Looking For 2500hd Need Your Help On Engine

[hondaman74]

Hello all,

I am a proud woner fo a 99 tahoe with a ton of miles on it. I recently bought a travel trailer that extends the tahow to its limits, not over but close, So i am looking ot get into a newer truck like a 2500 HD Crew cab. In research I have found the 6.0 base engine, Duramax Diesel, or the 8.1. My questiosn to those that own these trucks is:

 

Which motor to go with?

6.0L

8.1L

Duramax

 

I ahve good and bad about each, but want to get your honest opinion. I am looking for a 2001-04 model year Crew cab to pull a 6000lb trailer.

 

Your oinion and thoughts will be important o making hte decision. Also if you could enlighten me on reliablility, repairs or known problems with the truck you own if its one of hte three listed above it would be great.

 

Thanks for your time

Keith

[Daubs]

Honestly, a 6,000lb trailer can be pulled with any of the engines listed. Here is my $0.02

 

6.0 Pros = reliable, strong engine with lots of performance upgrade potential. Will come with 4.10 gears and tow right around 10,000 in the HD trucks. Cons = probalby won't get you much better MPG than the 8.1...may even be a wash in some situations. Watch out for cold start knock.

 

8.1 Pros = big brute with as much pulling power as the Duramax (yes, checked my brochure again...) Doesn't seem to work hard at all motivating my CC. Cons = worst MPG of the bunch, although very close to the 6.0L. Mine has cold start knock, so watch out. Not as many performance upgrades available as the 6.0

 

Duramax = Proven, reliable and strong. Arguably the best diesel you can buy today. Tows like a champ and will get you much better MPG than either of the gas engines. Cons = availablility of diesel fuel can be an issue for some. Will cost you more than the other trucks (purchase price and maintenance costs)

 

I'm sure others will have more to day.

 

Honestly, you can pull a 6,000lb trailer with a 1/2 ton truck with the 5.3. But it will work harder. Heck, you could even pull with you Hoe if you wanted. Find something you like driving on a daily basis and that fits your needs. Hope this helps.

[ak63]

6.0 Pros = Will come with 4.10 gears

 

 

When I was looking all the 2007 NBS 2500HD's (and my truck below) were 3.73 gears. There might be an order option for 4.10, but I don't think it is standard any more. I recall reading somewhere they made the change due to the 6-speed auto transmission.

[kerryw]

Hello all,

I am a proud woner fo a 99 tahoe with a ton of miles ....

Your opinion and thoughts will be important to making the decision. Also if you could enlighten me on reliablility, repairs or known problems with the truck you own if its one of hte three listed above it would be great.

 

Thanks for your time

Keith

 

I have a 2000 2500 with a 6 litre and I pull an 11000 lb fifth wheel. Gas milage SUCKS. I can't imagine an 8.1 being any worse. I know a guy with an 8.1 and he swears by it. That surprised me because he can afford anything he wants. He says he likes the quiet. Granted, the duramax is prolly the quietest diesel out there.

 

So, if I was buying again and had to pay for fuel, I would chose other than the 6.0. Like previously stated, you can pull that trailer with a fairly light truck.

[Daubs]

6.0 Pros = Will come with 4.10 gears

 

 

When I was looking all the 2007 NBS 2500HD's (and my truck below) were 3.73 gears. There might be an order option for 4.10, but I don't think it is standard any more. I recall reading somewhere they made the change due to the 6-speed auto transmission.

 

 

OP is looking for 2001-2004 model year. My 04 brochure says the HD 6.0 was only offered with the 4.10 gears (and the 4 speed auto tranny).

[22zxla]

Heres my 2 cents! My 2002hd crew cab long bed has the 6.o motor and the truck was my brothers till i bought it. The reason he sold it to me was that the truck struggled pulling his 5th wheel. He went to the diesel and loves it (ford). I pull a 22 donzi zx which comes in around 3600lbs and i know its back there. So what im saying is if i did it all over it would be the big block !

[04silverado1500]

6k pounds is not that much i would just look for a 03-04 (body style pref.) 2500HD 6.0L with either 4.10s or 3.73s and tow with that. the diesel has the most torque and best mileage of the group but i dont see a need for the diesel at all and it will just cost alot more...dont get me wrong i love the duramax but i dont think its the right one for you. The 8.1L is also a great motor but its built to tow and unless towing i dont think i would want to drive one, the positive is that it handles big loads better then the 6.0 imo i just dont think its as fun of a daily driver. the 6.0 is your best option you will see better mileage then the 8.1L unloaded atleast i think and it will be a much more peppy ride. these are just my thoughts. i think there valid points especially if your trying to save a buck or two here and there.

