2009 Gmc 1500 Questions & Reccomendations

[2018GMC]

Hello all,

I am planning on buying a 2009 GMC 1500 Crew Cab SLE2 or SLT with:

 

6.0 engine

6-speed Transmission

4:10 gears?

Sunroof

 

Any reccomendations or changes?

 

I live at 7000 Feet and drive 60 miles highway (75MPH speed limit) 5 days a week. I am hoping to get 18-20+ MPG but not sure what gears are the best choice. I agree with Vmax 2007 that the 6.0 is worth the extra cash. I wonder if the 6 speed will make much of a difference in MPG?

 

The truck will mostly be a daily driver and rarely used for towing. I am planning on purchaseing a leveling kit and biggest tires? (285 70 R17) if it doest void warrenty.

 

The all aluminum block kind of worries me about reliability. I take great care of my vehicles and expect them to last a long, long time.

 

My parents have a 97 Chevy 1500 half ton with 120,000+ miles and it has been the most dependable truck and still runs like new. I hope the GMT-900 is the same.

 

I am planning on buying a 2009 with new 6 speed tranny unless it dosent make much of a difference then I will buy a 2008 or 07 for a closeout price.

 

I was considering a 2500 since the 1500 price is close to the 2500. I expect the mpg of the 2500 would be worse since its a heaver truck. 6.0 gas since i cant afford and dont really need the duramax.

 

Anyone know when the 2009's are released?

 

Your comments and suggestions are appreciated.

[neto1978]

Hello all,

I am planning on buying a 2009 GMC 1500 Crew Cab SLE2 or SLT with:

 

6.0 engine

6-speed Transmission

4:10 gears?

Sunroof

 

Any reccomendations or changes?

 

I live at 7000 Feet and drive 60 miles highway (75MPH speed limit) 5 days a week. I am hoping to get 18-20+ MPG but not sure what gears are the best choice. I agree with Vmax 2007 that the 6.0 is worth the extra cash. I wonder if the 6 speed will make much of a difference in MPG?

 

The truck will mostly be a daily driver and rarely used for towing. I am planning on purchaseing a leveling kit and biggest tires? (285 70 R17) if it doest void warrenty.

 

The all aluminum block kind of worries me about reliability. I take great care of my vehicles and expect them to last a long, long time.

 

My parents have a 97 Chevy 1500 half ton with 120,000+ miles and it has been the most dependable truck and still runs like new. I hope the GMT-900 is the same.

 

I am planning on buying a 2009 with new 6 speed tranny unless it dosent make much of a difference then I will buy a 2008 or 07 for a closeout price.

 

I was considering a 2500 since the 1500 price is close to the 2500. I expect the mpg of the 2500 would be worse since its a heaver truck. 6.0 gas since i cant afford and dont really need the duramax.

 

Anyone know when the 2009's are released?

 

Your comments and suggestions are appreciated.

 

i would take the L9H engine 6.2 flexfuel ,we never know what will happen to oil prices...

[slomo007]

You will not get 18-20 mpg out of a 6.2L engine, especially with 4.10 gears.

 

You either need to get used to 15-17 mpg highway or go down to a 5.3L w/ 3.42 gears (if you're driving all highway miles).

[asilverblazer]

Sounds like too much truck for economy purposes. I'd go 4.8 with 3.42's, especially since you aren't towing anything. 6.0 with 4.10's is waaay more than you'll ever need cruising down the highway.

[omegafiler]

If you get a big engine in a big heavy truck, MPG is going to suck, regardless of which trans. The 6-sp will help, but probably not much as you'd like. Gas prices are high and aren't going down any time soon. So if that's even remotely at the top of your list, you may want to reconsider the engine/gear choice and/or the truck purchase in general.

 

I've already lost track of how many posts we've seen from old and new truck buyers complaining about poor MPG due to the never ending increase in gas prices. It sucks, but I'm afraid that's just the way it is. Basically, just plan your purchase with that in mind along with reasonable (ie. very low) expectations for fuel economy.

 

Either way, good luck with your vehicle purchase!

[99silverado1500]

3.73s should be fine for what you are doing. You MIGHT be able to get 16-17 highway with a 6.0

[VMax2007]

You cannot get 4.10's in the 2009 1/2 tons.

[VMax2007]

3.73s should be fine for what you are doing. You MIGHT be able to get 16-17 highway with a 6.0

 

No "might" about it. I can get 18 MPG freeway if I keep it under 70 mph.

[99silverado1500]

Hm, thats pretty stupid, but i guess with the MPG cringe they cant get close with most people traveling on highways and 4.10s not cutting it.

