2015 Chevy Silverado 2500 takes on the Grueling Ike Gauntlet HD Towing Test 

I am glad Emme was short lived on the channel, she just wings it instead of doing research before filming so she has her facts straight.

I have that same truck. 2017 Silverado 2500 with the 6.0 gas. It’s coming up on 200,000 miles now. Towing, snow plowing, you name it. It’s no speed demon by any stretch of the imagination, but it nice knowing that I can count on this truck 7 days a week. Far and away the best truck I’ve ever owned.

WOW I would rather have my ears stuffed with glass than have to listen to her again.

If you know anything about these trucks, when you are pulling a hill you can shift to "M-5" and keep the transmission from shifting to 6th gear. This will keep your truck in the higher RPM's and thereby keeping it in the meat of the torque. Don't let the computer make the decisions for you when you are towing. I tow an 8,000 lb. toy hauler with the 5.3 6-speed using the manual shift feature with no problem. These engines make their power at high RPM and i've never had an issue.

get. her. out.

That chick is annoying. If you can't get the guy don't have anyone

Anytime the lady talked I fast forwarded!

I think everyone is missing the point on downshifting. IT MUST BE SAFE! It appears RPM drops to about 2800 before downshifting and then jumps to about 4700 with a rapid increase due to the lower gear mechanical advantage. If it had downshifted at 4000, then RPM's would have jumped to about 7890 after the downshift (using simple ratios). Great, now you have a blown engine. Engineers have thought this through. The solutions are either 1: More power, 2: More gears, so the ratios are less between gears, 3: Making the ratio less between all gears for more power but reduced highway speed. Otherwise you must live with wide difference in RPM's between shifts.

Yay for another Ike gauntlet vid!

I pull an 11,000 lbs boat with my 2016 gmc 2500 6.0L and it does just fine. 360 HP is still plenty of power for the 13,000 lbs max tow capacity. Kinda sound like an idiot at 13.33 saying it sounds like diesel is the way to go. Here in the Midwest, we don't pull trucks and fully loaded trailers up the IKE and we certainly don't floor it and climb hills as fast as we can.

That lady is super annoying, please take her out of the videos, and bring roman back

I’ve got an 04 with the 6.0 and the 4.10 Dana 60. It will pull anything I need and I haven’t had any problems with any part of the drivetrain.

The gas option in any HD truck is for those who don't need extreme towing. It's also the option for those who need to idle their truck for hours on end in all temperature conditions. It's annoying how little many publications know about trucks when it comes to gas vs. diesel in a pickup. I like that TFL runs the bag off the gas trucks along with the diesels hope they continue do so.

Became a patreon. You guys do a great job and I think you deserve the support.

That lady makes this video unbearable

Wow I like the results of the chey glasser in towing.thanks you are helping me big time since I am a Ram fan

hey guys, im glad you brought up that fact about when the transmission down shifts it drops way below the rpm range that makes the best torque. I have the same problem with my 08 sierra 1500. I find it annoying and disappointing. Like my truck but wish gm would change this. You guys should ask someone from gm engineering about this, im sure they will take you guys mores serious about this problem than the average consumer since they have no rectified this problem for at least 7 years now. keep the comparisons coming.

The 6L90 trans will work if you know how to drive it. I know its auto, but if you put it in manual mode, and tow mode, set it on 4 th gear, then it'll shift 1-4 gears. Make the rpm you need to be in the highest gear you select. You still have an auto trans. Plus the 6 speed trans works great in tow mode for slowing down. Not as good as exhaust break, but when you press on the break it'll down shift and help slow the truck by down shifting at higher rpms. Like a standard. The old 8.1 liter would have had no problem. Now days they want higher rpm smaller engines. No 454 or 460. The vortec 6 liter is a monster engine for it's size. It'll last twice as long as the hemi 5.7.

