Back from a 3 week extravaganza in Orlando. Stayed at FW Campground at WDW. Trip was 1200 miles each way, put a total of about 2700 miles on the truck. Pulled the 10K 5th wheel. Overall truck was perfect. PreTrip self service included; Changed Oil & Filter, Air Filter, Rear Diff fluid, Front Diff Fluid, Transfer Case Fluid, Complete suspension lube using Schaffers Synthetic (thanks Eric). Trans fluid and filter was changed recently with addition of ATS CoPilot. Put Stock 245's back on for towing http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cry.gif (missed my H2's). Couple of fresh coats of Zaino http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cool.gif.


Installed the ver 1.20 70 HP Quad tune for the trip. First time towing with a program, and it certainly made a difference. Same trip last year, but without a program, the truck would drop out of OD and scream to keep up speed with the cruise on, even on mild hills. This year with the program, from MI to FL, maybe dropped out of OD less than a dozen times, cruise set at 70. Also first time towing since the straight pipe mod. Much louder in the cab. Not for everyone.


Had one very very close call just outside of Atlanta. (painfully true story). Heading south on I75, Atlanta rush hour. Was raining steady, and then started coming down in sheets. I was coasting down, at about 40mph in my lane, when I saw a gaggle of brakelights through the downpour. A car fishtailed and looked to be going out of control, but to my horror, he was intentionally throwing his car onto the shoulder to avoid a group of cars stopped. Full brake, antilocks kick on, but for a split secont the 10,000lb 5th just wants to keep coming. Then the prodigy brake controller (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED AFTER THIS) does its job and the trailer brakes come on hard just shy of lock. Now I'm coming at these cars, and I was convinced I was going to pile drive one of them. I braced for impact and noticed if I moved ever so slightly to the right I could split lanes and get my truck between two cars. I steer to the right, antilocks still grinding, and guide my truck in between two cars, stopping halfway up them. I'm not kidding when I say I almost filled my pants. I hear a horn beep and its the guy who swerved onto the shoulder, and he gives me a thumbs up and golf clap. No jacknife, no loss of control of truck or trailer. I know if i didn't have antilocks, or if the trailer brakes or controller werent up to snuff, my 17,000lbs of truck and trailer would have ruined someones day. 1/2 second later in getting on the brakes and I'd be in the market for a new truck. Kudos to Chevrolet http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Hug.gif


My only gripe is the A/C. Went more or less belly up as soon as we hit 90+ weather. That + leather seats = sweaty uncomfortable driving conditions. It's heading to the dealer before the warranty is up, just cracked 30,000. Other than that this truck is doing exactly what I bought it for. I'm again going to plug for an auxillary tank, only had to stop once to fuel up on the way down, and once on the way back <IMG onMouseOver="this.

What kind of mileage did you get? I can make it to Denver from Ohio on one fuel stop if need be on my old burb (it has a factory 40 gallon tank) but that is without a trailer but with A/C running and it is a gasser too.

Averaged 10.5 mpg. AC on, cruise set, fully loaded truck and trailer.

The bad thing is you need to void the warranty to satisfactorally pull 10,000 lbs. with the Allison. I just don't understand that.

Happy to hear you mishap wasn't a disaster. Straight pipe IS quite loud under load... outside.Edited by: hoot

Hoot,
Would your truck pull 10K without searching gears? Not getting defensive, just looking for a straight answer from someone who has driven both trucks. Stock my truck pulled fine, just would get busy and noisy. I've heard the CTD doesn't seem to work as hard from behind the wheel. Numbers on both plants say they should perform nearly the same pulling, but they seem to get the job done differently. I don't necessarily blame the allison, after all it's programmed to do what it's told. If it didn't downshift I know it wouldn't keep speed, i've mashed the pedal with the cruise off, just shy of downshifting, and the truck will lose speed on a grade, unless you go deep and downshift, then it runs near redline and will pull it back up. More of a low on power for the gearing issue I would think.


Mike

Exactly what many have been saying about the D/A combination under heavy towing. I think overdrive is too much for the Dmax period. It just doesn't have the low end needed to sustain 5th gear without voiding your warranty with a box.

I have zero experience towing heavy but from everything I read and hear, the Dodge is the ticket for over the road towing. I do notice a big difference in gear holding with the Dodge over the GMC I had. It does not like to downshift once she's locked in OD. My gripe with the Allison is it not only downshifted, it dropped into 3rd, then back up to fourth. The few experiences I did have towing with my Dmax were not good. It defueled on me when it was totally stock going up a hill pulling 7000 lbs. It was a little distressing for me since I was so gung ho about it before I bought it. Aftermarket addons are the ticket.

It would be nice if more people opened their mouths about it instead of pretending there isn't a shortfall.Edited by: hoot

The bad thing is you need to void the warranty to satisfactorally pull 10,000 lbs. with the Allison. I just don't understand that.



Who is going to know if you do not tell them?

VFR,


Good stopping story. Sounds like both you and the truck 'did the job'. When things happen fast too often the 'second guessers' only make the right decisions. Nice to hear it worked out for you.


My experience with the Duramax GMC air conditioner mimics your current evaluation. It was a good air conditioner until it got real hot. Try 116+ in Arizona and California. That air conditioner was always weak.


Used an Allison to pull over 10,000 lbs many times. Did that for over 150,000 miles. Then that Allison broke. It made it through the factory warranty. It did not make it through my warranty.