2013 GMC 2500 HD 6.0/gas - Breaking questions

ArcticFox&Cats wrote:
Anyone with experience towing with the '13 GMC 2500HD with the 6.0 gas engine? Specifically breaking, engine compression, help with slowing vehicle and rig down on steeper terrain. Trailer is GVWR 7,000.

I have a 2015 GMC 2500 WITH 6.0, trailer is A Rockwood Roo with a GVWR of 6400.

Yesterday I returned from a state park we camp at frequently about 30 miles from home. We have to cross the first two ridges of the alleghenies, west side. On the way home we descend one grade, Laurel Ridge on state rt 31. That is 5 miles long, 7% or better in most places with two sections @ 13%. The second is Chestnut ridge on rt 711, 3 miles @ 6%.

I may have used the brake a dozen times and most of those were at intersections or for other vehicles making a turn. The trick with the 6.0 4-10 is to not barrel over the top of the mountain at 70 mph. Use 2nd gear or 3rd in manual shift, and do not be afraid to let the tach go up into 5K rpm territory.

Dont worry about the pissed off idiots behind you because youre doing 40 mph down. They can not understand why you are doing so as they think since your going down a mountain you should be doing 90mph and riding your brake the entire way. Theyll most likely be about a foot from your back bumper. They missed those large yellow signs limiting commercial trucks to low gear and 20 mph that say warning...steep grades, sharp curves, do not know what those gravel ramps are for that shoot off uphill, and probably run their daily driver until they have metal to metal contact, then go to the dealer wondering what the weird noise is.