The shift points can be easily remedied with a Diablosport or whatever brand programmer. I had an 06 2500HD with 6.0L / 4 speed 4L80E, used a Diablosport Predator programmer and manipulated the shift points a bit, drove like a totally different truck. I'd be interested to see the difference in the truck in this video pulling this load before and after a good programmer that changes up the shift points and is quicker to gear down when needed, like at the top of that mtn.

I know you guys leave it in "tow haul" just to keep it as even as possible between the brands as they all have similar options. That being said I have a 2500 GMC HD,gas 6.0,6spd trans, and I agree that if you want a tow all the time, mountainous terrain/hills,you want a diesel. I find using the manual mode helps a lot with the "downshifting" shortcomings. Love the channel.✌️

Something I would have liked to see is the transmission temp during the pull up the hill

Interesting how the Ram 6.4L ran the same Ike run a minute slower than the Chevy 6.0 2500. Both are great trucks, although it does go to show how tech specs don't always mean better performance. Nice test guys!

Can yall find a chevy with the 8.1 and do the ike, i know yall focus on the newest thing out. But the comparison between the 6.0, 6.6, and 8.1 gas would be interesting to see

how do i mute her voice omg its sooo annoying.

GM really needs to get that 8 speed in these and tune it properly in tow haul mode.

I think the 6.0 is a better deal because think of it, you're only gonna get about 2-3 mpg better at most with a diesel, diesel is always at least 40 cents more than gas, the oil changes cost more, the maintenance and repairs cost more, it cost $8k more just for the diesel option.

My former tow vehicle was a 2008 Crew cab Chevy 2500 HD 6.0 4.10, it towed a 10,000 lb boat with ease at sea level. But that truck was totaled out in an accident and I replaced it with a diesel F-250. The extra power is nice with the diesel, but there is a $7000 diffrence in cost.

My dad has a 2001 chevy 3500 duly 8.1 gas engine. We tow a lot in the Ozark mountain's and are truck has no problem climing the hills with are 34 foot camper. It sounds like we should ceep are old one! And i really like you guys videos!!!

Thanks for sharing this review guys I am considering purchasing this very truck and had a very hard time figuring out what how it would behave under extreme conditions. Maybe I missed these couple of of important points: does the truck not offer manual shifting (meaning you can press a butting and ask the automatic transmission to go into a lower gear)? Also, what was your payload on the truck (I'm guessing ~1400 pounds on the hitch, ~600 in the cab and ??? pounds in the bed).

One thing that would be helpful on these truck reviews, especially with the GM products, would be to mention the rear-end-gears (3.08, 3.23, 3.42, 3.73, 4.10) it does make a difference ...

thanks for the info it helped me...

Would of liked to know the trans temp going up that hill.

The Fast Lane Truck "It takes weeks of editing Ike Gauntlet videos..", but you forget the '2' in '2500' @ 2:10.. lol Just busting your guys' chops. Keep up the great work!

I'd love to try this my 2000 Chevy Silverado with the 6.0 and 3.73 gears. I'd get crap MPGs but would be interesting.

Would love to see you guys do a test on the '06 LBZ

From my experience all GM gas trucks I've towed with, besides manual transmission trucks (I can downshift when needed), have had the problem with delayed downshifting. I've had a few 2500HDs with the 6.0 (4 speed and the 6 speed all with 4.10 gears); the trucks would slow down, like in the video, before it would downshift and pick back up. The GM factory tune calibration is pretty lousy, an aftermarket tune on GM vehicles really wake them up.

I'm highly interested in the silverado max trailering package review. It has 3.73 gears 9.76 " locking rear differential rated over 10 000 lb

The drop in rpm is because the torg converter will not lock until 3rd gear .1st and 2nd it stays unlocked.

She is nerve racking all u have to do is switch Manuel mode shift your own gears that is why they have it

So, so many ways to get more power from this engine!

can you do more on this truck with the 6.0? I'm thinking about purchasing one

One of the things I love so much about Chevy is OnStar. Do ford and Dodge have something competitive with it?

