Post Your Tow Rig!

[Kurt]

Originally Posted by 6DoF

maybe the Ford just can't handle that much weight

I think you misread my post, Ford did great and pulled awesome, the trailer brakes sucked and the FORD did the majority of the work and make the 2,100 mile trip just fine.

[champ]

Pulled the jeep back home on the new truck setup. Added bags to the truck to prevent it from 'barking at the moon' after the level. The taller/wider tires and difference in aero definitely made an impact on mpg and perceived power.

Granted, I'm using a (much) heavier trailer this round, but I only pulled 9.5mpg whereas it was getting 11.5mpg before mods. Probably had a headwind as the storm rolled in, but meh... it still pulls decent for a half ton and the bags took out a bunch of the unsettledness you would get over the bigger bumps in the road.

[xj_man_646]

Is that a 5.3 truck? I really like those wheels. I'm itching to upgrade my DD...struggling to decide what kind of truck I want (read: makes sense).

[champ]

Yep, 5.3/6spd truck.

https://www.methodracewheels.com/col...ts/nv-machined

[xj_man_646]

How does it do towing the type of load pictured?

Do you run tow / haul mode and let the trans do the work, or manually select a gear?
Does manual mode lock the gear you desire, or is that simply the highest gear it will enter?

How many miles on your truck and have you had any maintenance issues?

Practicality has me leaning toward a newer 5.3 GMC 1500. I have no complaints about my 2005 GMC 1500, so why not? Of course I would love nothing more than a Cummins, but that is unnecessary at this stage I think.

[champ]

It did a lot better before I messed with it.

Tow/Haul in either D or M5. Set the cruise and let it eat. It'll sit in 5th until it slows 2mph from set speed and then downshift to 4th on the hills. Every now and then it shifts to 3rd; it never hit 3rd when the truck was stock FWIW. The hills around here aren't what you think of for typical midwest; we're in the driftless area so the terrain resembles the Appalachian foothills.

I'll throw it down into M5 to keep it from doing this weird thing where it won't down shift until it scrubs 5mph with the cruise set in D. It's only done it one trip, so take that with a grain of salt. I would recommend a WD hitch with loads 5-6K and above. The hitch is rated for 7K conventional and up to 9,300 (or whatever the max rating is) with WD. I think the rear springs are too soft for much over 600lbs of tongue weight. Hitting large bumps and swooping changes in the road are unsettling. Bags fixed most of that feeling, but a WD hitch would be ideal to get that weight up front.

The truck is a cream puff and has 10K on it in 2 years. No mechanical issues, but it has been to the dealer for dash rattles (that I fixed myself ) and it needs to go back in for some quirky infotainment bits and the front bumper cover has decided to change its shade of white to more of a cream.

Overall, I'm happy with it. Stock MPG was fantastic @ 17mpg city and 20-21mpg highway. It's the quietest vehicle I've ever been in or owned - spooky quiet. The ride is car-like. Transmission/Engine programming logic leaves much to be desired in town. Understandably, GM has it setup for emissions, torque management/drivetrain preservation, and emissions. If you drive it 'how the truck wants to be driven' it'll return the mileage I mentioned. If you drive one, you'll see exactly what I'm talking about.

If I had to do it all over again, I would at least test drive a comparable Ram with the Hemi and 8spd. What kills me on the Ram is the lack of payload. If you start running the numbers on Ram, you're maxed out on payload before you come close to max tow rating.

Ford? Too much $$$ for no added value.

[Cobound]

Originally Posted by champ

It did a lot better before I messed with it.

Truer words have never been spoken

Originally Posted by champ

If I had to do it all over again, I would at least test drive a comparable Ram with the Hemi and 8spd. What kills me on the Ram is the lack of payload. If you start running the numbers on Ram, you're maxed out on payload before you come close to max tow rating.

Love my Ram 8 speed, absolutely love it. Longest I've ever kept a daily driver. However, I don't trailer much with it. Ironic, cuz when I bought it I had big plans, and since I've had my junk towed by others

The little I've done, it's been great. Oh, and I didn't even test drive a Chevy or Ford after I first put my foot down in this one...likely won't.

[xj_man_646]

Originally Posted by champ

If I had to do it all over again, I would at least test drive a comparable Ram with the Hemi and 8spd. What kills me on the Ram is the lack of payload. If you start running the numbers on Ram, you're maxed out on payload before you come close to max tow rating.

I've been thinking about this...you understand that payload (related to GVWR) and tow rating (related to GCWR) are very different...correct? You can max out a vehicle's tow rating before you even start to add toward its payload capacity (depending how you load the trailer).

