Who is high mileage towing?

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FlyingTexan

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I have a tuned, weight loss, 2008 Duramax with 188k miles. Thinking of buying a gooseneck to tow my Ineos Grenadier and a CFMOTO Uforce U10 XL UTV on Colorado then MOAB. I think that will be about 8k lbs before o add all the tools, coolers, etc. plus going up into the Rockies then running to Moab and going up the mountain there in the heat to get to our camping spots.

Does this seem like too much for the LLM Duramax? I’ve pulled so much weight on a ranch but that was short distances and low gears. I’ve never towed this much this far on a truck this old. Send it or do we have serious concerns? I haven’t bought a gooseneck yet but will only get something with great brakes.
 
For the record every fluid but radiator has been replaced, which I have, with Amsoil in the Allison, diffs, transfer, and engine. All new. New front end. New rotors and pads.
 
I've towed with my 93 C1500 5.7l, 125k and 6500ish lbs travel trailer from PA to SD and back in 2021. My '04 Expedition 200k and same camper from PA to SC and PA to MN and over to ND and back as well in 2023. My son now has the Expedition 220k miles at the time and we towed his 5k lbs travel trailer from PA to Washington state in 2024. Now I use my '94 F350 7.5l 125k on drivetrain, 260k on body and frame to tow our new 9-10k lbs travel trailer around PA and WV so far but will be heading out on longer trips hopefully next year.
Swap fluids, do tune up and pack your tools.
 
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FlyingTexan said:
Does this seem like too much for the LLM Duramax?
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No it's not too much with the right guy behind the wheel. It's not a race. Pull at a slow speed up and down the long steep grades. I get behind a slow semi and go his speed, usually 25 MPH both uphill and downhill. My goal going downhill is to not use my foot brakes, only the exhaust brake. We weigh about 30,000 pounds and pulling down from the Eisenhower tunnel, that speed is no greater than 25 MPH. It takes me longer than Mr. Cowboy that thinks it is a race, but I have cold brakes at the bottom, while he has smoking hot brakes.
 
How long a trailer would say you need? I have a free 40ft but that seems too long was hoping to keep it a little easier to maneuver. Think a 25ft could do it?
 
This 2002 F350 V10 4.33 rear with 200k miles towed this enclosed gooseneck early this month from New Mexico to Florida, and back to New Mexico. Changes in grades, lots of burning hot interstate, the older Ford never missed a beat. Picture taken in Florida. I'd be more worried about the manufacturer of the trailer tires and the air pressure in the trailer than the age or torque of your Chevy truck.

Another option to reduce weight but not cargo capacity is to use an aluminum trailer.

Some of the older trucks might holistically do better towing than new trucks.

IMG_7630.webp
 
It's what those trucks were made for. I think your question revolves around reliability for higher mileages & that is a real thought as mileage can cause break-downs but 188k isn't 288k you know what I mean. At 288k I'd imagine plenty of trucks have served their heyday & to start shopping for a replacement if going far from home base. Have fun!
 
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FlyingTexan said:
I have a tuned, weight loss, 2008 Duramax with 188k miles
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Make sure this is not a sport, race tune. Overheating will kill a diesel real quick. More power does not mean more towing. 10k would be easy for this engine, or really any "HD truck engine, gas or diesel, given you drive the load correctly.
FlyingTexan said:
For the record every fluid but radiator has been replaced
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I suggest replacing the coolant and making sure the cooling system is 110% minimum.

The enemy of towing is heat, both up and down hill.
 
I tow a 12k Anderson gooseneck(usually around 9-10k in weight) with my 426K mile 2000 F250 4x4 7.3/6 spd regularly. 60-70% of the truck's accrued mileage has had this, a slightly lighter gooseneck trailer and a couple of different utility trailers(12' and 16') hooked to it at one time or another. Everything oil lubed has synthetic oil in it, change differential/trans/transfer case fluids every 30k, brake fluid every 3 years, PS fluid(hydro boost) every 2 years, coolant every 2 years and so on. Plan on driving the truck till it'll go no more, has been extremely reliable to me.
 
