with passengers and stuff in the TV.) I go up 6% grades at 60-65 with the pedal half way down. I was going to buy a new diesel but with the way my Toyota pulls (and it's paid off) I figure I can eat the 7.5 mpg for a few years.

I guess it depends on the vehicle.

[dmdomokos]

Originally Posted by Shamrockthecasbah

dmdomokos,

Thanks for sharing your experiences. There's no question that there's no comparison in towing performance between a 5.3 liter Suburban and a Duramax, but the Suburban towing performance that you describe sounds unreasonably poor for a 7100lb loaded trailer. 18mph in first gear up most grades to Vegas! Are you sure there wasn't something else going on there? Did the Burb have the towing package with the 3.42 axle ratio or the standard 3.08? Suburban loaded down with people and luggage in addition to the trailer? Possible something wrong with the truck? Unless you were WAY over your GCWR I would expect better power than that.

I tow a 23IKSS that's about 800lbs less (loaded) then your trailer with a 2003 Suburban 5.3 (285hp)/4sp/3.73 vs your 5.3(320hp)/6sp/3.42. Assuming you have the factory towing package, your drivetrain should tow considerably better than mine. I've had to drop to second gear to maintain 50-55 mph up some grades in western MD and upstate NY, but never anything close to crawling in first gear. Loaded and ready to camp I'm generally at or just below my GVW and GCVW.

You are absolutely correct and this is another lesson learned. I bought the Suburban as a CPO used car and the dealer told me it had the tow package. What he really meant is it had a hitch. Upon further investigation of my sub-par towing performance, I learned it had the 3.08 not the 3.42 gears. So after adding the tranny cooler, LT tires and shocks, the Suburban really only was rated to tow 5300 lbs. So now I was not close to max, I was over. I read all the forums that said that with the 6 speed transmission, it should have been fine, and it was, on the flat and on short grades. What did the Suburban in was the long, hot grades with 20-30mph head winds fully loaded for a 12 day trip that was 2000 miles. I was driving in first gear to manage temperature, I was not flooring it. Floored it would have gone faster, but probably never made it to Las Vegas at all. The reason for my post was because I was in the other camp, hardcore, that I could tow at max, or even believe the other forums that I was fine even the way I was setup. So those of you like me, really evaluate your setup and it's limitations, the open road is tougher than you think. Also, once I was forced into a TV that was the right one, the stress I had towing, and not even realizing I had to the degree I had, went away. I was so relaxed and commented on it to DW so frequently on the trip, she said "I get it", glad we spent the money. She was not a fan of getting a new TV until this happened. Now she can't understand why anyone would not upgrade if they are close to max or as many of you are out there, "slightly" over. Yeah we spent some money, but wow what a vacation that I would not have enjoyed until upgrading our TV. And the DW now feels safe towing and has volunteered to drive now!

[dmdomokos]

Originally Posted by Chpusmc

My Toyota came stock with a tow package rated at 10k. 5.7L, transmission cooler blah blah. I tow about 7k loaded but my gross tow rating is close to the max (with passengers and stuff in the TV.) I go up 6% grades at 60-65 with the pedal half way down. I was going to buy a new diesel but with the way my Toyota pulls (and it's paid off) I figure I can eat the 7.5 mpg for a few years.

I guess it depends on the vehicle.

I have learned that all those tow package items, and especially the gearing make the difference. You are rated for 10k, I would think and as you state don't have a real issue. I was way south of your capabilities, and looks like we have the same TT. We love the trailer, the TV had to go! I do get better gas mileage and the range is far better. (no stress looking for gas) Another plus for diesel once you decide to get a new TT one day.

[dwayneb236]

I went to diesel after pulling a 9000 bumper pull with a F250 gas. Did it easy enough but I was tired after a long pull.


Now I have my F350 and pull a 41 ft 5th with it. I have pulled a few 8 hour days and it's so smooth and easy I'm just not tired like I used to be.


I'm a convert for sure. I'll be a cheerleader for diesel all day long.

[Hersbird]

I think your behavior may have contributed to the issues as well. It seems like you were trying to out think the truck. By locking in first gear and going that slow but still running high rpm you hurt cooling. Moving faster cools better and 2nd or 3Rd gear would have lowered the rpm and still had plenty of power. That or there was an existing critical flaw in the motor or transmission. We had a 454 Chevy once with a flat lobe on the camshaft that caused low power and overheating the dealer couldn't figure out.

[debit]

And as for your stress level comment, I had the same reaction when on my former TT, I converted it from 14" tires to 15". I told the repair shop man that there was not a day on my 6 week Alaska trip that I did not thank him for the conversion. My new FR 451RKS has 15" tires!

[bbaker2001]

yes, us too. 2009 1500 7100TT. got me where we were going, but was a chore sometimes.
new 2015 Ram 3500 diesel 2001 30ft Cardinal 12,100 loaded.
cannot believe difference.
do have a question on Temps. came up i5 to Oregon. was 108 outside.
engine temp steady at 226 going up hill.
tranny temp 176 at high point
engine oil stayed at 230--235 hit 238 once.
I had called 4 different dealerships, and no one could give me info on what the temps should be. does anyone know if these are average temps.
also is there an add on cooler for oil to maybe keep it lower
thanks

[D_B Travelers]

Originally Posted by dmdomokos

And here's the truck.

NICE truck! We moved from a 1500 GMC 5.3 which I thought pulled just great, to a 3500HD Duramax DRW and, like you said, it is now part of the vacation to tow the TT. We are moving to a FW in 2017, so we upgraded the TV this year. What a difference! Enjoy