i meant that very sarcasticaly, but it will be the biggest tow ive ever put this truck through (it doesnt see trailers much). im gonna be hauling about 6 quads saturday to the CRA race at Big Game raceway. i got stuck takin all the bikes because my friend who usually takes them cant cuz his truck is broke(toyota, go figure). i figure like 400 lbs per bike, couple 5 gal gas cans, gear, tools, and trailer will put me at about 3000 or so:eek:. lol
(feel free to laugh at me:p:)

Be careful, with such a "heavy load" you will be driving the truck as empty and you could forget you're towing something.
Might be funny in the crossings or turns ;)

my trailer weighs almost double that:D Have a good fun trip!

you said feel free so....

HAHAHAHHHAAHAHAHAHAH :D

I don't think you'll have a problem at all BUT:

I would figure 500 lbs per quad. My 16'x6.5' 2-axle 7k trailer weighs 2500 empty, and I am not sure I could fit 6 quads on it for diddly. what size trailer are you pulling?

Either way, my guess, conservatively, is that you'll be pulling closer to 5k than 3k unless its a very light single-axle aluminum trailer. Good luck, have fun!

x2 - you'll be over 3k.

Which is LIGHT! Especially for a 2500 w/ 4.10's.

My 12k 20' equipment trailer is about 2600lbs empty. Then add tractor, box blade, bushhog...etc... I'm 7000+.

Burb w/ 3.42 gears pulls it easily.

FWIW, I'm an advocate of trailer brakes. My trailer has 'em on both axles...nice to have the trailer 'lead' brake.

Chaser

x2 - you'll be over 3k.

Which is LIGHT! Especially for a 2500 w/ 4.10's.

My 12k 20' equipment trailer is about 2600lbs empty. Then add tractor, box blade, bushhog...etc... I'm 7000+.

Burb w/ 3.42 gears pulls it easily.

FWIW, I'm an advocate of trailer brakes. My trailer has 'em on both axles...nice to have the trailer 'lead' brake.

Chaser.
What is the best speed for fuel milage when you are pulling
65MPH?

65?
I hope you don't tow in OD because on my door is clearly says NOT TO (Same for offroading).
What's wrong with 60 or 55? That's what speed I am on the highway in 3rd when I tow.
But then again, your not on the 401 with chinese ladys that cut you off without signaling or checkin mirrors, or gettin flipped off when a dmax cuts YOU off, and you lay on the horn to let him know (I can't stop fast with a car on trailer in tow!) that he's askin for a bad day doin that.

Far right lane, fast enough to keep up to highway speeds, but slow enough so everyone goes in the other lanes around you :D

For me I ride Polaris Sportsman, and so do all my buddies, its all my 20 ft goose neck can do to hold five. They weigh in the 700-800lb area, thats about 3800lbs, trailer weights 3500lbs empty. You'll have no problem, I don't with tons for gear, gas, and crew cab full of people.

ya im not sure what i was thinkin sayin 3000, itl probably be around 4. the trailer isnt very heavy, or big so its a challenge smashing 5 bikes(+1 in the truck = 6) on it but some how we do. it should be fun, were gonna load up friday night so sat morning we can just go, and its about an hour or so up there. i just hope noone wrecks or breakes anything during the race.

65mph is a good speed if the truck thinks so. Pulling an equipment trailer has very little wind drag compared to a camper, so I can run 65-70 pretty easily on the flats pulling 7k or 8k on the flatbed. On the hills I'll drop to 55 or 60 (or less) if I'm burning enough fuel to start warming things up - and I'll drop back to 3rd w/ TC locked.

FWIW I don't pull hard enough to break 210 deg for more than a minute - I adjust my gears or right foot to keep it cool.

Even though GM says to tow in 3rd, I think the general wisdom is to tow in OD unless the truck starts hunting between 3rd and OD. I dunno why GM said that, but even folks well versed in the 4l80e recommend towing in OD until you need 3rd.

Back when I'd follow the owners manual and tow in 3rd (which meant my torque converter was unlocked) my temps would rise dramatically because the tranny was getting hot and putting all that heat into the radiator. Putting it back in OD cooled it right down. I made my own decision to run in OD after a few trips like that - then read all the other folks who recommended the same.

Now that I can lock my converter manually I still pull in OD till I hit a BIG hill and I'll drop back to 3rd but keep the TC locked. Best of both worlds.

Chaser

Taking it easy up the hills. Watching the boost (fuel).

Pulling around 8k-9K at 65mph (sometimes 70 or 75, sometimes 45 on big hills) I got 14.6mpg.

If I was running just on the flats I'd probably stick it on 65 or 70 depending on the wind. With 3.42's the engine seems to drop out of the torque band below 65 (in OD).

Chaser

.
What is the best speed for fuel milage when you are pulling
65MPH?

I pulled 10k with my truck going 75 mph for 100 miles and got a whopping 9.6 mpg. I wasn't the one paying for the Diesel so I didn't care how fast I went. Normally I pull 5-6k at 55 and get around 13-15mpg.