Another Tow Vehicle Discussion

[Dandy]

How about that Cummins Diesel in a Nissan Armada? Any rumor of that? I so often see/hear people mentioning how nice it would be to have a people hauler/towing diesel.

[Wickedcummins]

This cummins will not have the same massive torque as.its a v8 not the in line 6 which is why the rams make so much torque

[JohnnieMo]

Cool video. I'm totally going to try that test with my supercharged 5.3L.

[Ewok]

Cool video. I'm totally going to try that test with my supercharged 5.3L.

I'll do the same with my boat next time I get it out of the garage, it feels pretty quick to me but the numbers don't lie. That video was also done at a mile high altitude so your results may vary.

[JohnnieMo]

I'll do the same with my boat next time I get it out of the garage, it feels pretty quick to me but the numbers don't lie. That video was also done at a mile high altitude so your results may vary.

Don't let the elevation fool you.... it was all made up for with that cold winter air. It will be an apples to oranges comparison, but a cool test nonetheless. We are at 3500 feet here, plus my boat is a good 500 to 800lbs heavier.

[BCRider]

Dodge will also becoming out with their ecodiesel half ton 1500 here pretty quick as well which would be something that I would look at seriously when I'm in the position to upgrade. Watched a review the other day that said the Chevy will have more power on the high end but the ecodiesel of course will have the torque in the low end. It also has a 8 speed transmission. Will be interesting to hear about some of these trucks once they finally get released and we get some real world (with a grain of salt) reviews from the public.

[Bruizza]

I'm not sure what your price range is but if look at the new Explorer with boost (2015 model) and the new sequoia. You can get a nicely broken in sequoia for new jeep Cherokee money. I'm not sure on pricing but if they stay similar, a new expedition is about 10k less than a new sequoia. The new Tahoe looks nice too but when we were looking at them last year they didn't have a fold flat third row seat.

Drove a LOADED 2015 Tahoe this past Friday and the 3rd row seats now fold flat at the push of a button. It was the nicest SUV I have ever driven and I used to own a range rover.

[Bruizza]

Also let me throw this out there. I had my 2011 Avalanche in the shop for some work on it. Needed to tow our RZ2 about 40 miles up the interstate so they gave me a 2014 Silverado Crew Cab with the V6 in it. I asked them if they were sure it would work. They assured me it would. Drove 40 miles at 75mph with the RZ2 in tow and averaged 10mpg. I was AMAZED at how well the V6 pulled. It is just a hair under the 5.3 in my Avalanche. I REALLY want to try towing it with the new 5.3 and then the new 6.2. I am pretty much convinced the new 5.3 is going to tow like a Champ!!!!!!

[Wickedcummins]

Dodge will also becoming out with their ecodiesel half ton 1500 here pretty quick as well which would be something that I would look at seriously when I'm in the position to upgrade. Watched a review the other day that said the Chevy will have more power on the high end but the ecodiesel of course will have the torque in the low end. It also has a 8 speed transmission. Will be interesting to hear about some of these trucks once they finally get released and we get some real world (with a grain of salt) reviews from the public.

It's already out

[JohnnieMo]

So I did my baseline 0 to 60 test tonight. Just truck, no boat. My plump Avalanche LTZ with a supercharged 5.3L gasser clocked off a cool 7.9 seconds!

I was so shocked I went to weigh the old girl. With me and my son on board it was 6380lbs !!!!



For kicks I checked and the density altitude tonight was 3400 feet. Really good air tonight. I'll run another test once I get the boat out.

[boatwakes]

Whatever you buy, remember it's better to have more power and torque and not need it than limp up a hill with a straining V6. Diesel, diesel, diesel!!! None of the boats in anyones tow boat line up will ever weigh enough to cause a real problem for the aforementioned tow vehicles but it really does feel good passing ANYTHING you want pulling the boat up any hill you want. And for goodness sake, stay away from any forced induction gasoline vehicle for towing…KABOOOOOOOM!!!!

[Cloud]

Not sure if you are being serious but a forced induction is fine for towing. I tow my RZ4 with my supercharged Tacoma and have no issues what so ever with towing.

Just ordered a brand new ML450 and plan on towing with that as well. I've never heard of a factory FI vehicle blow up from towing unless they are modified it wrong or towing beyond their capacity.

Whatever you buy, remember it's better to have more power and torque and not need it than limp up a hill with a straining V6. Diesel, diesel, diesel!!! None of the boats in anyones tow boat line up will ever weigh enough to cause a real problem for the aforementioned tow vehicles but it really does feel good passing ANYTHING you want pulling the boat up any hill you want. And for goodness sake, stay away from any forced induction gasoline vehicle for towing…KABOOOOOOOM!!!!

[JohnnieMo]

I did the second half of my test today. Hooked up the Z1 and went for a drive.

The boat was a little light as it only had a couple gallons of fuel and no batteries. So add weight accordingly.

Before:
2008 Avalanche with Magnacharger kit
Full tank of gas.
280lbs of people.
0 to 60 in 7.9 seconds
Density altitude = 3500 feet



After:
Truck + 2013 Z1
No fuel, no batteries.
0 to 60 in 15.5 seconds
Density altitude = 4100 ft






So by the numbers

Truck = 6380 lbs
Boat on trailer = 5760 lbs
Tongue weight = 340 lbs

Also note how hooking up the trailer reallocated 220lbs from the front axle to the back. Neat stuff.

Hope I haven't derailed your thread.

Now I'll just sit back and wait for the "boom".

[mls6722]

Great Test JohnnieMo - That is decent power. *****BOOM****

[mls6722]

Whatever you buy, remember it's better to have more power and torque and not need it than limp up a hill with a straining V6. Diesel, diesel, diesel!!! None of the boats in anyones tow boat line up will ever weigh enough to cause a real problem for the aforementioned tow vehicles but it really does feel good passing ANYTHING you want pulling the boat up any hill you want. And for goodness sake, stay away from any forced induction gasoline vehicle for towing…KABOOOOOOOM!!!!

I miss my 1977 F250 with the 460 and 4:10 rear end and never heard of overdrive. As I recall it was turning about 3K RPM at 60. Boy did it pull nice. It would pass anything but a gas station.