Info on Tow Vehicle

Bob Don · 02-11-2015, 06:52 PM

I have a '02 Silverado 2500HD with an 8.1 and Allison trans. Tows a 24' enclosed just fine.

Greg Hill · 02-11-2015, 07:01 PM

I would highly recommend the 8.1 gas motor in a Chevy or GMC. I've got a 2001 dually and it does a fine job with a 26-28ft. Enclosed trailer. You also get the Allison trans. If you ever pull with a dually you will realize why so many people use them to pull a trailer.

Mike Pearson · 02-11-2015, 07:11 PM

What kind of fuel mileage are you getting with the 8.1. Towing and empty. Just curious. The big gas motored trucks I have had were brutal on fuel.

Lee Valentine · 02-11-2015, 07:20 PM

Towed with a 2500 suburban for years,two years ago bought a f-350 daully with a 7.3 diesel,unbelievable. Wouldn't tow with anything less.

GTX JOHN · 02-11-2015, 07:53 PM

I have been very happy with the 5.7 HEMI in a 2500 for the
past 10 Years. The difference in Mileage is made up by price
of gas being so much lower out here. I have towed 36 Enclosed
and 40 open all over the Division

Ram rates them to pull 14,450 lbs.

I have a 8 month old Ram 2500 single cab with 9,000 Miles
that I would sell for $21,500.00 with all the HD towing Stuff
factory installed.

Mike Jones · 02-11-2015, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Pearson

What kind of fuel mileage are you getting with the 8.1. Towing and empty. Just curious. The big gas motored trucks I have had were brutal on fuel.

X2

Mike A114 P/SA

Ed Carpenter · 02-11-2015, 08:23 PM

I have a 2001 Chevy 1500HD 6.0 with 201,000 miles. Still pulling my '24 enclosed trailer with my super stocker,scooter,tools, etc

Alan Roehrich · 02-11-2015, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Pearson

What kind of fuel mileage are you getting with the 8.1. Towing and empty. Just curious. The big gas motored trucks I have had were brutal on fuel.

Mine gets around 9 towing, around 11-12 empty. It has a 4.10 gear, which I think is too much. It's an 03 loaded crew cab, highest available GVWR. It hasn't had anything done to it. Yet.

FED 387 · 02-11-2015, 09:27 PM

Mine is a 2000 F250 extended cab---7.3 Powerstroke 2 WD auto-- Get about 15 around town just about 18 on the hiway empty --- towing a dragster and all my stuff in a 24 ft Haulmark gets about 11 1/2- 12 as long as its not hilly or windy-- 3:73 gear -- hafta keep it under 2000 RPM/62-65 MPH or the mileage goes to hell real fast--FED 387

Alan Roehrich · 02-11-2015, 09:45 PM

Yeah, well in my case that's 70+, and well over 2000 RPM. A 3.73:1 gear would probably help mine considerably. I hope the change to 19.5" medium truck wheels and tires takes some RPM out of it. I looked the other day, where the previous owners let the truck sit, the muffler is rusting out, so odds are it will get a complete exhaust system. That may help. I'm sure getting the ECM reprogrammed will help.

My one real complaint about the 8.1 is that it is way under cammed, so it runs out of power too early, the shift strategy holds it in gears too long under moderate throttle.

Still, the truck would have cost 1/3 more than I paid for it if it were a diesel, diesel costs 50% more per gallon than gasoline, and any repairs would be twice as high for the diesel. I love it, and I would not trade it for a diesel.

