Truck 2500hd Silverado 6.0 or diesel, 6.6 or 8' bed ?

Poof, Wildwood disappeared....
If you're still listening, you should get the gasser diesel short long bed.

Passin Thru wrote:
I have an older 2006 Duramax. Love it but the new ones have to run too hot and eat too much fuel for me. I was driving today and thinking GOSH! I don't use Urea, get 19 ety and 9.8 loaded at 19K. Why pay 70000 for a new one.

I have an LBZ 3500 and I get around 8-9 mpg pulling heavy. As good as that truck is and it is one of the "gold standard" engines probably ever (along with a 7.3 and some versions of the Cummins motors), I still much prefer to tow with my 18'. My mileage is no different towing between the two. However the power difference is substantial. My '18 runs cooler pulling the mnt passes than does the 06. The biggest benefit however is really the controllability at max GVW. The '18 with engine braking, much better brakes, and a better suspension make it much preferred to towing heavy than with the 06. My 06 is also tuned to engine brake with the tow haul on, but it is not near as effective as is the '18. The new ones are expensive, getting really stupid expensive in my mind, but they do provide a large increase capacity, and much better towing experience in my view. Now when your not pulling at or near the max capability of the truck, I think the advantages wont be as noticeable.

Diesel and longbed. You will never regret it and never look back.

I have an older 2006 Duramax. Love it but the new ones have to run too hot and eat too much fuel for me. I was driving today and thinking GOSH! I don't use Urea, get 19 ety and 9.8 loaded at 19K. Why pay 70000 for a new one.

Wowens,
With the 6 sp trans, you would have been in 2nd gear, probably 5 mph faster with you motor due to better gear splits. With a newer higher HP motor an additional 5mph or so.
The 4l80 trans is not a good towing transmission.

Marty

I've got a 6.0, but it is a 2002 with the 4spd tranny, so I'm down a couple of gears, and a little HP from the new ones. It has been a very good engine, and still runs great at 213k miles.

I will say pulling my 8k lb TT that I've been down to 30mph in 1st gear in the mountains on 3 different roads. It got up the hill, but we got passed by a dumptruck :).

At 10k, I think a lot would depend on the area you tow in. We have some short steep hills in north GA, NC, and TN. If you are in flatter areas, the 6.0 will be fine. I think at your weight, you are at right at the point where you start to get into diesel territory.

Have you considered the RAM, or Ford gassers? They both have just a little more power than the 6.0, and might be worth a look.

I've had the 6.0 and now have the Duramax. No question DURAMAX.
Good luck.

I pull with my 6.0 w/8 foot bed just fine. Very reliable engine. During our yearly haul from KY to FL I average 7.5 mpg hauling the TT with a golf cart in the bed. You may get better mpg with a diesel, but as far as dependability goes, you can't go wrong with either.

The only option on the 2015 and newer 6.0 HD's is with 4:10's.

I have owned both 2015 6.0 and Duramax and pulled 30K plus combined with both. I never seem to get the diesel mpg advantage others get. Pulling that weight at 5-8K feet. I would get about 5-6 mpg. I get 8-9 with an '18 Dmax and about the same with my '15 duramax.

Obviously the Dmax pulls better with much less effort. However, I didnt mind the 6.0. I put my foot in it and let it whine. That really is an incredible motor. The biggest surprise is when I traded out of it. I got great resale out of it. It cost me .18 cents a mile to own it.

I think for such a light load either would work. If you were pulling more weight it would be clear but at 10K you have more of an option. If you have the money to put into it, I would get the diesel. Standard or long box. I get the long box but I have to work out of them. The longer wheel base can help with stability, but at this light weight I dont think it matters.

George3037 wrote:
I have a 30' TT. loaded weight is just under 10K. My TV is a 2016 2500HD 4x4 CC standard bed 6.0L, 6 spd. auto with 4.10 gears and tows it fine. If I were a full timer and traveled a lot I'd have bought the Duramax for better mileage. But for the half dozen times a year I tow the TT plus I use the truck as a daily driver I couldn't justify the added cost of the diesel package.
The 6.0 likes to eat, I get between 8-9MPG towing and 14MPG empty with a good tail wind. A previous TV was a 2006 2500HD with Dmax / allison and got 19-20 MPG empty and 14 towing a 7500# trailer. Sorry I sold that one. I don't think the new Dmaxes get that MPG. For a TT I like the standard 6'6 bed if I had a FW I'd go with 8'.

I am a diesel guy all the way. The only advantage the gasser has over the diesel is initial price. All other factors/parameters favor the diesel.
I tow regularly and prefer to do so without fear/concern of the destination. I want to be confident my truck is up to the challenge regardless of terrain,wind or other variables.
I also want a relaxing experience. I don't want to work the truck or myself in order to make it. I prefer a diesel for the towing performance.
However if you only tow a few times a year, relatively short distances. The gasser maybe the way to go.
Camping style,frequency and distance traveled are huge factors in determining which truck