Here's the deal ... I will be taking delivery of my new '05 GMC 3500 Duramax/Allison truck from the dealer on Thursday. Then on Friday it gets a spray in bed liner applied. On Saturday I will have a 20K Reese fifth wheel hitch installed, and will then take delivery of a new Dune Chaser 37CK fifth wheel toy hauler. I will have to tow the toy hauler fifty miles back home, and it is fifty miles up hill, being as the dealer is at 2,500 ft altitude, and I live at 6,200 ft altitude. Most of that increase in altitude takes place during a ten mile long stretch of I-15, on the Black Ridge, in the southwest corner of Utah.


If I don't pick up the toy hauler (dry weight 9,870 lbs) on Saturday, then I have to wait two full weeks to pick it up due to my work schedule.


What advise do you have for someone that needs to tow 10,000 lbs with a new truck (other than to remember to put the tailgate down after unhooking the fifth wheel hitch)? How can I best accomplish this tow with minimal impact on my new truck?


Thanks,


Yamahauler.

Owner's manual says less than 55 MPH and no towing for the first 500 miles, then under 50 MPH for the first 500 miles of towing...http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Ermm.gif


Some here will say it doesn't make any difference, but that big old G80 will get warm breaking in, downright hot if you push it. If you break it and haven't followed the manual, like the rear end seizes up half way home, where are you at?


I'd wait the two weeks if it were me and get that first 500 miles on it.

tow it like you stole it.

Take the long way to the Dune Chaser dealer; the long, long way.

TC

I am going to try and put 100 miles on the truck Thursday night. I'll tell my wife that we have to go drive the new truck http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/HiHi.gif. Then I think I can put another 100 miles on it Friday night. That will put 200 miles on the truck before I have to tow our old toy hauler (5,700 lb dry weight) downhill to the Dune Chaser dealer. The tow back home with the new toy hauler would then begin with 250 miles on the truck, and the first "tow" would be a downhill tow with less weight behind the truck. I'm hoping that will be a decent enough break in, especially if I keep my towing speed to less than 50 mph.

In my opinion, you will be OK if you take it very easy. It is very hard not to floor the Dmax all the time, but with restraint, you will be OK. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif

Your concerns are mostly heat build ups in the axle but the engine, turbo and tranny all are seating their new parts in this period and create heat and wear products. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Geek.gif

As it turns out now, I may not be able to pick up the new Dune Chaser this Saturday afterall, because they will not have the 20K Reese hitch in stock by then. This RV dealer has been selling these big fifth wheel toy haulers with 15K hitches installed in their customers trucks! Hello, ... the GVWR for these trailers is anywhere between 16,950 lbs., and 18,500 lbs. They acted surprised when I asked for a 20K rated hitch, and then I acted surprised when they said they had NEVER sold one above 15K. Now thats scary, that there are that many trucks on the highway with marginal hitch strength, because I'll bet that other RV dealers do the same thing this one does.


Yamahauler.

Hmmm, mines rated at 30,000...... http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Confused.gif

Have a freind who just bought an 04 D/A because his '01 8.1L was getting along in age. He was in the middle of a trip out to good 'ole Idaho. Well, he had to head to California in the next day or so, puling a 35' Alfa. Dealer cringed, but said but some, any, but some miles on it before towing, and he got about 300 on it before hooking up. Pulled 3000 mile straight before getting home, and seemd to not have any issues.

Talked to him after he left and he said he certainly took it easy first 500 or so miles, which was primarily flat.

Common sense seems to be the answer, don't over push it for a few miles, and things should be OK.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Approve.gif Edited by: ChevyPackin'Heat

My biggest concern is the rear axle as it takes about 500 to 1000 miles for it to "lap" in and to much too soon can scar it so to speak. Personally I would not tow that heavy of a load until you have atleast 500 miles on it (preferably more) and change rear axle lube before you tow too.

Well I managed to get 470 miles on the odometer before hooking the new fifth wheel to my truck and towing it home today. I towed our old 26' toyhauler to the dealer this morning and was very very pleased with how well the new GMC towed it. It was almost one of those tows where you don't even feel the trailer behind you. This evening I towed the new 37' fifth wheel toy hauler home, ... and lets just say you can feel that one back there. You can't tell how big those fifth wheels are when they are parked in an RV dealers lot with fifty other big 5ers right beside them. But when you get it hooked to your truck and you are pulling out of the dealers lot, ... DANG! that thing is as big as a house, LOL. The truck seemed to do fine in regards to power, but ran warmer than I would prefer (240 on the temp guage). The fact that it was 104 degrees outside did not help matters any. I guess I have given my truck the acid test now, and it appears to have passed.


Yamahauler

240F is hot, not just warm even for 104 outside. You do not want to see it there, especailly towing. You might get it looked at to see if clutch fan is working properly.

I thought it was running way too hot as well, even for a new truck on a hot day with a heavy load in tow. It concerned me enough that I stopped at the GMC dealer, because it is right on the way home. I pulled right into their lot with monster fifth wheel in tow, and left the engine running to be sure the turbo cooled down, and went and found the co-owner of the dealership that had sold me the truck. I showed him on the temp guage how hot the engine had gotten, and he could see what kind of load I was hauling, and he was not concerned. He says the new Duramax's run hotter, especially the 605 ft lb 2005 version that makes 90% less emissions than the original Durimax. I'm not so sure everything is ok though, so I will be keeping my eye on it. The clutch fan seems to be working fine, at least I suspect the deafening roar of the fan being engaged is what makes it sound like a propeller is what is pulling you down the road.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Disapprove.gif

I think he is BS'ing you. 240 is too hot!! Engine oil starts breaking down around 300 degress and the oil in bearings can easily heat up 50 degress and more above engine temp in this area and in piston areas. I consider 210F max safe temp towing with 220 an above being time to shut/idle down and let it cool off a bit. With your engine being stock, it should stay cooler than that even with your big trailer. After all that is what you bought truck for. I can tolerate a slight lack of power but I have no tolerance for oveheating. Left unchecked, it will shorten engine and seal life. How short is a good guess but it will be shorter than a engine that stays under 210 or so most of it life towing. On older truck I have seen main seal leaks start after they are cooked to 240 or 250 a few times.

After finishing Diesel Tech school recently I can safely say you won't have that big of a problem. The DEALER' says hasn't changed for twenty years. If you look in the owners manual for gassers it shows the exact same thing. Common sense goes a long way.


The recomended method is to speed up to 30 mph for a mile or so and stop (do this three to four times) regular in town driving can take care of this then speed up to 5o mph for a mile or so and stop (also three to four times) and you are set with the motor ready for work. The goal here is to seat the rings and that is why the Manufacturers method has not changed for twenty years.


All your doing is accerlating the 500 mile process into a 30 min drive through town. Diesels are designed to work, If there are going to be problems they are going to happen no matter what. The only time that you take a chance of voiding the warranty is if you overload the vehicle the first time you tow something. You just have to remember to check the trucks fluid levels every couple hundred of miles.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Geek.gifEdited by: Good Sam'