Chevrolet 6.0 compared to 5.3

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

x3

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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,