1500 hd?
 

Hello guys! Hey I sold my 1500 reg cab 4x4 4.8L 5-speed Truck....So I need something new to me to tow my 28' enclosed. I found a Chevy 1500 HD 6.0L 4x4..Have any of you towed with one? Most of the time I will have a S/C dragster in trailer BUT a few time a year it will have 80 Malibu M/SA car....1500HD be strong enough? Div.3 racer

Re: 1500 hd?
 

Greg, I know a guy that used to tow with one and he said it had more than enough power and was happy with it. Downside is that I don't think you're going to be happy with the gas mileage, around 8 mpg if I remember correctly. He only towed locally so wasn't much of an issue to him and you might would get a little better than that on interstates as long as you kept your foot out of it.

Re: 1500 hd?
 

The 6.0 is pretty good. To be honest though the best deal is the 2500hd with the 8.1 & Allison trans. I have one and just over 250k on it. Got several buddies with the 6.0 and we get similar milage. I get 8-10 towing my 28' and 13 without. The 6.0 gets same towing and 13-15 without.

The big motor scares many away, but often can be had for less than the 6.0 and usually have less mileage.

That said, the 1500hd is a nice step up from what you were driving. Good luck!

Re: 1500 hd?
 

It's not about pulling it .it's all about stopping and having control over it ,go with the 1 ton dual wheel

Re: 1500 hd?
 

There is absolutely no way I would pull a 28 ft enclosed trailer behind a 1/2 ton pick up truck. At the very least you would need a HD 3/4 ton truck. On a flat road with no wind it might tow straight. not so in a good cross wind. The suspension is just not heavy enough. The bigger trucks will get the same or better fuel mileage especially the diesels. The tires on a 1/2 tone would not have the load carrying capacity that will be needed for highway driving. Like others have said a dually is the real answer.

Re: 1500 hd?
 

Just to clarify, the 1500hd and 2500 (not 2500hd) are the same truck. They have 8 lug axles, bigger brakes, stronger trans and X-fer case, heavier springs (than a 1500).

I've never towed with a dually, so I don't know whatbI am missing out on. I've towed my 28, for 7 years but never more than 300 miles. My 2500hd seems adequate. I would like to upgrade to a dually, but not till the old girl turns 500k!

Re: 1500 hd?
 

Once you get to the 6.0, the difference in fuel economy between a 1500 and at least a 2500 is negligible. I'd tow a moderate sized open tag trailer, or a small tag enclosed with a 2500, but I wouldn't tow a 28' enclosed with less than a 3500 DRW.

Sure, the lighter truck will pull the trailer. The problem is stopping and controlling it in an emergency situation. Most inexpensive trailers are heavy, because they have more steel than aluminum, and aluminum costs a lot more. They usually don't have enough axles, and the ones they do have are not heavy enough, because heavy axles with good brakes and good tires cost more.

A heavy trailer with tires, brakes, and axles that are marginal at best, behind a truck that isn't really up to the task, is an accident waiting to happen. Some people get lucky, and it never happens to them. I never count on luck.

Re: 1500 hd?
 

My cousins have a 2000 Chevy 2500 (Light duty) with the 6.0 and a 5 speed.
It is virtually the same truck as the 1500 HD you are looking at. It has plenty of power and handles a load very well. They pull a camper and also a really heavy gooseneck deck over equipment trailer with their farm tractors on it. No control or braking issues.

I don't know where you guys live that are saying you need a dually, but I live in the "Mountain State" and we have dome pretty bad roads. I don't see why you think a dually is necessary for pulling a 10,000-12,000# trailer. A well loaded/balanced trailer and equalizing hitch are all that is necessary.

Re: 1500 hd?
 

I have a 2003 2500 GMC 4x4 that I use when not towing with the MH.My trailer is a 28ft atc weighing about 9000 lbs loaded. It works pretty good,but I don't think I would like going very far in it. It should be fine for local racing. The total weight has a lot to do with towing . Rick