New GM 2500 6.0/6 spd combo

rutwad · Jan 31, 2008

When it comes to what we want, we can always find someway to justify it to the misses.........

Harold_J · Feb 6, 2008

Is the rear axle a full-floating design in the 2008 2500 series 4x4?
Is it the same for either 3.73 or 4.1 ratios?
I see that some local dealers only have 4.1 on the lot and others only stock 3.73.
The 4.1 is about a $100 option so I was wondering if anything is different or stronger other than the ratio.

KAB · Feb 8, 2008

Harold_J said:
Is the rear axle a full-floating design in the 2008 2500 series 4x4?
Is it the same for either 3.73 or 4.1 ratios?
I see that some local dealers only have 4.1 on the lot and others only stock 3.73.
The 4.1 is about a $100 option so I was wondering if anything is different or stronger other than the ratio.

Yes, It is a full floating axle on the 2500 and 3500 series. The only difference is the axle ratio. Unless you need a slight increase in the towing capacity go with the 3.73 for better fuel economy.

The dealers that have the 4.10 are probably used to the old way, and make sure they stock the 4.10. The dealers with the 3.73 probably did not realize that a 4.10 was an option and ordered the 3.73 just to find that the customers are happy with the 3.73 and now only order a few (if any) 4.10's.

Kurt

oldforestor · Feb 22, 2008

my 02 1500hd has the 6.0 w/373 gears.
I like it.
14 with gentle highway driving
12-13 keeping it at 75mph with cruise
7-8 pulling 4 tons around central kentucky

crashz · Feb 27, 2008

I'd like to bump up to a 3/4ton 4x4 GMC as my 2004 1/2ton with 5.3L is not very comfortable when towing or plowing. Unladen its a dream, but loaded up it really seems to struggle. I strongly suggest to anyone who wants to trade to a 1/2 ton to hitch a trailer to one and then make the choice.

But I commute on weekends to my parents place about 2.5 hrs away and I'd miss the 19 mpg that it averages. If the new 3/4 tons average around 16 highway, that wouldn't be too big of a hit for a lot more truck. By 2009 I 'll probably be looking and hopefully the mileage will improve further (AFM?) by then.

Diamondpilot · Feb 27, 2008

I see this all the time, get a 1 ton SRW and be done with it. Most guys I know with a 3/4 ton now wish they would have spent the extra $$ and got a 1 ton. The price difference is so little go ahead and take the leap. Your resale will be higher and will pay for itself in the long run.

Chris

crashz · Feb 27, 2008

What I should have done was not make one vehicle a compromise. I should have bought a small car for commuting and general running around and a 1 ton for the real work. Eventually this is what I'm going to do.

Diamondpilot - your right about the 3/4ton to 1 ton SRW. Its short money for the GVWR upgrade and bigger (265's) tires. If I buy another pickup, that will be the one.

Diamondpilot · Feb 27, 2008

crashz Diamondpilot - your right about the 3/4ton to 1 ton SRW. Its short money for the GVWR upgrade and bigger (265's) tires. If I buy another pickup said:
I have been through this one. I had a 1999 SRW F350 7.3L 4x4 and the wife fell in love with a 2004 F250 6.0L 4x4 on the dealers lot. Thats when the trouble started. The hitch was the first issue, not as strong as the ones Ford puts on the F350 and I broke it in the first month. It was also not sprung as heavy and I had to take it to a spring shop and had overloads added to handle the weight we tow. I see this same issue with 5th wheel camper towers in my area. I am not bashing any brand but a lot of the retirees in my area buy GM's, there was a GM plant here until 6 years ago, and they all seem to get 3/4 tons and they squat something awful. Now that I have been through this I order my trucks with the highest GVWR available. Its a truck, not a caddy, so I don't worry about the ride. My 2006 F350 6.0L 4x4 has a GVWR of 11,400# and the truck weighs 7,600# so that leaves 3,800#. In comparison my neighbors 2007 1 ton diesel has a GVWR of 9,900# and his truck weighs 7,200# so his only has a payload of 2,700#, quite a difference. He had no idea until I pointed this out to him that a 1 ton was not a 1 ton was not a 1 ton. We went to get firewood a couple of months back and you could see the difference.

Chris

Builder · Feb 28, 2008

Diamondpilot said:
I have been through this one. I had a 1999 SRW F350 7.3L 4x4 and the wife fell in love with a 2004 F250 6.0L 4x4 on the dealers lot. Thats when the trouble started. The hitch was the first issue, not as strong as the ones Ford puts on the F350 and I broke it in the first month. It was also not sprung as heavy and I had to take it to a spring shop and had overloads added to handle the weight we tow. I see this same issue with 5th wheel camper towers in my area. I am not bashing any brand but a lot of the retirees in my area buy GM's, there was a GM plant here until 6 years ago, and they all seem to get 3/4 tons and they squat something awful. Now that I have been through this I order my trucks with the highest GVWR available. Its a truck, not a caddy, so I don't worry about the ride. My 2006 F350 6.0L 4x4 has a GVWR of 11,400# and the truck weighs 7,600# so that leaves 3,800#. In comparison my neighbors 2007 1 ton diesel has a GVWR of 9,900# and his truck weighs 7,200# so his only has a payload of 2,700#, quite a difference. He had no idea until I pointed this out to him that a 1 ton was not a 1 ton was not a 1 ton. We went to get firewood a couple of months back and you could see the difference.

Chris

Chris, you can't do a post without taking a little shot at GM.

There's a guy on another site that just made a post a few days ago that his "GM 2500 can't handle a trailer like his F350". While this is a silly comparison and plainly obvious, it should be pointed out that a 3/4 ton SRW is basically a 1-ton SRW without helper springs and a lighter hitch. In GM's case, it also involves a tire change from a 245E to a 265E. The tow ratings are paper ratings based on tongue weight. Helper springs allow for more tongue weight.

There's no hidden "magic" here, just a few suspension upgrades and a corresponding increase in tongue weight. I think Ford at one time had a slight difference in pinion gears their little 10.25/10.5" Sterling rear between the 250 and the 350.

People get all freaked out and claim the F-350 rear axles are bigger, brakes are different, driveshafts are thicker, trans is an "allison", 4 bolt mains on the engine, blah blah.....

Diamondpilot · Feb 28, 2008

This has nothing to do with any brand. As I stated I made the same mistake with a Ford and even broke the hitch. What I am saying is people need or want a heavy duty truck and think they will get a 3/4 ton for a better ride. Thats a load of crap. No truck will ride like a Caddy. Buy a truck for a truck not a nice ride. Like you said a 1 ton SRW should and will ride about the same as a 3/4 ton and for the $$ difference it makes it a no brainier for me. My other point was there is a great difference between truck even from the same maker. For example you can get a F-350 SRW with a GVWR as low as 10,000# and as high as 11,400#, that is quite a difference so one needs to be educated when they buy and know what to look for. In the F-250 lineup it can vary from 8,800# to 10,000# again a big difference.

My comment about the retirees was just a observation. It seem as they all buy the GM because that is what they built until the plant left town. They all seem to get 3/4 tons because my local dealer pushes them for ride quality and the dealer keeps tons on his lot. They then go and get a 35' 5th wheel toy hauler and you can see where I am going. If they would have gotten a 1 ton it would have made a lot off difference.

Chris