What do you guys tow with your Dmax? Any problems? Mileage? I tow a 36' 16,500lb 5th wheel travel trailer and no problems to date, 32,000 miles. Stock except for 285 BFG's, which are too big to tow that kind of weight and soon to be history, and Air Lift Super Duty bags. Average fuel mileage with 265 BFG's 17-18mpg unloaded and average 13mpg towing. With the 285 BFG's....about 10mpg towing and the Dmax screaming "NO MORE, http://dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cry.gif it hurts oh God it hurts".....

I tow a 30 ft. 5th wheel that weigh's out at about 10300lbs loaded with an 03 3500 C.C. D/A Dually.


I only have 4700 miles on it and have not had a chance to check milage towing yet.


But I do know I have plenty of TRUCK now to do what I want.


I had a 2500 HD 6.0 liter that towed my 5th fine but came up short on loading the bed with extras.


Sure glad I made this move.The stability of the duallys, The power of the duramax and allisonhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif My wife and I both feel better on the road now and worry less about carring extra stuff in the bed.


http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/CZB_truck_&_camper.jpg

neberenuf,


I tow a 30' Cardinal Fifth Wheel on FLAT highways down here in southern Louisiana and get around 11mpg. The DMAX will avg. about 17.1 city/hwy., 22-23 running 70 on I-10. What I love about it is the awesome pulling power and the grade-braking feature of the Allison. That tranny is smarter than most people.

We tow a 36 ft 12000# fifth wheel trailer (Carriage Cameo 34CK3). Have been getting about 11-13 mpg towing (much up an down good size grades). Our 2500 is totally stock including the 245 tires. Only have towed about 3k miles of the 12k. Tow haul has been impressive going down hills. I occasionally wish for a little more power when going up. Currently considering a x-mas present from Quadzilla.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Embarrased.gif

We tow a 30' nomad fifth wheel, 9,900 lbs dry wieght. Across the scales with 4 kids, full tanks, and all our stuff 19,100 lbs. I wouldn't pull this trailer with anything less than this truck.


This truck can really pull, even when its just stock. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gifEdited by: Blinky

We tow several different trailers, the largest of which is a 33' Travel Trailer that weighs something over 10,000 lbs. 48,000+ on the truck, 7,000+ miles on the travel trailer, Hot Juice set on level 1, worst tank mpg was 9.5 pulling into a South Dakota head wind, usually can count on 11-13 mpg towing at 63-65 mph, 15-17 daily driving 17+ on a trip.... no engine/transmission issues to date


JimEdited by: JEBar

I tow a 31 ft Blaze'n Toy Box Travel trailer that weighs about 10k lbs when loaded with 2 Polaris 700 ATV's and our gear. Get about 10-11 mpg towing at 65-70 mph. I love the extra power that the Banks Stinger Kit has given me. I know there are lots of power products that make more power, but the whole kit idea made my mind up. I'm not into drag racing or dyno bragging rights, just wanted a little extra oo(mph) going up the hills...and it does a great job doing that. We had an identical truck with a 6.0 gasser and it just didn't live up to the task. 5.5mpg and the ability to go only 10 mph up high mtn passes was the nail in the coughin for that truck. These trucks rule!http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Thumbs Up.gif

We tow a 30' 5th wheel (9000lbs) 65 -70 mph 13 mpg.


Bartman, I just got my Stinger Kit and I was wonderin' did you notice what your boost pressure is runnin' solo? Banks tech says I won't notice the gains until the top end (underload - with trailer). Just like to know your thoughts.


JP

The amount of boost you see depends on how you have your wastegate actuator set. originally mine was at about 32, but i dialed it down to about 28 max...

