Towing Grand Design Imagine 2600RB

[uwskier]

I have a several mile 6-7% grade pull coming today that will take me from around 1500 to 5200 feet of elevation. Mix of interstate and two-track. This is with a 5.3L with 3.55 rear end and the 8 speed. It'll be about an 8-10 MPH headwind. Will report back how we do. This is the first mountain test of this truck/trailer combo.

Happy to report that the 5.3L with the 3.55 rear had no issues whatsoever with this climb. I had the cruise set at 62 MPH. On the flats, I was passed by a bunch of tractor trailers that I did feel moving me around a little, even with the ProPride. Never anything shocking though. Once we got to the climb out of Black Canyon City up I-17, I was quoting Clark Griswold "Let's burn some dust here. Eat my rubber!" We blew past all those big rigs like they were in reverse.

It was a 7% grade that takes you from 2000' to 4000' and at those elevations, power was no issue and I didn't get much over 3000 RPM. Engine and transmission temps stayed right in the sweet spot. Ambient temp was 75-80 degrees along the climb, and I left my AC on.

Once above 5000' I could tell I was down on power a bit. I had to wind it out a little more to maintain those speeds on the climbs.

But I'm happy with how it worked out and will not be rushing out to buy a diesel 3/4 or 1 ton with current truck prices. I can wait on a good deal.

The Hemi 5.7 makes more power than my 5.3 does so I'd think a gear change would help, though it won't change the on-paper rating of your truck.

[Cajun Couple]

We have 2021 2600RB and pull with a 2018 Ford Expedition RV with the tow package. Have had no problems going through the mountains of ID and OR, even during the heatwave of last summer in the Northwest.

Good to know. Wife and I looked at the 2600RB and the 2500RL. Kind of leaning towards the 2500RL with the 2 doors and windows in the rear. Plan on towing with our '21 Expedition with the max tow package. Rated for 9,200 lbs towing. Guessing the gross weight of the camper will be around 7,500 lbs. Mostly short trips on flat highways and no mountains. Hope the Expedition can handle it!

[bricknhank]

Well I ordered a Ram 2500 Limited Longhorn today. 6.4 Hemi with the 8speed, 4.10 gears, rear air suspension, towing technology group, safety group, Longhorn Level 1 equipment group, trailer surround video view camera system, trailer tire pressure monitoring system. Should be set up well for towing the Grand Design 2600RB or larger. Now the waiting game starts. I actually was set in an F-250 but they top of the cab is so tall that it was dangerously close to not making it in the garage. The RAM should work out fine. Thanks for all of your comments and suggestions.
Hank

[uwskier]

Well I ordered a Ram 2500 Limited Longhorn today. 6.4 Hemi with the 8speed, 4.10 gears, rear air suspension, towing technology group, safety group, Longhorn Level 1 equipment group, trailer surround video view camera system, trailer tire pressure monitoring system. Should be set up well for towing the Grand Design 2600RB or larger. Now the waiting game starts. I actually was set in an F-250 but they top of the cab is so tall that it was dangerously close to not making it in the garage. The RAM should work out fine. Thanks for all of your comments and suggestions.
Hank

Congrats! What'd they give you for a lead time?

[bricknhank]

Congrats! What'd they give you for a lead time?

Thanks. Kind of up in the air. 3-6 months��

[FjClay]

We purchased our 2600RB in Nov 2019 (2020 model). We pulled with a 2019 F-150 Lairiat 5.0L V8 and 3.55 rear end. We made a trip out west and the truck could pull fine, but when we hit 6-7 degree climbs, we went from 65mph to 15mph and second gear. Downhill was always downshift and take it easy with the brakes. Our last trip with the F-150 had my wife very uncomfortable with the cross winds. We upgraded to a 2020 custom order F-250 Lariat with 6.7L diesel, 3.55 rear end, and the difference is night and day. First our payload with the max towing went up over 1400LBs. The ride was more comfortable (not being knocked around by wind and passing semis). Our mileage went from 8.2 mpg to 13.4 mpg driving at 62mph in both vehicles. The 13.4 mpg includes mountain driving. The mountain pass that had use down to 15 mph in the F-150 was 65 mph at the bottom of the 5 mile 7 degree climb and 65 mph at the top. Downhill with engine braking, I only tapped the brakes once. World of difference and safety.

Something to keep in mind. The F-250 is the heaviest truck you can get without having to pay higher licensing fees in most states (max gross weight is 10K. Above that you pay a lot more). Best example I can give is in Arizona, F-350 (1 ton truck) plates are something more than twice the price of a F-250 (it's been years since I licensed a truck in AZ). In some states, a 1 ton is a commercial truck . Since you are located in the Chicago area, it will be a real bit to go up to a F-350 (another reason I left that area for other climes).

