GMC Denali 1500 Duramax + 2500 RL?

[mpstan]

Anyone running this combo or close to it? Haven’t bought either. Rated for 8800 lbs trailer weight; 880 tongue. I know those specs are pushing it. I could drop to SLT trim and get 13,000 with the max towing option but man those Ultimates are nice. For Snowbirding between Seattle and the SE. Thoughts?

 

[NB Canada]

Tw on a 2500 rl will be almost 900 if not more

Towing capacity means nothing btw
Remember the tundra towing the space shuttle?
Carrying something is what is important
The diesel may eat away at payload capacity over a gas engine
It will be at max ratings almost guaranteed
My next truck ,in my next life, will be an HD in gas

 

[FjClay]

It’s all about payload with 1500 series trucks. I tow the same trailer with a 2020 tundra and I’m sure a couple hundred pounds overloaded but I haven’t weighed it yet

 

[Rasty1]

I have a 2023 Chevy 1500 3.0 Duramax and tow 7,000lbs with ease. I would suggest to do the math on this trailer before making a decision. Here is my numbers:

 

[Rasty1]

And this is with the max tow package.

 

[Michael2150]

I tow a 2019 2500RL with a 2020 Ram 1500, 5.7 hemi. I upgraded my swaybar (Hellwig) and put airbags in my rear coil suspension. I use a BlueOx Swaypro WD hitch with 1000lb bars. My TV payload is 1665, tongue weight is 900+ depending on how much water I'm carrying. Loaded I'm a couple of hundred pounds under my payload limit.

The 1500 pulls the trailer really well. I'm very comfortable on the interstate but am in NorCAl so I keep it under 65 (our speed limit is 55 when towing). Big rigs don't bother me but I can feel box trucks zooming by at 80mph. Not white knuckle, just annoying. Mountains are not an issue, the truck handles them easily.

What is the payload of the truck you are looking at? As NB Canada said, tow rating is not nearly as important as payload. You will usually run out of payload before tow rating. A good WD antisway hitch is essential for safety and comfort.

 

[NB Canada]

I have a 2023 Chevy 1500 3.0 Duramax and tow 7,000lbs with ease. I would suggest to do the math on this trailer before making a decision. Here is my numbers:
View attachment 1110005

I don’t understand your chart. Is this from a cat scale or just your estimates?

If your trailer is 7000 lbs and your TW is only 665 isn’t a good situation

 

[Jwalthall]

Anyone running this combo or close to it? Haven’t bought either. Rated for 8800 lbs trailer weight; 880 tongue. I know those specs are pushing it. I could drop to SLT trim and get 13,000 with the max towing option but man those Ultimates are nice. For Snowbirding between Seattle and the SE. Thoughts?

I know everybody is proud of their truck (and me too) but I have learned that there are several considerations to trailer towing such as how often you move, are you vacationing, what is your terrain, do you go long distances using the cruse-control, etc.? I tried a Tundra (because I love them) but i could not use the cruse-control even on the interstates and traveling in the mountains was a major strain on the truck. Consequently, I bought a Ford F250SD, Diesel, and have never looked back. The Tundra (2022) had 401 fp of torque and the Ford has 1050 fp. End of story! It is fun to travel again and I don't feel like I am trying to help the Tundra pull because it is working so hard!! Just my experience and opinion! BTW, I get 11-13 mpg consistently.

 

[Rovers]

Two different trucks (GMC to Ram) but my 2021 Ram 1500 Ecodiesel handles our 2400BH very well. We’ve taken the trailer all over the Eastern half of the country, through Yellowstone and Grand Tetons in 2024 and we’re headed to Idaho then back home in Ohio through Montana, North Dakota, etc. Headwinds in Nebraska were our biggest frustration - but I talked to a semi driver and he was dealing with the same hit on fuel mileage so I was less bothered by the headwinds after that.

