How's that 6.6 gas working for you?

[LITEPHIL]

Getting ready to order a new Chevy truck and trying to decide on either a HD2500 gas or the 1500 5.3 with the NHT option. I will be towing around 7,000 lbs and the 1500 is rated at 11,000. I know the HD2500 will handle the weight better but the 22-23 mpg empty with the 5.3 is nice where as 16 (I would hope) with the HD2500 and probably pretty bad around town may justify the 1500. The NHT package is a pretty nice tow package with bigger rear springs,axle,lower gears and extra coolers.
My current 2019 1500 5.3 works really nice with 6,000 lbs but I want a new truck. No need to chime in with a 2500 diesel or early 6.0 gas. Not going there but the 3.0 Duramax is in the back of my mind and is rated at 13,000 lbs with the NHT option.
Thanks!

[Grit_dog]

And with the diesel, an auto feed little slip tank is an easy upgrade for range.

[LITEPHIL]

Thank you all for your input. I'm thinking now about ordering the little Diesel.

[LITEPHIL]

Sjm9911 wrote:
Ill agree ,had similar experience with my 1500, and stopping for gas with it was really a trip killer. Thats why I asked how far do you tow . It matters.

Every trip is different and a couple hundred miles between fill ups isn't all that bad but I'm leaning towards the 3.0 Duramax now and that should extend things a bit I hope.

[Sjm9911]

Ill agree ,had similar experience with my 1500, and stopping for gas with it was really a trip killer. Thats why I asked how far do you tow . It matters.

[JCK]

Iv had a 2015 GMC 1500 6.2 eight speed with NHT package pulling a Keystone Bullet 30 ft. At around 6500 lbs. using a Equilizer 4 point hitch. Nice truck hated pulling trailer with it. Lots of power and plenty of payload. Trailer did not sway but could never drive without 2 hands on the steering wheel and would porpoise a little on bridges . Part of the problem was with that package came 2O inch wheels that are P rated with short sidewalls.
I currently have a Grand Design 30 foot TT weighs 7000 lbs and a GMC 2500 Duramax same hitch. Absolutely love this truck see signature.
Have towed over 20,000 miles with this setup. Rain wind mountains doesn’t matter. Been from Ohio to the Rockies 3 times and would not change a thing. 36 gallon tank gets me a range of 400 to 450 miles before I needed to fuel up. Most times I would just fuel up when stoping for the night. With the 6.2 gas1500 small tank it was every 200 miles hated that.
I would not change a thing !!
Jeff

[APT]

How many miles per year overall do you expect? Here are my recommendations:

Less than 8k per year -> 2500 6.6L gas
8>15k per year -> 1500 5.3 or 6.2L
>15k per year -> 1500 baby D-max

[ksss]

I thought I had heard that they were going to the 10 speed in 2023? Maybe I was just WANTING to hear that.

[LITEPHIL]

ksss wrote:
My brother just got his '22 GMC 3500 Denali with the 6.6 gas last week. It was ordered in July. Personally, I would have waited for the 10 speed and the new interior, but sometimes things don't work out like you would like sometimes. I am anxious to hear what he thinks of it. He is the only person I know that has one.

So far there has been no indication that GM will be putting the 10 speed up to the 6.6 gas anytime soon. Makes no sense

[ksss]

My brother just got his '22 GMC 3500 Denali with the 6.6 gas last week. It was ordered in July. Personally, I would have waited for the 10 speed and the new interior, but sometimes things don't work out like you would like sometimes. I am anxious to hear what he thinks of it. He is the only person I know that has one.

[LITEPHIL]

KD4UPL wrote:
Ordering a truck is crazy right now. I just ordered a new work truck yesterday; a 2022 GMC 3500 cab & chassis. The dealer had 4 allocations for Chevys but they couldn't be work trucks. He had one allocation for a GMC and it could be a work truck and so, my new one will be a GMC.
Further, he said my order was going in ahead of 5 other customers who had wanted certain options that weren't available. He showed me the list. one of the not available features was the 6.6L gas engine. I had been debating on getting the gas but decided to go with the diesel. "So, if I had wanted the gas it wouldn't have been ordered?" I asked him. "That's right." he said. "They won't take any orders for gas engines right now."

What a weird way to have to run a business.

My dealer didn't express any problems ordering a 3.0 diesel but it wouldn't let him build a truck with the 5.3.

[KD4UPL]

Ordering a truck is crazy right now. I just ordered a new work truck yesterday; a 2022 GMC 3500 cab & chassis. The dealer had 4 allocations for Chevys but they couldn't be work trucks. He had one allocation for a GMC and it could be a work truck and so, my new one will be a GMC.
Further, he said my order was going in ahead of 5 other customers who had wanted certain options that weren't available. He showed me the list. one of the not available features was the 6.6L gas engine. I had been debating on getting the gas but decided to go with the diesel. "So, if I had wanted the gas it wouldn't have been ordered?" I asked him. "That's right." he said. "They won't take any orders for gas engines right now."

What a weird way to have to run a business.

[blt2ski]

I'm pulling semi frequently a 6500 lb trailer with a 4.3 V6 dual cab 4x. I'm positive the 5.3 would be faster, quicker etc. Especially with the 8 or 10 sp trans. With that said, the 4.3 6 sp pulls this trailer power wise every bit as well or better than the BB 454 3 sp auto setups I used when I bought said trailer back in the early 90's. Granted this is an equipment trailer with a smaller excavator, so not a lot of wind resistance vs an RV trailer.
I did put a 1500 lb helper spring on it, it does not sag as much as stock with 3900 lb springs. I did gain about 1.5-2" of ride height..... balanced this out with a 2' Leveling strut kit..... rides better too.

I've gotten 25 on the freeway at 60 mph, a friend of mine with an equal 5.3 has gotten 22-23. Hes about 3 mpg less in the city. Both of us have the cylinder shut off option. If you do not get this, you can figure getting 2-4 mpg on the freeway less than having this option. I don't get as much now, with the lift, and putting heavier taller tires on it, I've lost about 2-3 mpg all around. Not a lot of seat of the pants power loss pulling my trailer or otherwise.

I have not heard any good or bad about the TD in the 1500's. But with a 25-40 mpg epa city freeway rating. That's with the extra $1000-1500 cost on it!

Good luck on choice!

Marty

[IdaD]

I don't think a 7000 trailer dictates an HD truck. They'll do a better job for sure, but I would think a properly equipped half ton would work pretty well for that size trailer too.

I think 12 mpg is a lot more realistic average to expect with a gas 6.6 in an HD truck.

[Sjm9911]

How long are your trips? And whats the gas tank capacity of the 1500? That may be the deal breaker.