I see I am getting a little better fuel mileage than most while towing, even with a heavier weight. The 16,500lbs is by the scales loaded, she weighs 13,200lbs unloaded. I find I get the best mileage while towing to be about 78mph. The numbers listed are mostly I-10 to Phoenix (pretty flat) to I-15 to Las Vegas. On the other hand I have never seen over 19mpg like some have.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Confused.gif I have also seen as poor as 6mpg with the 285's going from Reno to Las Vegas with a 30-50mph headwind. That was terrible, it actually stayed in third gear downhill just to keep 65mph in that headwind. I have an '02 which doesn't have the fuel computer so I do it the old fashioned way. Oh yea, I also have a K&N air filter. Thanks all. Edited by: neverenuf

neverenuf: are you taking in to acount the tire size difference? I have 305's on mine and the speedo is waaay off. So it shows to get bad milage while it is actually doing ok.

I tow a 34' Carriage LS which is about 14,000 lb. loaded. With 19.5 tires and the VA Smart Box on the 90hp setting I get around 10-13 mpg depending on wind and terrain. Have not had any problems on hills , most go up at 60 in 4th direct at 2500rpm and 850 deg. pyro. with the cruise on. Most hills on the Interstates it handles in overdrive unless they are real steep.

It's interesting to see a lot of 13 mpg. I tow a 17' enclosed sled trailer that runs 4K to 5K loaded but is 8.5' wide and tall. I get 13.0 to 13.5 at 70 mph. It seems the weight is secondary to all the air we're pushing. Anybody tow a heavy load that isn't higher than the cab?

The towing I have done is with a 27' Jayco 5er. Got 10.5 mostly up hill and about 12 on the return trip. Included the long 6%+ grade on I80 east of Salt Lake. Just sold Jayco and purchased 30' Sunnybrook 5er. Only tow was to get it home.


Made a trip from Utah to Seattle a couple of weeks ago. Ave about 70mph and DIC indicated the trip at 18.9. This was with cold weather fuel.


Stock except for Amsoil air filter and dual bypass oil filter.


Sure luv this truck. Plan on 300K+ miles

Diesel Power,


I haven't towed since the install of the Banks stuff, but I have tried like crazy to get in the mid twenties (boost). Best I can do, up a hill in Tow/Haul is about 20lbs. Maybe I should just pull it down into 2nd gear and try it. I dunno, If I'm not much above 19lbs I'm as good as stock I'm guessin'. Sure thought this would be a power increase across the board. Am I wrong in my expectations?http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Disapprove.gif


JP

Heartbeathauler,


The best I get unloaded on the boost gauge is about 18-19 PSI, however, under load, I get it up to about 24-25. You can adjust the linkage for more boost if you think you need more.

Me thinks that pulling the 5th wheel no matter what the weight, we are ultimately pushing alot of air. I average 11-12 with the 5'er. Pulling a much heavier Bobcat on the tongue, I average about 14.

Here you go - average about 12 mpg when towing with a trailer weight of about 7,000 lbs. Pretty easy for the Duramax.

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/74A_FL_Rig.jpg

Thanks Bartman. That's whatI was looking for. My boost is right there with yours unloaded. I will see if I get the 23 -24 lbs next time I tow.


JP

We are pulling 28 feet of jayco 5r weighing 9000. The truck doesnt even acknowlege 6-8% grades in Vermont this summer. It gets me in trouble even towing! Clearing the tops of hills too fast. Only 5900 miles got 11.5 on a 300 mile trip down from Acadia National Park this fall...upwards to 22 -23 solo..Havin' some fun NOW http://dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big%20Smile.gif

Dutch


Yes I am taking into account the larger tires. I saw somewhere, maybe here, that for the 285-75-16's you add 6 miles per hundred.

Heartbeathauler,


The best I get unloaded on the boost gauge is about 18-19 PSI, however, under load, I get it up to about 24-25. You can adjust the linkage for more boost if you think you need more.

Unloaded I've seen ~20-22psi on my guage.
(AFE S2 & Banks)

You say you can adjust the wastegate linkage
for more boost? Is there a forum thread
about how to do this or any advice/insight?

Thanks!

T.

Add 7% for 285's verified by gps on my own truck.


