Anyone towing heavy with the 6.0L?

[rowekmr]

Hello
I'm buying a 01 Suburban 2500 4x4 w/6.0L and wondered what heavy loads others might be towing with the same drivetrain. I don't know if it has the 3.73 or 4.10 gear yet. Let me know if you added mods and how you felt about the improvement.

Thanks

[OCLJ]

Hello
I'm buying a 01 Suburban 2500 4x4 w/6.0L and wondered what heavy loads others might be towing with the same drivetrain. I don't know if it has the 3.73 or 4.10 gear yet. Let me know if you added mods and how you felt about the improvement.

Thanks

My parents have a 2500 extended cab 2wd with the 6.0 and 3.73 and they tow a 4 horse Gooseneck with Warmbloods (big ass horses) just fine.

[Stratosman]

what's your definition of "heavy?"

[rowekmr]

Oops I meant above 8,000 lbs. My trailer weighs between 8700-9000 loaded and wondered how others trucks dealt with that towing weight.

THanks


My parents have a 2500 extended cab 2wd with the 6.0 and 3.73 and they tow a 4 horse Gooseneck with Warmbloods (big ass horses) just fine.

[OCLJ]

Oops I meant above 8,000 lbs. My trailer weighs between 8700-9000 loaded and wondered how others trucks dealt with that towing weight.

THanks

My parents is about 11,000 fully loaded. Electronic brakes

[kcb37]

The more weight you have the more it's going to hold you back.
A 6.0 will do fine, but an 8.1 or Dmax will do better.
Depends on how you like your truck to pull.
If you want to be able to pull out and pass someone on the highway or take off from a light and get some speed going quick, then a 6.0 isn't going to be at the top of the list. But all in all it will pull it just fine.

[ToyHauler]

what kcb said plus, if you got alot of hills or not is a big deal.

fyi i havent heard of a nbs 2500 that didnt have at least 4.10's up until recently

[Koots]

Most winters, the 2500HD CCSB was towing around an 8000lb Bobcat around w/custom trailer with toolbox and heavy loading ramps, in the winter, through heavy snow (had a snowplow attachment, so we were busy a lot lol).

Sometimes we'd have that, plus about 1000lbs of gear in the 6' bed too. Most of the time we were only towing around 5000-6000lbs if that. It handled it all quite admirably, i busted a bunch of parts on it but the PO had also put this thing through bloody hell as well. I'd still put my vote of confidence in it, especially considering it's a smallblock engine in a big truck, but as long as you don't mind the low MPG you can tow most loads short of gargantuan with the right equipment and driving techniques.

[someotherguy]

2009 3500HD wrecker w/6.0, automatic, 3.73's: gutless. Mind you the weight of the wrecker itself is going to be in the neighborhood of 8,000 lbs and then throw another 4,000 or more on the hook when loaded, but I'll tell you, it can't get out of its own way. :(

http://www.someotherplace.com/forumpic/moargrunt.jpg

Richard

[rebelbowtie]

I towed an M35A military 5 ton on a flat pintle tow trailer. From California to Florida, pulled it no problem but that was all flat land on i10 for days.

[rebelbowtie]

2009 3500HD wrecker w/6.0, automatic, 3.73's: gutless. Mind you the weight of the wrecker itself is going to be in the neighborhood of 8,000 lbs and then throw another 4,000 or more on the hook when loaded, but I'll tell you, it can't get out of its own way. :(

http://www.someotherplace.com/forumpic/moargrunt.jpg
.

Richard


I assume GM started offering 3.73 gears with the 6speed auto? Cuz it was never an option for 4 speed trucks

[Koots]

I'd expect the wrecker to weigh more than that, i always figured those units were heavy as hell. I would have figured 9-10k and most trucks are in the 4500-6000lb range.

I'm no expert, just ironing out the details with my inane curiosity :D

[someotherguy]

I assume GM started offering 3.73 gears with the 6speed auto? Cuz it was never an option for 4 speed trucks
I'm assuming that's the case. This truck would have a lot more grunt if they gave it 4.10's.


