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Old 09-08-2016, 07:16 AM   #1
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GMC Canyon Duramax towing a 5.0 Classic

We just got out for our first camp with the rig. Finally... I promised to offer up our experience.
The towing was great. We went to one of the Maryland Patapsco state parks with RV sites, near Ellicot City, of recent flooding fame. There is a huge valley to cross getting into the camp. Just about straight down and up. The Canyon took it with ease with RPMs up in the 3000 range. I can't say that for us, on our bikes, since we had to walk up the hill.
So, this was about a 100 mile loop for us. About half was fast highway and half county two-lane. The truck got 24 MPG overall for the loop. On the interstate type highway at 60/65 MPH we got around 26/27 MPG. Very satisfying.

John
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Old 09-08-2016, 07:22 AM   #2
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Originally Posted by john o View Post
We just got out for our first camp with the rig. Finally... I promised to offer up our experience.
The towing was great. We went to one of the Maryland Patapsco state parks with RV sites, near Ellicot City, of recent flooding fame. There is a huge valley to cross getting into the camp. Just about straight down and up. The Canyon took it with ease with RPMs up in the 3000 range. I can't say that for us, on our bikes, since we had to walk up the hill.
So, this was about a 100 mile loop for us. About half was fast highway and half county two-lane. The truck got 24 MPG overall for the loop. On the interstate type highway at 60/65 MPH we got around 26/27 MPG. Very satisfying.

John
Hi: john o... Trouble is "It's all down hill from here"!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie
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Old 09-08-2016, 01:10 PM   #3
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Originally Posted by john o View Post
So, this was about a 100 mile loop for us. About half was fast highway and half county two-lane. The truck got 24 MPG overall for the loop. On the interstate type highway at 60/65 MPH we got around 26/27 MPG. Very satisfying.
That's 9.8 L/100km overall (about what our van does when not towing), and 8.8 to 9.0 L/100km on the highway - very impressive for towing.
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Old 09-10-2016, 02:43 PM   #4
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I'll be interested to follow this, my TA seemed heavy behind me going thru Teton Pass from Wilson WY to Victor ID and I'm driving a full size 5.9L Cummins. I was able to maintain at least 30mph on the way up but wouldn't want to try it with a smaller powerplant, BUT that type of climb is few and far between out there......
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Old 09-10-2016, 04:13 PM   #5
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I'll be interested to follow this, my TA seemed heavy behind me going thru Teton Pass from Wilson WY to Victor ID and I'm driving a full size 5.9L Cummins. I was able to maintain at least 30mph on the way up but wouldn't want to try it with a smaller powerplant...
That big Cummins is very heavy, and comes with about ton more truck that a smaller engine would. It puts out 325 hp or less (depending on year). There might not be much difference in performance with a smaller engine with nearly as much power in a lighter truck, although a smaller engine would run at higher engine speed to do the work.

Of course the Colorado/Canyon diesel engine is much smaller - less than half the size and not much more than half the power. Still, a couple tons less truck would make the situation much better than just a smaller engine in a big truck.

A current version of the Cummins B-series is the engine in four-ton Ram pickups that are rated to tow fifteen tons of trailer. I don't think an engine of this size is needed to acceptably tow less than three tons of trailer behind a lighter truck, on any highway grade (even the 10% of parts of the Teton Pass highway).
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Old 09-10-2016, 05:03 PM   #6
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Originally Posted by Tford View Post
I'll be interested to follow this, my TA seemed heavy behind me going thru Teton Pass from Wilson WY to Victor ID and I'm driving a full size 5.9L Cummins. I was able to maintain at least 30mph on the way up but wouldn't want to try it with a smaller powerplant, BUT that type of climb is few and far between out there......
Is this a RAM 2500. If yes, did you need to raise your trailer?

Thanks,
Mike
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Old 09-11-2016, 09:28 AM   #7
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No, it's an 05 2500, previous owner had the exact same truck and it is perfectly level just as it is.
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Old 09-11-2016, 01:47 PM   #8
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Originally Posted by Brian B-P View Post
That big Cummins is very heavy, and comes with about ton more truck that a smaller engine would. It puts out 325 hp or less (depending on year). There might not be much difference in performance with a smaller engine with nearly as much power in a lighter truck, although a smaller engine would run at higher engine speed to do the work.

Of course the Colorado/Canyon diesel engine is much smaller - less than half the size and not much more than half the power. Still, a couple tons less truck would make the situation much better than just a smaller engine in a big truck.

A current version of the Cummins B-series is the engine in four-ton Ram pickups that are rated to tow fifteen tons of trailer. I don't think an engine of this size is needed to acceptably tow less than three tons of trailer behind a lighter truck, on any highway grade (even the 10% of parts of the Teton Pass highway).
All true, but I DO like a little more tow vehicle weight. I've towed heavy enclosed car trailers with smaller, lighter diesel vehicles (Dodge Jeep GC with a 3.0L) and when it gets hilly or windy, the trailer seems to affect the tow vehicle more. I'm a diesel fanatic though, my only gripe these days is you can't buy a truck except the biggest Ram with a stick. When I'm rowing the gears, I know where the right torque and HP are in the power curve.....these newer computer controlled autos......
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