New to the forum, considering hauling cars

[Abaxter]

Hello all,

New to the forum, but have had a 04.5 lly drw 3500 since about new. The truck has been absolutely trouble free, has a little under 100k miles. All stock.


I'm currently in the professional workforce and looking for a change of pace. I'm approaching 30, and want a more normal lifestyle. During college I hauled trailers, and various items around to pay my way through college. I enjoyed seeing the country, and the alone time to clear my head from daily life.


I've used my duramax to haul my fun cars and boat around. No major hauling with it, so I've never seen the overheating issues luckily. Starting off I would like to stick with a three car trailer, to learn the ropes. I'm not sure my 04.5 duramax would be suited for hauling that much weight every single day. Getting into a little newer truck would probably be best, most likely better fuel economy from the better transmission and updated duramax engine. I wouldn't want to purchase a new truck though, what would you guys suggest in the drw 3500 lineup, under $25,000?


Did as much research as I could online, but figured I would ask a forum, as it seems a few people here haul vehicles and other various loads with their duramax 3500s. Can anyone shed any light on hauling vehicles? I'm willing to be out a few weeks at a time if I must, and not afraid of working hard. I know I will suffer a huge paycut, but running the truck 3 weeks a month. What's a safe estimate I could possibly see in my pocket? Obviously insurance, and other stuff will vary from person to person. A rough estimate would be a nice start though. If you feel more comfortable sending me a PM that is more than fine!

Any insight would be appreciated guys

 

[clrussell]

You've got the perfect tow rig already. Change the fan clutch to a heavy duty Hayden unit, put the lbz mouthpiece on so it can breathe, clean out the cooling stack and go to hauling.

As for the rest of it I have no idea. But I know if I had a truck like you have I wouldn't hesitate one bit to hook a trailer on it and go to hauling.

 

[bmc1025]

What he said, and i don't think the 6 speed will improve mpg while towing. Honestly my lb7 gets better millage than my lbz.

 

[Abaxter]

What he said, and i don't think the 6 speed will improve mpg while towing. Honestly my lb7 gets better millage than my lbz.

Oh wow!


I've towed two cars before, at 60 mph it was getting 14 mpg for the 6 hour trip. That's really good I feel. Just afraid of the overheating when hauling really heavy every single day.

 

[clrussell]

Oh wow!


I've towed two cars before, at 60 mph it was getting 14 mpg for the 6 hour trip. That's really good I feel. Just afraid of the overheating when hauling really heavy every single day.

I wouldn't call two cars a heavy Load. Those simple cooling mods will have a huge improvement.

If you feel you need more yet you can add an aux oil cooler for even better oil cooling.

 

[Abaxter]

I wouldn't call two cars a heavy Load. Those simple cooling mods will have a huge improvement.

If you feel you need more yet you can add an aux oil cooler for even better oil cooling.

No I meant going the three car route, and hauling daily. Afraid it will start giving me the overheating issues so many people talk about. I've met a lot of people who've had issues, and couldn't resolve it no matter what they did.


Although mine only has about 97k miles, literally nothing as ever broken. It still has factory batteries from 04! I change the fluids, and filters as suggested and its treated me so good.

 

[c20elephant]

No I meant going the three car route, and hauling daily. Afraid it will start giving me the overheating issues so many people talk about. I've met a lot of people who've had issues, and couldn't resolve it no matter what they did.


Although mine only has about 97k miles, literally nothing as ever broken. It still has factory batteries from 04! I change the fluids, and filters as suggested and its treated me so good.

Coolertowing.com, if this does not work you have one of the problem childs. Go over to DieselPlace, there's about a bazillion threads and fixes and a VERY large oil cooler.

 

[Abaxter]

Appreciate the info.


Does anyone here haul with their 3500, that's willing to shed some light on the industry?

Thanks

 

[TheBac]

Members malibu795 and chevor both haul trailers for a living with their trucks.

 

[PureHybrid]

Install an oil cooler, lbz intake as mentioned earlier, and get a tune set up for turbo braking (even if you stay stock hp).