SOM LAG Project: 394ci, 25.3, Twin PT7675 Gen 2's, PG, E85, 7-second Street Car
09-11-2017, 12:32 PM
#405
I have considered the 3/4 ton, but I don't really want a Diesel for daily driving. The 910 ft/lbs of torque did catch my eye when I was considering it though. It will be reconsidered though.
09-11-2017, 01:46 PM
#406
9100lbs is the tow rating. I am currently planning to keep the 1/2 ton. Just planning to drive with a bunch of commons sense. No reason to be in too big of a hurry, beat on it, making sure to keep my distance, attentive drivign, watching speeds in windy situations, etc. I understand the beefed up frame of the 3/4 ton would be helpful, but I think the truck will have the power necessary to pull it as long as there is some thought to it. Look at the power and torque ratings of trucks in the past and the stuff that got pulled with them.
I have considered the 3/4 ton, but I don't really want a Diesel for daily driving. The 910 ft/lbs of torque did catch my eye when I was considering it though. It will be reconsidered though.
I have considered the 3/4 ton, but I don't really want a Diesel for daily driving. The 910 ft/lbs of torque did catch my eye when I was considering it though. It will be reconsidered though.
You hear or read numbers like 9100lbs. and many people think you are good to go with nearly a 10k trailer and that's simply not true. The weight of everything, including the driver comes into play. Effectively, your fuel weight is about all that's factored in. A tool box, passengers, whatever they brought with them, and the weight of the trailer are all important. It's actually pretty easy to pull a stock fourth generation F-body on a U-Haul trailer and be overweight on a half-ton truck. Some of these trucks, with options, larger cab configurations and fat passengers end up well beyond their rated limits.
Now, I believe that estimates for towing are somewhat conservative as they probably account for a variety of conditions which aren't necessarily standard, but aren't uncommon either. Things like altitude, gradient and being overweight are probably considered. I've been over the limit on half ton pickups by 1-2k lbs. many times and it's always been fine. What you don't want though is that feeling that the trailer is steering the truck. 3/4 and 1 ton trucks (better yet, dual rear wheeled trucks) are simply better at handling heavier trailers than lighter trucks are, even at the same weight. I've moved lots of car haulers on 3/4 and 1/2 ton trucks and though either can do that job just fine, the 3/4 ton does it to a point where it almost feels like the trailer isn't even attached compared to the 1/2 ton. I also get better fuel economy out of that 3/4 ton diesel at the limits of the 1/2 ton truck.
You bring up daily driving, and though I prefer a diesel for all things truck related, I have to point out that a diesel isn't necessary. Gas 3/4 trucks are just as capable in the tow weight ratings or close to it. The diesel affords an advantage of superior fuel economy, although that advantage is minimal outside of towing. The diesel also works better at altitude compared to the gasoline engines, but outside of that, the gas engines are fine. They may not accelerate as fast or have the even power band of the diesel but they get the job done. Diesel is hard to make a case for these days as the costs of diesel trucks is through the roof compared to what they were 10 years ago. DPF, additional maintenance costs and the price of admission are huge. You'd take more than a decade of average miles per year driving to break even on the cost of diesel vs. gasoline engines. Diesel simply performs better and has the potential to outlast the gasoline counterparts. Plenty of people run diesels upwards of 400k-500k miles, which is well past where most take the gasoline truck engines.
09-11-2017, 02:06 PM
#407
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To me it's payload that makes the argument for a 3/4 ton a lot of times, and you allude to this in your 2nd paragraph. If you have 4 people and personal effects in a half ton and then you go and add tongue weight of any substantial amount a lot of times you'll be over the payload limit of the truck. I've had a couple of half tons where the tow rating was really just a paper rating, as they had payload ratings of only around 1400 lbs. If it's rated to tow 9000 lbs and you only have 1400 of payload to work with, at 10% tongue weight you've only got 500 lbs left. With even as few as two people (read: bubba-sized American adults), you'd have to put all your supplies in the trailer to avoid going over payload limit.
Speaking to the OP specifically...9100 seems a little low by modern standards even for a half ton, TFL Truck did one of their "Ike Gauntlet" sections on the Chevy version of the same truck and quoted a tow rating in the 11K range for their truck, I wonder what is different about the Denali? Maybe has a fancy AWD system?
At any rate, they towed 9000 pounds up Eisenhower Pass (over 11,000 feet) in Colorado and were able to maintain a respectable 57 MPH at WOT. An 80s 1 ton probably would have struggled to get much above 30-35 with a 9000# trailer...
In a separate segment they also did a towing test and managed over 10MPG towing a 7000 lb trailer on cruise on I-25 with the 6.2.
With stats like these it's pretty hard to make an argument for the Duramax. But you could still make a case for a gas 3/4 just so you had the payload rating to carry 4 normal sized adults in the cab and maybe some suitcases and coolers in the bed. Of course if the OP doesn't need the ability to carry 4 adults while towing then it's a moot point. Also depends on the weight of the trailer, we know the car weighs 3600-3700, now how much for the trailer?
Speaking to the OP specifically...9100 seems a little low by modern standards even for a half ton, TFL Truck did one of their "Ike Gauntlet" sections on the Chevy version of the same truck and quoted a tow rating in the 11K range for their truck, I wonder what is different about the Denali? Maybe has a fancy AWD system?
At any rate, they towed 9000 pounds up Eisenhower Pass (over 11,000 feet) in Colorado and were able to maintain a respectable 57 MPH at WOT. An 80s 1 ton probably would have struggled to get much above 30-35 with a 9000# trailer...
In a separate segment they also did a towing test and managed over 10MPG towing a 7000 lb trailer on cruise on I-25 with the 6.2.
