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NinerBikes's avatar
NinerBikes
Explorer
May 24, 2016

GMC/Chevy Baby diesel, What can you tow with it?

Has anyone gone out yet and bought one of these 2.8 L inline 4 baby Duramax VM Motori made in Thailand diesels yet and pulled some travel trailer yet behind one of them?

I know the 4 banger is down at 181HP and 369ftlbs of torque from the 240HP and 406 ftlbs of my 2013 Touareg TDI Sport. Also down from the RAM Ecodiesel 3.0 V6 too.

In 4wd, should pull 7000 #'s, albeit I bet pretty slow.


Rumor also has it that the 6 speed transmission for 2016 model is going bye bye for an 8 speed gear box in 2018.

How does it tow with a lot of frontal area wind resistance?
Tow Vehicles
  • rjstractor's avatar
    rjstractor
    Nomad
    May 25, 2016
    It's actually an I4, not a V4. I imagine it tows fine up to its rating. I really like the truck but I don't think it's a good value at this point. The Ram Ecodiesel is a bigger, more powerful truck, gets around the same mileage, but the kicker is actually cheaper to buy. MSRP is a little lower compared to the Ram but you can't get the diesel in a lower trim. There are not many on dealer lots so there isn't much dealing on price. I hope supply increases so one can be had for under $40K.
  • 45Ricochet's avatar
    45Ricochet
    Explorer
    May 25, 2016
    What ever it tows it had better be skinny cause the mirrors suck IMO :B
  • NinerBikes's avatar
    NinerBikes
    Explorer
    May 25, 2016
    My 2013 Touareg TDI at 5000# with a 4300# wet 21 foot Palomino Gazelle TT feels heavily taxed on I-15 going up grades from San Bernadino to Yellowstone . One big pull from Mesquite NV to Cedar City, UT also, a slow one.
  • Bedlam's avatar
    Bedlam
    Moderator
    May 24, 2016
    I pulled a Scamp trailer with a normally aspirated Perkins in my Mazda up and down the Sierra Nevadas at 45 mph or better, so you know any of these light fiberglass eggs would be a breeze with the baby DM.
  • GWolfe's avatar
    GWolfe
    Explorer
    May 24, 2016
    Ike Gauntlet

    TFLtruck did a run up to Eisenhower Tunnel with one, seemed to do OK but like you said , a little slow. Cool that it comes with a trailer brake controller and exhaust brake.

    It did win their Golden Hitch Award as well.

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