Camper towing report after 3200 miles

64BAwagon · August 19, 2023

Unless youre on flat terrain the cruise is not your friend while towing heavy with these gassers. It doesnt have the predictive ability to compensate for a drivetrain that hasnt got reserve torque. I did notice on my 2021 6 spd that the towing sweet spot is around 64 MPH. Over that the torque becomes a bigger issue and it picked between gears more with much lower MPG. Since thats typically the MPH I run its a non issue for me.

As for the adaptive cruise I likely wont even try it on the truck. We have it on our Equinox and I leave it off. Too many braking and harder accelerations than I would use. It lacks the ability to think ahead, I try to stay ahead of things and coast rather than brake. I think on balance it actually drives the car harder than I do.

I will have a Scangage 3 on my 2024 before I tow with it. The gauges (oil, coolant temp and Volts) are wholly inadequate and I believe designed by someone without any serious large pickup experience. The lack of an actual numerical value is unforgivable. They should ALL be like the trans temp gauge that can be placed in the center of either side. I noticed the Volts goes away when my truck is placed in Tow/haul ? Who greenlit thats mistake ? Its already an inferior gauge but when I need it most its gone.

UWSkier · August 20, 2023

8 hours ago, 64BAwagon said:

Unless youre on flat terrain the cruise is not your friend while towing heavy with these gassers. It doesnt have the predictive ability to compensate for a drivetrain that hasnt got reserve torque. I did notice on my 2021 6 spd that the towing sweet spot is around 64 MPH. Over that the torque becomes a bigger issue and it picked between gears more with much lower MPG. Since thats typically the MPH I run its a non issue for me.

As for the adaptive cruise I likely wont even try it on the truck. We have it on our Equinox and I leave it off. Too many braking and harder accelerations than I would use. It lacks the ability to think ahead, I try to stay ahead of things and coast rather than brake. I think on balance it actually drives the car harder than I do.

I will have a Scangage 3 on my 2024 before I tow with it. The gauges (oil, coolant temp and Volts) are wholly inadequate and I believe designed by someone without any serious large pickup experience. The lack of an actual numerical value is unforgivable. They should ALL be like the trans temp gauge that can be placed in the center of either side. I noticed the Volts goes away when my truck is placed in Tow/haul ? Who greenlit thats mistake ? Its already an inferior gauge but when I need it most its gone.

Agreed on the gauges on all points. I found myself looking for the voltmeter when towing too to see what it said when I'd get a "check trailer wiring" message. The digital gauges on my 2016 Denali were less customizable yet still far more useful than these. Hoping a software update will make this cluster more usable.

64BAwagon · August 20, 2023

For whatever its worth I flamed the gauges (or lack of) when GM sent me the survey about my truck. From what I hear my sentiment is pretty widespread. I dont hold much hope for a substantive change though. I think the more likely scenario is they get a mid run update and leave us in the dust to fend for ourselves. Nothing the Scangage 3 wont fix.

On another note. I drove our new Equinox last night for the first time after dark. I am impressed with the LED headlights but I have to say I love the automatic bright light switch. It works flawlessly.

I am pretty sure the lights on this vehicle might be a little harsh on the people in front of you. I noticed a number of times that people were tapping their brake lights for no reason other than I think they figured I had my brights on when I didnt.

Edited August 20, 2023 by 64BAwagon

lsttype · August 20, 2023

Having just come back to gas from a 6.7 Cummins I will give my 2 cents. 1st off I loved the Cummins but all the emission issues and dash lights slowly drive me insane LOL. Anyways I traded it for a 2020 Chevy 2500 6.6 gasser. I love it. It tows my 9-10k camper nicely. I love the 6L90 6 speed. It's a fantastic transmission imo and does great towing. My rpm towing 65-70 is around 2300-2500. It only downshifting on a grade and then it's around 3k. I lock out 6th because that will just build up extra heat.

I also have a 2022 F250 with the 7.3 Godzilla motor and the 10 speed. It was bought to be my retirement truck to go see the country in a few more years. However there are so many cases of lifter and cam issues with the 7.3 that I ordered a new 24 gmc. If you don't compare the gasser to diesel then you will be happy with the 6.6 gas in my opinion.

TeamSaris · August 29, 2023

I tow our race rig (10,500lbs) with my fathers 6.6 gas 6 spd and not for nothing Ive never once wished it had more gears. It rarely revs over 2500rpm at 70mph. Its pretty hilly around here too.

