We tried to go back to a gaser and decided to keep the diesel. Rather than a new truck, why no look at a used diesel.
Diesel does cost more now, but I get better than 50% better mileage on diesel than gas with the same trailer, plus the diesel will pull in the hills when the gasser was gasping and whizzing.
You pay more for the gasser, but when you sell it, you get most of it back. Look at a used diesel vs. the same used truck with a gasser.
Fot towing, I won't have anything other than a diesel.
Ken
KE5DFR
Vintage 1979 Silver Streak Supreme Rocket toted by a 2002 F350, crewcab dually, 7.3L,4.10 axle,SCMT. Travel with two miniature Schnauzers and one African Gray parrot. Practicing for retirement!
I had a 03 Chev 2500 diesel, now have a 08 2500 diesel z7l. Both pulled a 34' everest easily. Total weight when I weighed the 03 was 22,500 combined. Never had a problem, however some would say I was about 500lb overweight. Have reduce the load by 500 lbs for the 08, but still don't notice any difference. I believe you would be just fine with the 2500 diesel.
Our 30' 5er has a pin weight of around 1800 lbs. and total weight of around 9000 lbs. The 5.7l Hemi in our Ram does a good job of pulling it and we're several hundred lbs. under the truck's GVWR.
It's ironic that, if we had the diesel, we'd have a much easier time pulling our 5er through the hills and would get much better mileage but would be several hundred lbs. over our truck's GVWR due to the diesel being such a heavy engine.
You should be fine pulling a medium size 5er with a 2500HD gasser. Just watch the total trailer weight. I wouldn't want to go any heavier without switching to a diesel, and if I were going to do that I'd go to a 3500. A 3500 SRW diesel has the same pin weight capacity as our 2500 gasser.
Not that it wont haul it but I think you'll overwork the motor before you surpass the hauling capability of the 2500HD when equipped with a 6.0L. The one thing I noticed that I didnt expect when going to diesel wasnt about how much the truck would pull or stop but how much it reduced fatigue to myself and my wife, I can drive longer without tiring. You dont realize how much that gasser working hard all day wears on you. Nowadays I set the cruise and have a nice quiet ride without the engine screaming or needing to get a run at long hills with my foot mashed to the floor.
2007 Montana Mountaineer 307RKD
2006 Chevrolet 2500 4x4 crew Duramax/allison
Snownyet wrote: The one thing I noticed that I didnt expect when going to diesel wasnt about how much the truck would pull or stop but how much it reduced fatigue to myself and my wife, I can drive longer without tiring.
Same here. When I towed a 5500# loaded TT with a Silverado 1500 5.3, I was somewhat fatigued when I got to the destination. Towed the same TT with the diesel TV in sig a few times, and was less tired at the end of a tow. Now with the 5er, it is even better. It is a much smoother and less tiring tow with the 10K loaded 5er than it was with the 5.5K loaded TT.
'07 Chevy 2500HD Silverado "Classic" CC D/A 4x4
'07 Komfort Trailblazer T252FS fifth wheel
Reese Signature 18K Slider and other stuff.....some useful.....some not
As others have said, alot depends on trailer but with the 6.0 engine I would stay 500-1000# under max towing capacity. I am 1000# over on Combination GVRW but I also have a 8.1 with Allison trans that will pull stumps all day. 6.0 is 366ci compared to 8.1 which is 494 ci. I never have owned a 6.0 but did have many 350's and 454's in their day and none of them came close to the 8.1 for power. I would guess that based on engine and transmission that under 30' length would work for you again depending on model of trailer. Randy
2004 GMC Sierra 2500HD SLT CREW CAB LONG BOX (7380#)
8.1 Big block Gas/Allison 4:10 4x4
2004 Newmar Kountry Star 34 BLWB 3 Slides (15620#)
Pin Wt 2560# (16.3%) Total combination Wt=23,000#
I have a friend who has a 2005 2500HD crew cab 6.0 gas with 4:10 rear gear. They pull a 2007 Cardinal 31-2BH (2 slides) with out any problems at all. The camper sits level and they have no complaints.
I have a '02 as you describe and tow a 30SK Crossroads Cruiser with 3 slides. We tow mostly in flat Iowa but I have no problems here. I would expect to work it hard in hills. I have averaged 8.4 mpg so far while towing, usually at about 62 mph. I have no idea what the pin weight is but the back of the truck only drops about 1 inch when I set her down on it.
bimbert84 wrote: I'm looking at getting a new truck, and right now the front-runner is a 2500HD crew cab short-bed with 6.0L/4.10. I currently have no plans to go with a 5er, but... you never know. If I ever did decide to go that route, I know it wouldn't be a big monstrosity, so let's assume it would be something less than 32'. My question is, what kind of pin weight should I expect on a unit like that? More generally, what percentage of overall 5er weight should I expect to have on the pin? Is 20% ballpark?
I know some will say go to a 3500HD, but that adds only about 300 pounds more payload, and I'd have to go with a long bed, which I'd rather not do (I'm not interested in a dually or a diesel -- if that's the ultimate answer here, then I'll simply rule out a 5er altogether).
-- Rob
Short answer is.. Yes you can tow a fiver with your truck..
More specifically, you will need to do homework on the fiver you want, yes 20% is average pin weight, dont forget to add cargo weight.
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