With stats like these it's pretty hard to make an argument for the Duramax. But you could still make a case for a gas 3/4 just so you had the payload rating to carry 4 normal sized adults in the cab and maybe some suitcases and coolers in the bed. Of course if the OP doesn't need the ability to carry 4 adults while towing then it's a moot point. Also depends on the weight of the trailer, we know the car weighs 3600-3700, now how much for the trailer?
09-11-2017, 02:22 PM
#408
Speaking to the OP specifically...9100 seems a little low by modern standards even for a half ton, TFL Truck did one of their "Ike Gauntlet" sections on the Chevy version of the same truck and quoted a tow rating in the 11K range for their truck, I wonder what is different about the Denali? Maybe has a fancy AWD system?
2017 Sierra Denali 1500 Short Box 4WD: 9100lbs.
I agree what has been said in both. I would be willing to bet it is the frame / chassis, suspension and cooling components, and the control of the trailer more than the pulling of it.
2017 Performance:
1500 5.3: 355@5600HP, 383@4100TQ. 3.42 gear
1500 6.2: 420@5600HP, 460@4100TQ. 3.23 gear
2500 6.0: 360@5400HP, 380@4200TQ. 4.10 gear
Max tow package adds some capacity on the 1500. Bumps it up to a little over 11,000.
For What It's Worth
2004 Trailering Info:
1500 5.3: 295@5200HP, 330@4000TQ. 7500lb towing capacity.
2500 6.0: 300@4400HP, 360@4000TQ. 9900lb towing capacity.
Last edited by Only ERO's; 09-11-2017 at 02:28 PM.
09-11-2017, 02:24 PM
#409
With stats like these it's pretty hard to make an argument for the Duramax. But you could still make a case for a gas 3/4 just so you had the payload rating to carry 4 normal sized adults in the cab and maybe some suitcases and coolers in the bed. Of course if the OP doesn't need the ability to carry 4 adults while towing then it's a moot point. Also depends on the weight of the trailer, we know the car weighs 3600-3700, now how much for the trailer?
Car weighs a little over 3300. Trailer empty is going to be about 4800.
09-11-2017, 02:36 PM
#410
To me it's payload that makes the argument for a 3/4 ton a lot of times, and you allude to this in your 2nd paragraph. If you have 4 people and personal effects in a half ton and then you go and add tongue weight of any substantial amount a lot of times you'll be over the payload limit of the truck. I've had a couple of half tons where the tow rating was really just a paper rating, as they had payload ratings of only around 1400 lbs. If it's rated to tow 9000 lbs and you only have 1400 of payload to work with, at 10% tongue weight you've only got 500 lbs left. With even as few as two people (read: bubba-sized American adults), you'd have to put all your supplies in the trailer to avoid going over payload limit.
Speaking to the OP specifically...9100 seems a little low by modern standards even for a half ton, TFL Truck did one of their "Ike Gauntlet" sections on the Chevy version of the same truck and quoted a tow rating in the 11K range for their truck, I wonder what is different about the Denali? Maybe has a fancy AWD system?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dq8S83AYKsU
At any rate, they towed 9000 pounds up Eisenhower Pass (over 11,000 feet) in Colorado and were able to maintain a respectable 57 MPH at WOT. An 80s 1 ton probably would have struggled to get much above 30-35 with a 9000# trailer...
In a separate segment they also did a towing test and managed over 10MPG towing a 7000 lb trailer on cruise on I-25 with the 6.2.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...&v=8KN5juXz8CE
With stats like these it's pretty hard to make an argument for the Duramax. But you could still make a case for a gas 3/4 just so you had the payload rating to carry 4 normal sized adults in the cab and maybe some suitcases and coolers in the bed. Of course if the OP doesn't need the ability to carry 4 adults while towing then it's a moot point. Also depends on the weight of the trailer, we know the car weighs 3600-3700, now how much for the trailer?
Speaking to the OP specifically...9100 seems a little low by modern standards even for a half ton, TFL Truck did one of their "Ike Gauntlet" sections on the Chevy version of the same truck and quoted a tow rating in the 11K range for their truck, I wonder what is different about the Denali? Maybe has a fancy AWD system?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dq8S83AYKsU
At any rate, they towed 9000 pounds up Eisenhower Pass (over 11,000 feet) in Colorado and were able to maintain a respectable 57 MPH at WOT. An 80s 1 ton probably would have struggled to get much above 30-35 with a 9000# trailer...
In a separate segment they also did a towing test and managed over 10MPG towing a 7000 lb trailer on cruise on I-25 with the 6.2.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...&v=8KN5juXz8CE
With stats like these it's pretty hard to make an argument for the Duramax. But you could still make a case for a gas 3/4 just so you had the payload rating to carry 4 normal sized adults in the cab and maybe some suitcases and coolers in the bed. Of course if the OP doesn't need the ability to carry 4 adults while towing then it's a moot point. Also depends on the weight of the trailer, we know the car weighs 3600-3700, now how much for the trailer?
09-17-2017, 04:11 PM
#411
Just got home from spectating Hot Rod Drag Week at Great Lakes Dragaway and also Chitown's King of the Streets. Couldn't believe how busy the track was for HRDW. Lots of spectators. KOTS was an absolute blast and tons of great racing. It took a shitload of time to get going (schedule said driver's meeting at 10 and racing at 11 but started closer to 2), but was great all day after things started rolling. Definitely an event to visit.
While I was gone, I also received a notice from Intech that the trailer has started production. I should have plenty of photos over the next couple of weeks starting with these:
While I was gone, I also received a notice from Intech that the trailer has started production. I should have plenty of photos over the next couple of weeks starting with these:
09-19-2017, 04:30 PM
#416
Would love to see 7's, but there is nothing simple about getting there.
