2008 GM 6liter.

e-light wrote:

oakbowery wrote:

e-light wrote:
I dont own a 6 L GM, but it does have a very good reputation on this forum.

How does that 6.4 do pulling that 5er you have in your signature? Looks like that 5er weighs over 10k unloaded. Looks like the 6.4 has about the same torque as my stock 24V Cummins.

It does great...the 5er in my sig is about 12K loaded with about 2K pin weight. The 6.4L handles it perfectly. I set the cruise on 60 mph and let the computer do it's thing. On flat ground it runs about 2100 rpms in 5th gear. It will rev to about 3000 rpms in 4th gear up medium size hills (small hills will stay in 5th), once the TC locks up it will run about 2500 at 60ish mph in 4th. The computer does an awesome job of holding 4th up the hill and then will upshift back to 5th on the downside. Also using tow/haul and cruise the computer will downshift and rev going downhills to help keep speed in check. On large hills/mountains (the Smokey's are the toughest my truck has been on with trailer) the computer will downshift enough to hold gear without over reving, but will not hold 60 mph. This is by design by the RAM engineers to keep the engine from working too hard. To overcome this, I just used manual gear selection and I was able to cruise right up the large pass between NC and Tenn at 60 mph, no problem. Could have went faster...

For a gasser I don't think it gets any better than a HD RAM and the 6.4L. It actually does better on fuel economy with my heavier 5er than it did with my 8000 lb TT. I got 10.6 mpg on a 240 mile round trip from Louisville to Russell Springs KY a couple weeks ago. And there is little flat ground in between. Not large mountains...but up and down hills the whole way. If used purely on flats the truck would do real good on fuel economy.

As I've mentioned before I have 0 buyers remorse with my truck. It's been perfect and I love it.

Sounds like a good towing machine. I have 2001 cummins that I drag around my 37' TT with. I think my TT is around 9500 lbs fully loaded to camp. My dodge does okay with it, but it still struggles on some hills. I know a new diesel would pull it no problem, but I haven't really wanted a diesel for my daily commute so I am hesitant to trade my 5.3 silverado in on one. I bought the dodge solely for pulling the camper which is nice because I don't have to unload/unhook it between trips. We got back from Gulf Shores this past Sunday and are headed back to a local camp ground Friday so everything is already loaded (firewood, bikes, kids toys, etc.) and ready to go. I think when I get ready to upgrade my 5.3 silverado daily driver I'll probably go with a truck similar to yours just because I've heard a lot of good things about the 6.4.

Sorry OP....I know I got off topic with a few posts, but wanted to ask my question while it was on my mind. Didn't mean to hijack your post.

Dad has 2008 2500HD with the 6.0 and it uses no oil between changes. He towed 26' Komfort and upgraded to 28' TH. Pulls it fine, uses no oil.

I have 2011 2500HD with the 6.0, uses no oil between changes and I tow AF 27T with no issues.

I think it is a good motor and has been very reliable for us.

The 6.0 liter is a very good engine. I would not worry or hesitate buying it provided you have the truck as a whole checked out.

oakbowery wrote:
I have a 2007 5.3 liter that I bought with 17k miles. It now has 130k miles. It has always used a quart of oil over the life of the oil change (3000 miles). I first thought something was wrong with it but it's always done it and still runs as strong as it did when I first bought it. Personally I wouldn't worry too much even if the 6.0 does use a little oil. It hasn't bothered my 5.3 yet.

I have an '08 5.3 that just turned 100k, ditto on oil consumption. Pretty much every small block GM V8 I've ever owned has had some oil consumption.

oakbowery wrote:

e-light wrote:
I dont own a 6 L GM, but it does have a very good reputation on this forum.

How does that 6.4 do pulling that 5er you have in your signature? Looks like that 5er weighs over 10k unloaded. Looks like the 6.4 has about the same torque as my stock 24V Cummins.

It does great...the 5er in my sig is about 12K loaded with about 2K pin weight. The 6.4L handles it perfectly. I set the cruise on 60 mph and let the computer do it's thing. On flat ground it runs about 2100 rpms in 5th gear. It will rev to about 3000 rpms in 4th gear up medium size hills (small hills will stay in 5th), once the TC locks up it will run about 2500 at 60ish mph in 4th. The computer does an awesome job of holding 4th up the hill and then will upshift back to 5th on the downside. Also using tow/haul and cruise the computer will downshift and rev going downhills to help keep speed in check. On large hills/mountains (the Smokey's are the toughest my truck has been on with trailer) the computer will downshift enough to hold gear without over reving, but will not hold 60 mph. This is by design by the RAM engineers to keep the engine from working too hard. To overcome this, I just used manual gear selection and I was able to cruise right up the large pass between NC and Tenn at 60 mph, no problem. Could have went faster...

For a gasser I don't think it gets any better than a HD RAM and the 6.4L. It actually does better on fuel economy with my heavier 5er than it did with my 8000 lb TT. I got 10.6 mpg on a 240 mile round trip from Louisville to Russell Springs KY a couple weeks ago. And there is little flat ground in between. Not large mountains...but up and down hills the whole way. If used purely on flats the truck would do real good on fuel economy.

As I've mentioned before I have 0 buyers remorse with my truck. It's been perfect and I love it.

A 2008 Suburban 2500 with 6.0L is mechanically very similar to my 2011. We bought new, 57k miles now in 3.5 years. It just works. It's reliable, powerful enough, and comfortable for several 1000+ mile trips towing or not. It's also my wife's daily driver and minivan replacement. The 6.0L has been massaged by GM over the last 16 years. It is a very reliable engine with many over 200k miles, some 500k miles. Of the HD trucks, GM has the highest % of gas engines. It's inexpensive to own and operate.

I highly recommend 2008+ for 3/4 ton Suburbans. 2007 was 4-spd trans and the 6-spd really helps the small block. Another option for you is a 2007+ GMC Yukon Denali. If you don't need a lot of payload, then it's plenty capable for your TT and has even more power and the 6-spd trans.

e-light wrote:
I dont own a 6 L GM, but it does have a very good reputation on this forum.

How does that 6.4 do pulling that 5er you have in your signature? Looks like that 5er weighs over 10k unloaded. Looks like the 6.4 has about the same torque as my stock 24V Cummins.

I have owned several 6.0 GM pickups and none used oil. They do like gasoline, however.

I dont own a 6 L GM, but it does have a very good reputation on this forum.

I'll add that I pulled a loaded travel trailer for years with my 5.3 that weighed around 5500 lbs. The truck pulled it just fine. With your loaded weight of 7500 to 8000 lbs I think the 6.0 will pull it just fine from a hp/torque perspective. The only thing I'd be worried when you start approaching that weight is the suspension. Is the 6.0 you are looking at a 1500 or 2500 suspension? I recently went up to a 7700 lbs dry weight trailer. I pulled the trailer home from the dealer with it completely unloaded and the suspension on my 1500 couldn't handle it. Even with the equalizer hitch system the rear end was "spongy" and sagging. I'd think your loaded weight will be very similar to the unloaded weight I experienced with my trailer. I quickly jumped up to a 2500 for my tow vehicle. The difference is like night and day.

I have a 2007 5.3 liter that I bought with 17k miles. It now has 130k miles. It has always used a quart of oil over the life of the oil change (3000 miles). I first thought something was wrong with it but it's always done it and still runs as strong as it did when I first bought it. Personally I wouldn't worry too much even if the 6.0 does use a little oil. It hasn't bothered my 5.3 yet.