03-06 6.0...what Are The Specs

yukon25008.1 · November 27, 2010

debating back and forth about which truck.. ive had a pickup with every motor gm makes. just not sure what direction to go in. the 05 6.0 i had ran well but i didnt haul anything. the camper the truck will pull is 25'..not sure on its weight.

so what is the 6.0 capable of pulling wihout a real struggle. also was curious what it actually made i thought it was 300hp but noe sure on the tq. Thanks

jro909 · November 27, 2010

gmpowertrain.com

gearing plays a large factor in towing also

yukon25008.1 · November 27, 2010

your right..its seems tough to find anything gas or diesel with 4:10,s

i just dont want to end up with a 6.0 again and regret it

hockeypro1411 · November 27, 2010

Anywhere from 300-335 hp and around 365 tq. The most I'd feel comfortable pulling with a 6.0 and 4.10's would be in the 11k# range. That's assuming the truck is set up for it, of course. The truck will give out long before the motor. I used my truck to move a 24' steel deck trailer with 2 skid loaders on it in a pinch. The truck squatted a little, but the motor had no problem getting that weight going. It was only across town a few miles, but she had no problem holding 45 MPH on country roads.

Stevens03 · November 27, 2010

If you find one with the 4.10 gears, you won't have any issue. I believe the 05's were 345 HP and 380 torque

desrtrat · November 28, 2010

If you find one with the 4.10 gears, you won't have any issue. I believe the 05's were 345 HP and 380 torque

that was for the LQ9 the LQ4 was less. ether motor is good for towing as long as your drive train is up to it..

[email protected] · November 28, 2010

your right..its seems tough to find anything gas or diesel with 4:10,s
i just dont want to end up with a 6.0 again and regret it

Most of the 2004-2006 Crew Cab 2500HD's with the 6.0L that I looked at had the 4.10's

My 2005 6.0L was rated at 300HP - pulling a 6K lb car hauler - you don't even know it's back there. If your camper is in the 10K to 12K lb range, I'd use a weight deistibuting hitch - and you should have no problem.

FWIW,

Carl B.

Kodiak450 · November 28, 2010

300/365 was the stock numbers it came with. As far as pulling, I recently pulled a bobcat excavatar (the mid sized one) with ofcoarse the trailer to transport this heavy excavator, and I was around the 12k mark. I was super surprised at how well my truck handled the weight of this machine and trailer, as I have added HD springs a couple years ago and I had no drop at all with my rear. The trailer was designed in a way where it sits lower (probably better for weight distribution) and required a 2 5/8 ball. I felt the weight pulling it, and pulled it up the hills with no problems. My brakes on the other hand took some strain even though the trailer had it's on brakes. Burned more gas then normal pulling all this weight, not sure what mileage I was actually doing, but definately under 10. Having the 4:10's pulling this heavy machinery made it much easier then say a 3:73 set up. I think my prior 3:73 trucks would have had lots of problems pulling this heavy payload.

ktosv · November 30, 2010

According to the GM Powertrain website the 6.0L LQ4 was rated at 325HP and 369#-ft of torque for 2004 in the Suburban.

I tow a 33' travel trailer that weighs just over 7200# (820# tongue weight and 6400# axle weight). I have been impressed with how my 6.0L/3.73 combo does towing. I don't know how it would do in mountains, but I can tell you that it had no problems in any of the hills of norther Michigan. In fact, on our first trip I followed a Duramax for about 50 miles towing about a 28' cuddy cabin (Four Winns Vista) and kept right up with him even on the hills (between West Branch and Gaylord, MI). Now, I am not saying my truck could out tow a Duramax and I do all of my towing in third gear which would have helped but he would have had a lot more torque than I did.

FYI...my brother who has an 8.1L/4.10 Yukon XL recently towed his 9600# travel trailer with a Silverado HD 6.0L/3.73 6sp and said it had similar performance, but the slight advantage was for the 8.1L.

Kodiak450 · November 30, 2010

According to the GM Powertrain website the 6.0L LQ4 was rated at 325HP and 369#-ft of torque for 2004 in the Suburban.

I tow a 33' travel trailer that weighs just over 7200# (820# tongue weight and 6400# axle weight). I have been impressed with how my 6.0L/3.73 combo does towing. I don't know how it would do in mountains, but I can tell you that it had no problems in any of the hills of norther Michigan. In fact, on our first trip I followed a Duramax for about 50 miles towing about a 28' cuddy cabin (Four Winns Vista) and kept right up with him even on the hills (between West Branch and Gaylord, MI). Now, I am not saying my truck could out tow a Duramax and I do all of my towing in third gear which would have helped but he would have had a lot more torque than I did.

FYI...my brother who has an 8.1L/4.10 Yukon XL recently towed his 9600# travel trailer with a Silverado HD 6.0L/3.73 6sp and said it had similar performance, but the slight advantage was for the 8.1L.

