Towing RZX2

[BrentB]

I have a 2018 RZX2 with the standard dual axle boatmate trailer. Total weight is around 7,250 lbs dry. I currently lease a GMC Canyon Denali with the Duramax diesel which is sufficient for very short hauls, but not likely sufficient for longer trips with the boat. When my lease on the Canyon is up, I have been thinking about trading it in on a GMC Sierra 1500 Denali.

Does anyone have experience towing this much weight with the Sierra 1500 over long distances (500+ miles)? Is it sufficient or should I be looking at the 2500 instead (which won’t fit in my garage, so I’d prefer to not have a truck quite that large if I don’t really need it).

Thanks!

Brent

[TigeFamily]

The 1500 Denali has the 6.2 engine and will be good to go IMO. My 24ft boat is over 7500lbs total including tandem trailer and I previously used 2016 Chevy 1500 with tow package and considered upgrading to Denali but ended up getting a 2019 Ram 1500 with tow package/lower gears (11,500 tow rating), it does great. Just gotta use common sense and not go roaring down the highway at 80mph. I typically do not go over 65mph when pulling the boat.
Will the 2500 do a better job, of course. Is it needed if you have the right tow ratings, class IV hitch, etc....IMO, no. I didn't want a 2500 for daily driving and feel like this was a good choice for me and my situation.

[MikeB313]

Denali 1500 will do just fine. I have a 2011 GMC Sierra Denali and tow all the time. I haven't done over 500 miles, but would not hesitate to. I pulled a ZX5 over 250 miles just last month. It did great at 70-75MPH. I'm in MN so don't have to worry about elevation, which helps too.

The newer Denali's come in the 5.3 or 6.2. I'm actually selling mine to upgrade to a little newer one, most like a used 2015 or 2016 year model. So if you're looking for a good deal on a 2011, I know a guy

IMG_6303 (1).jpg

[bsreid]

Should be more than enough. I would recommend going with the 6.2 and max tow just to have the extra power.

[Zackdogg]

What part of the country do you live in Brent? My last truck was a Chevy 1500, and the trans lasted 60k, and I went through 3 sets of brakes before 100k, because of towing. Will a 1500 drag them down the road? Sure. If you’re leasing again I’d be less worried about it, as it just needs to look good when you turn it in, and who cares what you do to the running gear. I live in the mountains and towing is even a little hard on my 2500, I can go 85 in the flats all day long. It’s a lot more about the geography you’re towing in, as far as I’m concerned.


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[BrentB]

I’m in western PA (lots of hills), but I live on the lake (boat stays in water on lift most of the time) so the only significant towing I would really be doing is a 90 minute drive each way to and from the storage facility each year and maybe one longer trip each year to another lake.

[Zackdogg]

I’d roll a half ton, in that situation, without any worries. We have some days that’s are like 250 miles with 24000 feet of elevation change.. I think I towed like 20k miles one year, in my half ton, and the truck didn’t like that much..


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[NICKYPOO]

^^^I find it shocking you towed that monster around here with a 1500. Even that 2500 gasser. You should be rockin a Dmax/Allison.

Anything will actually tow a boat down the road. Controlling and stopping is where the real issues start. I recently had to do my rear brakes. It was the first time in at least 10yrs. I’m not exactly sure. I have a truck camper and the boat on there often so that’s where I’m figuring the higher wear on the rears is coming from. My fronts are still 40% and have been so for several years now. It’s one of the first things I had my mechanic check when I found him. I’ve had him check several times in the last few years and it’s always the same thing. We were watching both and finally had to do the rears but, that was at least a decade of towing.

In the OPs situation, a 1500 with tow package would be fine. I don’t think I’d do it with a Canyon. They’re neat little trucks but, I still wouldn’t put a boat twice it’s size behind it. That’s just me though.

[UNSTUCK]

The biggest issue with the half tons is not towing capacity. It is payload capacity. This has come up a few times in different threads. My rzx3 with trailer and gear, no lead, weighs 8600. That z5 is even heavier. My ram 1500 can pull the weight, but the payload is stupid at like 950 pounds. My tongue weight is about 700 and my family weighs about 700 as well. I’m well over payload and maxed on towing capacity.
Having said all that, I feel comfortable towing 120 miles round trip each weekend mostly flat. We skip other nicer lakes due to hills that would need to be dealt with. I realize I tow illegally due to weight and am ok with that.

The GM max tow package is nice. It increases the payload a lot. I have looked into it. The other issues is gross axle weight. I haven’t found a half ton yet that I can run my tongue weight and family and stay under axle weight with a bit of lead as well. Maybe if I store the lead on the front bumper of the truck.

[Zackdogg]

^^^I find it shocking you towed that monster around here with a 1500. Even that 2500 gasser. You should be rockin a Dmax/Allison.

Anything will actually tow a boat down the road. Controlling and stopping is where the real issues start. I recently had to do my rear brakes. It was the first time in at least 10yrs. I’m not exactly sure. I have a truck camper and the boat on there often so that’s where I’m figuring the higher wear on the rears is coming from. My fronts are still 40% and have been so for several years now. It’s one of the first things I had my mechanic check when I found him. I’ve had him check several times in the last few years and it’s always the same thing. We were watching both and finally had to do the rears but, that was at least a decade of towing.

In the OPs situation, a 1500 with tow package would be fine. I don’t think I’d do it with a Canyon. They’re neat little trucks but, I still wouldn’t put a boat twice it’s size behind it. That’s just me though.

Tell me about it! I’m still pissed that I let Dave Smith talk me out of the duramax.. I figure I’ll run this truck into the ground, it’s fine capacity-wise, but sucks gas and is hard on the motor, then get a 4 or 5 year old duramax.. one of these new duramaxs is pretty hard to swallow at $70k..


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[IDBoating]

Remember this rule of thumb: "I've never wished for a smaller engine."

[sandm]

Remember this rule of thumb: "I've never wished for a smaller engine."

I'll take that bait.
my buddy in wi has a moomba mondo with the zr409 in it. sounds absolutely crazy and night and day from my old ex343 but it's overkill in that small hull. iirc it was the only one the dealer there ever ordered spec'ed with that engine. something like a 10k premium over the base engine when he checked off the order form. that thing would almost rip your arms off if you romped on the throttle with a wakeboarder and fully ballasted.

[NICKYPOO]

Remember this rule of thumb: "I've never wished for a smaller engine."

...or bigger brakes, stronger transmission, better suspension.

[robricketts]

I am rolling a duromax and it’s a beast. Rides like a pig when using as regular vehicle. I mainly use mine for hauling a four place snowmobile trailer in the winter but it makes for an easy job towing the boat.

Have pulled with a 1500 ram with air ride and that also had no issues. Brakes were the limiting factor.

Common sense and either will do..


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[UNSTUCK]

I actually really love the brakes on my ram 1500. I towed the boat to lake mead last year with a brand new ram 2500. I thought the brakes were terrible. So bad in fact I about missed some stops I would have normally made just fine in my truck.
In reality the trailer should be stopping itself, not the truck. This is not always the case with surge brakes.