Chevrolet 6.0 compared to 5.3

[State_Fan]

I'm currently driving a Chevy 1/2 ton with the 5.3 engine. It's the second one that I've owned and I think that's it's a really good engine. I'm wanting to upgrade to a 3/4 ton and the more I think about it, I may just go the gas engine route. So I have a few questions for the guys that have owned the 6.0. Will it be as reliable as the 5.3? How good of milage are you getting in the 2500? I get about 17 in my 5.3 1500 4x4. How well does it tow? I will be pulling my travel trailer, cattle trailer, and my 70HP tractor that weighs 10,000lbs. So I think the heaviest load would be the tractor. With trailer I'm thinking it would be in the 13,000-14,000lb range.

[LimogesMan]

AlBeGone wrote:
I agree with TomG2. Also, the previous gen 5.3L had enough with 8K lbs.

x3

[AlBeGone]

TomG2 wrote:

navybanker wrote:
TomG2 - I am researching this purchase (2013/2014 2500 HD with 6.0/4.1). The fifth wheel towing capacity is rated at 14,200 or 20,500 gross so this truck should be able to pull the Montana 3400RL as far as I can tell. ...snip..........

I am certain that it will pull the trailer. I am also certain that I would feel underpowered towing anything over 10,000 pounds with a 6.0 regardless of the rear axle ratio. My 2009 had the 4.10, my 2013 is a 3.73. It will get you there and back and my expectation of performance may well be different from others.

I agree with TomG2. Also, the previous gen 5.3L had enough with 8K lbs.

[TomG2]

navybanker wrote:
TomG2 - I am researching this purchase (2013/2014 2500 HD with 6.0/4.1). The fifth wheel towing capacity is rated at 14,200 or 20,500 gross so this truck should be able to pull the Montana 3400RL as far as I can tell. ...snip..........

I am certain that it will pull the trailer. I am also certain that I would feel underpowered towing anything over 10,000 pounds with a 6.0 regardless of the rear axle ratio. My 2009 had the 4.10, my 2013 is a 3.73. It will get you there and back and my expectation of performance may well be different from others.

[ashnic]

Just this summer I upgraded from a 04 1500 EC 4x4 Silverado with 5.3L, 3.73 combo to a 2012 2500HD 6.0,3.73 combo. Pulling a 7k trailer with both. The 1500 worked really hard pulling around southern Ohio..The 2500HD makes it very comfortable towing. Mileage..I was getting around 16mpg in the 1500 and I am around 13mpg in the 2500. Also a big one for me is trans temps. I put a large cooler on the 1500 and 175-190 was the norm 200 on a hot day. The 2500 trans temp stays 160 when towing..granted I have not towed with it on a 90 degree day yet.

[navybanker]

TomG2 - I am researching this purchase (2013/2014 2500 HD with 6.0/4.1). The fifth wheel towing capacity is rated at 14,200 or 20,500 gross so this truck should be able to pull the Montana 3400RL as far as I can tell. I assume the frame, brakes and everything else is the same as the Duramax equipped so the only issue is the engine. I may decide to give up the torque in the mountains for a cheaper price and realize it will be slower going up elevations. My mountain (west) trips will be limited in the future. We have made those trips several times already. A 3500 may be a better fit so that option is not out. But, could find a good used Duramax tomorrow. Again, this will be a SRW regardless. Thanks.

[MARK_VANDERBENT]

Truck trend magazine had a comparison of the 2500 hd 6.0 up against superduty 6.2 and the 6.0 GM trucks held there own pretty darn good!

[Ridgerunner29]

I have a 2012 6.0 3.73 CC 4X4. I am extremely please with the truck. 32,000 miles mostly towing. Absolutely no problems. 2012 model is much improved over the same truck I had in a 2010 model. Mixed driving empty runs around 12.5 mpg. Towing will run about 8.5 with a 6500# trailer on a 4000 mile trip out west and back. I owned a 2008 Chevy 1500 with 5.3 and 3.73. The 1500 and 2500 have very different towing performance and ride. If I had it to do over I would buy the exact same truck again.

[ksss]

My experience is pulling excavation equipment, so while I have the weight I don't have the wind resistance. I can say that I don't have any issue at 14K at my elevations and thats with 3.73's and slightly larger than stock tires. I can only assume that 4:10's would be even better. There is no doubt that my Duramax trucks pull better, and do it with better fuel economy (although not as great a difference in MPG as one would expect, about 2 mpg better is all with the Dmax). So when you factor in the $7K reduction in price, and the roughly .60 cent difference in the price of gas over diesel, I am ok with the reduction in towing capacity. Frankly I like driving that 6.0 with a load or without.