02-11-2015, 06:52 PM	#1
Bob Don VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Greater Boston Posts: 1,496 Likes: 1,132 Liked 903 Times in 192 Posts	Re: Info on Tow Vehicle I have a '02 Silverado 2500HD with an 8.1 and Allison trans. Tows a 24' enclosed just fine. __________________ Bob Don 128 SS

02-11-2015, 07:01 PM	#2
Greg Hill VIP Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Louisville , KY Posts: 1,995 Likes: 68 Liked 279 Times in 68 Posts	Re: Info on Tow Vehicle I would highly recommend the 8.1 gas motor in a Chevy or GMC. I've got a 2001 dually and it does a fine job with a 26-28ft. Enclosed trailer. You also get the Allison trans. If you ever pull with a dually you will realize why so many people use them to pull a trailer. __________________ Greg Hill 4171 STK

02-11-2015, 07:11 PM	#3
Mike Pearson VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,452 Likes: 615 Liked 1,937 Times in 582 Posts	Re: Info on Tow Vehicle What kind of fuel mileage are you getting with the 8.1. Towing and empty. Just curious. The big gas motored trucks I have had were brutal on fuel. __________________ Mike Pearson 2485 SS

02-11-2015, 07:20 PM	#4
Lee Valentine Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Brookfield, CT Posts: 708 Likes: 13 Liked 319 Times in 68 Posts	Re: Info on Tow Vehicle Towed with a 2500 suburban for years,two years ago bought a f-350 daully with a 7.3 diesel,unbelievable. Wouldn't tow with anything less. __________________ Lee Valentine 1661 STK

02-11-2015, 07:53 PM	#5
GTX JOHN VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Boulder City, Nevada 89005 Posts: 2,733 Likes: 2,803 Liked 2,486 Times in 697 Posts	Re: Info on Tow Vehicle I have been very happy with the 5.7 HEMI in a 2500 for the past 10 Years. The difference in Mileage is made up by price of gas being so much lower out here. I have towed 36 Enclosed and 40 open all over the Division Ram rates them to pull 14,450 lbs. I have a 8 month old Ram 2500 single cab with 9,000 Miles that I would sell for $21,500.00 with all the HD towing Stuff factory installed. __________________ John Irving 741 Stock 741 Super Stock Last edited by GTX JOHN; 02-11-2015 at 07:57 PM.

02-11-2015, 08:23 PM	#7
Ed Carpenter Live Reporter Join Date: May 2006 Location: Dripping Springs, Tx Posts: 2,709 Likes: 186 Liked 520 Times in 132 Posts	Re: Info on Tow Vehicle I have a 2001 Chevy 1500HD 6.0 with 201,000 miles. Still pulling my '24 enclosed trailer with my super stocker,scooter,tools, etc __________________ Ed Carpenter 2005 Chevy Cobalt A/SM Race Engine Development

02-11-2015, 09:27 PM	#9
FED 387 VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 3,422 Likes: 529 Liked 333 Times in 180 Posts	Re: Info on Tow Vehicle Mine is a 2000 F250 extended cab---7.3 Powerstroke 2 WD auto-- Get about 15 around town just about 18 on the hiway empty --- towing a dragster and all my stuff in a 24 ft Haulmark gets about 11 1/2- 12 as long as its not hilly or windy-- 3:73 gear -- hafta keep it under 2000 RPM/62-65 MPH or the mileage goes to hell real fast--FED 387

02-11-2015, 09:45 PM	#10
Alan Roehrich Veteran Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 5,118 Likes: 1,573 Liked 1,837 Times in 417 Posts	Re: Info on Tow Vehicle Yeah, well in my case that's 70+, and well over 2000 RPM. A 3.73:1 gear would probably help mine considerably. I hope the change to 19.5" medium truck wheels and tires takes some RPM out of it. I looked the other day, where the previous owners let the truck sit, the muffler is rusting out, so odds are it will get a complete exhaust system. That may help. I'm sure getting the ECM reprogrammed will help. My one real complaint about the 8.1 is that it is way under cammed, so it runs out of power too early, the shift strategy holds it in gears too long under moderate throttle. Still, the truck would have cost 1/3 more than I paid for it if it were a diesel, diesel costs 50% more per gallon than gasoline, and any repairs would be twice as high for the diesel. I love it, and I would not trade it for a diesel. __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S