6.0 chev

alexleblanc wrote:
the low end torque just isn't there and makes for much more of a strained towing experience.

Clearly you haven't towed with the 6-speed transmission and the 4.10. There's no need for low end torque, as the gearing is so deep in 1st that the truck is wound out by the time it hits about 5MPH.

Alexleblanc,
No worries about the test numbers, I know what u mean about the 5.3 btw. I had one and being a 2000 model it was good, and I had the 6.0 with the 4 speed trans... The newer 6.0 with the 6 speed is a different animal. The power is always right there if needed. I realized that u have the same fifthwheel as we have, the 6.0 pulls it really easy. KZ makes a great camper....

alexleblanc wrote:
I will say as a side note though that next to the big diesels out there the next best thing is the 3.5 Ecoboost, that's what we really need to start seeing in 3/4 ton trucks for the gas option.

The Ecoboost has great hp and torque numbers, but there is some work to do before that engine will work well in a 2500/3500 series truck application. In a commercial application (Ford Transit) the engine is derated and only has a 13K GCWR. It's not even offered in the highest GVWR Transit, probably due to not being able to handle the higher duty cycle. It seems to be a great towing engine in the 150/1500 class but it doesn't appear to be able to handle the same heavy towing stresses that the GM 6.0, Ford 6.2 and FCA 6.4 gas V8s can.

I will say in full disclosure that I was not a 6.0 fan until I bought a 2012 2500HD with the 6.0 I needed a truck that could pull intermediate weight while not costing another 10K for a Dmax (it was a business daily driver for myself). As it turned out, I got a lot more truck in the 6.0 than I would have ever guessed. Pulled very well, mpg not great but acceptable for me, no gelling issues during the Winter and lastly the resale value in these trucks was better than I would have thought it would be (lower gas prices no doubt had an influence). I suspect like others have said, the new transmissions have made the 6.0 a much better performing engine than it was with the 4 speed trannies of years past.

kw/00 wrote:
If u had owned one and pulled with it then you would know that power on paper is not always true......just saying

I agree - the real test is driving it with your package.

I've driven trucks with my camper, cargo trailer, and lots of other 'work' as a home builder earlier in life. Just because "something" shows up in statistics and data and mathematically, means less than the entire hauling package. Not only is the engine a part of that, but the transmission, rear end, axles, wheel bearings, tires - and we could add more (Driver?) - makes one truck perform better than another.

I happen to be a GM guy, and GM truck have always earned my respect, and have owned Ford, Dodge, and Toyota at different times. All do the job the are designed to do, and will perform well as long as we don't expect a Tacoma to do the job a 3500 Duelly will.

So, yes, the 6.0 GM specs out a little different than some other engines, but none of them will leave you at a bottom of a hill unless your brain goes into 'overload' and you make a mistake with how you load it and drive it. And, it's designed to high rev for the hauling and climbing power it needs.

kw/00 wrote:
The test that I have seen including the IKE test prove the GM 6.0 ain't no slouch compared to the other offerings. Like said above buy one and pull with it. The GM 6.0 has come out on top or at least number 2 in most test out there. if u had owned one and pulled with it then you would know that power on paper is not always true......just saying

well I stand corrected than, from all the comments here it seems like its a good pulling motor. I've not pulled with a 6.0 myself, only sever 5.3's so I guess my bias may be somewhat based on that experience plus the numbers I've seen printed on paper.

I will say as a side note though that next to the big diesels out there the next best thing is the 3.5 Ecoboost, that's what we really need to start seeing in 3/4 ton trucks for the gas option.

Kalabin wrote:

alexleblanc wrote:
The 6.0 is really the weakest of the gasser options out there, while it may get the job done I'd give the Ram 6.4 or Ford 6.2 a serious look for better performance. Othet than the gas engine itself, the 2500/3500 SRW gm truck is a great platform

To be fair when your talking about these gas engines in any of the HD trucks the power on paper is splitting hairs. The 6.0 has done very well across the board because of the 1-2 gearing on the transmission. All of the HD trucks finish within seconds of each other on the pick up truck tests, excluding the IKE Gauntlet which the Ram 6.4 ran in 1st gear @ maximum load ratings which hardly any of us will ever do with these trucks.

I have towed with a Ford 5.4, 6.8 and Chevy 6.0. They all get the job done, and the biggest improvement was the 6-speed transmissions behind them. I would test drive each and every HD trucks and find the one that you enjoy the most and go from there.

As others said I have towed 7,000lbs with my now sold Chevy 2500HD w/ 6.0, 3.73 gearing and 6-speed transmission. Once your up to speed it moves right along, on hills it would spin @ 4200rpm as it's designed to do. If I were doing 11,000lbs I would shoot for the 4.10 gears.

I totally agree with your post. The 6.0 is proven. I wouldn't do it on a daily basis with the older trucks equipped with the 4spd tranny. All the new HD trucks rock IMO.

The test that I have seen including the IKE test prove the GM 6.0 ain't no slouch compared to the other offerings. Like said above buy one and pull with it. The GM 6.0 has come out on top or at least number 2 in most test out there. if u had owned one and pulled with it then you would know that power on paper is not always true......just saying

ksss wrote:

alexleblanc wrote:
The 6.0 is really the weakest of the gasser options out there, while it may get the job done I'd give the Ram 6.4 or Ford 6.2 a serious look for better performance. Othet than the gas engine itself, the 2500/3500 SRW gm truck is a great platform.

I tow 10k with a Diesel and until they offer the 3.5 Ecoboost in the Super Duty I won't switch to a gasser, the low end torque just isn't there and makes for much more of a strained towing experience.

Buy one and pull with it and then talk about it. The 6.0 may be the lesser powered pickup on paper. However in actual pull offs it does very well often besting the competition. I have gone over scales weighing at 30K combined and taken that load from 5K to 7,5K and it pulls very well. The pickup handles the weight well, the tranny never got above 220. I don't know how the other gas trucks pull, but the 6.0 is a good pulling gas motor. Does everything you could reasonably expect a gas engine to do, pulls well beyond its ratings.

I didn't say you couldn't get the job done with the 6.o however every test I've ever seen on Gasser 3/4 & 1 ton trucks the 6.0 is always on the bottom of the actual performance stats when comparing to the Ram and Ford gassers. Makes sense as it has the lowest posted HP and torque numbers.

Busdriver wrote:
Is anyone towing heavy 11'000 lbs with a 3500 Chevy . Thinging about new truck don't want a another diesel.

I'm towing a 10,000 TT with a 2015 2500HD with 6.0 gas and am quite satisfied with it. I can't imagine adding another 1000 lbs would make a huge difference. Gas mileage seems to average around 7.5 mpg.