09 or newer 2500 HD 6.0 with 3.73's

[takethebounce]

Still looking for a new tow rig/ daily driver and have leaned more and more with staying with the gassers.

Daily travel 30 mins each way in traffic, weekends hauling little trailer and new trailer won't be more than 3000 pounds. Winter, deck with sleds hence why I need the payload. Might tow a two place behind that once or twice.

Looking at two 09's. CC GM and Chev, SLT and LTZ. The SLT has more km and has the 3.73 but is $6000 less. I am trying to get them to budge more on the LTZ as it only has 60,000 on it. $6000 is a lot of coin on a used truck.

Has anyone hauled any light loads with a 6.0 with 3.73? Does the 6 speed make up for it? I don't want to lose even more torque to the rear wheels on the passes.



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[rsaint]

I have what u are talking about 09 GMC long box the gas will kill you. Find a heavy 1/2 with a 5.3 will do all you want. Came from a 04 short box with 5.3 was as good for pulling 2 sleds and less fuel than this one or my diesel.

 

[tex78]

Did u look at that white 09-10 slt , cc longbox at Edwards ??

It's a nice , clean looking truck.

Think they have it on for 20 g with like 130 km.

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[takethebounce]

Don't want the long box but thanks. I will keep looking there. I can pick one up in Calgary for $20k with the same km. My deck is a 8' with 6.5' legs.

Rsaint...pretty sure they never made 1500HD in the second gen trucks. And the payload of those trucks was a 1000 less than the 2500hd.



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[maxwell]

I've got a 2013 with the 3.73. Awesome daily driver. So far I have only towed 2 sleds on the deck. With about 1000lbs of work gear in the box. No complaints what so ever. Also pulled a maverick on a open aluminum trailer. Probly 2000lbs total. Again no problems or complaints here. Can't hold 120 on a steep hill without shifting down but whatever. The other 90% of the time I'm glad I don't have a diesel. Going to try pulling the 30ft enclosed. I know for a fact it won't enjoy that though lol. Be curious to try one with the 4:10

 

[takethebounce]

Thanks Maxwell and knowing what you use your truck for is very comparable and useful for me. I think your truck has a little more torque than the 09 but knowing you are atleast happy with it helps.

I was worried if I got the truck with the 3.73 I would be worse off than my current truck. Hmmm...now what to do.


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[medler]

I would get the 4:10 myself.



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[takethebounce]

I am leaning towards the 4:10, plus I just like the LTZ more than the SLT. Just need them to come down a few more thou. Better to have more torque to the ground when hauling then wish for more.

Otherwise the 3500 megacab is still available.

Choices eh!


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[pfi572]

For best performance the 4:10 is what you want.
6 has all it's hp and tq at higher rpms.
Empty the 3:73 would be fine but any weight at all and I think the 4:10 will do better as not luging the motor.
I would never go with anything under 4:10 in a heavier truck with a gas engine.
Had a 2011 6.2 f250 with 4:30 gears and it worked great .
Good luck

 

[Poleman]

We have a 2012 SLE Ext Cab 6.0 with 3.73. In winter 2 sleds on the deck and in the summer 2 quads up on the deck. When hauling the load the trick to maintain mileage and keep the motor in a happy zone is to run in M5. We average 14 mpg hwy with the loads and when unloaded running in D get around 19mpg hwy/city commuting to work.

 

[medler]

Mine won't pull the trailer with quads on in 6th. Unless its down hill with the wind pushing you lol
At 100 kph in 5 th it's at 2500 rpm with 4:10 And right around 1850 -1900 rpm in 6th
And According to the lie o meter it's getting 19L per 100 km with 2 quads on the deck

Like said already I would rather have lower gears than to high


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[Highfly]

To give you an idea what the gear difference is my 2010 2500 6.0l had 4:10s. With the 6 speed (5 and 6 are overdrive gears) you are sitting at 2000RPM at 110 KM/PH. I sold this truck to my Dad and went back to a half ton this time with the 5.3 with 6 speed and 3:73 in it. Dropped the RMP at 110 down about 600 RPM. so 1500-1600RPM @ 110KMPH. I'm towing the same trailers with the 1500 as I was towing with the 2500. I'm going to need to add bags to the 1500 as the hitch weight is a bit on the high side for a 1/2 ton but I knew this going into it. The heaviest trailer is 8000 LBS. If all you will be towing is a 3000LBS trailer you wont even know its there with a 6L regardless of what gears you get...... The difference is 600 RPM, not much at all....

