What kind of stuff did you do to make it tow more reliably?
School Me: Diesel Trucks and Towing
- Thread starter jps8460
- Start date
hitchhiker
Rising Sun Member
I have a 2004.5 duramax and that thing rules. The interiors are super comfy the power band is awesome (especially when option 2 is a 80 series) the towing capacity is around 12,000lbs and the Allison is great. If I was going to buy a diesel all over again I would 100% get another cat eye. I haven't towed anything super heavy only my moms boat which is around 6000lbs and when I did I hardly noticed it was there for most of the drive. If your in Laramie your more then welcome to drive my truck around.
ScaldedDog
Hard Core 4+
Sorry for the long get-back. It turns out being sick in Moab is exactly no fun.
Here are a few things:
Transmission: The 4R100 is pretty stout, but is prone to coast clutch failure when towing through the mountains with the coast clutch applied (i.e. the OD lockout button pressed, with also engages the coast clutch). Mine failed at 118K in 2010, and I took the opportunity to drop big dollars on a BTS transmission, which is a built 4R100. Sixteen years and 77k later, I couldn't be happier.
Suspension: I did "Excursion things". V-code (F350) springs up front, airbags in the rear, as well as a rear sway bar. You probably wouldn't have to do any of those with a proper 1-ton truck.
Hitch: Again possibly specific to the Excursion, I run a WD hitch. I flat love the thing.
Performance: This is the hole of the rat, for sure. Heavily modified turbo, upgraded HPOP, 4" exhaust, 6637 intake (though there are higher dollar ones), tuning from the best guy in the business... You get the idea. All I ever wanted to do was to tow at the speed limit, with EGTs in check, and as little smoke as possible. For the most part, I can now do that. If I'm not towing, and not slowed by traffic, the thing will never shift out of OD on I70, either direction.
Monitoring: I run Forscan on an Android radio all the time, and so have instantaneous access to critical engine parameters. It looks like this:
Strange as it may seem, my Excursion tow rig is my all time favorite vehicle.
I hope this helps!!
Mark
Right on man, thanks for sharing all of that! Sorry to hear you’re sick in Moab.Sorry for the long get-back. It turns out being sick in Moab is exactly no fun.
Here are a few things:
Transmission: The 4R100 is pretty stout, but is prone to coast clutch failure when towing through the mountains with the coast clutch applied (i.e. the OD lockout button pressed, with also engages the coast clutch). Mine failed at 118K in 2010, and I took the opportunity to drop big dollars on a BTS transmission, which is a built 4R100. Sixteen years and 77k later, I couldn't be happier.
Suspension: I did "Excursion things". V-code (F350) springs up front, airbags in the rear, as well as a rear sway bar. You probably wouldn't have to do any of those with a proper 1-ton truck.
Hitch: Again possibly specific to the Excursion, I run a WD hitch. I flat love the thing.
Performance: This is the hole of the rat, for sure. Heavily modified turbo, upgraded HPOP, 4" exhaust, 6637 intake (though there are higher dollar ones), tuning from the best guy in the business... You get the idea. All I ever wanted to do was to tow at the speed limit, with EGTs in check, and as little smoke as possible. For the most part, I can now do that. If I'm not towing, and not slowed by traffic, the thing will never shift out of OD on I70, either direction.
Monitoring: I run Forscan on an Android radio all the time, and so have instantaneous access to critical engine parameters. It looks like this:
Strange as it may seem, my Excursion tow rig is my all time favorite vehicle.
I hope this helps!!
Mark
BritKLR
Vice Commander
Question?
Why diesel?
Fuel economy? Power? Expense? Fuel cost? Tow capacity? Pure speed?
To be honest, if I was towing weekly I'd actively look for a 7.3. But, since I've only towed for pleasure/home owner stuff and now long distance events I've found modern gassers work well and cost effective. I've had the Ford V10 with excellent reliability and 16 mpg with or with a load. The Chevy 5.7 v8 is what I've now had for over 20 years and continues to serve my moderate needs. Of course there is large gassers out there but was just curious why you landed on diesel.
Goodluck on your quest.
Why diesel?
Fuel economy? Power? Expense? Fuel cost? Tow capacity? Pure speed?
To be honest, if I was towing weekly I'd actively look for a 7.3. But, since I've only towed for pleasure/home owner stuff and now long distance events I've found modern gassers work well and cost effective. I've had the Ford V10 with excellent reliability and 16 mpg with or with a load. The Chevy 5.7 v8 is what I've now had for over 20 years and continues to serve my moderate needs. Of course there is large gassers out there but was just curious why you landed on diesel.
Goodluck on your quest.
