Towing RZX2

[matt4124]

I work at the GM truck plant that makes the 2500 and used to run a few 1500’s and let me tell you, the 1500 looks like a Chinese scooter next to the 2500. If you tow often spend the extra cash and go with the 2500 platform. Brakes are bigger better trans, and bigger rear end! I mean diesels are nice and will always hold value but a lot more maintenance. 1500 will do the job but if your consistently doing long hauls got big buy once and don’t look back!

[IDBoating]

diesels are nice and will always hold value but a lot more maintenance

Why do you say that? My 2006 Cummins 5.9L, which came packaged in a Dodge 3500, has been a dream for the past 13+ years. I get 25% better mileage (25+ MPG in mixed driving) than my wife's Toyota minivan (20 MPG mixed) and have had precisely one issue with the engine - a slightly loosened injector nut, which I tightened myself at home for free. Otherwise nothing but oil changes. Most reliable, trouble free, low maintenance engine (and drive train) I've ever owned.

Seriously, I'd like to know what "a lot more maintenance" means. Other than the initial sticker shock (which you get back when you sell the vehicle, diesels hold their value WAY better than gassers), I can't think of a downside. I'd truly like to know what you mean.

[gumby]

with Id on this one. nothing but diesel fuel and routine maintenance (well a few mods) for the last 300k. and can still sell it tomorrow for 3 k less than i bought it for 10 years ago. Ford 7.3

[UNSTUCK]

ID, I’m sure you know a lot has changed in the diesel world in the last 13 years. EGR is slowly killing my Ecodiesel and every other newish truck out there. Add to that all the troubles with DEF and the entire exhaust system. 2006 was a fantastic year for diesel truck. If you can find a low mileage beauty it will cost as much as a newer truck. I’d love to get my hands on a clean 2006 Duramax.

[IDBoating]

2006 was a fantastic year for diesel truck. If you can find a low mileage beauty it will cost as much as a newer truck. I’d love to get my hands on a clean 2006 Duramax.

You'll love this... back in 2006 I told my wife "This is the last model year before they'll be required to put all that emissions garbage on diesels". It's literally the reason we decided to buy a new vehicle; we didn't really HAVE to get a new one, but I was driving a 14YO Pathfinder and it was starting to show its age. I could have squeaked out a few more years from it but the stars and planets all aligned and it seemed like the last best opportunity to get a Cummins without all the garbage. I also figured they'd have to go to a new block to make up for the power loss from the emissions crap, which meant 2006 was the last year we could get the 5.9L that had years and years of debugging already behind it. So we pulled the trigger and drove that baby home for $34K new off the lot.

Sure enough, in 2007 the Cummins engine went to (IIRC) a 6.7L new engine with gobs of emissions nonsense. I didn't bother following its history but I always wondered how many bugs the early adopters had to suffer through, and what their mileage numbers looked like. I can get nearly 30 MPG on the highway, something tells me they aren't getting that kind of number.

I just read your comments to my family at dinner, and announced that we aren't going to be the market for a new truck anytime soon! 115K miles and 13YO, it's just barely getting broken in. Needs the front rotors turned (tomorrow morning) but otherwise hopefully I'll get another 13 years and a quarter million miles out of it. Then, when the body has rusted out, maybe I'll drop the engine into a Tige hull just for fun! (Cummins already makes a marinized version of this exact engine.)

[UNSTUCK]

You're a lucky guy. My boss also has 2006 Ram 2500. It's a great truck. Just have to be careful with the rams as they will get bad body rust. Keep it washed and clean during the winter and that will go a long ways to get another 13 years out of it.

[IDBoating]

You're a lucky guy. My boss also has 2006 Ram 2500. It's a great truck. Just have to be careful with the rams as they will get bad body rust. Keep it washed and clean during the winter and that will go a long ways to get another 13 years out of it.

Definitely feeling lucky, particularly after this thread! It's actually a 3500 (one ton)... I looked at the 2500 but the cost difference was in the low hundreds of dollars so I went whole hog. Haven't regretted it either. We've hauled an entire pallet of stone tile in the bed, well over "one ton", and it was happy as could be.

I've started to see a bit of rust, but oddly only on the chrome bumpers. The body seems to be holding up well. When I wash it, it shines like new. Other than the rotors (which are being serviced as I type this) the only problem is the radio - which *I* installed after ripping out the factory abomination, so that's hardly Dodge's fault. I plan to rework the dash panel and install a sound system with integrated navigation and a nice big touch screen. Been like that for 4-5 years, I'll get to it "any day now".

[martin348]

1500 Denali is good i have used that for towing purpose and have driven around 200 km, But currently I am using Ram 6500 which is working great and i am using that for towing truck service near me.

[PBTige]

The 6.2L is a must, otherwise go 2500.

[slingshot]

That is a serious boat to pull 500+ miles. What you need: Steeper gears (3.92's on my Ram 1500 Longhorn), biggest motor, limited slip rear axle, bigger mirrors, towing pkg, 4WD from the factory and add some aftermarket air bags for the rear. Then tow with confidence!

[Bruizza]

I have a 2017 Denali 1500 with the 6.2 and I have towed our RZ2 many miles with no issues. We also have a 32' bumper pull travel trailer I have pulled with it without issue. We just bought an RZX2 yesterday and will be taking it to Powell next week. I will have to tow over mountain passes to get there. I don't anticipate the RZX2 being an issue. I know it is heavier than the RZ2 but it aint nearly as heavy as my travel trailer.

Since you lease your vehicles you are most likely stuck with a 1500. I specifically asked about leasing a diesel when I got my 1500 Denali and they don't do leases on diesels.

[KonaKing]

My

Just the fact that you asked the ? means to me that you're worrying about it just a bit. I've towed with a 2001 5.3 Yukon ( 2004 22V) and a 2011 6.2 Denali.( 2015 Z3 ) Now i tow with a 2015 6.6 Duuramax. ( 2015 Z3) The DurtyMax is a dream for torque and for braking and gets better mileage than 6.2 especially while towing.
As a side note i just drove the new 2020 3500 Durtymax LTZ and it rides better than my 2015, not like a car but its a nice ride, way better than just 5 years ago.

[BrentB]

I started this thread last year. Decided to resurrect it to give you all an update:

I was very close to pulling the trigger on a GMC AT4 HD (2500) 6.6L Duramax, but ultimately decided it was just too much truck for daily driving. Instead, I went with the 1500 AT4 (CarbonPro) with the new 3.0L Duramax diesel.

I retrieved the boat from the storage facility last weekend. The truck performed beautifully with the ~7100 pound load (2018 RZX2 on tandem axel boatmate trailer). It’s a 90 minute drive from the storage facility. The first 30 minutes is all uphill with a VERY steep grade starting out. The truck didn’t seem to break a sweat. Cruising along at between 1500 and 2000 RPM, never exceeding 2500 RPM up the hill. Temperature never topped 210F. During the 30 minute UPHILL portion of the drive I averaged about 13-14 MPG.

For daily driving, it’s a blast to drive. Tons of torque and smooth as butter.

Here’s a couple pics..
D9D1DCD7-26D0-43AE-833A-2905BFDCC608.jpg
2FC2E586-E1B5-4419-8846-6BF3E241DDBA.jpg

[Booms]

Love the look of the GMC trucks! Looking forward to new Yukons!

[scoot18]

We have some days that’s are like 250 miles with 24000 feet of elevation change..

Is this correct? Or supposed to be 2400? I don't think we have that kind of elevation in North America. On 1st read I'm thinking that's got to be some long uphill grades.