8.1/4:10 has more then similar performance over a 6.0/3:73. 8.1 has more tq, allison tranny and can pull much better. Funny thing is, the 8.1 also gets better mileage pulling heavy loads as compared to a 6.0. pulling identicle load, but for everyday driving, the 6.0 is better on mileage. As for that duramax you followed for 50 miles while pulling, the duramax doesn't have to work as hard as your 6.0 does under that weight. The duramax is designed to pull heavy loads and tackle steep grades while doing so. Try pulling more weight, like 10k or more and you'll see that the duramax is king here.

youcantkeepup! · November 30, 2010

If its a true HD with a 6.0 the 4:10 are the only available option, 3:73 with the 6.0 was not an option with the 6.0

The 3:73 Option was only available once the 6 speed transmission was introduced (2007 NBS)

StinkyCheese · November 30, 2010

The 06' 2500hd CC 6' bed that i have towed a 33 foot holiday rambler with no problem even in the mountains. The trailer is a gross max at 10k according to the paper work so figure the trailer loaded for vacation to weigh in around at least 9 maybe more if you fill up the fresh water tanks which we never do

ktosv · November 30, 2010

Hen Avenger,

A couple of things about my post. I clearly called out that I knew that a Duramax would out pull my truck anyday. My comparison was to show that with my Suburban loaded with six people, two dogs and my 7200# travel trailer was able to climb hills with cruise on and the torque converter didn't unlock while following an HD Duramax pickup towing a boat of about the same weight as my trailer. Even though the weights would be similar, my TT produces much more wind resistance and thus, my 6.0 would have had to work harder, but was able to keep pace.

Also, the 8.1L I referenced is in a Yukon XL, so it would have the 4 speed 4L85E. The HD pickup my brother used was a 2010 HD EC 4x4 with the 6.0L, 3.73 axle and a 6 Speed transmission. Over a 600 mile trip that he has done a almost a dozen times with his Yukon XL, the 6.0L/3.73/6 speed got better gas mileage towing.

Kodiak450 · November 30, 2010

Hen Avenger,

A couple of things about my post. I clearly called out that I knew that a Duramax would out pull my truck anyday. My comparison was to show that with my Suburban loaded with six people, two dogs and my 7200# travel trailer was able to climb hills with cruise on and the torque converter didn't unlock while following an HD Duramax pickup towing a boat of about the same weight as my trailer. Even though the weights would be similar, my TT produces much more wind resistance and thus, my 6.0 would have had to work harder, but was able to keep pace.

Also, the 8.1L I referenced is in a Yukon XL, so it would have the 4 speed 4L85E. The HD pickup my brother used was a 2010 HD EC 4x4 with the 6.0L, 3.73 axle and a 6 Speed transmission. Over a 600 mile trip that he has done a almost a dozen times with his Yukon XL, the 6.0L/3.73/6 speed got better gas mileage towing.

What year was the Yukon? The 8.1 my friend has is a 5 speed. With 8.1, the benefit comes with heavier payload towing. Like with a duramax, if you are towing a substantial amount of weight with the 8.1, it will do a little better on fuel then the 6.0, not to mention power in pulling. I pulled a payload that was over 10,000lbs with my friends 8.1 5 speed, and it did a little better on gas then my 6.0 pulling same load. Also pulling that heavy load up steep hills, the 8.1 was a better performer on the hills compared to the 6.0. The 6.0 is a very worthy engine, and out of the big 3 with base model engines offered in 3/4 tons, I would choose the 6.0 hands down with ofcoarse a 4:10 rear or higher. Had an 06 duramax for a brief time and it truly earned it's keep pulling heavier payloads. Taking small excavators to different job sites, it was prefered out of all my guys, especially when pulling up the hills. It got sold right before the high fuel prices spiked to an all time high, as construction part of my business started falling south, and I had to sell off some equipment.

ktosv · December 1, 2010

Hen Avenger,

A couple of things about my post. I clearly called out that I knew that a Duramax would out pull my truck anyday. My comparison was to show that with my Suburban loaded with six people, two dogs and my 7200# travel trailer was able to climb hills with cruise on and the torque converter didn't unlock while following an HD Duramax pickup towing a boat of about the same weight as my trailer. Even though the weights would be similar, my TT produces much more wind resistance and thus, my 6.0 would have had to work harder, but was able to keep pace.

Also, the 8.1L I referenced is in a Yukon XL, so it would have the 4 speed 4L85E. The HD pickup my brother used was a 2010 HD EC 4x4 with the 6.0L, 3.73 axle and a 6 Speed transmission. Over a 600 mile trip that he has done a almost a dozen times with his Yukon XL, the 6.0L/3.73/6 speed got better gas mileage towing.

What year was the Yukon? The 8.1 my friend has is a 5 speed. With 8.1, the benefit comes with heavier payload towing. Like with a duramax, if you are towing a substantial amount of weight with the 8.1, it will do a little better on fuel then the 6.0, not to mention power in pulling. I pulled a payload that was over 10,000lbs with my friends 8.1 5 speed, and it did a little better on gas then my 6.0 pulling same load. Also pulling that heavy load up steep hills, the 8.1 was a better performer on the hills compared to the 6.0. The 6.0 is a very worthy engine, and out of the big 3 with base model engines offered in 3/4 tons, I would choose the 6.0 hands down with ofcoarse a 4:10 rear or higher. Had an 06 duramax for a brief time and it truly earned it's keep pulling heavier payloads. Taking small excavators to different job sites, it was prefered out of all my guys, especially when pulling up the hills. It got sold right before the high fuel prices spiked to an all time high, as construction part of my business started falling south, and I had to sell off some equipment.

My brother has an 01 Yukon XL. As far as I know, all utilities (01-06 Yukon XL and Suburbans) with the 8.1L came with the 4L85E. If your friend has a 5 speed, I am willing to bet it's in a pick-up as those came with a 5 speed Allison for a while. Yes, I agree with you if you compare an 8.1L with a 5 speed vs the "old" 6.0L and 4 speed the 8.1L is going to get better gas mileage while towing. My brother towed his trailer 600 miles with that '10 and got about 1.5mpg better than he ever did with his 8.1L/4 speed. He used that truck to see how it would do towing 9600#'s as he is looking to replace his XL, but wants to stay with an SUV and as of the 10MY the best powertrain in the SUV is the 6.0L/3.73 and 6 speed.