Posted 2006-12-28 2:29 AM (#52950) Subject: 6.0 L or 8.1 L , 2500 HD?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 610 Location: Northern CA
Hi all,- I have a 2- horse all aluminum gooseneck trailer. Am looking to upgrade to a new truck. Was looking at the 8.1 L and the 6.0 L chevy 2500 HD models. Can anyone that owns the 6.0 L gas with the 4.10 rear end tell me how their truck pulls the load? Does it have enough pull power up hills and grades? Am interested in the extra-cab, short bed, 4x4. I can't afford diesel and don't like the idea of buying used- also want to watch gas mileage. Thanks!
Posted 2006-12-28 5:29 AM (#52955 - in reply to #52950) Subject: RE: 6.0 L or 8.1 L , 2500 HD?
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
I don't have a 6.0 but I do have a 8.1 in a ext. cab 3500 dually. I would go for the 8.1 just for the fact that you get the Allison transmission. Good luck with finding an 2006 or 2007 8.1, they are few and far between. Pretty much everyone wants the Duramax and thus the reason plus emmission issues for discontinuing the 8.1. The new 900 series HD chassis will be equipped with the Duramax or a 367hp 6.0 gasser. This engine will have more HP than the 8.1 but will be lacking in the torque dept. You will have two choices, Duramax diesel or a high revin' 6.0 gas.
Posted 2006-12-28 5:41 AM (#52956 - in reply to #52950) Subject: RE: 6.0 L or 8.1 L , 2500 HD?
Expert
Posts: 1205 Location: Danielsville Georgia
I have a friend thats had both the 6.0 and 8.1 If looking for gas mileage from what he and his wife told me its not in the cards with eaither of those engines pulling or not.They moved theirs on for two D/Maxes a year or so ago.They are cattle ranchers and live in the Nebraska flat lands.Said both of theirs were fuel hogs.His was a 3500 dually 8.1 and hers a 2wd 1500.Now hers is a 2500 2wd D/Max and his a 3500 dually D/Max.
Posted 2006-12-28 10:02 AM (#52966 - in reply to #52950) Subject: RE: 6.0 L or 8.1 L , 2500 HD?
Regular
Posts: 63 Location: Illinois
I've got a 2004 2500HD Ext cab with a 6.0 and 410 gears. I pull a 30ft Cherokee 3h slant with a full living quarters. I would'nt trade it for anything. I get 15.5 mpg on the highway empty and 9.5 to 10 pulling the trailer fully loaded. It has plenty of juice and has no problems on the ozark hills. Yes, the mileage is not as good as a diesel, but how bout that diesel fuel price? I think the 6.0 will be fine
Posted 2006-12-28 8:38 PM (#52985 - in reply to #52950) Subject: RE: 6.0 L or 8.1 L , 2500 HD?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1160 Location: Denver Colorado
The 8.1L is availible in the 2007 GM "classic" (old model) but for the 2007 new GMT900 platform, the 8.1L gas engine is discontinued for the HD2500 and 3500. So is the manual transmission. GM will be offering a factory trailer brake controller as Ford did in 2005. I'll be driving the new GM HD trucks in February with a review then.
Posted 2006-12-29 12:20 AM (#52992 - in reply to #52950) Subject: RE: 6.0 L or 8.1 L , 2500 HD?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 610 Location: Northern CA
Wow! Thanks all ya'll for the response. The local dealership did find just 1 ,8.1L gasser 3/4 ton somewhere in the dealer locater down in southern California! (I'm in the Northern part) Sounds like the 6.0 L would do me just fine though. Thanks-
Posted 2006-12-29 1:00 PM (#53015 - in reply to #52992) Subject: RE: 6.0 L or 8.1 L , 2500 HD?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 385 Location: washington
I have a 1999 2500 LT with the 6.0 L and it's great. It will have lots of power to pull your trailer. I get about 15-16 mpg on the freeway and 10 mpg pulling the trailer. I previously towed a 3 horse gooseneck and the only time I felt the truck was at it's limit was the one time I had the trailer fully loaded with 3 horses, 3 bales of hay, water and camping gear. I am guessing I was pulling about 9000 lbs and really felt the weight. I wouldn't push the truck like that again. Now I have a steel 2 horse gooseneck that weighs 4500 lbs empty. I travel over the Cascade Mountains often, and have had no problems pulling over the mountain passes with the trailer fully loaded.
Posted 2006-12-30 8:23 PM (#53047 - in reply to #52950) Subject: RE: 6.0 L or 8.1 L , 2500 HD?
Member
Posts: 45
Hi,
Check out http://www.dieselplace.com/ there are plenty of posts on this comparison between 6.0/8.1 engines. Look under gasser section, most posts show no comparison between two, with 8.1 hands down winner. I own 01 Jimmy 2500HD with 8.1/Allison and more than happy with tow capabilities. Also check Chevy's site, 8.1 rated to pull bit more than 6.0 engine. I know two friends that have 2500HD's( straight and crewcab) and neither are impressed with gas mileage with 6.0 getting few mpg's better than me empty, and even or less pulling. Good luck shopping.
6.0 L or 8.1 L , 2500 HD?
