Tow Vehicle Advice 1500, 2500, diesel, gas???

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, and I was a mechanic at new car dealers since 1968 and was certified with NIASE. That was before they shortened it to ASE. This information and five dollars will buy you a bag of popcorn.

[dznf0g]

I just finished a 4500 mile trip to the keys and back with a 2015 Seirra 1500, 6.2L, 8 speed and 3.42 gears.

I gotta say, it was the most pleasant pull of my life. All the power I needed and with TH on, the gear selection was perfect. The powertrain was more than adequate....almost diesel-like...

Mileage- low tank=10.7 high tank 12.6

Normal tanks=11.1 - 11.3mpg

That's a full 2 mpg better than any gasser I have run in the past (5.3L or 6.0L) and only 1 to 1.5 mpg less than a 2500 Duramax! Without all the additional cost.

Also, I am very happy to report the new version (2014 and up 1500s and 2015 HDs) of the IBC is FLAWLESS and works even better than my Tuson.

Now, if I could just get a maxtow version with about 2200# payload, it would be the ultimate TV.

[KJRitchie]

Very rare to find one in the wild.

Kelvin

[dznf0g]

I know.....production ramp up is sloooooow.

[phlegm]

Are you guys allergic to pictures?
I own a 2005 F250 CCSB with the dreaded 6.0 Powerstroke (works great, almost 45k miles in 3 years). It's not a special edition, but it has almost all the bells and whistles, Lariat, FX4, Camper Special. Although I would like to add upfitter switches and 2008+ power fold/extend mirrors.

The FX4 gives me a locking rear diff, the Camper special gives me 1ton rear leaf spring packs AND a rear swaybar.

While I haven't used it to town an airstream yet, I feel very confident that it will do just fine.

I've towed
a 22ft pontoon
From front bumper to prop, this rig is almost exactly 50ft long.
The pontoon weighs about 3000lbs empty and there are no brakes on the trailer. Before I bought it, I checked ND and MN state laws regarding brakes and trailer registration, neither require it for this purpose. The truck stops just fine. And for those with a keen eye, no the Pontoon axles are not centered properly in this picture for the trailer tongue weight.



Currently we have only this 2 horse trailer, but we are in the market for a 3 to 4 horse slant load 5th wheel. The truck came with a B/W 5th wheel hitch already installed.


I've hauled a couple square bales, each should have weighed about 1000-1100 lbs.


Once every year, I borrow a 5th wheel trailer from work and haul 14 round bales, each weighing 800-1000lbs.


I've towed a tracked Skid Steer, I also picked up a 1978 Case 1830 wheel skid steer this spring. I've also rented a track hoe a couple times.

This spring I also hauled home a 1963.5 Falcon Convertible (260/4spd) with a gocart in the back for the kids.


To be honest, I'd have done all of this with my previous daily driver which was a 1994 GMC ECSB 2500 (light duty 7200 lb rated) 5.7/auto/towing package truck.

Which was a nice truck, until I got t-boned by a semi in town, he blew a red light. This happened in 2012, just me, everybody is fine, these pictures are only about 2 weeks apart.


I will say that the extra wheel base length and diesel power are nice to have. As you may have surmised I do daily drive this truck. I also monitor the motor ECT/EOT to help notify me if the oil cooler is getting plugged. Which is the cause of people saying things like.

Originally Posted by DC Bruce

Also, on the used front, note that the 6.0 and 6.4 liter Ford "Powerstroke" Diesel engines have known design flaws that often lead to failure (in the case of the 6.0) in less than100,000 miles.

With $20 invested in Torque Pro and a cheap ELM adapter, you can monitor *almost* everything, you still need additional gauges if you want to monitor EGT and/or Fuel pressure since these are not part of the stock CANBUS/ODB2 programming. Either tonight on the way home, or tomorrow I will hit 217k miles on the odometer.

It has its issues, I make several point turns in parking lots, it doesn't get the greatest fuel mileage, on a daily basis, I run 50miles at 80mph and it gets 14mpg consistently. Towing at similar speeds (slightly slower) it drops 1.5-2mpg. Posted interstate speeds are 75mph in ND.

I bought this truck based on simple needs..
Under 150k miles
Under $15k
4 dr
Diesel

I hit all but one target, so 3 out of 4 ain't bad.
I am a former ASE certified mechanic in Brakes, Electrical Systems, and Suspension, so I am very comfortable troubleshooting and repairing this truck, I've had the turbo out to get to the HPOP, which I pulled and replaced the Snap To Connect (STC) fittings. Which wasn't even the problem, I could have reached in and changed the Injector Pressure Regulator Valve (IPR) and saved myself 3 days of downtime.

But I digress.. You need to pick something that YOU are comfortable with, if you like to work on them, or don't like to work on them will determine what years, makes, and models you consider.

We also have a 2012 Tahoe LT 5.3L/Auto that also has towing package/trailer brake controller and I'm 100% certain that it would tow an AS just fine as well. I haven't touched anything mechanical on it yet because it is still under warranty.

Lots of luck to all who are shopping!
-ron

[dkottum]

Good to see a heavy duty truck properly earning it's keep. Collateral duty pulling your Airstream. Excellent use.

Just noticed we're almost neighbors, if you get over to Battle Lake stop by and say hello. Just northeast of town, lakeside, you'll see the Airstream.

[phlegm]

Originally Posted by dkottum

Good to see a heavy duty truck properly earning it's keep. Collateral duty pulling your Airstream. Excellent use..

We shopped for what we thought we'd use it for, we knew we would never be free of horses, so may as well own a truck that can do everything I need, even if it is a little cumbersome at times.

Originally Posted by dkottum

Just noticed we're almost neighbors, if you get over to Battle Lake stop by and say hello. Just northeast of town, lakeside, you'll see the Airstream.

We typically drop the pontoon in Pelican Lake, its only 41 miles each way from my house. Our neighbors have a house on Ottertail and they invite us down every year, but 41 miles each way vs 80 mile each way.. simple math and two kids (ages 5 and 6) say we go to the first big lake we can get to.

[KJRitchie]

Originally Posted by dznf0g

I know.....production ramp up is sloooooow.

Found a Silverado High Country with 6.2L. Has 22" rims. Probably not good for towing. $62k MSRP. I imagine most dealers are blinging them out. Anyone who wants to tow gets the Duramax around here.

Kelvin

[dznf0g]

That's fine with me. I really like the Duramax, but just can't justify it, financially. Unless we pump up the rear axle capacity of the 1500 maxtow (which I am preaching for), I'll probably end up with a 2500 6.0L with 3.73s.

My bro-in-law has a 2014 2500 6.0, 4.10s and a 30' classic. He loves it, except for mileage---8.5ish. 4.10 really hits the mileage. I got 9.5 mpg consistently with more weight in the bed. (see avitar)