Looking online, I am only seeing a ~600# difference in payload in the Ram vs GMC 1500 trucks

[champ]

Originally Posted by xj_man_646

I've been thinking about this...you understand that payload (related to GVWR) and tow rating (related to GCWR) are very different...correct? You can max out a vehicle's tow rating before you even start to add toward its payload capacity (depending how you load the trailer).

Looking online, I am only seeing a ~600# difference in payload in the Ram vs GMC 1500 trucks

If you stick by the industry standard of 10% tongue weight for a tag trailer, then a 7000lb trailer will be 700lbs of payload capacity used up. Add 200lb driver, tools, passenger, etc. and its maxed out fast.

Granted, this isn't a problem unique to Ram as all half tons require the owner to mindful of their capacities. Ram just seems to exacerbate this.

Some days I rather had just stuck with the Duramax or bought a gas 3/4. For as much as I drive a truck in a year, the fuel economy differences would be moot.

[champ]

Originally Posted by wrath

Doesn't that thing have 3.08 cogs in it? I had 3.42s in my 6.0L/6L80e half ton and those were marginal. Can't imagine 3.08s, bigger tires, and a 5.toofew.

6.2L, 8L90e, 3.42s, 275x55R20 Duratracs, rear sway bar set to its stiffest setting, removed rear lift block, and 80psi in the bags tows my 31' lead parachute of a camper just fine, even without trailer brakes (was a bit of an oh **** moment when they quit working). I quit using the weight distributing hitch and trailer anti sway device when I got the Duratracs. Before when I had soft sidewall tires it needed it. Someday when I quit adding **** to the trailer I'll weigh it.

Have towed just over 13k with it using a bumper pull with a backhoe on it... it was no worse than my Uncle's 2015 2500HD gasser. Would not want to do it all the time though, the brakes definitely aren't meant to get rid of that much heat all the time.

Luckily it has the 3.42's. I can't imagine having the 3.08's - slug city. I do wonder what the max tow package with 3.73's and stiffer springs would be like.

The 6.2/8spd combo would be nice, but the requirement for the LTZ/SLT package plus the added cost of the 6.2 made it just as expensive as a more capable 3/4ton.

[champ]

Originally Posted by wrath

<snip>
Surprised you got a truck with 3.42s unless it was a Z71.



The gasser 2500HD feels slow... because it is. </snip>

It's a Z71, just debaged.


And yes... holy Christ on a cracker the 2015+ 2500's are slower than the line moving out of hell. I test drove one and immediately dismissed it as an option. I don't know why GM neutered them so badly since the same 6.0/6L90 combo in the GMT900 and 6.0/4L80 combo GTM800 trucks weren't bad. Not good, but not bad.

[bbaCJ8]

New tow rig?

Originally Posted by xj_man_646

How does it do towing the type of load pictured?

Do you run tow / haul mode and let the trans do the work, or manually select a gear?
Does manual mode lock the gear you desire, or is that simply the highest gear it will enter?

How many miles on your truck and have you had any maintenance issues?

Practicality has me leaning toward a newer 5.3 GMC 1500. I have no complaints about my 2005 GMC 1500, so why not? Of course I would love nothing more than a Cummins, but that is unnecessary at this stage I think.

That load would likely be a piece of cake for any properly equipped half ton. Towing our sail of a camper that weighs about 8k lb loaded worked the hell out of my wife's 5.3 Tahoe.

[xj_man_646]

Good to know. Thank you! I should go test drive a couple...I would also be curious to know how the GM 8 speed drives.

[nblehm]

I eye ball newer sierras. I'm totally convinced after towing my j10 back from moab with a ram 1500, I'd never have a need for a diesel truck. I really like that ram, but would probably default to a GMC just because I like GM drivetrains better. Wonder what kind of actual milage a 6.2 sierra gets.

[nblehm]

Nice. That's pretty good. I dont like duratracs anyway so I dont have to worry about that

[xj_man_646]

Wrath, do you exclusively fill up with premium with the 6.2? Or do you run lower octane fuel until you need to start utilizing the power (towing, etc)? That is my hang up with a 6.2 truck...I don't want to need premium fuel.

I love my Duratracs . Now I just need to get my 4wd actuator fixed on the front diff...can't get the mf'er out of the tube.

[nblehm]

Tows like a dream

[Nefarious]

The sag from just the trailer...

[Cobound]

Damn, minus a little scratch...that's a clean (white) XJ

[nblehm]

Originally Posted by Cobound

Damn, minus a little scratch...that's a clean (white) XJ

Dont look at the rockers

Also the scratch (I think) you are talking about is just the glue from the trim I haven't gotten off yet.