Chevy 2500HD 6.0 Gas ??

[BradleyScheirer]

We just bought a Raptor 3712 and I noticed just on bringing it home and on some small hills my truck is struggling, temps going way up. We used to pull a 25' with no problem but now I am worried about the extra strain on the truck. Anyone else pulling such a monster with a Chevy 2500HD? Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated
Thanks

[hankpage]

Originally Posted by BradleyScheirer

We just bought a Raptor 3712 and I noticed just on bringing it home and on some small hills my truck is struggling, temps going way up. We used to pull a 25' with no problem but now I am worried about the extra strain on the truck. Anyone else pulling such a monster with a Chevy 2500HD? Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated
Thanks

With 13½ ft. tall and 3000 lb. pin weight I would think that any ¾ ton would huff and puff a little. That's a lot of trailer. JM2¢, Hank

[Jim W]

I pulled a much smaller 5er twice with my old 2001MY Chevy 2500HD, 6L (gas) auto. This was all on level ground and could only get 7 to 8 MPG. After that experience and trying to get in and out of gas stations with a 5er attached, I said good by to it.
I purchased a 2008MY 2500HD, 6.7L Cummins Ram Auto and have not look back. We like the diesel so much the DW went and bought a 2011 VW Jetta TDI (diesel) this year. She gets 30 to 35 mpg in town/country driving and close to 45 on the highway.

Jim W.

[THedges]

Sounds like it's time for a Duramax!

[Outbackmel]

I have the same truck as "Jim W". What a "horse"... these things are strong; very strong!

At 65mph, I cannot even tell my 36ft 5er is back there. Hills are like a dessert after the feast for these beasts.

Whether it be Dodge; Ford or Chevy; there are products that will enhance your RV experiences. I get 11 mpg towing. I was about to close a deal on a Duramax but out of the blue a person traded this '08 Dodge with only 17,000 miles and BINGO, done...

[mhs4771]

I think you bit off more trailer than your truck can chew, time to look for a Duramax Dually for that beast of a rig, pub hitch weight of almost 3000, so depending on loading could be much more. My opinion, only a dually can handle that weight safely, if you check the numbers I bet you find you're way over your present TV.

[Paddler]

I just looked at my 2007 GMC Sierra sales brochure and the 2500HD Classic with the 6.0 L V8 Gross Combined Weight ratings is either 14K with 3.73 rear or 16K with a 4.10 rear. So there's a good chance you are attempting to tow 3000-5000 lbs more than your truck is rated for.

[JRTJH]

Not being sure which truck you have, I looked up the 2500HD crew cab 6.0 2 wheel drive: This is the HEAVIEST 2011 model, so yours may differ slightly.

TRUCK
Max payload: 3385
Max 5th Wheel: 14200
Truck Curb Weight: 6115

TRAILER
Trailer Pin (empty): 2920
Trailer (empty): 12415
Trailer Max Weight: 15500


While I am probably not the one to tell you "YOU'RE OVERLOADED" because I tow with a F150, I can assure you that my truck/trailer "reserve" weights are far greater than I see here.

If you do try a relatively "long trip" with this rig, I wouldn't be suprised to learn that you overheated your truck, burned up the transmission and got stranded on the side of the road. (That's best situation) or worse, that you lost control of the rig and injured your family or some innocent fellow traveller.

By the time you're full of fuel, have a couple of passengers, and loaded trailer for a trip, you're overloaded and asking for trouble.

[azr405]

We bought a new 327 this year and had a GM 6 litre but to much trailer for the truck. Bought a Ford 350 Diesel and she is pretty sweet when you get to those hills and there is no difference in your speed as you climb if you want. I can see some expensive problems in your future. Of course that is only my opinion.

