Need a new tow vehicle....opinions?????

[zogg]

Yesterday we bought a new flagstaff 30 foot v nose travel trailer. Dry weight is 7300 pounds.

My Titan is maxed out at 7200 pounds.....ugh. So, we decided on a 3/4 ton truck, for the extra stability, brakes, etc.

We are looking at Silverado/Sierra HD 2500 trucks. Anyway, i want a gas motor, and am looking at the 6.0. It seems that the 3.73 is readily available, and i cannot seem to find any 4.10 trucks.

The salesmen are saying the 3.73 will pull 8000 pounds easily....true?

I am looking at used trucks, and found an 07 classic that is super clean with low mileage....but, it has the 4 speed tranny. Is it an awful truck compared to the newer 6 speed trucks?

I am trying to do this once and get it right. How bad it the mpg empty/towing?

Any and all suggestions are sure appreciated....thanks

[monkey44]

You'll like the 3:73 just fine ... will get you better highway mileage, and still has the guts to climb hills when you need it.

Got the 3:73 in my truck now w/6.0L gas, and if I bought another one, I'd wait and find the same engine and with 3:73 RE again.

[kw_00]

Congrats on your purchase!

[zogg]

Thank you for all of the great feedback....I had narrowed it down to a few various trucks, and with all of your help, I just pulled the trigger!!!!

I purchased a 2011 GMC Sierra with the 6.0, 6 speed, 4x4, extended cab. I was sorta hoping to get the 4.10 gears, but it has the 3.73 which I can certainly live with. It is the work truck version, so not a lot of bells and whistles, but I am sure it will do the job. For the price, I am very happy.

Thanks, folks for all of your great insights.....

[APT]

36gal tank is 2011+ for the crew cab 6.5' bed GM trucks.

[rottidawg]

Another advantage to the newer GMs, in addition to the 6 speed, is that all bed lengths have the 36 gallon gas tank. I love my 2012 with the 6.0 and 3.73, great truck with plenty of power. I have 1400 lb dry camper on mine full time and I have been seeing 11 to 13 city and 13 to 16 highway.

Some great deals out there on the new ones. I agree with the special order post....get exactly what you want in 6 to 8 weeks.

[kmbelt]

I had an 09 2500HD crew cab 4x4 6.0 with the 3.73. I liked it and it liked gas. Was a great vehicle. rated to pull 9800lbs in that configuration. The 3.73 is the standard gearing and the 4.10's are optional and hard to find. It up's you to something like 12k lbs.

Expect 11-13 city, 15-17 hwy, i got 7-9 towing my 5er.

I traded mine for a durmax for more power, didn't really need to.

[APT]

6-spd 3.73 over anything with a 4-spd:



Consider single rear wheel 3500s as well. That might be more likely to find a 4.10.

The 3.73 is only rated for about 9500 pounds. 4.10 is about 12k until 2011 when GM bumped it up to 14k.

With a .67 6th gear, I recommend 4.10. But, I feel the 3.73 is underrated with that 4.03 first gear. It will tow 8500-9000 pounds with ease.

[skipnchar]

YOu have essentially the same trailer as mine and my F 150 HD with Ecoboost makes it a VERY easy tow. Most any of the half ton brands can handle that weight if you pack lightly (I don't) but the HD version of the F 150 has nearly the same payload as a 3/4 ton truck without any of the down sides.
Good luck / Skip

[The_Texan]

With the 6.0 & 6 speed, there is absolutely NO need for a 4.10 rear end. We tow 10K with our 6.2L 6 speed and a 3.73 rear here is the mountainous west without any problems.......

[Lowsuv]

do a factory order .
get the 4.10 ratio
i have bought 20 + new vehicles
i never had to pay more than what was on the lot
and i never really waited very long either .
that way you can get the exact color inside withthe exact color outside that you want.
make sure to order the limited slip differential
sometimes the cheap diesel trucks in the advertisements omit the necessary items needed for towing .

[Dougie123]

My 2011 Ram with Hemi and 4.10 rear gets 13mpg around town, and 15mpg on highway (70mph or less).

Towing she gets 9'ish, but our camper is smaller than yours.

With the 4.10 she is rated to to 11,400lbs. see below.



5.7L V8 gas (EZC) A5 545RFE 5 sp AUTO (DGQ) 4.10 8,800 2,360 6,440 3,685 2,755 5,200 6,010 18,000 11,400

[kw_00]

Towing I get around 8 mpgs, empty is 11-12 city and 14-15 highway at 65 to 70mph. If I get in Georgia or into a headwind when towing I got 7 mpg.....depending on the mountains and overall speed.

[kw_00]

I love my GM 6.0, with that said I will really enjoy the 6 speed over my 4 speed one day when I buy a newer version of my truck. My 3.73 pull fine in Florida with my weight, and I am around 9k. In Georgia I slow down some, but overall very happy with my current truck. And yes I have pulled with diesel because we have a few in the family. The Duramax was sweet but I don't like the overall cost of ownership. My recommendation look for the 6.0 and newer 6 speed, you will be happy.

[Lantley]

9-10 towing with a gas engine seems optimistic to me.