Newer Chevy 2500HD rear diff ratios and engine differences?

2011 2500hd 6.0, 3.73, eclb owner here. 2011 to 2014 have the newer frame but the older body and dash. If you can live without the newer body and dash, these are really good trucks and extremely reliable. I love mine. I would go 2500 at least for the payload and stability. I daily drive mine 64 miles a day and always get at least 15mpg. Around 10 loaded with slide in camper. 85k so far and never an issue.
If you can, find one with 18 in. wheels. Better tire choices.

SouthpawHD wrote:
I'll be the odd one out here, but if you're only towing 5k, why not get a 1/2 ton. You'll tow it just fine and get get WAY better fuel mileage. Today's half tons are very capable trucks.

Obviously I know nothing about your future plans with getting different trailers, but this might be worth considering.

I'm sure the newer 6 speed 1500 Silverado's will tow 5k lbs well but with a family of 4 and all of our gear I think I'd run out of payload. I moved "up" from a 2007 1500 Silverado to the older 2500HD I have now because the 4 speed, 5.3 and 3.42 gears in the 1500 was a horrible combination in rolling hills. What I really like about the 2500s is the stability in towing...no white knuckle towing that I had with the 1500.

I am really considering something like the 28BHBE down the road and I don't think a 1500 would cut it with that much tongue weight.

starcraft69 wrote:
Not sure but i dont think you can get the 6 speed tranny with the gas only diesel

Nothing available in either truck but a 6 speed automatic. Since about 2007 I think when they dropped the manual.
The diesel gets the 6 speed Allison automatic. The gas gets the 6 speed 6L90E automatic.

I'll be the odd one out here, but if you're only towing 5k, why not get a 1/2 ton. You'll tow it just fine and get get WAY better fuel mileage. Today's half tons are very capable trucks.

Obviously I know nothing about your future plans with getting different trailers, but this might be worth considering.

Not sure but i dont think you can get the 6 speed tranny with the gas only diesel

I have had a 2011 6.0 2500 with 3.73 and a 2015 6.0 3500 with 4.10's. The 3.73 was fine but the 4.10 does match up with the motor very well. I pulled 30K (combined) plus with both trucks and was always impressed with the power of that gas motor. I agree if you can get into the 2015 I would do it, the interiors are much nicer.

GeoBoy wrote:
If you are going to move into a new/newer GM truck, go with a 3500 and the 6.0 gasser with 4.10 gears. With the 6 speed transmission you should see 1 mpg better, both city and highway. Thank you for your service.

Good luck finding a 1ton gasser. They are like unicorns for a reason. More truck than the motor is meant to handle. 3/4ton + gasser just makes more sense. If your going to step up to a 1ton make it a diesel and do it right.

They is a large difference in the way the newer truck will pull verse the old. I went from an 02 with the 6.0,3:73 gears and 4 speed to the newer 09 6.0, 3:73 and 6 speeds. Pulling my current setup and happy. The engine really has improved with the bump in HP and Tq, plus that 6 speed really icing on the cake. Now I pull in 5th gear OD in Florida, north of here I'm in 4th gear. 3rd in steep grades but I maintain speed easily. I went also with the Blackbear tune and really like it. I lost some of the Tq management and the truck feels overall lighter on its feet. Mpgs have stepped up about 1-2 and some times more when in town. Power delivery is much quicker now and I am pretty sure GM have detuned this engine from the factory. I'm sure it's for service life, but I don't dog it and use the towing only tune for towing only. Otherwise I leave the 89 tune on it for everyday driving. Even if u don't tune it, u will like this new combo. payload on my truck is 2997lbs, which I'm under that with my current setup. Am I happy with it? Yes for sure. The newer gas engines with more gearing and reliability make it harder for me to go to diesels.

Before you buy, check out the 2015+ models. They did a major interior redesign and it's much better than the prior setup IMO.

2001 6.0: 300HP, 360TQ
2010+ 6.0: 360HP, 380TQ

All gas HDs but the standard cab have the 4.10 standard. You cannot order a different ratio for cas etc or CC gas trucks. Diesel gets 3.73.

I believe the 3500 has a larger rear end...same ratio. 3500 has a different rear spring setup. Everything else is the same. My 6.0 SLE CC has just over 3,000# payload. If you need the extra payload, go for the 3,500 but if you need that much payload, you're pulling a pretty big 5'er and would probably want a diesel. My Uncle has a Denali 2500HD diesel and just under 2,000# payload.

I bought a 2015 6.0 2WD SLE Crew certified w 32k miles for $36k. That was way way less than anything else I saw.

The only choices with a GM gas will be 4.10 and 3.73; 4.10 is what you want. A 3500 will have an 11.5" rear axle, a 2500 gas will only have a 10.5" rear axle. Also, the 3500 will have wider wheels, larger tires that carry more weight, and a stronger rear spring pack.