Will a 2WD GMC 3500 with a 6.5L Diesel tow a Top Gun?
 

Hi guys,

I'm looking to buy a tow vehicle to tow my Cig Top gun with a Magic tilt tri axel trailer.

Do any of you have a 2000 GMC 3500 SLE, 6.5 Litre V8 Turbo Diesel, 4 Speed Auto
or something similar?

Would this be okay for towing? Would it be strong enough and have enough grip to pull a cig with two 509ci big blocks out of a boat ramp?

Also, is there a big difference between 2WD and 4WD tow vehicles when pulling 38ft boats out of the water?

thanks heaps.

It is going to depend on the ramp. The ramp I use is not real steep, is an aggregate surface, and is flowing salt water so there isn't any algae.

I own a 1997 Chevy 3500 with the 6.0Liter Diesel that is a 5 speed manual, with 290,000 miles and I towed my Cafe Racer and steel trailer from Conneticut to SE Virgina with no problems.

Oh - and make sure you get a Dually for stability. It isn't a matter of getting the load going as much as it is of controlling and stopping the load.

The only time I have ever put my truck in 4-wheel drive was when a buddy of mine had way too many drinks and put his truck in the woods.

It should work just fine. 4wd will help if the ramp is slippery and there is not enough weight on the rear wheels of the truck.

Cig tow
 

I towed our old 38 TG from Lauderdale to Baltimore with my 2002 2500 HD GAS 6.0 4X4. It was a little anemic, but your diesel has more torque.

open road and pavement are one thing

the ramp is another story 2 wheel rear wheel drive is at a disadvantage on ramps the slime and muck I believe if you search the web you might find pictures of a 2wd chebby stuck at a ramp with just a little donzi 22 classic on the back

sorry chrome ;)

get 4 wheel drive

I have a 96 2wd 6.5 TD 4 spd auto dually extended cab that I pull my 38' scarab with. The boat and trailer weigh about 14000 lbs. The truck has a 4.10 rear axle and it does not have a problem pulling the boat out of the water. I installed a detroit locker in the axle to make sure one tire was not going to spin. The only problem I have found is I wish I had
4wd instead of 2wd. If you can get a 4wd, get that instead. How far are you going to trailer your boat?

You will be fine...

you might get away with it, but you are not legal nor will you stop.. i can almost be 100%sure that your hitch is also not rated for the weight your pulling.. if you ever hurt anyone or wreck, your insurnace will be sure not to pay your claim.. top gun, trailer, fuel, gear.. prob close to 15,000, pull into your local weigh station see if they let you continue!!! get the dually, be done with it, get yourslef a class 5 hitch and your good to go... you wanna play, you gotta pay.. big boats need big tow vehicles... good luck my friend.. stecz p.s. its goona suck when you ask the guy with the toyota who has 4 wheel drive to pull you off the ramp cause you did not spring the extra few grand....

You could pull that boat with about any thing But as stated above you really should have a dually for stability and braking. the 6.5 diesel is less than desireable. They have very little power. I have a duramax but if i was looking at an older truck i would be looking at ford 7.3 turbo powerstrokes. 4wd is definatly preferable. if you are pulling out on a ramp.

Thanks guys, the problem I have is getting the appropriate truck in australia as we are very limited in selection and the prices are about quadruple the prices in the usa.

when you guys say dually, do you mean dual cab or dual rear wheels?

thanks.