new guy with questions on sierra 2500 hd 6.0L

BRDYDVS12 · November 18, 2014

hey guys. I did some searching on here for some gas saving tips but im starting to find out 12-14 mpg is just something I got to live with.

but my question is I got a super chip flash pack with my truck from the previous owner. I have it on the gas saving mode right now and get 12.9-13.4 average on a tank. I did restart my mpg program on my dash right as I was getting on the free way once and I drove about 400 miles round trip mostly freeway miles and I saw it get up to 15.1 but over all trip was 13.7. so back to my question is my super chip flash pack kinda cheep/dinky compared to this Black bear tuning? ive never heard of the black bear tuning until today when I was researching.

also my truck has 17s with cooper discovery's s/t tires. 4x4. It also has a k/n cold air intake.

ive heard of changing the tranny gears but my buddy did that and only got 1 mpg better and it cost him 1500$ kinda steep for me.

I have stock exhaust so I was thinking if any of you guys know if a flow master or some sort of muffler could bump up my mpg. but I don't really like loud exhausts a little sound is nice but some trucks ive heard are to loud for me. as you probably guess I don't really know what im looking for so hopefully I can get some info from you guys.

ok 1 more thing. the previous owner had a camper he used on the truck so he air bagged the rear. I don't personally have a camper myself but my good buddy does and were thinking of maybe taking it on my truck this spring for a dirt bike camping trip. So how much PSI should put in the bags. not sure how heavy it is but I was hoping there was a close guess I could get then I could play with it from there.

my truck is a ex-cab long box if that makes a difference.

thanks.

-Brady.

pic of my truck.

kstruckcountry · November 18, 2014

That's a nice looking pickup!

Honestly, your best bet for economy is to buy a small car. Seriously. If mpg is what you're after it's the only way to go. The people I personally know who have HD pickups or lifted pickups have a crotch rocket or Jetta to drive for efficiency.

That said if you want better drivability, a tune is the way to go, after I got mine done I wished I had done it as soon as I had gotten the pickup.

As far as the airbags, most manufacturers will give a minimum PSI that should be kept in the bags at all times. I really don't think you'd need much extra for a couple bikes, but I'd recommend measuring the height of the rear of the pickup before you load up, and then bring it back up to that height with the bags once you're loaded if you really care.

servantsalesmen · November 18, 2014

I've never even seen 12 mpg average in my 04 sierra 6.0. It's a pig and always will be.

sahls01gmc · November 18, 2014

I can sometimes get 13mpg's out of my 6.0L. Most of the time it's around 11.

I hear Prius' get great gas mileage.....but that's not why I bought my truck!

Johnny2500 · November 18, 2014

I have 05 6.0 and I put a flo pro muffler and it's not too loud I also got a specte intake to get some more air to the motor

Blue2500CC · November 19, 2014

As for the mpg, are the tires stock size or a little larger? Look a little larger in the pic, but not sure. If larger, and your going by the odometer and truck computer, the average will be off. Check the odometer/speedo to a gps.

As for the camper, the big question is how much is the tongue weight? If it exceeds the weight carrying capacity of the receiver hitch, you need to use a weight distribution hitch (one that has "the bars"). Most ball mounts (and hitches) are rated for 5-600lbs weight carrying. Any idea the make & model of the trailer?

You could load the bikes in the truck, level with the bags, then hook up the trailer, adjust the wd (weight distribution) hitch up for the truck and trailer (or do the truck/ trailer first, then load the bikes and add air to the bags to RESTORE to the empty bed truck/trailer combo level). You do not want the bags to "unload" the bars of the hitch.

BRDYDVS12 · November 19, 2014

thanks for the info guys. I knew when I bought the truck I wasnt going to get awesome MPG. after I researched this forum a bit I found out that 11-13 is just a number I got to deal with I thought id start my own thread and double check. I bought the truck for the usability not to save on gas. so that's for clearing that up. I got a dual sport dirt bike I ride a bit too, funny one of you said that lol.

to answer some questions I got asked my wheels are bigger than stock. they are 17 American racing wheels and cooper discovery S/T tires. the previous owner told me he took the truck to GM and had them change the speedo around to fit the tires.

so with that said im not sure if GM did that with the super chip tuner I got or a different way. Last week I took my tuner off Gas Saver ex mode and tried the Performance mode, and honestly the only difference I noticed was a soother shift from 1st to 2nd gear when the truck is cold. I don't drive my truck super aggressively so I didn't feel a big difference. I just saw my mpg do down so I changed it back.

Also I guess I was unclear about the camper deal. what I would be doing is putting my buddy's camper in the bed of my truck. ive always called those campers maybe im wrong but its not a camp trailer.

so the camper in the bed of my truck (already got mounts from previous owner) and my small trailer on the ball receiver with the bikes in that. I cant remember what the previous owner told me. either 40 psi or 140 psi. but 40 seems like not enough and 140 sounds like a lot. idk.

thanks guys.

-Brady

Blue2500CC · November 19, 2014

I would still verify the speedo/odometer per a gps (or 2!)

As for the TC (truck camper), if you can't find what brand bags you have, start with about 30psi (or so), load the camper up, and add some air if needed.

You may be able to figure out what brand bags you have by looking at the, then checking online to compare how they are mounted??? I am drawing a blank at the moment, but I only remember two brands for the bags (at least the last couple years). Or look to see if both have a similar max psi, and stay below the lower max psi.

StinkyCheese · November 20, 2014

First off I'm jealous of you having a real bed. As far as gas you're SOL. The only way I see 15mpg is if I'm doing 55 mph. I actually get better fuel mileage on surface roads than the highway because I'm not speeding lol. I highly doubt you'd need to add more than a couple, if any, psi to the bags for the motorcycles. When I had my '01 a full pallet of grass barely dropped the rear an inch or two. With the bed camper on there you might need to put some more air in but even then the stock suspension should handle it fine unless it's one of the huge bed campers.