Towing results for the 2012 Dodge DRW 3500 Longhorn, High Output 6.7 Cummings, Max Tow, Mega Cab, automatic transmission with 4.10 gears. So, this thing should be the travel trailer hauler’s dream. Well, here is my comparison review of the above truck’s capability. I made my first tow with it last week and the truck drives nice and is quieter than the 2011 Duramax Denali that I traded in for it. The Dodge has many more amenities on the inside, like the 20 Gig HD, Voice Activated Calling, more leather (doors, dash and rear seats) and cool floor mats that incorporate carpet and a barbed wire design together. The Dodge takes more than 10 times longer to warm the fuel and start; but, I can live with that. I have to remember to let it idle for up to 5 minutes after pulling with it and I can still live with that. The thing that really bugs me though is that this is Dodge’s Max Tow design and it does not pull like the Duramax. I was pulling a 38’ Holiday Rambler Toy Hauler. It weighs ~15,000 and is ~13’ tall. So, this can be a bit of a challenge to haul. I never found a hill that the Duramax would not maintain speed on. However, the Max Tow Dodge is a different story. On multiple hills in Oregon and Washington, it would not maintain speed. More than once, I was down into 3rd gear just trying to make 40 MPH. **** And, this is Dodge’s Max Tow Rig ---Really***** The 2011 Denali was stock that I had before this because I was not able to find a programmer for it. But, Bully Dog and several others have programmers for the 6.7 Cummings. So, I have a Bully Dog on the Dodge. It makes a difference. While pulling a hill in 4th gear, foot to the floor and loosing speed, I stepped up the program. Finally, at the “extreme” mode, it started to creep up the speed. However, the exhaust temperature started climbing very rapidly from ~1000 deg F. up to 1250 and still climbing fast, so I detuned it and just drove 55 mph in the 70 mph traffic. The Mileage was comparable to the Duramax which got 8-11 MPG pulling this trailer. I got 8 MPG going to the destination which is ~ 4000 feet of elevation gain over a 190 mile trip. The return trip was 9.6 MPG. As always, better milage going downhill. J The Dodge now has ~1100 miles on it and has already had the check engine light come on with two codes (P0868 – low transmission pressure and P24A0 – DFP something ???). Anyway, adding 3 pints of Type 4 ATF cleared up the transmission issue and the DPF finally burned off. So, the codes are clear now. Well, actually, I hope the codes are clear. I did an uninstall on the Bully Dog and the codes did not show back up. I was going to take it back to the dealer and ask them to check out the codes. But, they are gone.
Conclusion, the Longhorn is a nice ride; but, it falls short of its “classification” as a Max Tow vehicle. I was well under the 30,000 combined weight rating and the High Output 800 ft-lbs of torque just didn’t maintain highway speed. It was kinda funny when I pulled into a dealership in Oregon to have some fluid added to the transmission; a sales man came out and asked if he could help. I explained that I had a new pickup that was low on fluid. I was actually looking at a similar truck on their lot while I waited and the salesman said “you can load that truck up and start at the bottom of Cabbage Hill and be doing 80 MPH by the time you get to the top.” I explained that I had just traveled Cabbage Hill and the same truck I have would not maintain highway speed much less 80 MPH. In fact, I felt the 2011 Duramax I traded in for this truck would pull the Dodge and trailer better than the Dodge pulled the trailer. His response was to have service check out the motor, because something must be wrong. I was LOL. I know I can start changing the intake and exhaust systems to allow the truck to “breath” and I should have plenty of power. But, come on guys – this is just downright disappointing to have to do.
This is my first Dodge. And after this trip, i guess that the jury is still out for my Dodge experience. But, it is not looking good.
Conclusion, the Longhorn is a nice ride; but, it falls short of its “classification” as a Max Tow vehicle. I was well under the 30,000 combined weight rating and the High Output 800 ft-lbs of torque just didn’t maintain highway speed. It was kinda funny when I pulled into a dealership in Oregon to have some fluid added to the transmission; a sales man came out and asked if he could help. I explained that I had a new pickup that was low on fluid. I was actually looking at a similar truck on their lot while I waited and the salesman said “you can load that truck up and start at the bottom of Cabbage Hill and be doing 80 MPH by the time you get to the top.” I explained that I had just traveled Cabbage Hill and the same truck I have would not maintain highway speed much less 80 MPH. In fact, I felt the 2011 Duramax I traded in for this truck would pull the Dodge and trailer better than the Dodge pulled the trailer. His response was to have service check out the motor, because something must be wrong. I was LOL. I know I can start changing the intake and exhaust systems to allow the truck to “breath” and I should have plenty of power. But, come on guys – this is just downright disappointing to have to do.
This is my first Dodge. And after this trip, i guess that the jury is still out for my Dodge experience. But, it is not looking good.