Btw the way they took off when they were going up the Ike Gauntlet in 1st gear at 5,500 RPM's wasn't redliney... That was the redline.

Looking to upgrade currently using a 2001 suburban 1500 hauling a 6400 lbs camper and even with the stabilizer bars it’s still pushing back and forth like crazy and that’s with the camper completely empty

I have the LTZ, I can manually shift or let it shift my itself, if I'm pulling hills, than I use the manual shift it works great for up or down.

Love the show, always interesting to see how these trucks perform under extreme situations, but their high expectations drive me nuts. They load the truck to the absolute maximum, put it up at extreme altitude and temperature, and wonder why it can't maintain the speed limit, and then make us listen to them complain about it for the next 10 minutes. I understand this is a test to push the limit, but whenever you push a tool to its limit, you cannot expect it to perform the same as it does at 50% load, or even 70% load, which is how you SHOULD choose trailer size for optimal performance/weight trade off.

Just became a patreon!

I would like to see some data logging maybe. With this truck we know it was floored the whole way, but with the other trucks they get to spped and have to let off to maintain the limit. I would like to know things like throttle positions and such because just doing it in a certain amount of time isnt really accurate. That would be a little closer to telling me how much the truck is really working. Cars pull out, or you have to brake more. Just a thought.

I know it was said that the weight distribution hitch is optional. What about pulling a 30 foot travel trailer. Do you need the distribution hitch?

aftermarket brakes specifically for towing? chevy 5.3 1500. 2010. towing max. any other aftermarket things i can upgrade to?? EFI's???

Also what's the normal transmission temperature while climbing that hill

I have the same shifting problem with my 2014 2500 6.0

I have a question i have a 2016 Silverado 2500HD with the 6.0 and i went pick up my 7200 lbs travel trailer and the whole trip it was going in 4th gear at 60 or 65 mph and i was in tow-haul mode i even had to disconnect the cruise control is that ok ?

I'd still love to see the ram 1500 eco diesel do this run with the standard trailer. Ram also has completed the new towing standards and none of their ratings for their trucks based on their internal tests dropped. Some even increased when completing the standard tests toyota already complied by.

Is it gonna hurt the motor if you run it at 5000 rpm. Thx

are they going to update the 6.0 or drop the 6.2 in

Comparing this to the Ram 2500 with the 6.4L, am I crazy or did this 6.0L with way less power manage to keep a higher speed?

Hey guys, love your videos! If i can, i will try to donate!

We've had 3/4 ton older chevys with the 6.0 and that thing would pull anything easily you guys need to exceed the ratings and see how the trucks hold up, if you know how to drive a truck right you can pull way more than it's rated to do, explaining why that trucks suspension isn't sagging at all with the "maximum" load capacity and it accelerates no problem with 12,000 lbs behind it

TFL you guys should look into the chevy reaper

One small correction, all 2015 Ram trucks, 1500-3500 are J2807 rated. Otherwise, I really like these videos. I won't get into the this vs that that everyone else wants to. I believe the GM 1500s are J2807 rated as well. Can't go wrong with any of the new trucks.

when will yall test the 2015 f250 with the 6.2?

I only trailer hauled once but I never run tow/haul mode because I don't like to go above 2,000 RPM on my 05 GMC Sierra 1500 Z-71 OFF ROAD and it did just fine.

Can you guys do the 2015 gmc sierra slt

Has anyone else noticed it's hard to find these trucks in the LTZ brand, a lot of them are the W/T models.

I have a 2016 Chevy 2500 midnight edition with 33 12.50 mud tires 46 gallon aluminum tank in the bed and 4.10 rear end. It has the larger back cab and medium sized bed and the 6.0 vortec. How did TFL come up with 20,000 lbs in max conventional is 14,800 lbs and gooseneck / 5th wheel is 18,000 lbs. My camper is 11,000 lbs bumper pull at 40ft long (not including the family and everything in the bed) and my 6.0 drags it down the road great. Even in the mountains. It has a downhill assist and handles the down hill in the mountains great. My 2016 6.0 vortec hasn’t struggled like this truck ever.

