Just completed first tow....good and bad!,
As a newby, We just finished our first tow with a 2011 GMC hd 2500 6.0 gas from st louis, mo. to harrington beach campground north of Milwaukee, Ws. Trailer is about 8000 pounds. Trip was about 860 mi...
Forum Discussion
How many miles on your truck? My 2011 at 31k miles this year is doing better than last summer at 12k miles. I also had the trailer axles aligned and new Maxxis ST tires since last season. Anyway, I was 7-8mpg over about 2300 towing miles last summer. I have about 1200 towing miles this summer so far this year and I'm getting 9-10mpg at the same speeds. Now towing highway mileage has also up from about 15mpg around 7k miles to over 17mph at 20k miles last fall. I really like this truck.
I use tow haul mode, and M5 and tow at 65-70mph. I roll the hills, let speed drop to about 60mph before downshifting to 4th. Never cruise control. Mine does attempt 6th gear which is why I use M5. 6th gear is 0.67:1 and runs about 1800rpm at 65mph, far to little torque for the 6.0L there.
Frankly, few naturally aspirated engines will hold 65mph up much of any hills at 2200-2300rpm you cruise at. 8.1L and Ford's V10 maybe. Ecoboost would as would any 10 year old or newer diesel. If you let it slow down 5-10mph up hills, speed up a little down hills, you will have fewer downshifts. Or, just cruise in M4 all the time at 3000rpm.
I use tow haul mode, and M5 and tow at 65-70mph. I roll the hills, let speed drop to about 60mph before downshifting to 4th. Never cruise control. Mine does attempt 6th gear which is why I use M5. 6th gear is 0.67:1 and runs about 1800rpm at 65mph, far to little torque for the 6.0L there.
Frankly, few naturally aspirated engines will hold 65mph up much of any hills at 2200-2300rpm you cruise at. 8.1L and Ford's V10 maybe. Ecoboost would as would any 10 year old or newer diesel. If you let it slow down 5-10mph up hills, speed up a little down hills, you will have fewer downshifts. Or, just cruise in M4 all the time at 3000rpm.
