Towing Issue

[motoadvrider]

I recently purchased a 2009 GMC 2500HD with 6.0L gas engine, 6 speed trans, 3.73 rear, 4X4. I did this because we had bought a 31ft travel trailer (5000lbs) and were towing it with a 2007 Silverado 1500, 5.3L engine, 3.73 rear two wheel drive Z71. The Chevy got 9.5mpg and really had no trouble towing the trailer but everyone told me we would do much better with a 2500. We like to go to New Mexico and Colorado so I thought the 2500 would be a good move.

 

Wrong..........It has more trouble towing the trailer, runs at higher RPM's and uses more gas....7mpg. The dealer (both salesman and service advisor) told me something was wrong with the truck. The tech that "checked it out" said everything was as it should be.....100% factory spec.

 

Is this the type of "improvements" I'm supposed to get with this larger more powerful truck? Is it "normal" for the 2500 to work harder to tow this trailer than my 1500 did?

[grose67]

I would think the new truck would pull the trailer without too much trouble. You lost some mpg when you went to 4x4. I wouldn't think you would lose that much though.

[Stevens03]

Something don't seem right, you should be doing better mileage and performance than that. You should have the 6-speed trans too which should be an improvement too. Keep pressing the dealership.

 

Hope you get it resolved.

[BruceW]

I think you would have seen an improvement if you had gone with a 2500 Diesel. But that gas engine is pulling more weight (bigger truck) than your old truck was.

 

As a comparison my 2003 Dodge Dakota 4.7 V8 AWD would get 10MPG at 80 on the freeway with a 6x14 enclosed trailer or around 9mpg towing a 4000 pound Kubota on a 3000 pound equipment hauler. A 4 wheeler and trailer would drop it from the normal 15/16 mpg to 12.

[hockeypro1411]

Is this the type of "improvements" I'm supposed to get with this larger more powerful truck? Is it "normal" for the 2500 to work harder to tow this trailer than my 1500 did?

 

The 6.0 may run at higher RPM's due to weight or whatever while cruising, but wait until you need to get moving somewhat quickly with that trailer behind you. You'll see an improvement. The other improvements are in the bigger brakes, beefier frame, superior trans., and all the other added goodies that come with a 3/4 ton truck.

[motoadvrider]

Thanks for the feedback. I'm going to try a different dealer. It was also suggested on an RV site that the trailer brakes may be dragging just a bit. I will also check that. I really like the truck other than the towing issue.

[wurgs]

Something does seem strange. My 09 Sierra 1500 with the 6.0 gets consistantly 9mpg with a high of 12 and low of 7 towing a 8000lb camper. Thats checked over 7 trips we took with it this summer.

[Dooner]

Are you using the "tow/haul" mode switch? If so, that engages a different gear in the tranny, causing the RPM's to rev higher. I rarely use mine because it loves screaming @4500rpms even on the slightest grades.

[Stevens03]

What kind of hills are you pulling, your 6.0 shouldn't be screaming... it should be pulling that weight fairly easy. The 6-speed should be making it easier, not harder.

[Dooner]

If you were replying to me, I think the problem may be that my toyhauler may be a bit overloaded (don't tell to po-po). Toys, 100gal fresh water, food, fuel, firewood, gear, etc...never weighed it. Other than that, the truck pulls it just fine. Set the cruise to 65mph, and lookout everyone!

[jro909]

its not the truck its probably the trailer, a 3/4 ton is built to tow...the 1500 should be sucking more gas towing then the 2500..

[Rat4go]

Running tow-haul you'll probably have better performance (and maybe higher RPM), but not necessarily better fuel economy. Except for losing grade braking and maybe having some extra shifting in rolling hills, I can't see any reason that you have to run Tow Haul. Heck, if you believe the owner's manual, T/H is recommended when you're at or above 75% of the GCW of the truck. My guess is that you're at 11,500 or so (6500 truck, 5000 stated for trailer) and the truck is rated at 16K I think. You're a tick under the 75% guideline if my math and guesses of truck weight are good.

[steiny93]

From the thread I'm guessing that nothing is 'incorrect or broken' rather MotoRider's exspectations of 'towing better' aren't inline.

 

I wouldn't be surprised at all if a 6.0 towing a light camper would get worse mileage then a 5.3 while at the same time appearing to perform similarly. Getting 7mpg with a 6.0 isn't a surprise to me at all, when I'm towing I'm in the 5 mpg range.

 

Saying that the 2500 has trouble towing the camper because it's at higher rpm doesn't make any sense. In tow/haul the 2500 will be more aggressive then then 5.3 was at staying in the higher rpms.

 

The advantage of the 2500 is the suspension / cooling capacity / brakes, they are much better suited for heavy loads then a 1/2 ton. But going to a 2500 for 5k lb travel trailer imo was a mistake, you'll only get the headache of a 2500 for little towing benefit due to the light load.

[txdutt]

how many miles are on the 09? It takes awhile to break them in and have everything settle down, at least 5-7k miles...my truck pulls much better now with 35k miles on it than it did with 3500 miles on it...

[Griptruk]

I tow just about the same weight regularly, and I think I do about 9 or so, maybe as good as 12 if I go easy on it and don't hit too many hills. The difference between you and me is you probably have a lot more frontal area than I do, since I'm only pulling an open car trailer.

 

As far as Tow haul, I use it but sometimes i'll turn it off when I'm cruising on flat ground, I like using it though for the most part because I like the tranny program better.

 

As was said, though, the big difference between the durability and better braking, is that I can still merge onto a highway into 75mph traffic with no problem, the thing just GOES!

 

-Jer