Your thoughts on max tow package and 6.2

[alphabear]

Long time GMC owner and finally decided to sign up. Currently have a 2008 Sierra Denali 6.2 w/6-speed that I average 15MPG. Roughly 13 in city. 16-18 max on highway. Most of my highway driving is around 75-85MPH steady. As you could guess i dont get the greatest mileage but dont try to either. I've never owned a truck with the displacement on demand feature. I do tow frequent small loads but large trailers are seldom. I may tow 8000+ a handful of times a year. My question being, would I get better highway mileage with the max tow pack ? My reason being that the gearing would help the truck operate in 4 mode more.

[mike94silverado]

DOD doesn't make THAT much difference..... the direct injection is going to make more of a difference

[GMC-AT]

Are yo set on another 6.2?? The new 5.3 produces near the same as your current 6.2. Maybe that would be enough with 3.42 or 3.73 if you can get that with the 5.3 ..not sure..

 

If you are set on a 6.2 ... doesn't matter what you do ...3.42 or 3.73..... it will crush your current truck in every way.

[alphabear]

Love the 6.2

Without better highway mileage I won't be holding out for a max tow package. I've got 3.42 in mine now and I'm already very happy with power. Can't wait to try the new DI motor.

[seamonster]

I have a 6.0 (4 spd) with the 4:10's and the v-4 mode works great!

When I tow my boat(3500 lb)in 3 it will even kick in while towing the boat.

I would think the tow haul mode would stop the v-4 mode but it works great for me.

It is my opinion that the v-4 works better with the lower gears like 3:73 or I wish

the 4:10's were still available---would be sweet with a 5.3.

 

I doubt you will find a 6.2 with the max trailer on any lot, they seem to be hard to find.

The guys on here seem to be waiting a long long long time for 6.2's they have ordered.

 

I would like a 5.3 with 3.73 and max trailering pkg but they are non existant around here

sorry I may be jumping ship over to the dark side(ford). Great deals on them.

 

Good luck you will love the 6.2 hopefully you can find the max trailer pkg.

I cant find one with 5.3 or 6.2

[bills]

I'll be watching this thread.

I have a Sierra with the 6.2 and towing package on order. Right now I'm just waiting and waiting and waiting and..................................

Bill

[captras]

I have a 6.2 with Max towing package. Haven't towed anything yet, but power is impressive and mileage is decent.

[ChrisNJ]

I too am waiting to see how the 6.2/3.73 works for people. I currently have the older 6.2/3.42 ('11) and am not happy with the it's performance of short shifting ,etc... I am constantly turning on the tow/haul button, and manually shifting down to 3 or 4 because of the lack of torque below 2Krpm, and the trans up shifting too early, bogging me down in my daily driving up and down hills all day. Then I have to step on it, a lot, to get it to downshift to get up the hill, and she goes down 1or2 gears, rockets up the hill like a race car, but don't let off pedal or it will up shift again and bog down again. Repeat 10 times a trip.

And the tow/haul button performance is extreme, it then keeps gears too long for unloaded driving, and the dam engine braking sucks. I've found that tow/haul and putting it in manual shift is the best combination to minimize engine braking. I know the tow/haul is not meant for this, but I just can't take the short shifting CAFE/mpg crap.

And I've compared the old 6.2 to the new 6.2 performance curves. The new one is only better from 2Krpm and up. So if they short shift again, I won't see much improvement.

Sooooo (sorry for the rant), I am very interested in how the new 6.2 does with the 3.73.

[AaronIROCZ]

I too am waiting to see how the 6.2/3.73 works for people. I currently have the older 6.2/3.42 ('11) and am not happy with the it's performance of short shifting ,etc... I am constantly turning on the tow/haul button, and manually shifting down to 3 or 4 because of the lack of torque below 2Krpm, and the trans up shifting too early, bogging me down in my daily driving up and down hills all day. Then I have to step on it, a lot, to get it to downshift to get up the hill, and she goes down 1or2 gears, rockets up the hill like a race car, but don't let off pedal or it will up shift again and bog down again. Repeat 10 times a trip.

And the tow/haul button performance is extreme, it then keeps gears too long for unloaded driving, and the dam engine braking sucks. I've found that tow/haul and putting it in manual shift is the best combination to minimize engine braking. I know the tow/haul is not meant for this, but I just can't take the short shifting CAFE/mpg crap.

And I've compared the old 6.2 to the new 6.2 performance curves. The new one is only better from 2Krpm and up. So if they short shift again, I won't see much improvement.

Sooooo (sorry for the rant), I am very interested in how the new 6.2 does with the 3.73.

You should seriously consider getting a tune from blackbear. I had mine tuned for about a year and what a difference in just the transmission shifting alone they made. I had a problem where I would pull out in traffic and have to get going rather quickly and the engine would just bog down around 2000 rpms with the gas pedal floored. Heck I thought I was going to get rear ended one day!!!! Now it shifts exactly when I want it to exactly where needed. You will also love the snappy feel the engine will have as well, It's like a whole different truck!!

[ChrisNJ]

Thanks Aaron. Does the blackbear tune change the shift points or just the engine performance, or both?

Do they offer it for the new trucks ('14). Would hate to buy a new one with the same issues?

I will take a look at their site. Thanks

[AaronIROCZ]

They do tune the 2014's but last time I checked not the 6.2's yet. Yes both the engine and trans get tuned.

[1kwik72]

Should see my 6.2 Max Tow in about 2-3 weeks. I will let you know then. I plan to tow my enclosed car hauler with it that weighs about 10k so we will see if settling for a half ton was a good move.

 

Craig

[crushNchowda]

My thoughts are it'll be a beast, but don't expect any better gas mileage, my guess is worse.

[Johnnyee]

I'm hoping mine gets better fuel economy than my current 2010 5.3l 3.42 tow vehicle. More power, more torque at lower RPMs, gotta be better. (Fingers crossed).

 

 

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[KMGZ400]

I'm hoping mine gets better fuel economy than my current 2010 5.3l 3.42 tow vehicle. More power, more torque at lower RPMs, gotta be better. (Fingers crossed).

 

 

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Your coming from a 3.42 5.3 truck and going to a 6.2 expecting better fuel economy?

 

 

I though I had seen it it all....