[hondaman74]

Thanks for all the input. I am leaning towards the 6.0, but like hte reserve ofhte duramax. The roads I travel are high in the aderoniaks and play hell on my tahoe now. It pulls it flat and small hills now, but get to a 3-4% grade its second gear at 4,000 with no power to pull, its getitng tired at 150k on it and its time ot move up. plus the WIFE SAID WE NEED A NEW TRUCK, so I ahve ot take advantage of that.

 

Trying ot find the diesel right now has proven to be difficult, so I will probalby end up with the 6.0, but I ahve time so lets seewaht happens.

 

Is there anyhitng that are comminly wrong with these trucks. I know the tahow has a coule of common problmes like hte fuel pump, intake leaking etc. Wahts hsould I be looking for when I fond one I like.

 

Thanks for your help

Keith

[Truckman031]

Those trucks are pretty reliable. Cold Start Knock is the biggest problem, so make sure you start the truck up when it's cold so you can listen for it. I know the 8.1s can drink some oil, but I don't think the 6.0 typically has this problem. Also, if you get a 4x4, the actuator will probably go out but it is a quick and relatively cheap fix.

[Bobslob]

If you can find one get a good D-max. They'll pull that trailer like there is nothin back there and they get good fuel economy. Plus you can make some good power from a cheap programer, like the Diablo Sport Predator. We have one on our 05' Duramax and that thing hauls some serious A$$ and we are only using the 65 h.p. tune.

[RPMGUY]

Hello, I was woundering the same questions. About how many miles are the 8.1L going? Or a good service life compared to the 6.0. Thanks

[stravis]

I'm fairly new to chevy's as I just got my 2005 2500HD with the 6.0 and 4.10's a month ago, but I will still give my input if it might help. I traded a 99 F-350 dually 7.3L for this truck and expected to have a fairly drastic drop off in towing ability. I tow often and occasionally heavy. In the last month, I have towed a 4,000 pound horse trailer a few times and last week towed my 7500 pound tractor on a 1500 pound trailer. About 9000 pounds together and I was amazed at how well it pulled. I barely knew it was there. I had a little more bounce in the back end, but that is to be expected. The engine pulled the weight with absolutely no issues.

 

The reason I got rid of my dually was maintenance cost. Every time a little something went wrong with the truck, it would cost me anywhere from $700 to $1200. The truck had 160,000 miles, so occasionally something went wrong. I switched to gas for the cheaper maintenance.

 

My point is, for what you are towing, the 6.0 will be more than enough. The duramax, while it has a higher resale, will cost significantly more up front as well as down the road in maintenance. I can't speak for the 6.0 in long term durability as I've only had it for 2000 miles, but I can tell you that in just one month of ownership, it has turned this life long Ford fan into a big chevy believer.

[BigJayDogg3]

In my opinion go as big as you can afford. Later on down the road you may want to upgrade what you are towing, and if you have the 6.0 it might not be able to handle it where as if you have the d-max you will know that you can get the job done.

 

The 6.0 isn't a slouch, but the d-max is in a whole other league.

[Daubs]

Someone posted on MPG of the 6.0 vs. the 8.1.

 

My Big Block is consistently getting 10-11 MPG city and 12-14 highway. (I'm pretty anal about tracking MPG with every tank). It's my daily driver. Have 285's on the stock rims with 3.73 gears. Installed Volant intake and have Westers tune. Had it tuned for the tires and best MPG / power available.

 

When looking to order a truck back in 03 I drove both the 6.0 and Big Block in CC / 4x4's. The 6.0 did well, but the 8.1 just motivated the truck much better. And get the added benefit of the Allison tranny. Love it.

 

Remember, the Big Block is rated to tow = or greater than the Duramax (yes, checked the brochure again). And yes, the Diesel is going to get better MPG towing or not towing. If I had to do it all over again, my order of choice for engines would be this:

 

1. 8.1L Big Block

2. 6.6L Duramax

3. 6.0L Gas

 

(note, since GM so wisely discontinued the Big Block , my next truck will probably be a 1/2 ton. But I'm waiting until the 6.2L / 6 speed auto makes its way to the Silverado's)

 

Best of luck getting the right truck for you.

[Mmaxed]

Unless you think you HAVE to have the Dmax I would go with one of the gassers. Those years would be old enough to start giving problems and diesels can be expesive to work on. I currently have a '02 Dmax with 120k miles. It has been a good rig and tows great but it will live somewhere else soon. Not ready for shop time and $$$.