Towing Help (urgent)

[Willwork4truck]

That payload is exactly why the diesels are not good in 2500 trucks and why big gassers are the way to go. The weight of the diesel kills the payload big time. 3500 is minimum to get decent payload.

Agree. On a single rear wheel the 3500 is often only 500# more anyway.

 

[aai]

decent calculator for reference. Sorry if its been posted on another thread already

5th Wheel Weight Calculator

Fifth Wheel Weight Calculator. Check if your truck is overweight.

www.fifthwheelmagazine.com

Travel Trailer Weight Calculator | Safety Report

Use this simplified weight report calculator to ensure the RV rig is safely towing below your vehicle load ratings.

fifthwheelst.com

 

[Trooper4]

The diesel will get 20 mpg pulling 10k lbs and not even care, the 6.4 is gonna get 7 and it's gonna be screaming.

What make and model is that? For the most part 10mpg is a good number with any diesel with that kind of weight in a TT/Fifth Wheel. Towing mileage for gas or diesel pulling a TT, fifth wheel, or box trailer is going to be about 10mpg from my 40+ years of experience . Unless there have been some tremendous changes in technology that I haven't heard of yet. I pull and have pulled #9000 with a D-MAX and my 5.7, and both got right at 10+/- over the long haul. Weight isn't the biggest factor, but wind resistance.

 

[SpeedyV]

Agree. On a single rear wheel the 3500 is often only 500# more anyway.

A little off topic here, but I don't think I appreciated the unique combination of capability and payload I had in my '03 GMC Sierra 1500HD. It had a GVWR of 8600 lb, and the truck weighed <5800 lbs. Think about that payload for a second! This happened by accident; GM wanted to offer a 1/2-ton crew cab, but they didn't have a frame for it, so they used the old 3/4-ton frame with the new HD powertrain and called it a "heavy half". That was a heckuva combo (6.0L, 4.10, 4x4, adjustable ride control, Quadrasteer, 6'-6" bed, and 2800+ lb payload). Nothing exists like that today.

 

[Willwork4truck]

That was a rare unit with a 3k payload For sure. Too bad that GM’s quadrasteer didn’t take off.

I doubt many newer 15’ and up diesels can achieve 20 mpg towing over 15K trailers. Boats maybe but not a 5ver.
My brother drives his 2500 Dmax (no tuner) conservatively and sees 15 mpg max with his 34’ 5th wheel that maxes out at 15.5K.
From what I’ve seen the newer trucks with 900-1000 tq are towing at 75 plus mph and they won’t be seeing 20 mpg.
Maybe not everyone but a majority of what I see on I-40. I-64 and I-70 this summer.

 

[Boston]

Here’s the Ike Gauntlet test of the 2500 Hemi released this morning by TFL