2006 CHEVY 2500HD 4x4 6.0L opinions

[Diamondpilot]

An aftermarket tune on the 6.0L helps alot, the torque management ( or whatever the call it) is very conservative when trying to get a load rolling. I felt the 6.0L 2500 suburban was a pig compared to my 5.3L work truck until I put a tune on it. Although I never tried pulling anything in the 15000 lb range with it either.

I should say that when the load was rolling you could feel the extra power, etc. without the tune.

I just want to be clear that while I was hooked up and pulling the 15,000# boat I was not "towing it". We were moving it all of 300 yards from the storage lot to the launch. It had no problem putting it in but would not retrieve it a few days later. It was my friends truck, want to say it was a 03. He said the tach just went to about 5,000 rpm but would not move. I had experienced this once in a F-150 pulling a 10,000# boat on a hot day. I put it in 4 Low and it had no issue then. Just the Torque Converter.

I see it all the time. I bet me or my buddies pull a truck from the launch every week in the summer months. Last one I pulled was a Cummins Dually with about a 12,000# boat. Those autos leave a lot to be desired granted I don't think this guy was smart enough to put it in 4 low.

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

What's wrong with keeping the truck level so the steering is at optimum position?

If thats how you want to do it that fine, its your truck. I just personally do not like it. If you had to add something it means you do not have the right truck in my eyes. Example I bought a new 2004 Ford F-250 diesel. 1.5 years later I bought a bigger boat and it sagged the F-250 a good 8" or more. This was a Real F-250 with 10,000# GVWR package, not one of the wimpy ones with a 8,800# or less setup. I could have done some things to fix it but I knew it would never be right so we sold my wife's Mercury Mountaineer, she got the F-250, and I ended up with a 06 F-350 SRW 4x4 Diesel with 11,500# GVWR. That truck sits level and maybe drops 3" when the load is hitched up.

To each their own.

Chris

 

[Heywood Jannockitov]

What's wrong with keeping the truck level so the steering is at optimum position?

Count me as one who swears by my Firestone Ride-Rites. I added them, with on-board compressor, to my 95 Ram 2500HD 4x4 CTD to cure the squat when we bought a Sooner three-horse with LQ.

The trailer is 3400 kg, well within the trucks towing capacity, but the LQ makes the trailer heavy on the pin. I upgraded the tires to LT265s, so I basically have a 1 ton SRW,without having to buy a new truck.

The trailer dealer, who tows a similar, but slightly longer Sooner with an 09 F350 duallie had to put air bags on it as well because, he claims, even the new duallies are "under-sprung". I assume he meant from a payload "weight in the box" standpoint.

At the time, Dodge had two 3/4 tons, and didn't officially offer a one ton SRW because, really, the 2500HD was effectively a one ton, by all intents.

The air bags really transform the ride when empty as well, if I keep about 5-10 lbs in them, the ride is much improved, and I no longer get flashed by oncoming drivers when towing.

 

[Diamondpilot]

You guys can put all the helpers and tires under it you want but it will not change the GVWR. That is set by the manufacture. At the end of the day you must be inside the GVWR while not exceeding a axle rating or tire rating for a particular axle. All this is available on the door pillar.

Chris

 

[deerefan]

You guys can put all the helpers and tires under it you want but it will not change the GVWR. That is set by the manufacture. At the end of the day you must be inside the GVWR while not exceeding a axle rating or tire rating for a particular axle. All this is available on the door pillar.

Chris

Very well put. A 1/2 ton with air bags is still a 1/2 ton when it comes to capacities.

 

[Heywood Jannockitov]

You guys can put all the helpers and tires under it you want...Chris

I did! And it worked! :laughing:

 

[Egon]

You guys can put all the helpers and tires under it you want but it will not change the GVWR. That is set by the manufacture. At the end of the day you must be inside the GVWR while not exceeding a axle rating or tire rating for a particular axle. All this is available on the door pillar.

Seems I mentioned something about steering. Not Increasing my load rating. And yes most of us do know the load rating of our vehicles and can read the door tags. The dealer also gave me the tow ratings when he sold it to me some 15 years ago.

And if anyone is interested I've got axle weights with/without loads and also the trailer axle loads all obtained at a government Weight scale at different times with different loads so I pretty well know what I am weighing with most of the loads I haul.

 

[bdeboer]

I just want to be clear that while I was hooked up and pulling the 15,000# boat I was not "towing it". We were moving it all of 300 yards from the storage lot to the launch. It had no problem putting it in but would not retrieve it a few days later. It was my friends truck, want to say it was a 03. He said the tach just went to about 5,000 rpm but would not move. I had experienced this once in a F-150 pulling a 10,000# boat on a hot day. I put it in 4 Low and it had no issue then. Just the Torque Converter.

I see it all the time. I bet me or my buddies pull a truck from the launch every week in the summer months. Last one I pulled was a Cummins Dually with about a 12,000# boat. Those autos leave a lot to be desired granted I don't think this guy was smart enough to put it in 4 low.

Chris

I understood what you were saying, in my experience the factory detuned the 6.0L for whatever reason. A buddy of mine had an '05 6.0L 2500HD automatic that couldnt get 2-3 filled gravity wagons moving even in 4-low. He had been doing it for years with an '88 350/5 speed chevy in low by slipping the clutch a little. He eventually traded it off on a Tundra with 5.7L and 4.30 gears. He said it moves the wagons without trouble.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I understood what you were saying, in my experience the factory detuned the 6.0L for whatever reason. A buddy of mine had an '05 6.0L 2500HD automatic that couldnt get 2-3 filled gravity wagons moving even in 4-low. He had been doing it for years with an '88 350/5 speed chevy in low by slipping the clutch a little. He eventually traded it off on a Tundra with 5.7L and 4.30 gears. He said it moves the wagons without trouble.

Funny you say that. Toyota seems to be the new truck of choice for the farmers around here. Part of the reason is the dealer is partners with the JD dealer and they do a lot of cross advertising, but behind the Ford Superduty I see more farmers in Tundras now days then anything else.

Chris

 

[bdeboer]

Funny you say that. Toyota seems to be the new truck of choice for the farmers around here. Part of the reason is the dealer is partners with the JD dealer and they do a lot of cross advertising, but behind the Ford Superduty I see more farmers in Tundras now days then anything else.

Chris

Since the GM dealer in town closed in 2008 there are few around here. Starting to see a few fords again. Haven't seen many new since the Ford dealer closed around 2005. Probably still Chevy, Dodge, Ford and Toyota last.

My friend and his wife have been driving Toyota cars since the '80's. Not a big surprise that he went with a Tundra.