Towing with the 3.0

[Stonegoat]

Hi All,

I’m looking at buying a new boat. The boat (fully fuelled), and trailer will be around 7200 pounds. I know my TB 1500 with the 3.0 Duramax has a tow rating of 9000 pounds so I’d be under that. I’d be towing anywhere from 30 minutes to 20 hours depending where I go. I also live in BC so mountain driving is the norm.
Basically, I want to know if anyone has towed that kind of weight and how they felt the truck performed
Thanks!

 

[RET-G]

Tow a 7200 lb, 26 foot trailer, likely with more wind restriction, through the mtns of Arizona and not a problem going up or down. I do have a Reese equalizer hitch with sway control as well as Bilstein rear shocks (for stability) and factory Bridgestone tires replaced with Cooper "E" rated tires.

 

[AZTrailBoss]

I'm towing a 25ft, 6,500lb trailer through the Arizona mountains too - no issues up or down the mountains. I did add rear bags to smooth the ride though.

 

[PistolsFiring]

I don’t have a 3.0 but only negative I’ve heard when towing is DEF consumption.

 

[RET-G]

So some say...my experience so far is DEF is not consumed as some imply. Topped off the DEF tank a week before a recent 300+ trip with trailer, in the mountains from 5K altitude where I live to approx. 7.5K at the campsite, return and then about 150 more miles in and around town and Banks gauge still shows 56% full....

One thing I will agree is any DEF usage is a negative; however, thanks to the bright eyed morons in the gov't, we need to have the crap in a tank.

One thing I have noticed is the factory bar gauge is pretty accurate when compared to the Banks gauge. Banks show 56%, bar graph shows one bar above 50%.

Next week, I'll have a more definitive test...Prescott Valley to Bluff UT, to Moab UT and back. I'll top off Saturday before the trip and carry an extra 2.5 gal container.

 

[pationby]

I have towed about 7500 lbs with my 3.0 Duramax in the Rockies, and honestly it is doing great, even uphill. The temperature resistance is good, and the consumption remains reasonable. Just think of a good trailer brake for long descents.

Tutuapp​

 

[RET-G]

I'll have to add the trip was a disaster for the DEF BS and fro this day forward, I will NEVER again recommend a diesel to anyone to tow with. Being locked out of the IP display due to the ignorance of programmers at GM is beyond my ability to accept.
To tel me that I am out of def fluid when my BANKS gauge shows over 60 percent and then flash another message implying I have X miles to empty is as insulting as it is ludicrous.
I'll get into more detail in a day or two; however, right now I am in the process of reporting this system program to the NHTSA in regard to being locked out of the availability of viewing DOT required safety info being supplied.

GM has managed to piss me off more every I get stupid and purchase one of their vehicles. This insult is just too much for me.

Thus, report to the feds if that does not work, get the system to fail three more times (very easy) document with Dealer visits, and then head the lemon law routine per the state law.

I'll be back with a complete right up, until then, even if the engine is strong, the morons at GM have successfully managed to screw things up.

 

[Stonegoat]

Yeah I have only towed light (3000 pounds) so haven’t had the DEF issues. But I agree, this DEF sh!tshow when towing heavier seems like a solvable problem that GM should address ASAP.

 

[RET-G]

Still working on the complaint, but need to note; the engine is strong; however, the morons at GM have succeeded in stupidity and ignorance at making the process of liking this vehicle next to impossible. From the POS Bose entertainment system to these needless intrusive warnings GM is losing.
Then again, do I expect a Fed agency to step in and help? Not really....I'm retired from the Fed Gov't...why would I?
But who knows, if enough people did complain...maybe it would help.
In reality, I feel the lemon law is the best way to go, and must head to another manufacturer and leave GM in my past.

 

[AZTrailBoss]

Made my 5th towing trip to northern Arizona this weekend and for the first time I did not receive the DEF warning countdown and actually only burned 2 tic marks on the meter (~200 miles round trip). Could the engine get more efficient with mileage? I just passed 20k.

 

[wexler_h]

Yeah the DEF false warnings are a known nighmare on the LM2. Had a buddy deal with the exact same thing - banks gauge showing 60%+- and the truck still throwing contdown warnings. Turns out the factory DEF sensor is just garbage. He ended up going through TheDPFDeleteKits.com for the 3.0L kit and hasn't had a single DEF issue since. Engine pulls just as strong, no more getting locked out mid-trip.

 

[RET-G]

Yeah the DEF false warnings are a known nighmare on the LM2. Had a buddy deal with the exact same thing - banks gauge showing 60%+- and the truck still throwing contdown warnings. Turns out the factory DEF sensor is just garbage. He ended up going through TheDPFDeleteKits.com for the 3.0L kit and hasn't had a single DEF issue since. Engine pulls just as strong, no more getting locked out mid-trip.

I solved that 3.0L problem by trading it in for an old fashioned gas engine. However, I also needed a 2500 for my RV. If i had know about this kit, I would have researched more and possibly installed one. That DEF system sure requires a serious redesign by GM.
The 3.0K pulled my RV with a hell of a lot better mileage vs the 6.6L gas engine that have never met a gas station it did not love.

PS No longer with a TB package; however, I still bounce in here once a a while. Out of all truck forums on the net, this IS ONE OF THE BEST.

Wish I could have found a TB package on the 2500 , but had to settle for something else.