SwampSurvivor said:
My truck has 85k miles, but the engine has 260,000 (or around there) on it. Junkyard engine.

I rent for longer trips. $600 for a 3 day weekend with unlimited mileage from Enterprise for a 3/4 ton truck is a lot cheaper than breaking down.
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Plus, no repair/towing bill if something goes wrong just an inconvenience and time. I like it and so will your truck, but $
 
aquartlow said:
I tow a 12k Anderson gooseneck(usually around 9-10k in weight) with my 426K mile 2000 F250 4x4 7.3/6 spd regularly. 60-70% of the truck's accrued mileage has had this, a slightly lighter gooseneck trailer and a couple of different utility trailers(12' and 16') hooked to it at one time or another. Everything oil lubed has synthetic oil in it, change differential/trans/transfer case fluids every 30k, brake fluid every 3 years, PS fluid(hydro boost) every 2 years, coolant every 2 years and so on. Plan on driving the truck till it'll go no more, has been extremely reliable to me.
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Any pics? Possible southern truck?
 
fozzdesy2001 said:
Plus, no repair/towing bill if something goes wrong just an inconvenience and time. I like it and so will your truck, but $
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I can also maintain speed on the interstate with the rental trucks 🤣 The old 5.4 slows down as soon as it smells a hill within 50 miles. I'm getting passed by fully loaded 18 wheelers! Rental trucks have no problem running the speed rating of the tires all day.

$600 2 or 3 times a year is cheaper than a new truck.

With that said, I do use my truck for trips under 100 miles away.
 
Check EVERYTHING before you travel, you will be more than fine. Cooling most important, change fluids more often, get gauge array, if not already equipped. Go slow on grades, and use rpm and ratio to get up hills. Sounds less mechanically friendly to our ears but much better for equipment.

Towed a 3 horse slant around with a ‘93 1500 Suburban TBI 350 and 4L60E at 400k miles. At full throttle up grades 100 percent of the time. Used it to move from WA to AZ with a UHaul trailer packed full, tools, welders motorcycle, etc. at about 350k miles. Was curious so hit a truck scale on the way to AZ. Over 17k lbs combined. Had no idea. Went up and down the Grapevine like this. Two huge transmission coolers,( one was a Suzuki GSXR oil cooler) transmission temperature gauge, and Summit aluminum rear differential cover with adjustment bolts to brace bearing saddles. Redline in diff and transmission. Check EVERYTHING before you go onto the open road, you will be fine. Below picture is the last epic tow before getting our Excursion. Picked up two AW11 MR2 for my son, drove from AZ to CA, and back. Big trailer!

IMG_1153.webp


IMG_1155.webp
 
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SwampSurvivor said:
I can also maintain speed on the interstate with the rental trucks 🤣 The old 5.4 slows down as soon as it smells a hill within 50 miles. I'm getting passed by fully loaded 18 wheelers! Rental trucks have no problem running the speed rating of the tires all day.

$600 2 or 3 times a year is cheaper than a new truck.

With that said, I do use my truck for trips under 100 miles away.
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Treat it like a Rented Mule:ROFLMAO::devilish:
 
fozzdesy2001 said:
Treat it like a Rented Mule:ROFLMAO::devilish:
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Oh, I do.

One of the offroad parks we go to has a 14% grade hill to get to it. Towing my jeep on trailer, my truck with the 5.4 will do 26 MPH in 2nd gear against the rev limiter. Can't even think of 3rd. A F150 with the 5.0 will hit 58 (or faster, I had to slow down because I was about to run into someone), 5.3 silverados with the 6,8,10 speed transmission will all do 45 and a 2500 Duramax will do 50.

It's baffling me that the Duramax wasn't as fast as the gas F150, but I suspect the Duramax still would have done 50 with 20,000 pounds behind it as well.

The first time I tried it, I never thought to check the oil on one of the uhaul pickups. It was 4 quarts low. I'm assuming at 18K miles it had never seen an oil change or top up.
 
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