[TomG2]

navybanker wrote:
ksss - I am considering a new 6.0 in a 2500 or 3500 SRW. Now have a 04 Duramax 2500 which has been a good truck. My fifth wheel is a 3400RL Montana at 12.500 dry and probably 14,500 loaded. Just needing more advice on pulling heavy with the 6.0 and 4.1. I try to avoid steep/high elevations (such as I 70 west of Denver) since the diesel does better than the "driver" pulling over them. Thanks,

I would think you would not only have to avoid high elevations, but choose to go downhill all the time with a 6.0 and 20,000 pounds of combined vehicle and trailer weight. I have had three 6.0 late model 2500HD pickups and would not want over 15,000 pounds total weight.

[navybanker]

ksss - I am considering a new 6.0 in a 2500 or 3500 SRW. Now have a 04 Duramax 2500 which has been a good truck. My fifth wheel is a 3400RL Montana at 12.500 dry and probably 14,500 loaded. Just needing more advice on pulling heavy with the 6.0 and 4.1. I try to avoid steep/high elevations (such as I 70 west of Denver) since the diesel does better than the "driver" pulling over them. Thanks,

[Need-A-Vacation]

Taco wrote:
The 5.3 and 6.0 are both good engines. I wouldn't make my decision on the engine, they both have enough power to get to where you are going. I have a 2012 6.0 and I am satisfied with the power and towing performance. It is on the thirsty side 12 mpg mixed city, 16 mpg highway, 8.5 mpg towing 8k lbs.

I have had both 1/2 and 3/4 ton and the 3/4 ton truck can handle a lot more load/trailer than the 1/2 ton. From the sounds of it you use a truck like a truck and need one that can handle some load.

A 1 ton srw would also be an option to consider, it would be basically the same as the 2500 but cost a few 100 more and able to haul a few 100 lbs more.

For the '13/'14 models, when I priced the 2500HD vs the 3500 option for option, it was atually CHEAPER by a couple hundred for the 3500!!! Standard tow pkg and tow mirrors being a good part of the reason. Not sure how '15 pricing will be.

APT wrote:
Keep in mind the tow rating for the 6.0L/3.73 is only about 9500 pounds. Going to 4.10 bumps it up by a good amount, about 14k. The 4.10 can be hard to find new and used. As you search, look at the RPO sticker in the glove box for one of the following:
GT4 - 3.73
GT5 - 4.10

You may want to wait to see what the 2015 HD has to offer. You can already order one now for delivery early next year. I expect the gas engine to be significantly more powerful than the 07-14 6.0L.

From everything I have read, the 6.0 will continue in the '15 HD's. it will be interesting to see what the replacement engine will be.

Statefan,

We recently stepped up to our '13-2500HD from a '10-1500 5.3/6spd/3.42/4x4 ccsb. Payload was the reason for it. Motor for motor they both are very good! Not a huge difference in power (noticeable, yes), but more stable, and slightly more thirsty! Lol This w/e we are in Northern Mi, 200 mi trip and got about 14mpg. Temps were 10*-22* for the trip, so there is 1-2 mpg there. PLUS- we don't have a topper or tonneau cover yet, so that great "air bubble in the bed" (as proved by Myth Busters in an empty truck bed) is disrupted by the rubbermaid tubs in the bed of the truck. we would usually average about 15mpg, to maybe 16mpg (if lucky) for the same trip in the Winter for our 1500 if I remember right!

The 14's have the 4.10 gears standard (3.73 is an option now) so it may be a little easier to find a truck with them!

Good luck!

[lpxguy]

I HAD a '10 2500 6.0 6spd/ 4.10 got 10.5-11 mpg around town unloaded. 8.5-10 mpg towing a 7500 lb TT. That's why I went diesel. 15 around town unloaded, 12.5 towing 11k lb 5er.

[ksss]

When I tow with my 2500HD its seldom under 10K and I have 3.73's, I usually weigh between 13-14K and as much 18K. This done between 5-8000' in alt. The truck pulls very well at 14K, 18K is a little too much for it but I don't do that very often. Pulling hard I get around 7 at times less depending on how steep the grade. Nontowing is around 14.5-15 mpg if I stay at 65 mph.

[Fishbreath]

State Fan

I ordered a new 2013 6.0 with the 4.10 gears in a 3500 SRW. I love the truck. One thing of note. If you are going to tow near the max AND you are going to tow through a lot of steep inclines, you will need to get used to the engine revving around 4000 rpm. It can either be annoying or "music to your ears". I still have a little trouble adjusting to the high RPM's, but I would never go back to the diesel.
(Yea, gas mileage is around 12. )

Good luck

Bill