Try to decide on a tow rig

[Larryjb]

A lot also depends on what you are towing. I pull a Trailmanor 2720 with my 5:3 2002 Tahoe. I've taken it up some pretty steep grades.

 

[intheburbs]

A lot also depends on what you are towing. I pull a Trailmanor 2720 with my 5:3 2002 Tahoe. I've taken it up some pretty steep grades.

Sorry, no comparison. 2500 trucks are just beefier. They're built for towing. The half-ton trucks are meant for occasional towing. There's a reason why my 2500 weighs almost 1000 lbs more than its half-ton siblings.

 

[Larryjb]

Sorry, no comparison. 2500 trucks are just beefier. They're built for towing. The half-ton trucks are meant for occasional towing. There's a reason why my 2500 weighs almost 1000 lbs more than its half-ton siblings.

I know there's no comparison. My point is if you are towing a 3500 lb trailer, you don't need a beefy 2500. We pulled our Trailmanor from Vancouver BC to Anaheim CA up and down the Grapevine using our Explorer. We towed our Trailmanor up the Coquihala which is even longer then the Grapevine, using the Tahoe.

That's why I said it helps to know what he is towing.

 

[intheburbs]

I know there's no comparison. My point is if you are towing a 3500 lb trailer, you don't need a beefy 2500. We pulled our Trailmanor from Vancouver BC to Anaheim CA up and down the Grapevine using our Explorer. We towed our Trailmanor up the Coquihala which is even longer then the Grapevine, using the Tahoe.

That's why I said it helps to know what he is towing.

I understand what you're saying. Sure, if he's pulling a 1500-lb popup, he doesn't need a 2500. But if I was planning a long road trip, or a trip to Alaska, pulling any kind of trailer, I'd want the extra insurance of the durability of the 2500. Sure, the half-tons have the engines (like my 400-hp Sierra Denali), but I'll take the "handicap" of 50 less hp that goes along with the extra reliability/durability of freefloat axles, beefier brakes (9900 lbs), beefier transmission, beefier hubs/bearings and heavier-duty suspension.

Despite the abuse I heap on my 2500, it just rolled 200k miles and it's still all-original. That includes about 25k miles of punishing towing at/over 16,000 GCW, another 10k-15k towing a smaller 3500-lb trailer, and extra-legal jaunts cross country when not towing (cruising at 90-95 mph for hours at a time). My half-ton Denali has become quite the money pit, and it only has 125k miles. I've already replaced the front diff (AWD=$$$$$), one front half-shaft, and the front hubs/bearings.

 

[rzabel]

I pull with a 2003 Yukon XL 2500, 8.1 engine, 4.10 gears, 160k miles on it now. I've towed a 6,000 lb 1948 Spartan Manor all over the Western US (Yellowstone, Rushmore, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Zion, Death Valley, Yosemite, Crater Lake and many locales in my home state of Oregon), Canada (BC) and Mexico (3 round trips to south of Puerto Vallarta). I've had a few issues with the trailer (after all, it is 70 years old), but my only issue with the Yukon has been keeping the 4wd working. The 8.1 is a beast and the 4L85e has been flawless. Neither engine or transmission ever heat up and that's with the stock coolers. The 8.1 has torque that rivals diesels and can pull most hills in 3rd gear without slowing down. It gets between 8 and 10 mpg when towing. Highly recommended if you're interested in an older rig.

 

[WillEngineer]

I don't have the camper yet. Kind of deciding on both the rig and the camper at the same time. Do I get a pickup and a cab over camper or do I get a big SUV and pull? Trying to do the leg work now for the Rushmore tip next year. Alaska will be in 2022 or 2023, likely for my F-I-L's retirement.

 

[swathdiver]

I don't have the camper yet. Kind of deciding on both the rig and the camper at the same time. Do I get a pickup and a cab over camper or do I get a big SUV and pull? Trying to do the leg work now for the Rushmore tip next year. Alaska will be in 2022 or 2023, likely for my F-I-L's retirement.

GMT900 Pickups with NHT package could pull over 10,000 pounds with the 6.2 motor and 3.73 gears. The Extended Cab was officially rated to also pull a 5th wheel @ 10,000 pounds too. GM did not rate the Crew Cabs but plenty of companies sell 5th wheel kits for them and we've seen lots of horse trailers being pulled by them. Something to consider. I'd go with the 2500 wagon if in your shoes.

 

[Larryjb]

Make sure you add your food, water, propane, batteries, people, and supplies into the mix in addition to the trailer you wish to tow. This is especially important if you are travellerg to Alaska as things get more remote as you go north. You will want to carry water in the freshwater holding tank at some point in your travels in case you have to dry camp.

For example, a 2500 with a GCWR of 24000 may be able to tow a DVR 44 Memphis 5th wheel with a dry weight of 20 600. If one hasn't done the camping thing much in the past, they may be surprised how quickly weight adds up. A family of 5 will add 500-1000 lbs just like that. Don't forget the fuel tanks either. For that trailer, I think I'd want a 3500.

When we towed our 3500 lb Trailmanor, our Tahoe has a GCWIR of about 13000 lbs. At a weigh station, we came in at about 11 000 lbs! The Tahoe contributed about 5000 lbs, and the dry trailer 3500 lbs for a total of 8500 lbs. That means us and our gear was over 3000 lbs!

 

[WillEngineer]

Make sure you add your food, water, propane, batteries, people, and supplies into the mix in addition to the trailer you wish to tow. This is especially important if you are travellerg to Alaska as things get more remote as you go north. You will want to carry water in the freshwater holding tank at some point in your travels in case you have to dry camp.

For example, a 2500 with a GCWR of 24000 may be able to tow a DVR 44 Memphis 5th wheel with a dry weight of 20 600. If one hasn't done the camping thing much in the past, they may be surprised how quickly weight adds up. A family of 5 will add 500-1000 lbs just like that. Don't forget the fuel tanks either. For that trailer, I think I'd want a 3500.

When we towed our 3500 lb Trailmanor, our Tahoe has a GCWIR of about 13000 lbs. At a weigh station, we came in at about 11 000 lbs! The Tahoe contributed about 5000 lbs, and the dry trailer 3500 lbs for a total of 8500 lbs. That means us and our gear was over 3000 lbs!

A very good point.

 

[S33k3r]

I don't have the camper yet. Kind of deciding on both the rig and the camper at the same time. Do I get a pickup and a cab over camper or do I get a big SUV and pull? Trying to do the leg work now for the Rushmore tip next year. Alaska will be in 2022 or 2023, likely for my F-I-L's retirement.

I think you will be much happier with a Suburban towing a trailer as opposed to a cabover camper. You will have far more interior room.