Forum Discussion

Hneill's avatar
Hneill
Explorer
Oct 17, 2014

Vortec vs Hemi

I will be in the market for a new truck to pull my 33ft bumper pull coachman travel trailer but not sure what to go with. Was thinking a gas truck since I'll only be pulling a few times a year should I go with the Vortec 2500 or the Hemi 2500 ?
  • I had a '10 2500 6.0/ 4.10 pulling a 31' TT (7600 lbs) and it did fine but.....it sure liked gas! Got around 9 mpg @ 60 mph towing. Unloaded around town best of 10.5 mpg. Nicknamed it "the pig". Traded on a used diesel dually in preparation for the new 5er. Wow what a difference! Now 11k lbs, 12.5 mpg loaded and hardly crack the throttle towing. Never a gasser towing again.
  • I can only speak on my own experience with the GM 6.0 gasser. My fiver weighs 12k and the 6.0 is awesome. I also do not tow full time, therefore did not want a diesel. With a gas engine and that size/weight trailer, make sure you get a 4:10 or 4:30 axle (most trucks on dealer lots have 3:73).
  • I don't think it makes that much of a difference, those are just brand names for engine families. I would by the truck with the best dealer support, which in my town means Ford.

    I had Dodge trucks until an out of town dealer from a bigger city took away the franchise and turned the service business into a rip-off operation. I came to town 35 years ago with a Chevy but couldn't stand the dealer's inadequacies, though things may have improved since the bailout reorganization, when the Chevy franchise was revoked and handed over to the Buick dealer. The Buick dealer has always been good.

    Point is, local service issues can matter more than national brands and brand loyalties.
  • The will both get the job done as will the Ford with the 6.2. With that size of trailer I wouldn't worry so much about the engine as the actual performance will be very similar. Just find the truck that you like the best.

    If you do go Ram though I would get the 6.4 hemi over the 5.7.
  • I'm a GM guy but I would look close at the 6.4 Hemi Ram with that big 430 ft lbs of torque. Owners have reported fairly good mpg for a gas engine and heavy trailers and even empty.

    Trucks don't pull trailers by their length but by their weight. We have no idea how much a 33' bumper pull coachman weighs. My guess is either engine can pull a 33' coachman
  • I would test drive them all, see which one is the most comfortable. For 90% of driver's towing the difference to getting to the campground is minimal.

    On paper the Hemi 6.4 is supposed to be the strongest, but the Ike Gauntlet exposed an issue with what people suspect is the transmission gearing in the first 1-3 gears. However not everyone is going to be driving at 9,000'-13,000' at wide open throttle.

    The 6.0 has been around for a long time, lot of support for them etc. I had the 2008 Chevy 6.0 and it's plenty strong for most.

    Just go test drive em and go with the truck you like the most for the money your going to spend.