New(ish) Tow Rig

[regret21]

I'm trying to decide on a new tow rig. I have a 2007 LBZ duramax and I can't seat my entire family inside anymore(6people)and its getting up there on miles (165k) I talked to a couple dealers and I have selected three vehicles, 2015 Yukon Denali (6.2L), 2017 Sierra (5.3), or 2013 Sierra Duramax. The dealer claims the 5.3L can pull my Mirrage car hauler/dual sport enclosed. Obviously not as well as a duramax, but the 5.3L gets better millage while not towing.(16-22). The trailer has 14K worth of axels under it but I have yet to go over 10k. The Yukon has the 6.2L and would fit our family better, but I'm not sure if I'm ready to give up a pickup. I dont know how well and SUV would do towing but the 440hp rating I think it would do fine. I do like the 14-20mpg you get as well with that power. The duramax would be great, but the price of diesel keeps going up and any repairs or maintenance is quite a bit more compared to the gassers. Plus I head the MPG sucks for everyday driving.


I live in Idaho and will have mountain towing. Whats the groups experience with the rigs?

 

[summ8rmk]

2008 Dmax 3500 crew LB. (Fun)
Empty my Dmax uses slightly less fuel, 15-19mpg
Towing, avg 12mpg, 4-7k lbs.

2011 5.3 1500 ext cab sb. (Work)
Empty 15-16.7mpg mostly 15.5.
Towed 2k lbs a couple times and was surprised how much it slowed the truck down and how much feedback i could feel through the truck.

Even the crew cab GMC barely has enough leg room for a 6ft tall adult.
Ford is much more comfortable and roomy in the back seat.

[emoji507][emoji192]

 

[joshkoltes]

I had a 5.3 back in 2006 to tow my 27' triton trailer and it would shift gears constantly to keep the pace. would it do it, yeah. are you nervous about the transmission, also yeah.
the worst part wasn't that the semis were passing me, the worst part was the semis side wind when they passed! it would almost push the half ton off the road.
my one ton dosnt let my trailer push the pickup around

 

[Coldfinger]

Depends how often and how far you tow. My 2002 gm 2500hd 6.0 with 4.10 gears and 265/75 tires, crew, could pull my 9800 # camper ok at 60-65 but throw in some wind and hills and it really had to work.

It was tolerable for 200 mile trips one way, but our annual 600 mile trek west on I80 to Colorado had me wishing every time that We had a diesel.

My 02 is rated for approx 10,000 bumper towing.

Take the new Ford Raptor as an example with the high output ecoboost. That thing makes over 400 hp iirc, but the tow rating is less than the regular, properly equipped ecoboost.

Just because something makes great power doesnt mean the tow rating increases.

 

[tadder52]

Depends how often and how far you tow. My 2002 gm 2500hd 6.0 with 4.10 gears and 265/75 tires, crew, could pull my 9800 # camper ok at 60-65 but throw in some wind and hills and it really had to work.

It was tolerable for 200 mile trips one way, but our annual 600 mile trek west on I80 to Colorado had me wishing every time that We had a diesel.

My 02 is rated for approx 10,000 bumper towing.

Take the new Ford Raptor as an example with the high output ecoboost. That thing makes over 400 hp iirc, but the tow rating is less than the regular, properly equipped ecoboost.

Just because something makes great power doesnt mean the tow rating increases.

This. Most newer rigs have the motor to pull anything -- sure some will drink fuel faster. The limiting factor is almost always stopping and stability of the tow rig.

 

[05900]

Torque and gearing for towing... towing packages usually beef up cooling for transmission etc.

 

[richracer1]

2008 Dmax 3500 crew LB. (Fun)
Empty my Dmax uses slightly less fuel, 15-19mpg
Towing, avg 12mpg, 4-7k lbs.

2011 5.3 1500 ext cab sb. (Work)
Empty 15-16.7mpg mostly 15.5.
Towed 2k lbs a couple times and was surprised how much it slowed the truck down and how much feedback i could feel through the truck.

Even the crew cab GMC barely has enough leg room for a 6ft tall adult.
Ford is much more comfortable and roomy in the back seat.

[emoji507][emoji192]

That is true for that generation of crew cabs. When GM changed the body style in '14 the cabs got bigger. My 2015 GMC crew cab is larger than my friends 2008 GMC crew cab.

 

[tadder52]

That is true for that generation of crew cabs. When GM changed the body style in '14 the cabs got bigger. My 2015 GMC crew cab is larger than my friends 2008 GMC crew cab.

Absolutely true, but with our 1000 mile trip out west with seven guys and two trucks 4 always goes in the Ford or Mega cab and three in the GM product. Based completely on comfort.