[2018GMC]

3.73s should be fine for what you are doing. You MIGHT be able to get 16-17 highway with a 6.0

 

No "might" about it. I can get 18 MPG freeway if I keep it under 70 mph.

 

 

Thats good to hear Jeff. I am a typical american who wants the most power available with the best possible mpg. What are your thoughts on the 4 speed tranny? Do you think it needs more gears or it is matched well to the 6.0. Any idea on what your RPMs are at 70mph, 75mph?

 

Thanks!

[VMax2007]

3.73s should be fine for what you are doing. You MIGHT be able to get 16-17 highway with a 6.0

 

No "might" about it. I can get 18 MPG freeway if I keep it under 70 mph.

 

 

Thats good to hear Jeff. I am a typical american who wants the most power available with the best possible mpg. What are your thoughts on the 4 speed tranny? Do you think it needs more gears or it is matched well to the 6.0. Any idea on what your RPMs are at 70mph, 75mph?

 

Thanks!

 

 

Well, now that I am tuned, I love the 4 speed. But I didn't really care for it stock. It didn't downshift and seemed to hesitate when accelerating. GM's stock tunes are VERY conservative. If you really want to maximize power and fuel efficiency, plan on getting a custom tune. Problem is, with the 6L80E (6 spd) tranny, the TCM is inside the tranny and cannot be swapped out easily like the 5.3 and 6.0 modules. This gets into more detail than you asked for, but something to keep in mind if you want to do any tuning and keep your stock tunes/modules handy for warranty purposes. I think my RPM's at 70mph are right around 2000. The final drive ratio isn't all that much different than the 6 spds.

[mljenkins]

You cannot get 4.10's in the 2009 1/2 tons.

 

How are they keeping the towing capacities at what they are now then? I couldn't tow what I tow without the 4.10s w/ the 5.3L in the 2006. I am very curious about this change.

 

2006 5.3L 4.10's ext cab I am getting 17 mpg highway (50 mi highway, 20 mi country roads daily). When I get on the highway I set cruise and leave it. That's the best I have seen with almost 35K miles on the truck.

 

If I didn't tow with it I would do what my father in law did and get the smaller engine and higher gears. He gets well over 20 in his 2005 2wd, but I think he's running a 4.3L.

[JoshRDavis.84]

Hello all,

I am planning on buying a 2009 GMC 1500 Crew Cab SLE2 or SLT with:

 

6.0 engine

6-speed Transmission

4:10 gears?

Sunroof

 

Any reccomendations or changes?

 

I live at 7000 Feet and drive 60 miles highway (75MPH speed limit) 5 days a week. I am hoping to get 18-20+ MPG but not sure what gears are the best choice. I agree with Vmax 2007 that the 6.0 is worth the extra cash. I wonder if the 6 speed will make much of a difference in MPG?

 

The truck will mostly be a daily driver and rarely used for towing. I am planning on purchaseing a leveling kit and biggest tires? (285 70 R17) if it doest void warrenty.

 

The all aluminum block kind of worries me about reliability. I take great care of my vehicles and expect them to last a long, long time.

 

My parents have a 97 Chevy 1500 half ton with 120,000+ miles and it has been the most dependable truck and still runs like new. I hope the GMT-900 is the same.

 

I am planning on buying a 2009 with new 6 speed tranny unless it dosent make much of a difference then I will buy a 2008 or 07 for a closeout price.

 

I was considering a 2500 since the 1500 price is close to the 2500. I expect the mpg of the 2500 would be worse since its a heaver truck. 6.0 gas since i cant afford and dont really need the duramax.

 

Anyone know when the 2009's are released?

 

Your comments and suggestions are appreciated.

 

 

I like the sunroof option. Never had one but always wanted one if I could buy a laid out truck like that. Depending on your concern for MPG go with the 6.0. You can never have too much power

[slomo007]

3.73s should be fine for what you are doing. You MIGHT be able to get 16-17 highway with a 6.0

 

No "might" about it. I can get 18 MPG freeway if I keep it under 70 mph.

 

 

While that may be true, the OP said the speed limit is 75 so that's likely what he would be driving. I can speak up and say I get 18-18.5 MPG w/ the 5.3/3.42 combo at 75-77 MPH. If I go 70, I get 20 (not kidding). I think we need to compare apples to apples here, let's all talk the same speed. Either way he's losing at least a couple MPG, if not more.

[saxdogg]

5.3/3.42 for me...I get barely 18 and I drive 65, and rarely exceed 2k rpm, I drive very conservatively. My avg. is 17.7