I'd expect the wrecker to weigh more than that, i always figured those units were heavy as hell. I would have figured 9-10k and most trucks are in the 4500-6000lb range.
Haven't scaled one of these but it's got to be lighter than an old model (GMT455) 3500HD. IMO conventional combo wrecker units weigh a little more with the wheel lift and sling; this is a self-loader where it just has the wheel lift function, no sling. It could very well be closer to 9,000 lbs as my 8,000 lbs guess was being really conservative. With a GVWR of 11,400 as you can see it doesn't take much to be "illegal" with this rig...not like the 15,000 GVWR on the GMT455 3500HD.

Richard

[Stratosman]

With a GVWR of 11,400 as you can see it doesn't take much to be "illegal" with this rig...not like the 15,000 GVWR on the GMT455 3500HD.

Richard

:thud: Yeah, that makes it useless as a tow truck. Any idea what makes the rating so low? What if it had a Duramax? Teach me :D

[someotherguy]

It's "low" because it's only a 1 ton truck. That's why I bitch so much about the so-called modern HD not really being an HD. They quit making the real HD's and instead slapped the name on a glorified 1 ton, a lighter-duty truck than the one they're pretending it replaced. This is why Ford owns that market segment; GM gave it up. Their attitude is that if you want a useful GVWR you need to buy a medium duty truck. If I didn't hate Fords it wouldn't bother me so much...but I hate Fords. Hate Dodge too.

Richard

[Diesel Dan LB7]

the 6.0 will pull it just fine

[someotherguy]

Hurtin'...

http://www.someotherplace.com/forumpic/megacab.jpg

Richard

[worken teryx]

I have a 2008 2500hd and I regularly pull a 36 ft float loaded with hay. The hay normally weighs 17000 pounds atleast not counting the trailer and im happy with its performance I can run 70 down the highway no problem.

[the big d]

In an 03 2500 6.0 with 4.10s I regularly pull in the neighborhood of 18k-20K. It does the job very well, just a little slower than everyone else, but it never stops! It has been doing it too for about 120k miles with no major consequences.

[RWSZ71]

02 2500HD truck, 4:10 gears, 10k# 5th wheel, no problems.

[HDsledhauler114]

07 bew body style 6.0L with the 6 speed pull a 28ft dualled tandem axle flatbed regularly with one if not 2 50 plus horsepower diesel 4wd tractors never a problem. i have 4 10s but it really is impressive. has no problem getting it moving and between trailer and truck brakes has no issue slowing it down

[Diesel Dan LB7]

On the farm we have an 03 6.0l with 4.10's, and 03 and 05 Duramaxes. I've had 20K behind the 6.0 but it didn't like it. The duramaxes will move more than the 3/4ton can tow. For your weight the 6.0 should do just fine.

[Uncle Buck]

I have an 01 suburban with 187k on it. I pull a 32' camper that wieghs a little over 8000lbs loaded. I can run as fast as I what to on flat terrain. But if I get into the hills I really have to get a run for them. If I run the air conditioner it really pulls it down. And I can tell you that head winds suck it down too. Mine has the 4.11 rear end also. I get about 9 mpg pulling. I am looking to replace mine. If I can find an 8.1 I will up grade. If I cant find an 8.1 the 6.0 will work. Our friends have a 6.0 liter desiel in their excursion, and he has to work to keep up with me on our camping trips together.

[x2mosg]

Uncle Buck, don't let that 6.0 Ford Diesel fool you. That's the biggest POS Ford ever stuck under the hood of a truck. I've known several pesonally that have spent as many days in a shop as on the road. The 7.3 was bullet proof, but didn't make the power and not as "green". The 6.4 twin turbo Ford was unsuccessful as well, a real dog with poor economy.

Ford let Dodge and Chevy take the market away with the diesels. It's yet to be seen if the new Ford deisel will stand the test. But the Duramax and Cummins keep on rolling.

My dad pulls a 29 foot fifth wheel with an '04 6.0 with 4.10's. I think the trailer grosses around 10k loaded. It pulls it better than I figured it would, but it's no Duramax for sure. But, it costs a lot less on the front end, and on maintainance. The fuel savings may or may not make up the difference. Likely not.

