Hi everyone my first post. I have a 2002 Chevy 2500HD 3/4 ton 4.10 gears that pulls our 4,000lb (fully loaded) 18' expandable trailer like a dream. On all but the steepest grades I'm able to keep around 65mph without redlining the engine. I can accelerate up to speed on on ramps with ease I really don't feel that trailer back there at all. We are just about to purchase a 6,500lb(fully loaded)25'toy hauler, how bad is this going to kill my performance. I don't want to be flooring this truck just to get 45mph on a grade that with my other trailer I had no problems. Is the extra 3,000 pounds going to have a huge impact on my 3/4 ton??? The toy hauler at 25' is still claiming to be 1/2 ton towable. Any help will be greatly appreciated

Hi everyone my first post. I have a 2002 Chevy 2500HD 3/4 ton 4.10 gears that pulls our 4,000lb (fully loaded) 18' expandable trailer like a dream. On all but the steepest grades I'm able to keep around 65mph without redlining the engine. I can accelerate up to speed on on ramps with ease I really don't feel that trailer back there at all. We are just about to purchase a 6,500lb(fully loaded)25'toy hauler, how bad is this going to kill my performance. I don't want to be flooring this truck just to get 45mph on a grade that with my other trailer I had no problems. Is the extra 3,000 pounds going to have a huge impact on my 3/4 ton??? The toy hauler at 25' is still claiming to be 1/2 ton towable. Any help will be greatly appreciated It would be nice to know what engine you have. Might help with some advice.

Probably not much difference but you do have to remember you are towing a heavy load so drive accordingly and have realistic expectations of performance.

Agreeing with the advice offered so far. You should have plenty of truck for the job, but you shouldn't expect to rocket uphill at 70 mph when towing.

I've always been told trailer tires are only speed rated to 65 so I really don't go over that.

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jmtandem
Explorer II
Jun 03, 2016
Hi everyone my first post. I have a 2002 Chevy 2500HD 3/4 ton 4.10 gears that pulls our 4,000lb (fully loaded) 18' expandable trailer like a dream. On all but the steepest grades I'm able to keep around 65mph without redlining the engine. I can accelerate up to speed on on ramps with ease I really don't feel that trailer back there at all.

We are just about to purchase a 6,500lb(fully loaded)25'toy hauler, how bad is this going to kill my performance. I don't want to be flooring this truck just to get 45mph on a grade that with my other trailer I had no problems. Is the extra 3,000 pounds going to have a huge impact on my 3/4 ton??? The toy hauler at 25' is still claiming to be 1/2 ton towable.

Any help will be greatly appreciated

It would be nice to know what engine you have. Might help with some advice.
js2500hd
Explorer
Jun 03, 2016
OOP's! 6.0L gas
FireGuard
Explorer II
Jun 03, 2016
Probably not much difference but you do have to remember you are towing a heavy load so drive accordingly and have realistic expectations of performance.
kknowlton
Explorer II
Jun 03, 2016
Agreeing with the advice offered so far. You should have plenty of truck for the job, but you shouldn't expect to rocket uphill at 70 mph when towing.
js2500hd
Explorer
Jun 03, 2016
I've always been told trailer tires are only speed rated to 65 so I really don't go over that.
APT
Explorer
Jun 03, 2016
You will notice the power difference when accelerating or going uphill. When I towed my TT with a 4-spd truck, I used 3rd gear most of the time. Up hills, I would let the speed drop to about 55mph and then downshift to second which was in the 4000rpm range. I could hold most hills at that speed. I recommend the same for your truck and new RV.

The worse in my head for performance was standing uphill freeway on-ramps. Two slow gears to accelerate.
Golfcart
Explorer
Jun 03, 2016
There is a couple thousand pound difference when pulling my trailer vs my dads trailer in my truck. his heavier trailer makes my 5.3 engine work a little harder, but it's within the towing capacities and i can still set the cruise control in the flats. The biggest difference when towing his trailer is i float speeds a little more when im in the hills and lose about .5 mpg

I'm sure your 6.0 will pull fine. Just dont expect it to react the same
DownTheAvenue
Explorer
Jun 03, 2016
Stopping power is way more important than pulling power.

Be sure your new trailer brake's are working correctly and you have a very good electronic brake controller.
hops
Explorer
Jun 03, 2016
Will it do it? Yes
Will you be comfortable with it? Maybe

I suspect the toyhauler is taller and wider than your current trailer. These things will also affect performance, that sail you are towing is that much larger.

What trailer is it that is 25 feet and only 6500 gross?

I pull a 28 foot tongue to tail (23' box) stealth with a 2005 6.0. It's a bit of a dog, but I'm not patient either.
Lynnmor
Explorer
Jun 03, 2016
There are many thousands of folks pulling trailers that are that heavy, or heavier, with the same truck.

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