Is anyone towing with a Chevy/GMC 1/2 ton 3.0L Diesel?

KD4UPL wrote:
You rarely pull at an RPM higher than 2500? You must have a really light trailer, live where there are no mountains, or just like lugging the engine to death.

You never towed with a F150 3.5 Ecoboost. 90% of the peak torque at 2000 RPM.

KD4UPL wrote:

wayfun wrote:

KD4UPL wrote:
You rarely pull at an RPM higher than 2500? You must have a really light trailer, live where there are no mountains, or just like lugging the engine to death.

I was pulling about 5000 lbs through the mountains of TN in tow/haul mode with the cruise set on 60 and let the 8 speed do the work. It would occasionally drop 5th gear at 2700 rpm. Most of the time it was in 6th gear at 2200 rpm.

That's remarkable. When I've got 6,500 pounds behind my 2009 Suburban with the 6.0L I'm usually down to 4th gear or even 3rd to maintain interstate speeds on the grades here in VA and WV.

My 2011 Tahoe with a 5.3 pulling 7,000lbs at 55-60 MPH is about 22-2500 rpms too. 5th gear usually. I am impressed with this little 5.3l 8.6 mpg as well.

Handles like it’s on rails.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

I agree that you are lugging your engine under load. Not good at all. It eventually leads to engine failure.

parker.rowe wrote:
The first of the coveted 7.3 powerstrokes where 250hp and 500ft lbs through a 4 speed auto.
24V Cummins was 235hp and 420ft lbs with a 4 speed auto.
12V Cummins had even less power.

3.0 Duramax is 277hp and 460ft lbs with a 10 speed auto.

I think it will do just fine. The chassis may not be a replacement for a 3/4-1ton, but the engine will do the job.

Beat me to it. The BabyMax engine should be far lighter as well.

My 12 Valve when stock was 160HP/400TQ with a 5 spd.

The first of the coveted 7.3 powerstrokes where 250hp and 500ft lbs through a 4 speed auto.
24V Cummins was 235hp and 420ft lbs with a 4 speed auto.
12V Cummins had even less power.

3.0 Duramax is 277hp and 460ft lbs with a 10 speed auto.

I think it will do just fine. The chassis may not be a replacement for a 3/4-1ton, but the engine will do the job.

Thanks for the comments. I am well aware of the 6.2’s performance. The one I have now is my third one. I’m considering the diesel because of the torque at a lower rpm. If you look at the torque and HP curves vs RPM the diesel beats the 6.2 in torque and is very equivalent in hp in the lower rpm ranges. For the 6.2 to shine you need to be above 3000 to 3500 rpm. With the 10 speed transmission I would expect the diesel to stay on its torque curve. Just hoped to hear from someone with experience.

jdc1 wrote:

Grit dog wrote:
What a bunch of negative or leading responses.
To the OP, if the new GM baby diesel has a lick of trouble pulling the weight you proposed and doing it smartly, I’d be quite surprised.
Look at some reviews of the Eco Diesel Dodge. Very similar performance numbers

Gas vs Diesel. HP vs HP. Torque vs Torque. RPM vs RPM. MPG vs MPG.
These motors are not comparable cubic inch vs cubic inch.

Ok, I’m having trouble seeing how the same displacement HPCR turbo diesel is not at least somewhat comparable?
I know the baby Dmax is an in-line and the EcoD is a V engine, but their dynos are pretty similar?

Or did you misread that I said EcoBoost not Ecodiesel? Lol

Towing performance will be about the same except uphill on ramps where maybe your 6.2L saw over 3000rpm. Yes, the 6.2L can out accelerate if spun up. If you never drove it that way, then I tihnk you will appreciate the lower fuel use and higher fuel tank range of the diesel.

Grit dog wrote:
What a bunch of negative or leading responses.
To the OP, if the new GM baby diesel has a lick of trouble pulling the weight you proposed and doing it smartly, I’d be quite surprised.
Look at some reviews of the Eco Diesel Dodge. Very similar performance numbers

Gas vs Diesel. HP vs HP. Torque vs Torque. RPM vs RPM. MPG vs MPG.
These motors are not comparable cubic inch vs cubic inch.