Forum Discussion

ryanw821's avatar
ryanw821
Explorer
Mar 28, 2015

New tow vehicle

Just upgraded tow vehicles from our 2006 Jeep Liberty diesel to a 2005 Duramax Chevy 2500HD. Jeep did admirable job with our camper, but we plan on some longer trips (and some mountains), and upgrading to a larger camper some day, so we figured its time for a new tow vehicle.
  • Congrats; they are a very good truck with none of the emissions equipment that the new ones do. Beware, though; a bigger trailer usually is close behind! Ask me how I know :B
  • ChooChooMan74 wrote:
    Now you need a bigger trailer!

    That is our ultimate plan in a year or two.

    naturist wrote:
    Congrats on your new TV, may it serve you well.

    I know what you mean. My 2005 Libby CRD is at 195,000 miles now, getting long in the tooth, and while I'm keeping it for the daily driver, we bought an upgrade for towing, too: a BMW X5 diesel. Going from 188 HP/335 ft-lbs (chipped) to 265 HP/425 ft-Lbs gives me a little more leeway. The Libby dragged the TT all over the US, coast to coast, and did fine over the Rockies, but it had a tendency to overheat if you didn't watch carefully. Not interested in a bigger trailer, though.

    Wave hello next time you pass through Virginia.

    We love our Libby, it's my wife's daily driver, it did quite well on the flats towing the camper, but like you we had some near overheating while towing in the SD black hills, and with the short list of folks qualified to service the Italian diesel under the hood, we didn't want to get stuck broke down in the middle of nowhere ;-)
    Lot's more shops out there qualified to work on the dmax, and parts dont come from overseas, lol

    Terryallan wrote:
    ChooChooMan74 wrote:
    Now you need a bigger trailer!


    Yep, and it won't be long in coming. One of the first times you hook that little trailer to that monster truck. You will want something more for it to pull. May as well go ahead and get a TT, or 5er that fits the truck.

    WHY? Like my buddy said when he got a 2500, and then a bigger TT. It will pull it won't it? Yep, So bigger you go.

    Yeah, we figure the 2500 will pull any possible camper we would ever want to upgrade to in the future.
  • ChooChooMan74 wrote:
    Now you need a bigger trailer!


    Yep, and it won't be long in coming. One of the first times you hook that little trailer to that monster truck. You will want something more for it to pull. May as well go ahead and get a TT, or 5er that fits the truck.

    WHY? Like my buddy said when he got a 2500, and then a bigger TT. It will pull it won't it? Yep, So bigger you go.
  • Congrats on your new TV, may it serve you well.

    I know what you mean. My 2005 Libby CRD is at 195,000 miles now, getting long in the tooth, and while I'm keeping it for the daily driver, we bought an upgrade for towing, too: a BMW X5 diesel. Going from 188 HP/335 ft-lbs (chipped) to 265 HP/425 ft-Lbs gives me a little more leeway. The Libby dragged the TT all over the US, coast to coast, and did fine over the Rockies, but it had a tendency to overheat if you didn't watch carefully. Not interested in a bigger trailer, though.

    Wave hello next time you pass through Virginia.
  • Nice job!! That is an awesome truck. I had an 06 for about 7 years and loved every minute of it. Unfortunately, the miles started getting up there and I drive a lot for work so I "sold high" as the saying goes. It's amazing what used diesel trucks draw for resale.

    You'll be super happy with that truck. Check out www.dieselplace.com as a great owner's forum. I hung out on there for years and got priceless advice from guys that really know their stuff with those trucks.

    For a truck of that era there is nothing better. Enjoy!