debandi
at home
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After a few years off the road dur to medical problems we are getting back into the RV lifestyle.
We are looking at a 2005 Chevy 2500HD with 8.1 Litre motor to tow a travel trailer or a 5er. Guess there are not too many around because when I searched got nothing close.
Anyway, what do you folks think of the pick up as a TV?
Thanks
John Spear RMCS(SW)USN RET '88
Debra is my nagagator!She hasn't steered me wrong yet.
1999 Ford F150 4.6L 4X4 towing 2006 SunLine 
 A Closed Mouth Gathers No Foot
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ib516
Up here!
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Joined: 04/18/2003
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They're a good RV puller from what I've read, but they like oil and gas
2010 Cougar 322QBS 5er
2007 Dodge 3500 SRW Megacab, 4x4, 5.9L Cummins, 3.73, 48RE auto
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jalichty
Lander, Wyoming 82520
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Have never used the 8.1, but have heard it is a very reliable tow vehicle but drinks gas as if it were dying of thirst. Used a regular 454 and a Vortec 454 before going to the Duramax and each engine is a step-up in towing ability. I think the 8.1 is about a 496 so you will get a lot of torque and will be able to pull mountains, as long as there are enough gas stations along the way. When I had the Vortec 454, I got about 10 mpg in town, unloaded, about 14 on the highway, unloaded, and around 8 towing our 21.5' FW and any boat we owned along behind. When switching to the diesel in 2002, the in-town mileage went up by about 40% and the towing mileage went up by around 50%. With the new diesels and standards, the differential might be a bit lower now, as well as the price of diesel has gone up two-fold since I first bought my diesel. When buying the diesel originally, price of diesel was less than regular unleaded and now it has been as much as $.90 cents per gallon more. So, towing with the diesel is not quite as efficient as it used to be.
John A. Lichty
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garysol
Avon Ohio
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And depending where the truck has lived its life rust can be an issue on these trucks specifacly on the fuel and brake lines as well as major frame rust. Other that that they are very nice trucks. I miss my 6.0 powered HD.
2008 Dodge Ram 3500 6.7 CTD SRW, Pullrite Superglide 18k.
2012 Komfort 3530fbh 5th wheel with Ground Control
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nremtp143
Georgia
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I have an '01 Silverado CC 4x4 dually that I pulled our Sandpiper with in the beginning. It has the 8.1 with the Allison transmission and 4.10 rear end. The high profile 5er weighed around 13-14k. On two lane roads, there was never any problem. However on the interstate, it was different matter. It would pull down drastically on hills and had trouble staying at highway speeds. Like I said, that was pulling a big 5er. It pulls everything else with ease. I've had 10k behind it with no problem at all. Don't get me wrong, it would pull it, you would have to have some patience. When pulling the fifth wheel, I averaged about 6.5 mpg. When empty I get around 11. Even after I bought the diesel you see in my sig, I kept the Chevy. It's still a great truck to drive.
2012 Sandpiper 365SAQ
2010 F350 DRW 6.4L 4x4, Edge CTS, B&W Companion
2001 Excursion Limited 7.3L 4x4
2001 Silverado 3500 DRW CCLB 8.1L 4x4
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larry barnhart
wenatchee. wa usa
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We bought a new 2001 3500 2wd 8.1 dually 4:10. the lowest mileage was just under 8 mpg towing in a windy day that I decided it was stupid to drive in. 13.52 mpg solo on a long drive to sight see and filled in the morning and same pump after the long day of driving. Never felt it was underpowered towing our 14380 lb alpenlite but the duramax is better. Towing mileage was over 8 and 9.30 was the best. Traded it at 51K and still drove and looked like new. The 8.1 engine would be my favoriate for solo driving.
chevman
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2001 35 ft avalon alpenlite RK
2005 3500 2wd duramax CC dually
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debandi
at home
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Thanks for the info. As always you folks share good info and there is nothing better real life experiences.
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Itchey Feet
Wyoming
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We do not tow a trailer but carry a TC made a trip to AK, 8'000 miles, right around 10 mpg. We are @ 11'8'' tall. When we left home we weighed 12,400 lbs. Picture in (my profile) on this trip we did not tow the Bronco. Ours is an 06 and has the 6 spd Allison in the 3500 dully CC with a flatbed and cannot say enough good things about the setup.
My feet are fine as long as they are traveling.
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SoCalDesertRider
SanDiego, CA, USA
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Joined: 12/14/2003
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The 2500HD with 8.1 engine will be a great truck for towing a travel trailer of any size, or a small to medium 5th wheel. To tow a larger fifth wheel, get a 3500SRW or 3500DRW, depending on the weight of the fifth wheel.
The 2500 trucks lack payload and rear tire/wheel load capacity for carrying the heavy pin weight of large fifth wheel or heavy truck camper, due to low GVWR and RGAWR. The 3500SRW truck typically has 500 to 1000 lbs more payload capaacity than the 2500 and the 3500DRW truck typically has about 1000 to 1500 lbs more payload capacity than the 3500SRW.
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Devocamper
West Haven CT
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We had an 03 gmc 3/4 ton with the 8.1 and the Allison transmission and it was an great tow vehicle however it was a short bed which came with the smaller gas tank (21 gal I think it was, not much range) and it was very thirsty, only got around 5-7 mpg towing a fifth wheel and not much better towing the TT before that. It is an awesome combo if you can keep feeding it gas. There was not that many 8.1 in the PU trucks, I had ordered mine at the time. They used the 8.1 motors in the motor home chassis until they discontinued production a few years back. The 8.1 big block 8 is as close to a diesel as you will get. Always had more than enough power, Allison Transmission was always smooth and the tow haul was great, never had any mechanical breakdowns. Good luck
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