New GM 2500 6.0/6 spd combo

[rutwad]

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

 

[Harold_J]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[Builder]

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.

Isn't it funny how when someone wants to refer to something with an excellent ride, they use the name "caddy"? Actually, my GM truck does ride fantastic. I can actually drink coffee while driving without having to bring an extra shirt with me. I also don't have to clean my truck nearly as often because less drink gets thrown from the cupholders.

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.

That's right. There's no difference in ride empty because the overloads aren't touching in the 1-ton. Once they're loaded, the 1 ton will handle better.

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

I think the issue there is that all truck dealers stock more 3/4 tons and a lot of guys don't want to wait to order one. Best prices come from dealer inventory and some guys are so cheap they think that a 3/4 ton for 10 bucks less per month is worth it over waiting 10 weeks and paying $10 more per month for a 1 ton.

 

[asylum575]

Builder,
Being that I started this thread, this is what I've got out of it. I started out inquirying about the new 6.0/6spd combination in the GM HD series. I currently have a 2006 with 6.0 and 4 spd. Love the power, hate the 11MPG empty. Diesel is really not an option as the payback on the $7500 cost would be over 100,000 miles, considering diesel prices today. So I figured, being that the biggest thing I tow would be a 7000 tandem trailer, I considered going down to the 5.3/3.73 gear combination in the 1500 series. With the AFM system, they are getting high teens in the MPG. What I wanted to know was if the 6.0/ 6 spd had improved MPG to mid teen. This would be enough for me to go to it. Although I don't plow, I am doing alot of landscaping work around the property and the extra payload would be nice if I go pick up a yard of mulch or fill. That being said, your posts have opened my eyes to the 3500 series and how little the difference in price is compared to the 2500 series. You get alot more payload for the money. Still looking for guys with new style truck with the 6 spd to give real world MPG quotes. I thank you for the info on the 1 ton and hope to have a new truck soon.

 

[Builder]

Builder,
Being that I started this thread, this is what I've got out of it. I started out inquirying about the new 6.0/6spd combination in the GM HD series. I currently have a 2006 with 6.0 and 4 spd. Love the power, hate the 11MPG empty. Diesel is really not an option as the payback on the $7500 cost would be over 100,000 miles, considering diesel prices today. So I figured, being that the biggest thing I tow would be a 7000 tandem trailer, I considered going down to the 5.3/3.73 gear combination in the 1500 series. With the AFM system, they are getting high teens in the MPG. What I wanted to know was if the 6.0/ 6 spd had improved MPG to mid teen. This would be enough for me to go to it. Although I don't plow, I am doing alot of landscaping work around the property and the extra payload would be nice if I go pick up a yard of mulch or fill. That being said, your posts have opened my eyes to the 3500 series and how little the difference in price is compared to the 2500 series. You get alot more payload for the money. Still looking for guys with new style truck with the 6 spd to give real world MPG quotes. I thank you for the info on the 1 ton and hope to have a new truck soon.

No problem, glad I could help!

Keep your eyes on GM this summer. There's a chance the 6.2L GM V8 will make its' way over to the 2500/3500 series from the Tahoe/Escalade.

It will be a big improvement over the 6L.

Purchasing a 1 ton over a 3/4 ton is just a no-brainer in my opinion. Lot more truck capacity in terms of payload for very little money.

 

[asylum575]

Your right builder, the difference between the 2500 and 3500 is a no brainer. And then once you get into it the difference between an ext cab and crew it isn't that bad. Next thing you know, you're looking at dually crews. Ahhhh, to dream.

 

[jsborn]

Ok Asylum here is your answer to one of your questions. I have a 2008 Chev 2500 HD with a 6.0l / 6 speed auto trans. It is an extended cab with few of the bells and whistles. I get 15 miles/ gal up hill down hill around town or on the hwy and loaded it will drop to around 13 mpg. I have more than enough power to pull my 10k trailer with my 7k tractor and equip. I pulls like a dream and rides great loaded and unloaded.
In my Opinion (which is worth exactly what You are paying for it) I could not be happier with any other size or brand truck for my uses and needs.

 

[asylum575]

Thanks Jack,
That's exactly what I wanted to know. So are we are in agreement that the 6 spd vs the 4 spd on the 6.0 produces better MPG. Makes sense, just wanted to hear of a real life experience. If you get 15 average with the new 6.0 6 spd, I prefer that to the 1500 with the 5.3. I figure in the near future the denali 6.2 will be used more often and the 4.8 & 5.3 will get a 6 spd.

Ed

 

[ihookem]

No reason in the world you won't get 15mpg. I would expect 16- 17 empty@ 65mph. I have an 05 diesel ext. cab and I get at least 20mpg. You should only loose a few mpg compared to a diesel when you're empty, and I only have the 5 speed. If they would have had a 6 speed in a gas truck I would have still got the diesel but now diesel is .60 cents a gallon higher. Today I would go with a 6 speed gas.

 

[asylum575]

15MPG with the 6 spd is a huge improvement over 11MPG with the 4 spd. That's 36%, nothing to sneeze at. I'm getting 11MPG and I make a concerted effort not to punch it. If the 6 spd gets 15MPG, with a little careful driving, maybe 17-18 is possible.

Ed

 

[jsborn]

No reason in the world you won't get 15mpg. I would expect 16- 17 empty@ 65mph. I have an 05 diesel ext. cab and I get at least 20mpg. You should only loose a few mpg compared to a diesel when you're empty, and I only have the 5 speed. If they would have had a 6 speed in a gas truck I would have still got the diesel but now diesel is .60 cents a gallon higher. Today I would go with a 6 speed gas.

The reason you won't get better than 15 is the way the trans shifts you stay in a fairly tight power band on the engine RPM. You will find that even some fairly slight grades unloaded will cause you to shift out of OD wich will eat up some MPG. Also you will find that the Highschool kid next to you at the light will laugh at you till you blow his doors off. (oh well I may grow up some day)

 

[Builder]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the new 6L80E 6 speed is also a double overdrive, like the Allison I have in my 3500. (I think it's a 6L80E, but I'm not sure if that's the name).

It's got all the Ford guys scratching their heads as to why the DMAX trucks beat the Ford PSD's in fuel economy.