How Much Truck Do I Need?

mriggs1103 · March 13, 2008

I currently have a 2004 Ford F150 5.4. It does not pull my trailer like I like. I am looking at trading for a 3/4 ton type pickup, and I want to go with GM. Do I need the 8.1 or will the 6.0 do? Is there any difference as far as running costs on the two (gas & oil)? My trailer is a 29 ft. bumper pull about 5000 lbs. dry weight. Any help would be appreciated.

hubbycap · March 13, 2008

How far, how often, and what terrain?

mriggs1103 · March 13, 2008

I pull it every weekend in the summer about 120 miles round trip. I also have a 16 ft cattle trailer I pull about 10 times per year. I live in Oklahoma, so the terrain isn't that bad.

BlackSilver · March 13, 2008

A 6.0 will pull those loads just fine in your environment. No need for a big-block engine.

cbxeric · March 13, 2008

The 8.1 is a tow beast, it comes with the allison automatic. The 6.0 is also an excellent engine but not as capable as the 8.1. Both will run circles around the 5.4 though. Fuel economy is a little tricky, the 6.0 gets better mileage when unloaded, but it works a lot harder when loaded so mileage tends to go down significantly. The 8.1 gets about 2mpg less unloaded but when loaded/towing, the allison auto really comes into play and the mileage is probably about the same as the 6.0. (4.10 rear end) 8.1's tend to use oil, 6.0's do not.

Just my opinion, my 6.0 gets around 14mpg suburban driving with a Wait4me tune and 3.73 rear end.

a 5000lb trailer is no problem for either engine.

WELCOME!!!! Eric.

wellinghurst · March 13, 2008

The 8.1 is a tow beast, it comes with the allison automatic. The 6.0 is also an excellent engine but not as capable as the 8.1. Both will run circles around the 5.4 though. Fuel economy is a little tricky, the 6.0 gets better mileage when unloaded, but it works a lot harder when loaded so mileage tends to go down significantly. The 8.1 gets about 2mpg less unloaded but when loaded/towing, the allison auto really comes into play and the mileage is probably about the same as the 6.0. (4.10 rear end) 8.1's tend to use oil, 6.0's do not.

Just my opinion, my 6.0 gets around 14mpg suburban driving with a Wait4me tune and 3.73 rear end.

a 5000lb trailer is no problem for either engine.

WELCOME!!!! Eric.

What Eric said.

A 6.0 with 4.10s will pull 5k no problem. You don't need the 8.1-unless you just happen to find one of course.

ws6_guy · March 13, 2008

Best off with the 6.0L or sure. 2500HD.

c4racer · March 18, 2008

It also depends how much non towing driving you do. If this is also your daily driver, I would agree the 6.0L is the smartest choice. However, if the truck is your utility rig only and you don't put too many miles on it outside of hauling stuff, why not go for the big block if you find one? You may even pay less for one right now in this gas crunch, and it will probably get similar overall MPG to a 6.0L between towing and unloaded.

I picked up a 01 Suburban 2500 with the 8.1L a few months ago for similar purposes. I tow a 6Klb race car trailer in CA - I do have some good mountains and hills to get over. I found a 8.1L / 3.73 burb and it suits my needs perfectly. I do not drive it daily - I have a car. I use it when I really need the space for hauling people or stuff, and for towing. So far it has been getting 10-11mpg around town and 12-13mpg on the highway. No data on long haul towing yet. Stock tune. Burb's are also heavier than the trucks, and this one is a 4x4 so it is worse case. I think in a 2500 burb the 6.0L is too weak - I drove one and it really felt like a dog to me. I love the 8.1L torque - it takes just a nudge of the gas pedal and it will jump 10mph on the highway w/o even thinking about downshifting. It also can handle some pretty good grades in 4th gear unloaded. For me, paying the extra 1-2mpg for unloaded use is minimal, and the payoff is much better towing performance and probably pretty equivalent towing MPG vs. a 6.0L.

Z71kris · March 20, 2008

I say get the biggest you can, because when you realize that your truck pulls the 29 fter easily, you then can upgrade that as well!

2017HD · March 20, 2008

If you are looking at new trucks then a 6.0 with 3.73 gears will do you just fine - and is the only choice of engines for the new trucks. The new 6sp tranny with double overdrives helps with the solo MPG -a little bit. Out there in OK you will probably spend most of your towing in 5th or 6th - as I also do when on the flat hy. Put in a hill and I am in 4th turning 3500 and doing 60 while towing a 5600lb TT.

As for used rigs, prior to 07 you could still get the 8.1L with a 5 or 6 speed Allison (the number of gears depends on the year). Earlier 6.0L are not that much different than the ones in the new trucks. They have made minor changes every year - but nothing really huge.

likinit2 · March 21, 2008

I was having the same dilema as you. I had a 2006 chevy half ton crew 4x4 with a 5.3 and 3.73 gears as I pull a 4 place enclosed trailer that comes in around 5000-6000 pounds. The half actually did a better job than my v10 excursion but with more plans of longer farther trips I started looking at new trucks. I settled with a 3500hd single wheel with the 6.0 and 4.10 gears. The truck rides great, drives like a car and pulls great. I am actually getting just as good of mileage as my buddy who bought the same truck but in the 2500hd crew but with a short box and 3.73 gears. I am getting about 13.5 to 14 around in town and local stuff and a little over 15 on the hwy. That 6 speed tranny rocks, I can pull the trailer in 5th gear (which is still an overdrive) at 70 mph and just set the cruise. The truck is real big but that should fit in great with everything in Texas.....

Mikeee · March 22, 2008

You may need one of these....Not sure what it is but it looks like it could solve all of your towing issues.

99silverado1500 · March 24, 2008

That looks like to me a redneck weight distrubition hitch.

SWDoodle · March 24, 2008

At that weight no problem for either the 6.0 or the 8.1. Pulling grades alot and I'd look for an 8.1. Unloaded mileage with the 6.0 will be slightly better, loaded no difference, if not worse with the 6.0. If you can even find an 8.1 with decent miles on it for a good price I'd pickup one up. The allison is awesome. The 480LE is good too in the 6.0, but first gear is so high that it takes a while to get things up and going.