I was looking in my owners manual for tow rating, only 6000#. WHAT!! That is the same for my 5.7 gasser. The 7.4L gasser is rated @ 10000 with the same gears. I am really suprised at this. There are a lot of people in this forum towing up to 12k and more with the 6.5TD.
I have plans to upgrade the exhaust and get gauges soon. Then I want to get a Turbo boost controller and new PCM. I have a travel trailer dry weight @ 7000# and with water and gear could be up to 8000-8500#'s. I really hope these upgrades will tow this weight just fine.
Changing to the 4.10 gears will get your tow rating up to 7,500. The truck will also feel a bit peppier with only a small effect on your mileage. With a 4x4 this conversion can get a bit pricey unless you can find the pieces in a junk yard.
The added power will help, but make the gauges a priority. Towing without them is a good way to overtemp your engine. I've towed a 7000# trailer without much trouble, even in the hills of West VA.
ive got 3:73's in my 3/4 ex cab s/b 4x4, I can town in excess of 10,000lbs and not work the truck too hard and that was thru the mountains and with stock air/exhaust
How much $$$ you want to put in it, I'm capable of pulling 18K, but don't pull there very often, mine is stickered for 6K, so would probably have to fight a ticket in court bringing all my evidence with me why I'm okay with it.
Depends on what package the vehicle came with, go to RPO code in FAQ and you will see the different rating limits, generally S engines carry the lighter ratings, final gear ratio, suspension (springs/frame/wheels/tires), vehicle base weight, & braking rating are players in how they are rated from GM no method to the madness IMO, gassers witrh lesser equipment sometimes carry higher tow capacity.
I know that I have towed 8,500 with mine. No problems at all, power to spare. And this was with MASSIVE frontal area(box trailer with almost 9' inside height).
Gross vehicle weight is different than gross combined vehicle weight. Something is amiss. Titan's only have a wimpy dana 44 in the rear end. I have towed 23,000 combined gross vehicle weight from Ca to WY over the worst passes in the rockies with a slightly modded 6.5 and it did very well.
Yeah. I know something is amiss. I went to buy a towhauler and when the guy looked up my towing capacity it said 8000 lbs. I know my GVW is 8600. So when I got home I went online and sure enough Trailer Life Magazine said 8000lbs.
Well, if you find your way to Boise, let's trade gears. I'm working on a veggie conversion and won't be towing. Been looking to go to higher gears.
Thanks,
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