daniel2016 GMC Sierra 3500 HD Denali SRW
- Crew cab with 6.5ft bed
- 6.6L Turbo Diesel V8
- GVWR – 11,500
- Payload – 3,710
- Max conventional towing – 13,000
- Max 5th wheel towing – 17,200
- Max Tongue weight – 1,500
- GCWR – 25,100
Our original tow vehicle was a 2006 F-150. It also towed the camper well. It was a “heavy” half with a long wheel base. Compared to the F-150 the increased weight of the new truck made the camper less noticeable and less likely to feel like it was pushing the truck around. The diesel makes for a much more relaxed towing experience. The engine noise and RPM are much lower when accelerating and the exhaust brake makes slowing down easier. Both trucks did the job of getting from point A to point B but the bigger truck makes the journey is far less fatiguing.
On our 4,600 mile trip to the Florida Keys and back we averaged 11.4 MPG with the Denali. I don’t have detailed MPG info for the F-150. I believe I was getting around 7 MPG.
Hitch
We have used an Equal-i-izer weight distributing hitch with both trucks. It has performed well for us but the metal on metal noise it can make is annoying and at times alarming. To help address issue we use sway bracket jackets which has helped. Down the road I may move to a extended shank to allow us to tow with the tailgate down and a golf cart in the bed.
2006 F-150 XLT – Sold
- Extended cab with 8ft bed and heavy payload package
- 5.4L V8
- GVWR – 8,300
- Payload – 2,183
- Max conventional towing – 9,300
- Max 5th wheel towing – 9,300
- Max Tongue weight – 990
- GCWR – 15,300
