Detroit Dan
New Member
Maybe in the wrong place, I can go to the towing page if necessary. I've been looking at mid 90s Subs, and I'd really like to get a 3/4 ton, if I could use it to tow my camper. It weighs a hair under 11,000lbs. It gets pretty heavy behind my 6.5 3500 on the bigger hills. I've seen different ratings in different places, some say the 2500 Sub will tow 10k, others say 12k. I know I'd have to get a weight distributing hitch (don't use one now).
Here's my dilemma. I have found a couple of 454 Subs that undoubtably have enough torque to tow it, but I am not a fan of the gas mileage, or lack thereof. This vehicle would become my daily driver and the 1 ton would go back to being a work/plow truck again. I can't afford a gashog big block to only tow a couple times a year. The 6.5 Subs are great but rare and way more money. Unless one falls in my lap cheap I can't afford one. That leaves the 2500 Sub with a 350 engine. I've found one real cheap, a 93 but I'm a little concerned it won't have the grunt to pull the camper. GVWRs must be the same or close to it, maybe some difference in gearing. I could probably get a little aftermarket help for the 350, exhaust and intake, but I don't need HP I need torque, and I doubt much could be had without changing the cam, which isn't worth it.
My last option would be a 1500 Sub, obviously couldn't tow the camper but still be a good daily driver. Main reason I want a 4 door is I now have 2 kids in kindergarten that have to be shuttled around a lot. I don't have room in my pickup unless I empty all my important stuff out, so I've been borrowing my mothers little Saturn. Yuck, too small.
Just trying to figure out if I can justify another 8 lug truck, I really can't unless I can tow with it. Right now we use my 1 ton to tow and the family follows along in the Avalanche. Kind of a waste to take two vehicles every time we go camping, but there's just not enough room in my extended cab for a wife, 2 kids (soon to be 3) and a Golden Retriever. Also, I may be taking a long camping trip next year, and I'd rather not pack five people into my truck, and burn off 6 mud tires highway driving. And bringing the Avalanche wouldn't be an option.
Sure would be nice to have a 6.5 Sub for that trip, because I'll need to keep up with my sisters V10 Excursion.
Here's my dilemma. I have found a couple of 454 Subs that undoubtably have enough torque to tow it, but I am not a fan of the gas mileage, or lack thereof. This vehicle would become my daily driver and the 1 ton would go back to being a work/plow truck again. I can't afford a gashog big block to only tow a couple times a year. The 6.5 Subs are great but rare and way more money. Unless one falls in my lap cheap I can't afford one. That leaves the 2500 Sub with a 350 engine. I've found one real cheap, a 93 but I'm a little concerned it won't have the grunt to pull the camper. GVWRs must be the same or close to it, maybe some difference in gearing. I could probably get a little aftermarket help for the 350, exhaust and intake, but I don't need HP I need torque, and I doubt much could be had without changing the cam, which isn't worth it.
My last option would be a 1500 Sub, obviously couldn't tow the camper but still be a good daily driver. Main reason I want a 4 door is I now have 2 kids in kindergarten that have to be shuttled around a lot. I don't have room in my pickup unless I empty all my important stuff out, so I've been borrowing my mothers little Saturn. Yuck, too small.
Just trying to figure out if I can justify another 8 lug truck, I really can't unless I can tow with it. Right now we use my 1 ton to tow and the family follows along in the Avalanche. Kind of a waste to take two vehicles every time we go camping, but there's just not enough room in my extended cab for a wife, 2 kids (soon to be 3) and a Golden Retriever. Also, I may be taking a long camping trip next year, and I'd rather not pack five people into my truck, and burn off 6 mud tires highway driving. And bringing the Avalanche wouldn't be an option.
Sure would be nice to have a 6.5 Sub for that trip, because I'll need to keep up with my sisters V10 Excursion.