Using a 6.0L Vortec to pull a 28 ft enclosed trailer

[summit1000]

I found a really good deal on a 2001 Silverado 2500HD with the 6.0L Vortec and I was wondering how their power is for towing. The trailer is a 28 ft v-nose, and I'd probably have up to 5 sleds at one time (either squeeze 5 in the trailer or 4 in the trailer, 1 in the box). Is it going to be dying as I'm going through the mountains or will it be okay? I'm not a part of any truck forums, so I figured I'd be best to post here and see what your experiences have been like. Also how is the reliability of the 2001 6.0L? The one I found only has 106,000 km's and is for sale for $2950. Seems almost too good to be true, but I'm going to go have a look tomorrow.

 

[maxwell]

i have the exact same truck and i also have a 2013 with the 6.0

the 2001 tows my 29ft with 5 sleds no problem but any incline and you will be using alot of gas and not maintaining 120kmh like you would with a diesel. it gets the job done lets just say that. i can maintain 100kmh up some steep hills but its drinking the gas big time and usually down 2 gears. mine also has 300,000km on it so i doubt its making the power yours is.

the advantage of my new one is it has the 6 speed so i can drop it down to 5 in manual mode and it will usually pull up the hills rather well without screaming.

 

[summit1000]

i have the exact same truck and i also have a 2013 with the 6.0

the 2001 tows my 29ft with 5 sleds no problem but any incline and you will be using alot of gas and not maintaining 120kmh like you would with a diesel. it gets the job done lets just say that. i can maintain 100kmh up some steep hills but its drinking the gas big time and usually down 2 gears. mine also has 300,000km on it so i doubt its making the power yours is.

the advantage of my new one is it has the 6 speed so i can drop it down to 5 in manual mode and it will usually pull up the hills rather well without screaming.

I'm assuming it is awful, but what kind of fuel economy do you get pulling the trailer with the 2001 6.0L? My '95 K1500 with a fully built 5.7L was getting about 32L/100 km's pulling the 14' x 7' trailer on flat ground. It has lots of power to pull, but wow does the fuel economy suck. This 2001 6.0L I am actually looking at for a friend. He doesn't know much of anything about vehicles so he asked if I could ask around on the forum for him.

 

[maxwell]

well ive never actually calculated it and my truck doesnt go very far distances. biggest trip i ever did with it was from valemount to blue river and back. with 5 sleds 29ft trailer. about 220km to staging area and back. used 80$ worth of fuel @ 1.20$l so ya not great. that had a mix of hills and flat runs

 

[summit1000]

well ive never actually calculated it and my truck doesnt go very far distances. biggest trip i ever did with it was from valemount to blue river and back. with 5 sleds 29ft trailer. about 220km to staging area and back. used 80$ worth of fuel @ 1.20$l so ya not great. that had a mix of hills and flat runs

Well, just doing some quick math. $80/$1.20/L= 66.67 Litres/2.2 (for 220 km's)= ~30L/100km. So that isn't too bad. Considering my 5.7L would probably get 40L/100km doing the same thing haha. I'm really hoping this 2001 6.0L doesn't turn out to be too good to be true. It is exactly what my friend is looking for. Cheap, decent amount of power, and low km's.

 

[jjack]

you can a 6 liter chevy cheap for a reson,When you work it it burns fuel but they do have good power. Mine gets around 15 mpg empty but pulling 14000 lbs behind it goes down to10 but diesel is more expensive so it may not be a bad deal for the price.

If you decide not to buy let me know I,m looking for anther truck

 

[summit1000]

you can a 6 liter chevy cheap for a reson,When you work it it burns fuel but they do have good power. Mine gets around 15 mpg empty but pulling 14000 lbs behind it goes down to10 but diesel is more expensive so it may not be a bad deal for the price.

If you decide not to buy let me know I,m looking for anther truck

So changing up thoughts a bit.....but what about a 454 Vortec? the 290 horsepower 410 ft-lbs of torque kind. I think the 8.1L would be out of reach, but could probably find a good price on one with a 454.

 

[Trashy]

So changing up thoughts a bit.....but what about a 454 Vortec? the 290 horsepower 410 ft-lbs of torque kind. I think the 8.1L would be out of reach, but could probably find a good price on one with a 454.

JMHO..... you would be better off to stick with the 6L. I had an 07 2500hd, for work and it would take everything I threw at it

 

[catalac]

I had an 03 extended cab 2500hd 6.0 was a great truck pulled pretty good not a diesel but was just fine with a 32ft bumper pull I had. Mileage was brutal though 20l/100 empty.

