Just asking, How many of you are towing with this truck?
Chevy 2500 HD Short Bed Extended Cab 4x4 8.1 ltr. Alsion 5 speed auto or 6.0 ltr.
And could you post pictures of your rig hooked up and weights ?
Had to sell my dually (due to job loss, corp downsizing)
Making a big decision soon and just doing research in advance.
Any comments on the towing experience would be helpfull
Thanks
Paul
The 8.1 is a wonderful tow motor and combined with the allison grade braking should tow your 5th easily, this combo is widely used in class A motor home chassis. The 6 will do the job but struggle on grades and rev higher. Issues with the gas motors include piston slap and check for transfer case leaks if 4wd.
Sorry for your luck. I'm sure you had no trouble selling that duramax/ally.. The 8.1 is no duramax but will tow your 5'er just fine...great motor but it does have spark plugs lol.
2006 3500 DRW LT3 Silverado MAX n ALLY CC
5" MBRP Exhaust EFI Live /Autometer Ultralite II Pyrometer
Bio-Pro 190 Bio-Diesel Processer Diesel for $.88 gal
2006 Day Dreamer 37 CDTSD
I had a 6.0 in my last truck. If you get the 6.0, make sure it has the 4.10 gears, not the 3.73. It was a great engine and did everything I wanted, albeit with a lot of downshifting and high revving. My buddy with the 8.1 in his truck got virtually the same mileage I did empty and loaded, but had a much easier time towing.
Hmmm... switching from a diesel dually crew cab to a 3/4-ton gasser ext'd cab short bed?
Doesn't make much sense.
You'll end up with a less capable truck that gets worse gas mileage and has less space in the bed and cab, plus another new truck payment to make! Sounds like an all-around lose-lose situation to me!
With only 3 years of use on that diesel, there are many years of life left in it and it'll probly be paid off soon too.
SoCalDesertRider wrote: Hmmm... switching from a diesel dually crew cab to a 3/4-ton gasser ext'd cab short bed?
Doesn't make much sense.
You'll end up with a less capable truck that gets worse gas mileage and has less space in the bed and cab, plus another new truck payment to make! Sounds like an all-around lose-lose situation to me!
With only 3 years of use on that diesel, there are many years of life left in it and it'll probly be paid off soon too.
Not really what I was asking about but....
I wont have a monthly payment
Hey, I'm not real happy about it myself but you do what you got to do.
It'll be OK.... Life will turn around again.. soon I hope.....
PAUL3500HD wrote: Just asking, How many of you are towing with this truck?
Chevy 2500 HD Short Bed Extended Cab 4x4 8.1 ltr. Alsion 5 speed auto or 6.0 ltr.
And could you post pictures of your rig hooked up and weights ?
To answer your question directly:
Truck
2004 2500HD 2WD CrewCab, 6.0L, 4.10 gears, 4L80E auto
Curb weight with me and a full tank = 6,300#
GVWR= 9,200#
Travel Trailer
2002 Jayco Qwest, 34.5' ball to bumper
7,000# ready to camp
~850# TW with full tank of fresh water
With the wife, kids, and firewood the truck is about 7,000#, so my GCW is about 14,000# heading to the campground. The truck pulls this outfit without any problems. It's a little sluggish below 3,000RPM, but once you hit about 3200RPM the torque curve is steep and it pulls fantastic. I've never pulled in the mountains, but in prairie rolling hills I average 9 to 10MPG with this combo. The only picture I have available is the one in my signature.
I noticed you have a 5er. I recently hauled 2500# of landscape stone in this truck. With that load I didn't seem to feel any undue strain on the suspension and there was plenty of power to move AND STOP the load. I don't think I'd have any hesitation towing a 5er that has a tongue weight in the 2500# area. The 2500HD definitely seems up to that task.
Hope this helps.
KJ
* This post was
edited 07/08/09 03:17pm by LIKE2BUILD *
Sorry didn't realize you had some trouble going on there. Yeah, it will turn around, eventually. I wouldn't bank on anything happening soon though. Give it a couple years things will be better.
Whatever one you choose, go with the 4.10 gears and you will have as much towing power as the truck can give you.
Towing 9200-lb loaded 5vr with 2005 8.1, 4.10, e/c, short bed I avg 9.3 mpg, very consistently. Best 11.0 on I-15 headed to Las Vegas with good tail wind, barely needed to use gas pedal. Worse, 8.8 on a couple occasions when I felt the need for speed.
Love this truck, engine/trans combo. Have no difficulty merging onto interstates at 65. With the 4.10, into o/d at 58-59 mph. Most of towing in o/d, until hills.
It's not a diesel but I think you'll be very satisfied with the 8.1. I wouldn't even look at 6.0. The best part of 8.1 in low end torque, compared to 6.0.
Hopefully, your situation will improve in due time.
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