I used to have a tire size calc but the page is gone now.


Your mileage just keeps getting better!http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif

Terry, if you have the Banks Stinger Kit, it comes with a new, larger wastegate actuator that has an adjustable linkage that lets you screw it in or out for more or less boost. The factory wastegate does not have this feature, and is therefore not adjustable. I think you can purchase the "Big Head" wastegate alone, without the kit, from banks.

I pull horse trailers mainly my 6 horse trailer. Not sure of weight but the average weight of the horses is 860lbs. per horse. Just this past weekend I went from maryland to ohio and had to go over the apolation mtns. and had to pull every hill in 4th gear. I averaged 8 to 11 mpgs. How do you all make these things stay in overdrive. It is stock but it sees the hill and it jumps out of overdrive. I even hit one hill at 95mph and it still steadly fell until 4th gear and then steadly fell to about 55mph and then I was at the top of the hill. My powerstroke I had stayed in overdrive if you hit a hill at about 75 mph and it would stay their all the way to the top. Not so happy with the allison tranny. If I could make it stay in overdrive it would get the mpg my pwrstroke used to get.

bennyboy





Install a overdrive lock out switch available from GM. I think the '04s have a way to lock out OD built in.

unloaded i will hit 30 lbs of boost on my gauge. i normally hit 20-25lbs when towing with a ok sized hill.

Terry, it might also be a good idea to invest in a 4" exhaust. It keeps the EGTs down and I feel it let's the turbo spool up faster. The "Big Head Wastegate" can be purchased separately as BARTMAN said. You'll have to call Banks for a price as I got mine in the Stinger kit...not cheap. There are some vendors that are Banks dealers and may be able to offer a better price than direct. I found this out just a little to latehttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cry.gif


JP

A trick to see how it does in OD is to set your cruise control at about 45, then hand fly it up to the speed you want to run and run up a hill. It takes a 4mph drop from the set speed before the cruise control even begins to command more power. This will trick it so you can see if it will actually hold OD, as i don't think you can command the downshift. Most of my driving is done with my 6 horse trailer, and even at sea level, it will not hold OD on a lot of hills. I added the OD lockout, and I just use it. In my situation, I don't think it hurts fuel economy much not using OD. I will say that exhaust and power enhancements will also end much of your problem.

I have a 30' 5er toyhauler weighs 10000-12000 depending on number of bikes.I have 285's & have speedo corrected with Predator.I run Hot Juice on level1 & Predator on 0 tune.I got 8-8.5 constantly when I towed to Sturgis & to Arkansas running 75mph on cruise mostly.I've towed for about 9000 of the 13500 on truck & no matter terrain it stay's about 8-9.My 5er is 12'6" tall & 8'6" wide with the front pretty flat,so a lot of frontal area.I do think the 285's might change the overall ratio enough to screw it up.

I have a 2003 2500HD Ext Cab 2WD Dmax/Allison with about 26,000 miles now. It's bone stock.





My empty mileage on the highway is in the 21-22 range with summer fuel, a little less in winter. Towing my 2,500# boat it drops down to the 18-19 range. Towing my 7,500 5th wheel RV it runs around 13-14, and towing both, it runs around 11-12MPG. All the above on relatively flat Minnesota terrain. Last winter in the SW with a few moderate (5-8%) grades it ran perhaps 2MPG less. Of course, it was brand new then --- I bought it in Phoenix, and my first tow was from Pheonix to Flagstaff where I think you gain about 5,000' feet of elevation in about 125 miles.





The "sweet spot" for MPG on my truck seems to be right at about 62MPH. If I drive faster the MPG starts to drop off pretty good, and if I drive slower it keeps dropping down into 4th gear on any most grade.





God, I love that Allison though! http://dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Broken%20Heart.gif Especially on the down grades, like descending into Salt River Canyon north out of Globe. As someone mentioned, that tranny is so smart it's almost spooky!





Hans/MN