[rebelbowtie]

the navistar 6.0 is a great diesel engine if you fix its short comings. EGR delete, intake and head studs…its a beast, just add a good custom tune and injectors maybe if you want…bye bye dmax

[ToyHauler]

the whole truck is a pos, but power wasnt its problem(at first). when i got the 550, the truck weighs 12k and i could tow a triple axle trailer and backhoe about 15k total i could set the cc at 65 up most hills. then the ford dealer got a hold of it and flashed away half my power when they were trying to get the turbo boot to stop blowing off.

short story is if you take away the pos ford tune its probably a monster but even stock and in a truck twice as heavy the gas 2500hd isnt gunna pull as well.

[someotherguy]

the navistar 6.0 is a great diesel engine if you fix its short comings. EGR delete, intake and head studs…its a beast, just add a good custom tune and injectors maybe if you want…bye bye dmax
If the engine has to come apart that far (head studs) to make it a good engine, then it's not a good engine. It's definitely not a great one, either. :D

Richard

[rebelbowtie]

Touché

[Diesel Dan LB7]

the navistar 6.0 is a great diesel engine if you fix its short comings. EGR delete, intake and head studs…its a beast, just add a good custom tune and injectors maybe if you want…bye bye dmax

To beat a DMax it needs EGR delete, intake and head studs? :whatever:

All the Dmax needs is a tune

[rebelbowtie]

:lol: no you just need that stuff so it wont esplode on itself...

[Diesel Dan LB7]

:lol: no you just need that stuff so it wont esplode on itself...

I wouldnt call exploding winning.............

[x2mosg]

P.O.S. is slang for Ford 6.0 Diesel around my neck of the woods. My cousins run a steel fab shop and are die hard Ford nuts. They bought older 7.3 trucks with 150,000 miles on them rather than have to deal with a 6.0 diesel. When you're most loyal fan-base deserts your product, you got serious problems.

The Dmax ain't perfect, but on it's worst day, it was far superior to that 6.0 Ford. Besides, who wants to spend $6-7k for a diesel engine option, then have to go spend an additional $3k making it a decent engine. The economics on that one just don't work.

Either way, the 6.0 GM gasser isn't a Dmax, or even a 7.3 Navistar. But it'll probably be fine for the OP's purposes.

David

[DarkCharisma]

the navistar 6.0 is a great diesel engine if you fix its short comings. EGR delete, intake and head studs…its a beast, just add a good custom tune and injectors maybe if you want…bye bye dmax


For the same amount of money you could do that to a Duramax and it'd be "bye bye Powerstroke... again"

[ministock72]

I pull a 28' enclosed trailer carrying a 2000lb race car trailer has cabinets full of tools, generator, compressor,& ATV all in the front. Trailer does have weight distribution hitch which does help a little in keeping the rear of the truck from squatting too much and has electric brakes. Truck is bone stock 6.0/automatic with 230k+ on the clock and it pulls just fine every weekend around the mountains of eastern Ky.

[DetroitDan]

when I was still in the towing biz I towed a ton of new 6.0 PSDs back to the dealer. They randomly died (found on road dead I guess), but one specific problem I recall is they made their own oil. People would check the oil and find it kept getting higher and higher. Somehow they pumped diesel fuel into the crankcase. Fortunately diesel fuel is a bit closer to oil than gas is, so it didn't wipe the motors as quickly as gas would, but it's still an unhealthy condition for a newer engine that cost a lot of money.
IIRC, I towed exactly two duramax trucks. One had gotten low on antifreeze and wouldn't run, safety feature. Other one had dead batteries.
I also towed a lot of Ford pickups because they had frontend part failures and went off the road.
I think it's pretty much commonly accepted that if you want a diesel in a Ford you have to find one with a 7.3. Everything since has been over-designed and under-engineered crap.

[ToyHauler]

Everything since has been over-designed and under-engineered crap.

its been for at least 25-30 years not just lately, with all there vehicles

[bdbub7]

I hauled this load 90 miles and then back with no problem at all

truck is a 6.0 with 35's

Not sure of the exact weight of this trailer but what I do know:

Bobcat-5935 lbs

Polaris 850xp-773 lbs

Honda trx700xx- about 400 lbs

25 bags of topsoil at 40lbs each- 1000 lbs

total of 8108 lbs + the trailer weight (pretty heavy duty trailer)

I have2 pictures but I cannot figure out how to upload them