towing with a chevy 2500HD gas 6.0L

[rebel29144]

Is anyone out there towing a Cougar 30RLS with a Silverado 2500HD with a gas 6.0 Liter
Thanks for any info
rebel29144:)

[Acaines]

I'm no expert but what kind of tranny/rear end does your truck have and what does the owner's manual say? It seems something with a 6.0L would be beefy enough but engine size is only part of the story.

I did a bunch of research into my truck's rated capacity and have found that my '13 F-150 has about the same pulling power if not a bit more than my '87 Dodge Ram 2500.

[rebel29144]

its a 2013 4x4 crew cab short bed
3;73 gears
6 speed auto transmission

says a bumper pull of 9500 lbs

[Acaines]

Depending on the trailer weight, I'd say that would do the job.

We're pulling a Passport Ultra-lite with a GVWR of 7,000 pounds with an F-150 Eco-boost that has the 3.55 rear end. On paper, that works but I certainly wouldn't go any more than that. Last summer, I spoke with a guy who has the exact same truck I do who has a camper similar to yours and he said he has no problems with it. I'm going to be a little more conservative... I plan to keep our max trailer weight closer to 6,000 which should leave us about 3,000 below what my owner's manual is telling me.

[MiMartin]

I pulled my Cougar with my 2010 Silverado 2500HD and then 2018 Silverado 2500HD, same 6.0L gas engine.
Pulling was fine and 'stopping' was OK. Pulled around Michigan and from MI to South Dakota then south to Texas. (No Mountains!).
Mostly 7.5 to 8.5 Miles per gallon. :)

[Badbart56]

Our 2015 HD 2500 fleet trucks stay on the interstate at 70 mph all day with a 1200 lb load in the bed. 11 mpg is the average. 4x4 with 3:73 gears. Just sayin'....

[lunge motorsport]

I tow a similar 5th wheel with a similar truck. My Cougar was is rated at #10,300 which is a little lighter by #700 and slightly shorter by 4'. My GMC is a Ext cab with a 4:10 gear set.

This combo is not at the limit of the truck but I definitely feel the weight. I think 3:73 gearing would be a disappointment for me in the mountains.

My truck has #2981 payload and is very near the limit with all I carry. I have made a lot of mods to both vehicles to improve tow and drive ability with satisfactory results...but...you have increased weight and a lower numerical gearset. If I were thinking of a purchase of either vehicle and I owned the other, I would carefully reconsider this combo plate.
Best of luck!

[ken56]

I have a 2016 2500HD and pull my Laredo 334RE 10K GVWR, 1300 tongue wt. with it. I get 8.5 to 9.5 MPG when I tow. Drive on the top half of the tank. Its a very thirsty engine. I have had plenty of power to handle any grade I have come across.

[TLB]

Mine is a 2017 with 4.10 gears. Pulls like its not even hooked up.

[vancouverbrian]

Hello. I have a 2017 F350 gas 6.2L engine with 3.73 gears. I also have a 2018 Cougar 30RLS. To know if you can legally tow your rig with your truck, YOU need to do some work. On the left door of your truck is the legal capacity of your truck. Using that and also the weights of your trailer, you need to calculate if your truck can legally tow your trailer. There are many threads to help you. Asking us to figure it out is very difficult without all the info of both rigs. What I did before buying anything was to look at the manufacturers info to get an approximation before I bought both rigs and then you calculate the actual when you physically have your truck.

[foldbak]

I've been towing with an Expedition for years. Dogs! My last trailer was a 29 foot Prowler weighing in at 8500 lbs. The Ford tow package increased the capacity 9200 lbs. It was a bit under powered on a grade but otherwise worked great. I recently purchased a 2018 Cougar Half Ton 27SAB weighing 6500 lbs. It handles so much better. Lighter and much more aerodynamic. The prowler was like pulling a billboard in the wind. I wish Ford would put a diesel in the expedition!

[spittman]

I have towed a Sprinter 316BIK (weighed it once at just over 10000 lbs) with a 2015 GMC 6.0L with 4.10. Been through the Rockies twice, absolutely no problems with climbing or descending. It does burn through the gas, 7-8 mpg. Unfortunately, my GMC was totalled a few weeks ago by a college kid who fell asleep on the highway. It’s been replaced by a 2019 Chevy with the same configuration. Haven’t had it hooked up to the trailer yet.

[Phil Saran]

O/P stated a 9500 lbs bumper pull. So do you have a 30 RLS 5th wheel
trailer or a 30 RLI travel trailer??

I have a 2019 30 RLS 5th wheel and loaded it is close to 12000 lbs.

I tow with a 2012 Dodge Ram 3500 4 dr, 4x4, 6.5 bed, 6.7 diesel, 3:73
It may seem overkill for a 12000 load, but I like having a large extra margin.
but I like having extra brakes and frame.

