New TV, made lemonade out of lemons...

[JoeTampa]

So the 2006 Jeep Commander that had been our tow vehicle is finally on the downward repair spiral. We had been using it for the past two years (finding out on here that it was marginal or really not good at all for our TT *after* we bought it).

We have been considering upgrading to a larger TT, but that would have absolutely required a new TV, and the combined cost seemed excessive. We struggled over this, and ultimately concluded that we didn't want to retire our current vehicles, but we are rapidly outgrowing the TT... So we started looking at Class C's.

Then the Jeep had to go into the shop because the differential bushing wore out (it's a known issue, apparently) and the diff was slapping the skid plates.. Yikes. The mechanic basically said that it's just going to get worse from here on in.

So, we took that as a sign, and found a 2006 Silverado 2500HD 4WD with a 6.6L Duramax - the LBZ model, which by all accounts (mechanics, family, and forums) is the best Duramax to buy. It has the Allison 6-speed tranny.

We snapped it up before someone else did, and in a few weeks, we will give it its first tryout as a TV.

After reading a lot about the virtues of Diesel, the Duramax, et al on the forum, I'm hopeful that we made a wise decision.

[IdaD]

Bedlam wrote:
Some people have to live with 10k lb restrictions and this gives them a truck that is only papered that way yet has more actual capacity.

NC Hauler wrote:
...If one were to purchase the right TV for the job at hand,or match up what they're going to tow with what they're towing with, they wouldn't have to do "minor wheel and suspension upgrades to comfortably and safely tow a 5th wheel with 3,000# of pin weight ". Just common sense.

And others upgrade trailers after buying the truck. I wouldn't waste thousands of dollars upgrading a truck to accommodate a larger trailer if the only thing I was actually upgrading was the number on my payload sticker. That would be asinine.

[Bedlam]

Some people have to live with 10k lb restrictions and this gives them a truck that is only papered that way yet has more actual capacity.

NC Hauler wrote:
...If one were to purchase the right TV for the job at hand,or match up what they're going to tow with what they're towing with, they wouldn't have to do "minor wheel and suspension upgrades to comfortably and safely tow a 5th wheel with 3,000# of pin weight ". Just common sense.

[NC_Hauler]

45Ricochet wrote:
Yes your LBZ is one of the finest pickup trucks built. 2006-07 years were great for both GM and Ram trucks.
I won't get on the weight war wagon but generally a 3500 will handle most any 5er, a 2500 not so much unless you put on blinders. And they all do it in saying there is no difference :W

RICK!!! Minds have been made up, Do not confuse the issue with facts.:)

[NC_Hauler]

Bedlam wrote:
The Class 2b trucks are limited by more by regulation than their capability and usually share most of the same components with the SRW Class 3. Your truck will handle the travel trailer just fine and may only need minor wheel and suspension upgrades to comfortably and safely tow a fifth wheel with 3000 lbs of pin weight.

...If one were to purchase the right TV for the job at hand,or match up what they're going to tow with what they're towing with, they wouldn't have to do "minor wheel and suspension upgrades to comfortably and safely tow a 5th wheel with 3,000# of pin weight ". Just common sense.

[JoeTampa]

Well, today marked the first (and last) voyage of the current RV with the new truck, and boy, was it much nicer towing with this truck. I hardly noticed the TT was back there. Even though it was a short 30mi ride, it was very pleasant, even with a semi or two passing me. Plus, I got better mileage (11.5 vs 8). Hopefully on Thursday everything goes well and we pick up the new TT. For now, I'm just glad that all of the pieces fell into place (moving the brake controller and TT camera monitor, and refitting the hitch for the new TV).

[Bedlam]

The Class 2b trucks are limited by more by regulation than their capability and usually share most of the same components with the SRW Class 3. Your truck will handle the travel trailer just fine and may only need minor wheel and suspension upgrades to comfortably and safely tow a fifth wheel with 3000 lbs of pin weight.

[NC_Hauler]

Charley67 wrote:
Just look around at the campgrounds, and you will see many 5ers towed by 2500s.

Doesn't mean it's safe or that a truck isn't overloaded....and some of them ARE over loaded.. OP will be fine with his combo and could go to a 5er later down the road, should he choose to....but all these trucks have their particular applications and limitations...Use common sense, basic math and do the weights and that formula will work wonders for someone thinking of putting a towing combo together.....always, safety first..., and of course, some common sense.

The Chevy D/A is a great combo,I had a 2001 & 2003 2500 and an 05 and 07.5 3500 DRW trucks thru mid 2010, all In LTZ trim....Great engine, great tranny.

[JoeTampa]

Working on picking up 1500lb bars for our Swaypro. So much to do....

[Need-A-Vacation]

CampingN.C. wrote:

JoeTampa wrote:
Well, we went to an RV Show here in Tampa today, and you probably know what I'm going to say, but we got a new TT. 2016 Jayco Jay Flight 32BHDS. So I guess we are set for a while!

Congrats on the Jay Flight! That is a huge camper. I had a 2005 2500HD and had some handling issues at first. Learn from my mistakes and go heavy with the WD spring bars. Tongue weight on ours is around 1400-1500lbs.
Great camper though, you'll love it.

From reading here I went with the 1500lb wd bars for the Reese DC.

Congrats on an awesome floor plan!!! Check my mods link for some ideas if needed. We have been pretty happy with ours so far. Bought it in July, camped 14 nights in it before storing for the winter.

Keep an eye on the trucks factory receiver hitch. Have been a few failures. A round tube hitch can also "wind up" (twist) when you latch up the wd bars in trailers with higher tw!

[CampingN_C_]

JoeTampa wrote:
Well, we went to an RV Show here in Tampa today, and you probably know what I'm going to say, but we got a new TT. 2016 Jayco Jay Flight 32BHDS. So I guess we are set for a while!

Congrats on the Jay Flight! That is a huge camper. I had a 2005 2500HD and had some handling issues at first. Learn from my mistakes and go heavy with the WD spring bars. Tongue weight on ours is around 1400-1500lbs.
Great camper though, you'll love it.

[blofgren]

JoeTampa wrote:
Well, we went to an RV Show here in Tampa today, and you probably know what I'm going to say, but we got a new TT. 2016 Jayco Jay Flight 32BHDS. So I guess we are set for a while!

LOL, that didn't take long! Congratulations and enjoy :B

[JoeTampa]

Well, we went to an RV Show here in Tampa today, and you probably know what I'm going to say, but we got a new TT. 2016 Jayco Jay Flight 32BHDS. So I guess we are set for a while!

[45Ricochet]

Yes your LBZ is one of the finest pickup trucks built. 2006-07 years were great for both GM and Ram trucks.
I won't get on the weight war wagon but generally a 3500 will handle most any 5er, a 2500 not so much unless you put on blinders. And they all do it in saying there is no difference :W

[rjstractor]

JoeTampa wrote:
Would you say that it's inadequate for a 5th wheel?

Not at all. There are many fifth wheels that it would handle just fine, but there are many that would have too much pin weight, unless you aren't concerned with exceeding GVWR. I only meant that you could pick pretty much any bumper pull you want and have no concerns with weight. The same is not true with fifth wheels.

[Charley67]

Just look around at the campgrounds, and you will see many 5ers towed by 2500s.