When will the six-speed transmission be available.

ebod · January 10, 2007

... for 1500 suburbans (with the bigger engine)?

ChrisNJ · January 10, 2007

it's all about manufacturing capacity, probably 08-09. the old 4sp's are the best in the business, just get 4:10's if you can.

Scyry · January 10, 2007

GM is dropping the ball, BADLY on this...

HawkeyeOC · January 10, 2007

GM is dropping the ball, BADLY on this...

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We need something to look forward to. If we had the 6spd now some people would be crying for a 7spd...an 8spd.

The 4 speed I have with the 5.3L and 3.73 gears is well suited in the meantime for these trucks. Very responsive, isn't picky, and loves to run!!!

I hope the 6 speed turns out to be a good one. I was not impressed with Nissan Titans 5 speed. It was constantly hunting for the right gears...annoying!!!

Tucson_02Silverado · January 10, 2007

CVT where is it?

Big Tool · January 11, 2007

6sp is great for mpg, and seems to be good for get up and go, but it's slighly annoying when it's trying to pick a gear. 4sp is proven, simple and very reliable. The biggest advangate of the 6sp is grade braking, but i don't think that will be offered on the 1500's other then the denali.

DSengineer · January 11, 2007

6sp is great for mpg, and seems to be good for get up and go, but it's slighly annoying when it's trying to pick a gear. 4sp is proven, simple and very reliable. The biggest advangate of the 6sp is grade braking, but i don't think that will be offered on the 1500's other then the denali.

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Do you still have tow/haul mode with the 6sp? Can you lock out 5th or 6th gear when towing?

Big Tool · January 11, 2007

6sp is great for mpg, and seems to be good for get up and go, but it's slighly annoying when it's trying to pick a gear. 4sp is proven, simple and very reliable. The biggest advangate of the 6sp is grade braking, but i don't think that will be offered on the 1500's other then the denali.

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Do you still have tow/haul mode with the 6sp? Can you lock out 5th or 6th gear when towing?

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The 6sp in my dad's denali is identical to the allison "function wise" I've spent a good deal of time with the ally and the denali 6sp and the only difference i've seen is the sticker on the side of the d-max. But yes tow/haul is still on it, and when you engage the tow haul it activates the grade braking system. The grade braking system is definitely one of my favorite details of the denali. I just recently made a ski trip in NM, and had to go through some fairly steep passes with the denali, and never had to touch the brakes going down hill. Just like the ally/duramax combo, the 6sp also has the option to use manual mode, which allows you to shift gears with a push button on the gear selector stem.

archer000001 · January 12, 2007

I'm getting an itchy trigger finger to order a WT ext cab with 5.3L and 3.73 gears. Max trailer weight is 4500 lb, but I can use every mpg I can get for a daily driver.

If the 6-speed was available I'd pull the trigger in a heartbeat. With the capacity coming on so slowly, I'm wondering if/when the WT's would ever get access to the 6-speed.

Am I dreaming?

SilveradoLAX7 · January 12, 2007

I'm getting an itchy trigger finger to order a WT ext cab with 5.3L and 3.73 gears. Max trailer weight is 4500 lb, but I can use every mpg I can get for a daily driver.

If the 6-speed was available I'd pull the trigger in a heartbeat. With the capacity coming on so slowly, I'm wondering if/when the WT's would ever get access to the 6-speed.

Am I dreaming?

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Can this be right? I thought I read that max towing STARTS at 5100 for the V6.

-Jay

Edit: I stand corrected, see my other post below...

Big Tool · January 12, 2007

I'm getting an itchy trigger finger to order a WT ext cab with 5.3L and 3.73 gears. Max trailer weight is 4500 lb, but I can use every mpg I can get for a daily driver.

If the 6-speed was available I'd pull the trigger in a heartbeat. With the capacity coming on so slowly, I'm wondering if/when the WT's would ever get access to the 6-speed.

Am I dreaming?

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Can this be right? I thought I read that max towing STARTS at 5100 for the V6.

-Jay

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Yeah, i think that's wrong also, looking at the GMC brochure, and it says the lowest tow capacity for any configuration with the 5.3 is 7,000lbs. What really makes for great mpg is 3.42 gears. My dad's 05 avalanche has them and it does 20mpg easy, and that's in a heavy avalanche, the 3.42also make for a doggy ride when you put any trailer behind it.

SilveradoLAX7 · January 12, 2007

I did some more digging on Chevy's website...the lowest towing capacity I could find for the 5.3 is 6,600 lbs for a crew cab with the 3.42 gearing.

-Jay

Edit: 4,300 lbs is actually the lowest towing capacity period. To get this stump pulling power, you'd have to pick an ext cab, short bed, with the V6 and 3.23 axle ratio

archer000001 · January 12, 2007

Sorry, guys -- I didn't explain very clearly...

I meant that the largest trailer that I would be pulling is 4500 lb. The truck is capable of pulling much more.

The point was that the 6-speed would use the locked torque converter in gears 2-6 for better towing mileage and lower transmission temperature (less slippage). Plus, the ability to easily lock in a gear if desired.

The 4-speed has the advantage of being far enough in its life cycle to work out most of the serious bugs.

Thoughts?

chakis24 · January 12, 2007

its really not this year? it is on the silverados right?

DSengineer · January 12, 2007

I use to own a 99 2wd ext cab with 5.3 and 3.42's. I could do 21-22MPG on the highway but they sucked when towing my 4500lb ski boat. I couldn't imagine towing with that same gear on a heavier crew cab 4WD with larger tires......