[BradleyScheirer]

Thanks everyone, I bit off more than my truck can do. So much for the great deal on the camper. I am looking for a 1 ton Diesel truck. What motors are recomended and what trucks and motors should I stay clear of
Thanks
Brad

[Jeffrey11]

I like my Ford 6.7 Diesel - I tow a Fuzion 412 no problem on my Crew Cab 350 single rear wheel and it is heaver than what you are trying to tow. We can cruize all day at speed way passed the limit up hill down hill and no problems. The best part 14-16 MPG with trailer. But it takes a long time to pay off the hefty truck price. Factory 5th wheel hitch is also nice.

[THedges]

As I said earlier you can't beat a Duramax! If you are going new, the 2011 2500 HD's have a gvw of 10,000 and can tow 17,000 (these numbers would have made it a 1 ton in 2010). With this option you can go SRW & Short bed, if that's what you are into.

[BradleyScheirer]

Thanks everyone I bought a 2007 Dodge 3500 Dualie

[Paddler]

Brad,
Please verify your new 07 Ram 3500 Dually has a 4.10 rear axle. If it doesn't, there is the possibility you still don't have enough truck. From what I've read, in 07 the 3.73 rear could tow around 13000 (CGVW 20K) and the 4.10 would take you to 15500 (CGVW 23000).

[Jim W]

Hi, I was on a camping trip last weekend and in the early part of the week. DW and I left the lap top at home since we had the grandkids with us and there would not be any time to read forums and such.
So I am sorry that I am getting back to this thread so late. But I have an information PDI that should help you with your 2007 Dodge.
http://www.dodge.com/bodybuilder/year.pdf
Click on the model year, than the Ram icon and then the body style. You then click in the technical section, Base weights/GCVW/payload. This will provide you the towing weights and such.

I would also recommend this forum to you to learn more about your Dodge.
http://www.turbodieselregister.com/
Jim W

[therink]

X2 what everyone else had said. I'm sorry, bur you have clearly exceeded your tow vehicles capacities. I have an 08 silverado 6.0 with 4:10 axle and am at the trucks max capacity with my Outback 329fbh (trailer gcwr 11,800). I scaled my rig loaded, so I have confirmed all weights and am ok with my set up. If I was a long distance tower, I would get a 1 ton.

[Jim W]

Originally Posted by therink

X2 what everyone else had said. I'm sorry, bur you have clearly exceeded your tow vehicles capacities. I have an 08 silverado 6.0 with 4:10 axle and am at the trucks max capacity with my Outback 329fbh (trailer gcwr 11,800). I scaled my rig loaded, so I have confirmed all weights and am ok with my set up. If I was a long distance tower, I would get a 1 ton.

Steve,
Brad did buy a 1 ton truck.
The reason I posted the Dodge Body builders guide, is because he did not specify if it is a 5.9L or 6.7L engine, what gear ratio nor if it is a Reg cab or a Quad cab.

Jim.W

[Houndie Dog]

Hi Bradley,
Just passing along my experience with a 6.0L. I had a new Cougar 326 and my TW was a 2009 Chevy 2500HD 6.0L with the six speed. Even on smaller rolling hills here in Missouri I found that the engine was working pretty hard. The temps were always OK but the transmission was constantly shifting and the RPM's were always running high. The truck could physically pull the trailer but you could tell it was working hard. I traded it in on a Dodge dually with the cummins 6.7L and the difference was night and day. 680 ft. lbs. torque vs. 350 ft. lbs. torque.
I also bought a bigger trailer and I ususally can't really tell that I am towing anything.
The 6.0 will tow your trailer, but you have to consider the wear and tear on it.

[BradleyScheirer]

Its a 5.9 cummings quad cab, Not sure of the rear Checking into it
Thanks

[dhopkins52]

Hi Everyone,
I thought I would pass along my experience with my 2008 1/2 ton Silverado with the Max towing package. It has the 6.0 gas motor pulling a Cougar 325 SRX toyhauler; wt.9320 empty,and around 10,500 loaded. Just 250 over Chevy's recommended weight for a fifth wheel. We just returned from a cross country trip and encountered a lot of mountains including the Camp Verde moutain south of Flagstaff,AZ. The gas 6.0 performed very well with this trailer weight, but I would not want to tow anything heavier.