 

[Sledderglen]

No replacement for displacement. I think the 454 vortex would be just as good on fuel as the 6.0 litre when pulling. I had a 92 454 and it got 10-12 on the hwy pulling but has good power to pull hills. The thing to check is the tranny. Smell the oil and see what it looks like. Burnt brown fluid is bad

 

[summit1000]

you can a 6 liter chevy cheap for a reson,When you work it it burns fuel but they do have good power. Mine gets around 15 mpg empty but pulling 14000 lbs behind it goes down to10 but diesel is more expensive so it may not be a bad deal for the price.

If you decide not to buy let me know I,m looking for anther truck

Yeah, I'll make sure to let you know if my friend doesn't end up going through with it.

No replacement for displacement. I think the 454 vortex would be just as good on fuel as the 6.0 litre when pulling. I had a 92 454 and it got 10-12 on the hwy pulling but has good power to pull hills. The thing to check is the tranny. Smell the oil and see what it looks like. Burnt brown fluid is bad

I'll keep the 454 in mind. The cheapest 454 Vortec I have found so far is $5,000 with 245,000 km's, so even though it'd probably tow better than the 6.0L, the 6.0L with 106,000 km's for $2950 is seeming like a better deal. My buddy and I are going to look at the 6.0L tomorrow. I'll let you guys know how it goes.

 

[jjack]

So changing up thoughts a bit.....but what about a 454 Vortec? the 290 horsepower 410 ft-lbs of torque kind. I think the 8.1L would be out of reach, but could probably find a good price on one with a 454.

ive had both over the years,the 454 good motor for power but always fixing leaks,id have to say grab the 6liter if the truck is in good shape and remember 2500 hd chevy has full floating axles

 

[summit1000]

ive had both over the years,the 454 good motor for power but always fixing leaks,id have to say grab the 6liter if the truck is in good shape and remember 2500 hd chevy has full floating axles

Dumb question, but what is a full floating axle?

 

[jjack]

Dumb question, but what is a full floating axle?

full floating is the axle doesn't carrie the load on the wheel a set of taperd berings in hub carrie all the weight.

 

[summit1000]

full floating is the axle doesn't carrie the load on the wheel a set of taperd berings in hub carrie all the weight.

Oh okay. That makes sense. Any idea what the towing capacity of this truck would be? Also, if anyone is interested, here is the link to it. 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 143.5" WB 4WD | cars & trucks | Edmonton | Kijiji

 

[catalac]

Oh okay. That makes sense. Any idea what the towing capacity of this truck would be? Also, if anyone is interested, here is the link to it. 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 143.5" WB 4WD | cars & trucks | Edmonton | Kijiji

Good price but buying a 13 year old truck with 106k from honest eds used car lot would scare me off instantly. I would lay money on it that it's a rebuilt wreck or tampered speedo. Kms are likely more like 260k.

 

[summit1000]

Good price but buying a 13 year old truck with 106k from honest eds used car lot would scare me off instantly. I would lay money on it that it's a rebuilt wreck or tampered speedo. Kms are likely more like 260k.

Well, I figure for $2950, at the very least it is worth a look. I wouldn't actually care that much if it is a rebuilt wreck as long as it is somewhat okay now. As long as it is solid enough that it can make trips to the mountains and back without having anything break, that is all we need. We aren't looking for the nicest, best condition, or anything like that. I'd make sure to have it inspected before committing to buy it.

 

[jjack]

Well, I figure for $2950, at the very least it is worth a look. I wouldn't actually care that much if it is a rebuilt wreck as long as it is somewhat okay now. As long as it is solid enough that it can make trips to the mountains and back without having anything break, that is all we need. We aren't looking for the nicest, best condition, or anything like that. I'd make sure to have it inspected before committing to buy it.

ya for 3 grand your really not going to go wrong unless its really beat to s..t.And that's asking price,wave some cash 2500 out the door.Spend the other 500 on beer and every body here will spend the weekend fixing it for ya.

FRee beer anyone

 

[jjack]

anther up side is if its a piece of sh.t,nobodys going to want to steal it

 

[summit1000]

anther up side is if its a piece of sh.t,nobodys going to want to steal it

hahah, a benefit I never even thought of!.......So once again changing thoughts up a bit, but how are the 454 TBI's? I know the TBI's suck for horsepower, but the torque always seems to be decent. Like my fully built 350 TBI is only about 240 rwhp, but has about 345 ft-lbs rwtq......so thoughts on the 454 TBI? Is it an okay engine or an avoid completely?