Stuckinthe80s
Rising Sun Member
I was going to ask the same thing. Not to get into a debate on whether gas or diesel is better, but if it were me, I'd also look for a modern big block. I've been thinking about a tow rig as well and keep leaning towards an early 2000's Chevy with the 8.1. I keep finding them with around 150k and the trucks themselves are usually in good shape. Seems like they were all bought by older guys with the same thought in mind: occasional towing.
It’s 100% about towing capacity and efficiency. I’ve been looking more and more and considering what it would take to tow 2 rigs. I’ve been under estimating how much the trailer weighs to make that happen.
I was kind of thinking 12,000 lbs of trucks and like 4k of trailer, but that’s probably low.
I’m not 100% ready to pull the trigger. As I’ve got to get some other plans unfolded. But, I’ve been looking at towing trucks around to reduce wear and tear, etc. I also will likely be moving a shop and needing to hauling some equipment in the coming year, which is partially why I’m also in the market for a rig that is fully depreciated haha.
I was looking at maybe a Tundra for small stuff but “we” just towed a 6,000lb trailer accross the country with a new Tundra and got 7mpgs. My father in law has an “intact” gmc that he regularly tows 14k with and gets 13mpg (in Iowa) while towing and about 17mpg empty… Kinda nutz. Also diesel trucks seem to be on sale right now.
Burt88
Trail Ready
Towing two trucks? You'll have to start with a 1-ton and usually you're still pushing max capacity. There's a lot of really bad math on the highways. Dangerous. Towing one built LX470 is on a tandem axle trailer is around the 10k lb mark. Add more trailer and an additional truck and you need a lot of capacity to remain safe. Remember, it's not what you can pull, rather what you can stop. On longer hauls there's no reason to go full GVWR otherwise you're asking for something to break down or worse.
I've towed equipment and trucks since I could drive and I've towed with various platforms and both gas and diesel and could certainly have a lengthy conversation on the topic. Just because an old 12v Cummins can pull a house off it's foundation doesn't mean the mass of the pickup can control the weight after it starts moving.
I've towed equipment and trucks since I could drive and I've towed with various platforms and both gas and diesel and could certainly have a lengthy conversation on the topic. Just because an old 12v Cummins can pull a house off it's foundation doesn't mean the mass of the pickup can control the weight after it starts moving.
LARGEONE
Rising Sun Member
Very good advice/comments. I would think pulling two trucks on a trailer will push you into a dually and get you closer to 18K lbs towing. Especially in hills. Does it also push you into a CDL? getting closeTowing two trucks? You'll have to start with a 1-ton and usually you're still pushing max capacity. There's a lot of really bad math on the highways. Dangerous. Towing one built LX470 is on a tandem axle trailer is around the 10k lb mark. Add more trailer and an additional truck and you need a lot of capacity to remain safe. Remember, it's not what you can pull, rather what you can stop. On longer hauls there's no reason to go full GVWR otherwise you're asking for something to break down or worse.
I've towed equipment and trucks since I could drive and I've towed with various platforms and both gas and diesel and could certainly have a lengthy conversation on the topic. Just because an old 12v Cummins can pull a house off it's foundation doesn't mean the mass of the pickup can control the weight after it starts moving.
I love my 2017 L5P Duramax with 6 speed Allison, but it is a bit outside of your price range. It tows my 7500 lb tractor and a 5th wheel RV really well.
I’ve actually been looking at 1tons now that I’ve actually started doing the math. The equipment and machinery I’ve been mathing out more seriously would probably do better with a 1ton dually. Again, just starting the process and trying to figure out what makes most sense. For instance, my Lathe is right at 10k lbs and requires a flat deck to haul. My mill is about 8500. Track steers are in the 9-10k range and so. Yea… might really need to be looking at 3500’s and/or dually’sVery good advice/comments. I would think pulling two trucks on a trailer will push you into a dually and get you closer to 18K lbs towing. Especially in hills. Does it also push you into a CDL? getting close
I love my 2017 L5P Duramax with 6 speed Allison, but it is a bit outside of your price range. It tows my 7500 lb tractor and a 5th wheel RV really well.
You're thinking right.
FWIW, I once rented a 10K mini excavator and when I left our property it was snowing pretty good. Wet, slushy, slippery snow. About two turns below our property it was obvious the trailer brakes weren't working (thanks Sunbelt). Even with all that (you know the road) the 3500 controlled it and got it down safely.
I don't even blink at a 10K load on a trailer in terms of controlling the weight. It just does it safely. Not just the engine and transmission, but the brakes are HUGE on the thing, plus having a big truck to pull the trailer helps a ton. I think you're looking at early 2000s though to have big enough disc brakes on the rear axle though.
In other big Dodge news, this year it's not the radiator cap. Instead the radiator decided to leak. So that's fun.
Dan