20,500 that was total gross. How much was the twining weight? Thanks. Appreciate your research

I’m surprised he wasn’t manually shifting. I have this truck and manual shift all the time. Seems to work for me..

Boys! You should call her for hepl you in future videos! She makes fabulous "average people" questions that untill now I've never seen you answer, for example about the trailer brake controller for fixing sway problems; weight distribution for improving stability, dealers that doesent know what product to sell, etc. Mr Truck has tons of knowledge ans also Nathan, but she knows the way to expose those knowledge in the video! That is really good!!

Can you test the power wagon ?

The trucks drop rpm when the throttle is wide open because the pressure on the transmission is to much, it would prefer to shift under less load, so lifting would help it shift. The only reason it up shifts on the launch when y'all floor it is because it red lines and the computer kicks it into protection mode.

At 11:00, the rpm drop is dependent on gear ratio. The 2nd to 3rd gear ratio gap dictates that relatively large rpm drop. It's not because of fuel economy "tuning". You can tune the ECU all you can and it'll still drop from 5600 rpm to 3800 rpm. This is the reason ALL gasoline trucks, especially the HD variants, need the 8 speed ZF or equivalent.

I had a truck with this engine transmission combo and when I really had my foot in it with a heavy trailer the trans temp would skyrocket. When I did a long grade (like this) and the transmission heated up, it sometimes didn't want to downshift. I would be curious to see what the trans temp on this thing was by the time you got to the top seeings as you had it floored all the way up. I loved my 6.0 & 6-speed combo and it pulled everything I hooked to it but you have to have patience and drive with the welfare of the truck in mind; holding it to the floor for 10 minutes on a mountain pass isn't going to do the truck any favors especially when its at max capacity. So I'm not surprised that it wouldn't downshift for you after being thrashed like that, I'm guessing the transmission was up in the neighborhood of 280-300 degrees by the time you got to the top. I drive a Duramax now and it defiantly pulls better and does the big grades way faster but that doesn't mean the gasser can't do it you just need to take a little more time. I would say if you live in the mountains; buy a diesel, but if you live in a flat state and you don't have a lot of crazy high winds the gas will pull a lot of weight for a lot less money.

Anyone ever put a tuner on one of these? I’m lookin to get one to pep mine up alittle.

I'm assuming you can get a tune to change the shift points? And I do understand why you have it floored the whole time, but just let off for a second and I'm thinking it will downshift?

How's the trans temps

Nice truck and it's a good one ours does great, it did so much better then the ram did and sounds a lot better to gm to me has the best sounding exhaust

OK you guys are great!..but I need to know which truck is better ! Ford ..Chevy..dodge?...in daily driving and performance...f150...or the f250and so on?..per class rate them..!

Love the new duramax

GM does make a real nice sounding gasoline powered 6l V8 engine. Only better sounding then this is the 6.2L Vortec V8 that you could get in the previous gen of Silverado/Sierra. Always been a GM Guy, but for towing, I'd have to stick with the Cummins (first diesel choice) or a Duramax (second choice). Diesel is the way to go for towing. Overall grear review TFL!

Did you add 3 people weight too?

20:17 It actually had to downshift to 1st gear. No power at that altitude.

But what size is the read end ratio

Our toy hauler is just over 13,100. My truck is a crew cab long bed which gives us an extra 900lbs. On this particular climb I use third gear and keep the rpms between 4 and 5k. The truck was waiting for a particular rpm at the top of the hill before it would downshift. I reality you just drop to 2nd and back off the throttle till you're over the hill. The only problem with these trucks and GM won't do anything about it, is that in manual mode for you to control the gears you lose automatic engine braking in tow haul mode which sucks going down the hill. And you don't want to shift back and forth between automatic and manual mode be cause the transmission automatically downshifts when you go to manual mode while driving.