[keithbeeb]

I am pulling a 30RLI with my 2015 F250 6.2. I have been to Yellowstone, Rushmore and several other locations with no problem. Head winds tend to make it thirsty but other than that I have not had any issues with power or speed. I do tend more to the 60-65 side though.

[Larrystegall]

Hey Rebel. I pull a 2017 Cougar 359 MBI 11k UVW 5vr with a 2016 Chevy 2500HD 6.0 2wd DC LB with 4.10 rear, 6spd auto. No issues noted, it is my daily driver as well and went gas for a steal of a deal on the truck. Bought it 12/31/16 at 10PM. The dealer “needed” one more sale to make his numbers..... Happy towing!

[CaptnJohn]

Had that same 5er and pulled with a 2016 F250 diesel. Sold the trailer to a neighbor and went bigger. Needed an F350 for the new one. Pulled a loaded 10K 5er with a gasser, felt that was the max I wanted to go with a gasser.

[Larrystegall]

Hi Captjohn. You’re one step ahead of me. Bought the truck as upgrade from 13 Silverado 1500 with tow package that maxed at 9600 lb. Pulled a 32’ Aerolite that was all that truck wanted. The 2500 handled it easily, which opened the door for a fiver. The cougar maxes at 14K, and would not want any bigger for the truck. For Rebel, already had a Husky 12k straight line hitch for the Aerolite and used it some with the 2500 truck but did not feel any difference.from just dropping it on a ball.

[n4qpcham]

Until I totaled the TV back on 12/11/2018 due to black ice, I was towing a HC318RE at just under 10,000 lbs. with a 2004 Chevy 2500HD with a 6.0L gasser. Pin weight was around 1950 lbs. The truck had a 4.10 rear end and I added another tranny cooler inline to help with the cooling. It was slow out of the hole, but was fine once it got wound out. Came to a crawl on climbing a hill, but you expect that with a gasser. Max towing weight specs were 10,200 lbs. according to Chevy. Interesting that the same year truck, with the same gear ratio, and the same tranny, but the 8.1L gasser engine with more HP and torque, had a max towing weight of 12,000 pounds. The 6.6L diesel had the same towing numbers. I heard Chevy under-rated their engines back then and was told I would have no problems towing my 5th wheel. I never did.

[n4qpcham]

The 5th wheel is now for sale. It's on RVT.com Ad # 8538114.

[travelin texans]

The 5th wheel is now for sale. It's on RVT.com Ad # 8538114.

You better list it in the "Classified" section on here!!!!

[E Rod]

I had a GMC extended cab with the 6.0 and 3.73 axle ratio. It pulled my Laredo 30 ft ok on flat but a whole different story going uphill or coming downhill. RPM's go up high when climbing a step hill, transmission downshifts and it sound as if either engine or tranny are going to explode. Now I have a 2018 F350 and a 40 ft Alpine that now is a joy to drive. No more white knuckle situations. if possible I would go diesel even if used.

[ken56]

I had a GMC extended cab with the 6.0 and 3.73 axle ratio. It pulled my Laredo 30 ft ok on flat but a whole different story going uphill or coming downhill. RPM's go up high when climbing a step hill, transmission downshifts and it sound as if either engine or tranny are going to explode. Now I have a 2018 F350 and a 40 ft Alpine that now is a joy to drive. No more white knuckle situations. if possible I would go diesel even if used.
That engine is made to rev. I have been in the 5200rpm range going up some long steep grades but the horse power isn't generated unless the RPM's are allowed to go up. Your post sounds like your new truck is a diesel not a gasser seeing you recommend going to a diesel if possible. There is no comparison between a gas and diesel. You are correct though granted, but I myself can't justify the initial purchase price and added maintenance costs. My 6.0 gasser pulls my trailer fine even though it has to rev to get the horse power needed to get up some infrequent long grades.

[goducks]

I find it interesting that people don't like revving motors. Get in any nice 4cyl car and go for a drive in the mtns. Our Camry 4cyl will rev to 3000-3500 or higher. But do to good sound insulation and the fact that it's only a 4 cyl the sound barely enters the cabin.
Take a newer truck with a V8 and wind it out to 4000 and people think it's going to grenade. When in fact most reach full HP above 4500-5200. If you hardly heard the V8 it wouldn't even be a issue.

[Badbart56]

It's understood that gas engines make their horsepower at higher RPM's, but it's the way they are designed since they don't generate enough torque to carry the really heavy loads. But after, say, 100K miles of high revving, max load on that gas V-8, you might not want to own it. Not saying they won't live that long or won't get the job done, but the high RPM's take a toll after a while. But if you only put a few thousand hard miles a year on a gasser it shouldn't be an issue. I have towed with both and I prefer to move the loads with that low RPM torque. I have gotten many trouble free, hundreds of thousands of miles with diesels, but I do love the sound of that LS6 in my CTS V revving to 6000 RPM's as I row through the gears on the Tremec T56 6 speed!