Dr1ft3r · August 31, 2023

I tow a toy hauler weighing 12k-13k through the Rockies with my gasser. It does just fine. No WDH either, just bags. High RPM is expected. Been on 8% grades with it.

I don't wish for more gears either. But I will like the added torque from that Whipple SC as soon as they officially add support for my 23'.

64BAwagon · September 12, 2023

I am still completely stumped at why someone would greenlight a dash design that makes the already virtually useless voltage gage disappear when the truck in in tow haul mode ? To my thinking voltage is one of the top 6 things that need to be monitored when towing, I have a ton of lights on my trailer that are now part of the load. This really illustrates what I have been complaining about with GM not putting a serious truck person in charge of the dash instead of some art school graduate thats never driven anything bigger than a Trax.

Pryme · September 12, 2023

13 minutes ago, 64BAwagon said:

I am still completely stumped at why someone would greenlight a dash design that makes the already virtually useless voltage gage disappear when the truck in in tow haul mode ? To my thinking voltage is one of the top 6 things that need to be monitored when towing, I have a ton of lights on my trailer that are now part of the load. This really illustrates what I have been complaining about with GM not putting a serious truck person in charge of the dash instead of some art school graduate thats never driven anything bigger than a Trax.

Did you get your scan gauge 3 yet?

64BAwagon · September 12, 2023

2 hours ago, Pryme said:

Did you get your scan gauge 3 yet?

I have to wait until next month to get it in the budget, The RV is getting a new Dometic 320 first. Priorities

Dunn · October 11, 2023

Sounds like the 6spd is still great for towing and they just missed the programing with electronics on the 10spd maybe?.......haven't had a chance to tow yet....only some pretty heavy loads in back (which is primary reason for me).

1/2 tons and 3/4 tons aren't even really comparable in way they feel driving.....totally different in every way

kclinden · October 13, 2023

Glad to read this. I just moved from a 2023 1500 AT4 with the 3.0 to the 2024 2500 AT4 gasser for my 30 foot travel trailer. The wind was too much Nebraska’s for the smaller truck. I hope the 6.6 does about the same as the 3.0. The 3.0 drank def like crazy - less than 900 miles a tank though I think I had a def gauge issue.

Did the 2500 solve all of the handling issues with the trailer compared to the 1500? Trailering across Nebraska and South Dakota with 20-30mph crosswinds even got me wife approval for the upgrade with the expectation that the ride will improve.

Edited October 13, 2023 by kclinden

UWSkier · October 15, 2023

On 10/13/2023 at 7:02 PM, kclinden said:

Glad to read this. I just moved from a 2023 1500 AT4 with the 3.0 to the 2024 2500 AT4 gasser for my 30 foot travel trailer. The wind was too much Nebraska’s for the smaller truck. I hope the 6.6 does about the same as the 3.0. The 3.0 drank def like crazy - less than 900 miles a tank though I think I had a def gauge issue.

Did the 2500 solve all of the handling issues with the trailer compared to the 1500? Trailering across Nebraska and South Dakota with 20-30mph crosswinds even got me wife approval for the upgrade with the expectation that the ride will improve.

I run a ProPride hitch and put load range E tires on my half ton along with Roadmaster Active Suspension, so I never had issues in crosswinds. I mean the whole rig would move around but it never felt sketchy. I still run the ProPride hitch on the HD but with far less weight distribution than before. It's considerably more composed in crosswinds, going down mountain grades, etc.

the8rotor · October 16, 2023

I can't get over how big and bulky the ScanGauge 3 is... making me think about getting the new Edge CTS3 unit since it is slimmer and a little better layout.

Grumpy Bear · October 16, 2023

2 hours ago, the8rotor said:

I can't get over how big and bulky the ScanGauge 3 is... making me think about getting the new Edge CTS3 unit since it is slimmer and a little better layout.

Edge CTS3 is almost twice the money the SGIII. I'd need more than a 'slightly' smaller footprint.

Pryme · October 16, 2023

20 hours ago, Grumpy Bear said:

Edge CTS3 is almost twice the money the SGIII. I'd need more than a 'slightly' smaller footprint.

22 hours ago, the8rotor said:

I can't get over how big and bulky the ScanGauge 3 is... making me think about getting the new Edge CTS3 unit since it is slimmer and a little better layout.

I’d never heard of this one but they both look like black garmin gps units to me? And I concur with grumpy. That is literally over twice what I paid for the sg3 for the same functionality. Not sure how long that edge company has been around but I believe the sg has been making the gauges since the very early 2ks.

Edited October 17, 2023 by Pryme