Yes a 250 rides rough when empty, but a 350 is worse. The big difference between the two is the F-350 has a heavier frame, giving it more payload.

If you went from from 65mph to 15mph on a 7% grade with a 5.0 then you had a problem with that truck.

[uwskier]

If you went from from 65mph to 15mph on a 7% grade with a 5.0 then you had a problem with that truck.

I agree. I pulled 7% several mile grades with my GM 5.3L a bit over a week ago and never got below 63 MPH, which is where I had the cruise set. Sure, it revved a bit.

The TFL Truck guys pulled a heavier trailer than mine with this drivetrain up the Ike which reaches over 11k feet and did 60 MPH the whole way too. There isn't a V8 half ton made in the last 8 years that should slow to a crawl on climbs unless you're doing it intentionally to help with cooling.

[Jerryr]

We purchased our 2600RB in Nov 2019 (2020 model). We pulled with a 2019 F-150 Lairiat 5.0L V8 and 3.55 rear end. We made a trip out west and the truck could pull fine, but when we hit 6-7 degree climbs, we went from 65mph to 15mph and second gear. Downhill was always downshift and take it easy with the brakes. Our last trip with the F-150 had my wife very uncomfortable with the cross winds. We upgraded to a 2020 custom order F-250 Lariat with 6.7L diesel, 3.55 rear end, and the difference is night and day. First our payload with the max towing went up over 1400LBs.

1400 lb payload increase over a F-150? My 2016 F-150 had a payload sticker showing 1962 lbs. Almost every 2020 F250 6.7L diesel truck I looked at had a payload door sticker in the 2200 lb range where 350 diesels were between 3400-3500 lbs. That’s why I went with a 350, because a 250 6.7 L would only give me 250 lbs more payload and a diesel 350 gave me 1600 lb more payload over my F-150.

The ride was more comfortable (not being knocked around by wind and passing semis). Our mileage went from 8.2 mpg to 13.4 mpg driving at 62mph in both vehicles. The 13.4 mpg includes mountain driving. The mountain pass that had use down to 15 mph in the F-150 was 65 mph at the bottom of the 5 mile 7 degree climb and 65 mph at the top. Downhill with engine braking, I only tapped the brakes once. World of difference and safety.

Something to keep in mind. The F-250 is the heaviest truck you can get without having to pay higher licensing fees in most states (max gross weight is 10K. Above that you pay a lot more). Best example I can give is in Arizona, F-350 (1 ton truck) plates are something more than twice the price of a F-250 (it's been years since I licensed a truck in AZ). In some states, a 1 ton is a commercial truck . Since you are located in the Chicago area, it will be a real bit to go up to a F-350 (another reason I left that area for other climes).

Yes a 250 rides rough when empty, but a 350 is worse. The big difference between the two is the F-350 has a heavier frame, giving it more payload.

I’ve owned both and I can’t tell difference in ride between a similar F250 and F350 when unloaded. There is a slight difference in ride because a F350 calls for more air in the rear tires. The 350 @ 80 PSI and the 250 @ 65 PSI. They have the exact same tires but the 350 rear tires sre run at 80 PSI for the increased load capacity. The 350 has an additional overload spring that doesn’t engage unless you load the truck up.

There is also NO difference at all in the frame of a 250 and 350. They are identical. The payload difference is attributed to 10,000 vs 11,500 GVWR due to additional overload springs and higher air pressure in the rear tires.

Here in Florida tag/registration fees are the same for a 250/350 SRW and a 350/450 DRW. It’s about $140/yr.

[more tired since retired]

7% grade over 6 miles. And didn't want to overheat in 100 degree temps. Nothing wrong with the truck. Just not stupid

[bricknhank]

Hello, original poster here if anyone is still subscribed. Here’s an update on my tow vehicle situation. I had a Ram 2500 gas in order since March. As of the beginning of June it still wasn’t being assembled and it was right at that time I found a used 2022 GMC Sierra HD 2500 Crew Cab SB Diesel with an Allison 10 speed. After some negotiations I bought it, cancelled my Ram order and we took a trip this past week. Talk about night and day difference between the half ton Ram and the 3/4 ton GMC with the diesel. No strain, no sway, no grunting uphill and no high RPM’s. I don’t know what I was thinking by trying to stay with a gas. And the 10 speed Allison shifted smooth and kept us at 1300 RPM’s at 65mph. I had a little problem with the 7pin connection but that’s a story for a different post. Thanks for all of your input.
Hank