As a society we are so spoiled when it comes to power levels on modern vehicles. In this video going up hill they are whining and complaining about the lack of power from the gas engine. While they are just wizzing by big rigs! I mean c'mon! In 1996 I got my CDL and started driving semi's and went to work for a large company (orange trucks). My first truck was a 1990 International COE with I think a 330 hp cummins and a 9 speed transmission. 330hp towing 80K lbs gross out of Salt Lake city on I80 headed east toward Wyoming. I remember that night vividly. It sucked!! I was on the low side of the transmission for over an hour trying to climb that hill. At one point I was below 10 mph. Why do we feel it's necessary to be able to do over 60mph towing over 10,000 lbs up a 7% grade? It's not necessary at all. Just freaking cool your jets a little and cruise up the hill at 45 or even 40. You will get there, might take a few more mins but you will get there. Time is money, Yes it it. So here is my question. How much extra time will you need to spend at work to pay that extra 10K for the Diesel engine?

GM needs to bring back the manual transmissions in their trucks. I understand that the tow rating wouldn't be as high as an auto because of the torque converter but, I would really prefer to "row my own"!

To awnser the shifting question you guys asked. Not all the gears have same ratio or distance between eachother. You wanted it to shift at previous gear you witnessed a drop from redline to 3800. Lower gears will have more distance between them. If you noticed it shifted when it had almost 1,000rpm to rev before redline. Dont do itself any good to shift and hit redline and shift again back and forth....

Why didnt yall use the downshifter the plus and minus symbols on the stick?

At least it got up to the top that all I need in my truck

I have a 3/4 ton Chevy gas and a diesel I don’t pull nothing with the gas it’s hard on it the diesel doesn’t even feel it

I pull 6K lbs. daily on a 2011 GMC 2500HD EXT cab LWB 2wd w/3:73 Eaton, rated @ 19000. Per a GM truck engineer, this is the best trailering combo. Doing the math, It would take 300,000 miles to pay for the cost option & fuel difference. Additional diesel maintenance cost not included. I believe the trailer brakes in this video my have not functioning properly. Having trailered over 100ks miles, a gain of 8, the trailer alone would slow both trailer & truck. Trailer brake temps were low compared to the truck. GM truck brake pads are huge. True this: I trailered thru WVA hills got 4mpg, vs. Ohio & Indiana @ 14mpg. Aero is best @ 72mph w/ bed cover and box trailer. Bag the rear axle and run 25lbs to save tire wear.

Bring on the new 6.2 or 7.0 gas motor and 8-speed! The old/tired 6.0 6-speed still whipped the new 6.4 Ram...

Could someone please tell me why you all just dont down shift the trucks and hold them in 2nd or 3rd? I think most of us in the truck community would do that. The trucks offer a manual mode for a reason.

Anyone find out the trans temp ?

Let's see a 2016 Gmc Sierra 2500hd 4wd sle 6.0!

Max towing for the Chevy 2500 HD gas is 13,000 lbs. Where did you come up with the 20,500 lbs figure?

Ok, it's nice to see how the truck did and it was ok for the max load. But, obviously this package is no match on max mountain loads compared to the duramax. But, for us light duty pulling owners with less than 10,000 to tow once in while this is a great truck. Mine is 2012 and does great for under 10,000 pounds. Adding a decent unrestricted exhaust and high flow air filter with premium would of helped this test a lot. And drive it right so it shifts correctly would of made a difference. The test does show a diesel is tops for heavy mountain hauling. Thanks

Unbelievable!!

The reason it's not downshifting going up the hill is because you holding peddle in the same spot ether pump the peddle or set the curse control I have a 1/2 ton 6.2 gas that will out do what you showed here

Editing typo at 9:46 it said Silverado 500 instead of 2500