 

[sirkdev]

No offense but 600 rpm at highway cruising speed is the difference between dropping 1 gear or 3 on a hill. Thats huge. 4.10's get my vote.

 

[pfi572]

If we take trans ratios and tire size out of the question on this topic.
At 1to1 ratio the difference between 3:73 ratio and 4:10 will be very close to 225 rpm at 100 Kms per hr.
4:30 fears are close to 500 rpm more at same speed at 1 to 1 ratio.

 

[ferniesnow]

Dan, I have a very clean GMC 2500HD extended cab with the 410 rear end and 6 liter gas. Only 124,000 gentle kms. SLT with a full leather load; rear slider, moon roof, new tires, winter tires, 2 sets of rims, chains, air bags, On-Star, XM, power heated seats, etc.. It has an aluminum custom flat deck box so you could sell your deck and be better off.

Check it out on Calgary Kijiji..........listed price is a starter only.

 

[Highfly]

No offense but 600 rpm at highway cruising speed is the difference between dropping 1 gear or 3 on a hill. Thats huge. 4.10's get my vote.

Not when the 2 gears are over drive gears..... the split is minimal.

 

[takethebounce]

Dan, I have a very clean GMC 2500HD extended cab with the 410 rear end and 6 liter gas. Only 124,000 gentle kms. SLT with a full leather load; rear slider, moon roof, new tires, winter tires, 2 sets of rims, chains, air bags, On-Star, XM, power heated seats, etc.. It has an aluminum custom flat deck box so you could sell your deck and be better off.

Check it out on Calgary Kijiji..........listed price is a starter only.

I am aware, I first saw it on here and happend to see it tonight on kijiji. If it was a club cab I would be bringing you a cheque tomorrow. Jess has even said she would be happy with the extra cab still as it has the spilt rear back seat for storage on road trips. Its not totally out of question as I have looked into color match line x for the deck! Under the deck storage is slightly sacrificed though.


Highfly - don't the 5.3's have the lean cylinder option, or whatever GM calls it? Sounds like that is where you RPM's go at cruise.

 

[tex78]

It's a.f.m

Active fuel management

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[takethebounce]

Thanks tips.



Find me an 08/09 Club Cab short box SLT or LTZ lower mileage yet?

If I do not get the pricing on the 09 I am looking at I might be giving Doug a ring.

 

[Highfly]

I am aware, I first saw it on here and happend to see it tonight on kijiji. If it was a club cab I would be bringing you a cheque tomorrow. Jess has even said she would be happy with the extra cab still as it has the spilt rear back seat for storage on road trips. Its not totally out of question as I have looked into color match line x for the deck! Under the deck storage is slightly sacrificed though.


Highfly - don't the 5.3's have the lean cylinder option, or whatever GM calls it? Sounds like that is where you RPM's go at cruise.

It does not change the RPM at all. It simply cuts out 4 cylinders. You cant hear it or feel it, you can see it switching if you have that screen selected in the drivers info center. I will admit the 4:11 are nice for towing heavy loads but to me this is what it comes down to. How often will you have a trailer on vrs. not. Save the gas every time you are not towing and go with the 3:73's IMO. If you are towing every week go with the 4:10s. In the 6.0L the best I ever got was 13L/100. That was the most I could get out of it and that was doing the speed limit to Kelowna for 7 hours. This was the main reason I went back to a half ton. Now i'm averaging 13 in the city/highway with out pussy footing it. That's money in my pocket. I'm the first one to sacrifice a little performance for gas economy. Do I have to drive the 5.3 a little harder to pull the 8000LBS trailer, yes. Will I burn way more gas pulling that trailer compared to the 6.0, yes. Will I make up for it when not towing, easily. Like I mentioned before with only pulling a 3000lbs trailer, seriously go with what will save you the most in gas in the long run. 3000 Lbs is nothing for weight. The 6.0 city/highway (I live in Airdrie and work in Calgary) was averaging 18/19L/100. Hope this helps....