Cummins Towing Love
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Veteran
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 280
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From: Dallas, GA
Cummins Towing Love
Well guys, I finally got a chance to let the Cummins stretch it's legs a little. Last weekend I drove to OH from GA and picked up a 29' Travel Trailer. It weighs ~8k empty and has a GVWR of just over 11k. I'm sure my old 2004 Hemi 1500 would have towed it but not without some fuss. Empty it would be right at it's max, definately over the weight limit once loaded up.
The Cummins just motored through the mountains like a champ! I think it only downshifted twice and I wasn't going all that fast, so the RPMs were pretty low. The biggest suprise of the trip was the exhaust break, I love it! Going up and down the hills, those long sweaping curvy ones, I never once touched the break and never felt like a runaway freight train. If you have one of these, just wait until you tow with it, you'll love that you've got one.
Now, since this is a bumper hitch trailer, I couldn't really go real fast. Things started getting a little squirly at 65, 63 was Ok, go figure. The worst part was this was the day those tornados came through the South and especially did a number on downtown Atlanta. I got caught in some nasty cross winds going through KY and TN, I nearly ended up with brown front seats. I called the wife (bluetooth headset, both hands white nuckle gripping the wheel) and politely told her the next camper will be a 5er for sure.
I was going slow and getting pushed around by the winds, it was raining and semis were flying past me like I was sitting still.
Yes,I got home in one piece and everyone is ready to spend the summers camping now.
That means more play time with the Cummins.
So we took our first trip out this weekend and I cannot tell you how well this truck muscles around this trailer. I've not been to the scales yet, but fully loaded with water and all, you could tell it was back there only because of the pushing and bouncing. Talk about power to spare!
Here in GA the campgrounds are a bit hilly and curvy. On a few occasions I was out walking the dog and would regularly see Chevys and PowerStrokes. This one time I saw a newer PS with about a 25' trailer, I was amazed at how much he had to get on it, really winding up the RPMs to get up hills. The Cummins makes power at such lower RPMs, it's almost like it's not even trying. I guess I just never noticed the difference in how these motors run until now.
So that's it for now ... just sharing the love for this great truck.
Mike
Wildwood 29BHBS LE and here's one of the happy tow vehicle...
[IMG]local://upfiles/2643/4452C4FCD234428AA228B305607F7527.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/2643/7B4BBE0E101F4040A29C26BCD7E8AA17.jpg[/IMG]
The Cummins just motored through the mountains like a champ! I think it only downshifted twice and I wasn't going all that fast, so the RPMs were pretty low. The biggest suprise of the trip was the exhaust break, I love it! Going up and down the hills, those long sweaping curvy ones, I never once touched the break and never felt like a runaway freight train. If you have one of these, just wait until you tow with it, you'll love that you've got one.
Now, since this is a bumper hitch trailer, I couldn't really go real fast. Things started getting a little squirly at 65, 63 was Ok, go figure. The worst part was this was the day those tornados came through the South and especially did a number on downtown Atlanta. I got caught in some nasty cross winds going through KY and TN, I nearly ended up with brown front seats. I called the wife (bluetooth headset, both hands white nuckle gripping the wheel) and politely told her the next camper will be a 5er for sure.
I was going slow and getting pushed around by the winds, it was raining and semis were flying past me like I was sitting still.Yes,I got home in one piece and everyone is ready to spend the summers camping now.
That means more play time with the Cummins.So we took our first trip out this weekend and I cannot tell you how well this truck muscles around this trailer. I've not been to the scales yet, but fully loaded with water and all, you could tell it was back there only because of the pushing and bouncing. Talk about power to spare!
Here in GA the campgrounds are a bit hilly and curvy. On a few occasions I was out walking the dog and would regularly see Chevys and PowerStrokes. This one time I saw a newer PS with about a 25' trailer, I was amazed at how much he had to get on it, really winding up the RPMs to get up hills. The Cummins makes power at such lower RPMs, it's almost like it's not even trying. I guess I just never noticed the difference in how these motors run until now.
So that's it for now ... just sharing the love for this great truck.
Mike
Wildwood 29BHBS LE and here's one of the happy tow vehicle...
[IMG]local://upfiles/2643/4452C4FCD234428AA228B305607F7527.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/2643/7B4BBE0E101F4040A29C26BCD7E8AA17.jpg[/IMG]
Record Breaker
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,808
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From: Upstate, SC
RE: Cummins Towing Love
Wait it gets better. Mine didn't show all it had until I got about 10K miles on it and towed my camper several times.
There is a diesel truck get together near Gatlinburg TN. in April. It will be at a campground called Adventure Bound Camping resort. I have my reservations if you can make it c'mon up. It's called Smokin in the Smokies. See you there.
There is a diesel truck get together near Gatlinburg TN. in April. It will be at a campground called Adventure Bound Camping resort. I have my reservations if you can make it c'mon up. It's called Smokin in the Smokies. See you there.
Thread Starter
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Veteran
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 280
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From: Dallas, GA
RE: Cummins Towing Love
Thanks Mayfair!
Most RVs are made in Elkart, IN. So you can find some really good deals up there if you're willing to go pick it up or pay for shipping. I saved $3500 on the trailer by getting it there instead of here in GA, exact same trailer. So factoring in the fuel to get there and back, I probably saved $3k, maybe less. And aside from periods of white nuckle driving, I really enjoyed it.
Mike
Most RVs are made in Elkart, IN. So you can find some really good deals up there if you're willing to go pick it up or pay for shipping. I saved $3500 on the trailer by getting it there instead of here in GA, exact same trailer. So factoring in the fuel to get there and back, I probably saved $3k, maybe less. And aside from periods of white nuckle driving, I really enjoyed it.
Mike
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 801
Likes: 0
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RE: Cummins Towing Love
Nice looking combination.[sm=smiley20.gif]
Can't tell from the picture. If you don't have it already you may want to look into getting a weight distrubting hitchwith some sway bars. Also to help with sway 1. Max pressure on the trailer tires 2. Max pressure on the rear truck tires. 3. As much weight forward in the trailer as you can. Depending on where your holding tanks are, having fluids in them may help/hurt also.
Can't tell from the picture. If you don't have it already you may want to look into getting a weight distrubting hitchwith some sway bars. Also to help with sway 1. Max pressure on the trailer tires 2. Max pressure on the rear truck tires. 3. As much weight forward in the trailer as you can. Depending on where your holding tanks are, having fluids in them may help/hurt also.