Went from 1500 to 2500
I went from towing a 7000lbs TT with a Chevy 1500 5.3 with 3.43 to 8600lbs 5er with Chevy 2500 diesel.
The Chevy 1500 pulled the TT on level ground or rolling hills just fine, I had WDH and even large trucks passing didn’t affect the towing and was very stable. I was getting between 9 and 11 towing and it would drop to 8 when I hit the hilly country. I took a trip to Arkansas and ended up going to Branson, Mo from the south has a lot hills in the 7 and 8 percent range. The Chevy 1500 would hit 5000 RPM and drop from 62mph to 40mph on some the hills and even down shifting going down the hills I had use the brakes quite a bit to maintain a safe speed.
I took the same the trip with the 2500 and 5er with a much difference experience. On the same hills I would leave the 2500 in tow mode and cruise control and only drop 3 miles per hour going up the same hills. Going down the hills the exhaust brake would kick in and even on the steepest hill I would only gain 3 miles per hour without touching the brakes. On the steepest hills the 2500-drop to 4th gear and RPM climb to 2200 and going down hills the RPM would limb close to 2500 RPM. In the hills the MPG would drop to 10 to 11 but on just rolling hills I would get 12.5 to 13.5 and the truck get 21 to 23 highway and 14.5 to 15.5 city when not towing.
My personnel conclusion is that a 1500 will tow the correctly matched up TT just fine but if you want to be happy towing with a ½ ton truck never tow ¾ ton and don’t ever tow with diesel because you will never go back. I don’t know if this just a feeling or fact but I did feel more in control and safer towing with the 2500 and felt like I have better braking with the 2500.
The Chevy 1500 pulled the TT on level ground or rolling hills just fine, I had WDH and even large trucks passing didn’t affect the towing and was very stable. I was getting between 9 and 11 towing and it would drop to 8 when I hit the hilly country. I took a trip to Arkansas and ended up going to Branson, Mo from the south has a lot hills in the 7 and 8 percent range. The Chevy 1500 would hit 5000 RPM and drop from 62mph to 40mph on some the hills and even down shifting going down the hills I had use the brakes quite a bit to maintain a safe speed.
I took the same the trip with the 2500 and 5er with a much difference experience. On the same hills I would leave the 2500 in tow mode and cruise control and only drop 3 miles per hour going up the same hills. Going down the hills the exhaust brake would kick in and even on the steepest hill I would only gain 3 miles per hour without touching the brakes. On the steepest hills the 2500-drop to 4th gear and RPM climb to 2200 and going down hills the RPM would limb close to 2500 RPM. In the hills the MPG would drop to 10 to 11 but on just rolling hills I would get 12.5 to 13.5 and the truck get 21 to 23 highway and 14.5 to 15.5 city when not towing.
My personnel conclusion is that a 1500 will tow the correctly matched up TT just fine but if you want to be happy towing with a ½ ton truck never tow ¾ ton and don’t ever tow with diesel because you will never go back. I don’t know if this just a feeling or fact but I did feel more in control and safer towing with the 2500 and felt like I have better braking with the 2500.
