tow vehicle
I've pulled my trailer with both my old 1500 gas & my 2500 diesel. I can tell you its a night & day difference with the diesel. I wouldnt tow anything with a gas truck ever agian. The diesel with a loaded trailer gets 13-15mpg were my old 1500 got 6-8mpg
My buddy gets 18-20mpg with his 04.5 Dmax towing a car.
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,484
Likes: 0
From: Cecil County Raceway!!!
I get about 13-14 with my dodge diesel when pulling, but its got 4.10 gears and my trailer is a big wind break and heavy (about 12000-13000 lbs loaded)...but it gets about the same with the trailer unloaded (about 7000 lbs)
Diesel is the only way to tow. I have towed with both gas and diesel, and there is no comparison. The trailer weight is not the factor when towing with diesel, it's the aerodynamics. I get great mpg's when towing an open trailer with a car and about 13-14 with a flat front enclosed whether it's a 20ft or 30ft( I can do better mgp wise if I slow to about 60mph). My wife drives our Dodge to work everyday 60 miles round trip and loves it. Yes, it does not ride as smooth as a 1500 truck on the highway unloaded, but it rides like a Cadillac with a trailer on it. And with the right trailer setup, you won't even know the trailer is there.
I went away from diesel a few years ago because I didn't think I had a need for it anymore. It took me two weeks to realize I will never be without a diesel again.
I went away from diesel a few years ago because I didn't think I had a need for it anymore. It took me two weeks to realize I will never be without a diesel again.
If you are planning on pulling that type of distance then definitely get a diesel 3/4 ton. I have a chevy 1500 with the 6.0 and 3.73 gears. It will move the trailer just fine but up and down the hills it's always shifting. Plus it requires that you really drive the truck and on long trips it is tiring. You are always downshifting for hills, fighting the wind, and watching cars ahead of you for any sudden stops. The heavier suspension, bigger brakes, and diesel power are the way to go for a tow rig.
I like my 2010 Sierra 2500HD gasser
I've probably put around 5k miles on it this year towing my open Featherlite trailer (1300ish lbs) with my 2975lb Camaro. It's much better than my 04 1500 5.3 Silverado. The new 6 speed makes towing much easier, and it doesn't hunt for gears nearly as much as the 04 did.
I've probably put around 5k miles on it this year towing my open Featherlite trailer (1300ish lbs) with my 2975lb Camaro. It's much better than my 04 1500 5.3 Silverado. The new 6 speed makes towing much easier, and it doesn't hunt for gears nearly as much as the 04 did.
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The only reason I wouldn't buy a diesel is because of the cost difference. I would much rather have a 1 or 2 year old diesel then a gas job though. My brother's 2010 3500 (cumins) tows the 32ft trailer like a breeze.
my brother has 2 chevy diesels a 2002 2500 and a 2010 3500 and they both pull anything like nothings there. the built in trailer brakes on the 2010 are badass. and we figured it out that the price of diesel has to be $.50 more than gas to not be worth getting one since the diesel gets so much better mileage. but my dads 02 2500hd gas tows his 24' enclosed trailer full of his equipment everyday with no problem but it doesnt compare to the diesels.
I just went thru this about 2 years ago... so here's my input:
Granted, I haven't done anything to the truck, it has all the new 2008 mandated emmissions crap, it can be deleted, but to do that you have to use a tuner, void the 300K warrenty on the motor, and put it back to stock every other year here in CT to get it thru emmissions.... I haven't had any emmissions related probelms with it, and I think as long as you drive it hard enough, you won't have any. I know there's a good 2 to 4 mpg better mileage with it all off... I just don't want the headache of putting it all back every other year. The new chevy's and new ford's also have all that crap on them, and would be the same deal, have to put it back to stock every other year if you have emmissions to deal with. The comptuer's, are now pretty tight (can't really crack them like you used to be able to) so it's not something you can just trick as easy as you could in the past. Plus, they all save a log now with ever change you make, so if you do something, the dealer will be able to tell, if you try to warrenty something.
Hope this helps.
Granted, I haven't done anything to the truck, it has all the new 2008 mandated emmissions crap, it can be deleted, but to do that you have to use a tuner, void the 300K warrenty on the motor, and put it back to stock every other year here in CT to get it thru emmissions.... I haven't had any emmissions related probelms with it, and I think as long as you drive it hard enough, you won't have any. I know there's a good 2 to 4 mpg better mileage with it all off... I just don't want the headache of putting it all back every other year. The new chevy's and new ford's also have all that crap on them, and would be the same deal, have to put it back to stock every other year if you have emmissions to deal with. The comptuer's, are now pretty tight (can't really crack them like you used to be able to) so it's not something you can just trick as easy as you could in the past. Plus, they all save a log now with ever change you make, so if you do something, the dealer will be able to tell, if you try to warrenty something.
Hope this helps.
300,000 mile warranty from Cummins. Is that true? I have heard 100k. My next truck will be a 2500 diesel just not sure between the duramaxx or the cummins. But if the cummins has a 300k warranty that will make the decision real easy. LOL
I'll have to dig the warrenty info out, maybe you're right, or maybe it changed on new ones, I bought a 2008, I don't know if it was better then what they're offering now... that's possible.
Regardless, that's still a decent warrenty, I mean 1/2 the guys I know will never see 100K on anything that they aren't using for work. I'll have had my truck for 2 years this January, and I have about 36500 on it right now. Mind you I was driving 62 miles a day to go to work too...
Now I'm down to 46 miles a day, so the mileage is gonna go on it a good bit slower I think.
Regardless, that's still a decent warrenty, I mean 1/2 the guys I know will never see 100K on anything that they aren't using for work. I'll have had my truck for 2 years this January, and I have about 36500 on it right now. Mind you I was driving 62 miles a day to go to work too...
Now I'm down to 46 miles a day, so the mileage is gonna go on it a good bit slower I think.
Nice looking truck. But, you put 8500 lbs worth of enclosed behind it, you'll know it. And the 8 mpg, will rear it's ugly head quickly.
But... for the $ you probably stole it for it will get the job done. 2wd too yes? Not that you really need the 4wd in florida
But... for the $ you probably stole it for it will get the job done. 2wd too yes? Not that you really need the 4wd in florida