Our 2400BH is about the same size and weight as the 2500RL you’re considering and I’d have no concerns about towing the 2500RL with our Ram. We never load up our trailer with a long list of camping toys and nice-to-haves that we don’t use anyway on our trips, I’m very conscientious about weight distribution and CGVWR, etc. The Ecodiesel engine only weighs about 80 pounds more than the Hemi in the Ram so the diesel doesn’t hammer the payload numbers. And the fuel mileage, torque and general comfort when towing is a big bonus. We average between 12 and 13 mpg’s when towing keeping speeds between 65 and 68 max.

Our truck is the Bighorn model so it’s not loaded with all the options (that I’d love to have) but I’m surprised the baby Duramax on that truck has those tow numbers - seems low to me. Would I love to half a 3/4 ton? Yep, but with truck prices these days that ain’t gonna happen in the short term.

My 2 cents…

Bob

 

[mjguth]

As you can see from my signature, I have a 2021 2500RL. Towing with a 2019 Sierra Denali 1500 with max tow package. Using a Curt TruTrack 1500K WDH hitch, with Air Bags installed on the truck. This truck has the 6.2L engine with 10 speed transmission. MPG is usually 8.5-9.5 using premium depending on weather, wind, and hills. Have traveled from Chicago area around Lake Superior, and recently down to Travelers Rest in North Carolina. The truck handles these trips without any problems. While I have not weighed at a CAT scale and “done the math”, in tow mode, with about 30# in the air bags, I have had no issues with semi’s, hills/mountains, rain, wind, etc. While having the hitch properly adjusted (it took me 3 years to get it properly set-and not by the dealer) is a must. The truck is a champ.

However, if I was full timing, heading through the Rockies, or going to Alaska, I would definitely look at a 3/4 ton truck. For my 3-4 trips a year, mostly in the Midwest, the half ton (mine is at the upper end of most half tons) works well for my usage.

Hope this info helps in your decision making. The 2500RL is a nice couples camper. Plenty of room yet relatively simple systems. Very happy with ours.

Happy camping,

MJG

 

[dbphillips]

We tow a 2600RB with a Duramax Tahoe using a 12,000# WDH. It's been fine cross country and back. Wind storms, atmospheric rivers, panic stops, tire blowouts, whatever. It does need air shocks, though, because it sags and wears the inside edge of the tires after 25k or so.

I'd add some air bags to the Ultimate and call it good

 

[NB Canada]

We tow a 2600RB with a Duramax Tahoe using a 12,000# WDH. It's been fine cross country and back. Wind storms, atmospheric rivers, whatever. It does need air shocks, though, because it sags and wears the inside edge of the tires after 25k or so.

I'd add some air bags to the Ultimate and call it good

You are likely overweight. Have you run it through scales?

 

[Gru]

I read that you are in the "shopping" phase. If you really want a premium 1/2 ton truck for daily life that can also pull like a tractor, the closest option out there IMO is the Chevy Silverado High Country with the 3.0. The only real difference between them is their suspension. The Denali has a softer more car like ride. The interiors, comfort, and tech options are all but identical.
We towed our Imagine 2600RB home from the dealer ~2 hours. It was no problem. As you can order the Max Tow on the High Country, you get the bigger rear end, more cargo capacity and lower gears. With trailer we got 12.5 mpg and commuting to work the LZO 3.0 delivers over 30mpg and 500 ft/lbs of torque.

 

[CAPT BOB 3]

Anyone running this combo or close to it? Haven’t bought either. Rated for 8800 lbs trailer weight; 880 tongue. I know those specs are pushing it. I could drop to SLT trim and get 13,000 with the max towing option but man those Ultimates are nice. For Snowbirding between Seattle and the SE. Thoughts?

The number one thing overlooked is cargo capacity. That is the limiting factor for all trucks. It is on the tire information sticker inside the drivers door. The attached picture is from a friends 1500 LT Trail Boss 3.0L Duramax. Capacity is 1190 pounds. Thats hitch weight, passengers, cargo carried, fuel, etc. Anything that is put in the empty truck from the factory. The truck is too light.

 

[TXkmpr]

My experience is pulling a Transcend 2150 RB with a Gross weight of 7,000 lb.

