Who's towing with a 1/2 ton?

[john hd]

some one here is sure to more about gm trannys than me.

my understanding is this:

4l60E = the turbo 350

4l80E = the turbo 400

of course there has been overdrive added and the tourque converter locks.

someone (terry) correct me if i am wrong!

john

[uucal]

Originally Posted by wildwoodrver

Our new 25' CCD Int'l. is on the way and we want to haul it with a smaller unit. Maybe an SUV maybe a 1/2 ton truck.

Talked to some streamers who are doing it successfully (safe with decent mpg). How about you out there?

Three basic questions:

1> Short wheelbase ok? We'll be using a Hensley Arrow hitch.
2> 6.0 Liter Vortec enough juice? (345 HP/380 # feet of tourque)
3> 3.73 gears do the job?

We obviously would like to get a little better mileage solo, so are tending toward the 3.73 rears and avoiding the 8 liter.

Appreciate your feed back. Our trusty old '96 Dodge/Cummins will get us started, so we can take our time.

We have now made three tripps from Utah to Upstate New York with our 25' classic. The first trip was made with a 2002 Tahoe Z71- 5.3 liter/3.73 gears. The second trip was with a gmc duramax and allison.. This year we repeated with the Tahoe. The duramax/allison combo was clearly a superior towing combinbation. But the Tahoe is more than adequate. Fuel ecomomy is definitely worse. And ride quality is a toss up.

[uucal]

We have made three trips from Utah to Upstate NY. Our first trip used a 2002 Tahoe Z71 -5.3 liter/3.73 rear end. Last year it was a GMC 2500 duramax / allison setup. This year we just completed another 6000 mile using the Tahoe once more. The Diesel/allison was definitely a superior towing setup. But the Tahoe performed quite well. On some hills I did overide the automatic and selected 2nd gear. The vehicle and trailer would then "quickly" accelerate to a higher speed.

Fuel consuption favors the diesel. In most places diesel now costs more the low octane gas. And the price penality for diesel is high. But I am considering going back to the diesel setup.

Cal Hansen

[cosmotini]

We tow a 28' 2004 CCD with a 2004 Dodge Durango (yeah, it's got a HEMI).

As a first-timer at towing, I was really concerned about how it would tow since I had nothing to base any towing experince on.

As far as I can tell, it tows excellently. Very stable, no problem with passing or being passed by semi's, plenty of power on flat and in the hills of Kentucy/Tennessee/Alabama.

Based on what others have posted, with it's 8900lb factory tow rating, it may qualify as a 3/4 Ton SUV. The wheel base is probably shorter than some would be comfortable with at 119" but I can't tell where it's been a problem.

It appears that there are a lot of general guidelines in picking a vehicle, but then there are those that may not meet them but are still excellent tow vehicles. I would put the Durango (from my experience) and Touareg (from what I've read) in that category.

Good luck in YOUR decision.

Dennis

[wildwoodrver]

More great feedback. Seems like there are as many options as people out there.

Having been in the "barely enough truck" mode towing our soon-to-be-sold 32' Fifth wheel, I'm kinda leaning on overkill, but not too much.

I'm sure the 6.0 liter gasser will have adequate power, and in a 3/4 ton chassis with 4.10's and a 4L85E box, the drive train will hold up.


We are still planning on towing a lot, and when unleaded hits the $3 mark, we'll start enjoying all those wonderful California State Parks that are closer to home. The $1.00/Can. per liter didn't stop us from enjoying the Maritine Providences this summer.

Thanks one and all.....it has been helpful.

[Steve Heywood]

Originally Posted by uucal

We have made three trips from Utah to Upstate NY. Our first trip used a 2002 Tahoe Z71 -5.3 liter/3.73 rear end. Last year it was a GMC 2500 duramax / allison setup. This year we just completed another 6000 mile using the Tahoe once more. The Diesel/allison was definitely a superior towing setup. But the Tahoe performed quite well. On some hills I did overide the automatic and selected 2nd gear. The vehicle and trailer would then "quickly" accelerate to a higher speed.

Fuel consuption favors the diesel. In most places diesel now costs more the low octane gas. And the price penality for diesel is high. But I am considering going back to the diesel setup.

Cal Hansen

What size trailer are you towing?

Thanks,

[Silvertwinkie]

You know, I go the helm manual for the Suburban a month or so ago....I was thumbing through the tranny section when I came across a few interesting bits of info that I didn't know about. The Suburban is made in 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton, so it gets the 4l60e and 4l80e.

The shop book has the 4l60e rated to be able to tow 13,600lbs. The 4l80e is rated for something like 23,000 lbs.

So the long and short of it is that I still feel the 4l80e is a stronger trans, but I found a new respect for the 4l60e that I didn't have before.

[Deny]

Congradulations on your new trailer, great layout. We pull a 34 ft Classic with a 1995 Chev, 6.5 Turbo diesel, 3.73 gears. Long flat haul we run in overdrive, hills, 3 rd gear. Average 15 to 16 mpg. Friends of ours pull a box style trailer, they use a 1/2 ton as well with the 5.7 litre gas, I think this is about 327 cubes. They have no problems other than a ugly trailer.
You should have no problems with the 25 CCD

[Ken J]

I think it also depends on where you tow - 1/2 tons are not very good around here when you get up to 10,000 feet elevation - I've seen 1/2 ton transmissions smoking after a long pull up a 10,000 foot pass with a relatively lite trailer.

Ken J.

[Rodger with a D]

Ken


In for whats its worth department I pull a '70 twenty-seven footer around the same areas as you. As to date I have not had any problems getting to where I want to be. For tow vehicles I range from a '63 Le Baron ( http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.c...ergabby63.html ), a '66 Le Baron and a 115"wb '77 Dodge PU ( 360, NP 4sp, 3:55's etc ). But what I believe is that I know that in order to leave the house I've got to have my ducks in order. That is the same for you too. For some guy who has been in the flat-lands and now wants to be " ... a high plains drifter", its tuff sometimes.

Rodger & Gabby
Colo Spgs

[Ken J]

wow how MAJOR cool! I think those are some of the prettiest cars ever made - they REALLY don't make them like that anymore!

Have a friend with a two door DeSoto - 48 or 49ish that has 56,000 original miles on it - the story is the guy who owned the car - it was his prized possesion - cheated on his wife so one day his wife decided to sell the car - guess that taught him!

And yes, as you say, its important to know what your doing in the mountains.


Ken