First truck was a 2012 Tundra with a 5.7 liter engine. Pulling experience was ok, but as mentioned above by Jwaithall using cruise control was not an option in hills or mountains. Wind pushed me around a bit but was manageable. With a 27.5 gallon gas tank, I could not pass a gas station without filling up. Towing was tiring.

Retired that truck and went to a Chevrolet 2500 HD diesel. What a nice truck to tow with and rides well also. Handles wind better and no issues using cruise control. 36 gallon gas/diesel tank is a minimum if you are in a position to be shopping for a truck to towing.
Towing is now stress free. My payload per the door sticker is around 3,250 lb., GVWR is 1,230 lb.

 

[MtnGuy]

IMHO, the OP should consider a 2500 or 3500 with a big gas engine. If diesel, go with the 3500 because of the extra weight of engine and cooler.

 

[mpstan]

The number one thing overlooked is cargo capacity. That is the limiting factor for all trucks. It is on the tire information sticker inside the drivers door. The attached picture is from a friends 1500 LT Trail Boss 3.0L Duramax. Capacity is 1190 pounds. Thats hitch weight, passengers, cargo carried, fuel, etc. Anything that is put in the empty truck from the factory. The truck is too light.

The Denali's payload capacity is about 1450 lbs. My wife and I, and two dogs, 30 gallons of fuel, and 100 lbs of crap weighs 720 lbs. That leaves 700 lbs for a WDH and the Tongue. Doesn't leave much for a nice trailer, and the cross country trips I'm describing is probably asking too much out of any 1500. Didn't want to do it as a daily driver but back to looking at 2500s......................

Thanks everybody

 

[Mrhoofer]

The Denali's payload capacity is about 1450 lbs. My wife and I, and two dogs, 30 gallons of fuel, and 100 lbs of crap weighs 720 lbs. That leaves 700 lbs for a WDH and the Tongue. Doesn't leave much for a nice trailer, and the cross country trips I'm describing is probably asking too much out of any 1500. Didn't want to do it as a daily driver but back to looking at 2500s......................

Thanks everybody

I pulled a 2500 RL for 3 years with a F 150 it did great, but much happier going back to my diesel 2500HD

 

[George Daniels]

I purchased a 2020 GD Imagine 2500rl in Jan. of '24, and while my 2020 Silverado 1500 was gas powered, 5.7? I asked my mechanic, (a guy I've done business with for over 20 years) was concerned that I had too much trlr. for the truck. So, 2 months ago, I upgraded to a 2024 Ram 2500 with a 6.4 engine. I didn't want to take the chance of frying my transmission in the middle of nowhere. I'm a retired Semi Driver (41 yrs) and after talking about this with other drivers I'm still in contact with they advised me to always be sure that you aren't overweight on any axle, because, heaven forbid, you are found to be "at fault" in an accident the police have the right to tow your vehicle from the scene and have it weighed. If you are found to be overweight, you are screwed

 

[dbphillips]

You are likely overweight. Have you run it through scales?

14,500 GCWR
8,000 maximum tow capacity
7,500 GVWR trailer
5,661 curb weight
4,300 RGAWR
3,700 FGAWR
1,746 payload capacity (1,339 because of GCWR)
750# hitch weight (I tail weight it to reduce hitch weight, plus WDH)
470# people and dogs
Limited to 100# of crap in the back

I don't carry water in the tanks, potable or waste. Never bottomed out rear suspension, in spite of several opportunities for it to happen.

For sure, it's fully loaded, but previously towed with a GLS 450 and it was definitely overloaded (*actually, maybe not, Benz has a higher GCWR, but a lower recommended hitch weight), but fine. Probably would have blown out air suspension regularly had the car not burned down our garage. I also towed the trailer with a RAM 2500 and F-250 without WDH, so I know what rock solid feels like. Planning to add air shocks to level up the rear, which should help everything. Also had a CDL for 10 years, have a BSME, and don't drive like an idiot (with the trailer ), so not worried about it. YMMV.