Towing w/ 2000+ GM trucks

This year I am planning to replace my '95 1/2 ton Dodge 318ci w/ an open trailer for a 2000+ GM based 3/4 ton and either a 24' or 28' enclosed. Primary race car is a spec Miata, although that can change.

What do people think about the GM 6.0? I am a fan of the LS series. I am bit worried that the 6.0 may be easily over whelmed. Even w/ the 4.10 rear end gears. I like what the '07's get w/ the variable valve timing...a bit more torque, and flatter curve. Albeit, I hear it can cause issues, along w/ the Displacement On Demand feature. The transmission can be a weak point as well.

I am leaning towards the GM 8.1 big block. 400ft lbs at 1000rpms! The trucks get a 5 speed Allison transmission, in 06+ they get a 6 speed. I know its a gas pig, but I figure I'd be $ ahead on this power train vs. an infrequently used diesel. Ideally I am looking for a +06, 3/4ton, 2wd, extended or crew cab. However they are somewhat rare as compared to the LS motors. The motor was produced from '01~09, tons of them are in Uhaul truck, RV's, boats, 1ton chassis cab trucks, but not that many in non-work truck "civilian" trucks.

If you can find an 8.1L I would get it. 6.0 will work pretty hard with an enclosed trailer. I pull a 28 ft enclosed with my 03 Suburban 2500, does pretty good. I do wish it had the Allison though. They are out there in trucks, just have to look a bit more for one. Since most want Diesels now, you should be able to find one for a good price.

FYI, 2007 was the last year for the engine in pickups (GMT800 only), 2006 for SUVs. They did solider on in medium duty trucks for a while.

Do not get a DoD/AFM engine at all.

Other than that, good trucks. You'll end up doing a fuel pump module and a ton of window regulators, and a front end rebuild. The 6.0 should be adequate, but they also had a "VortecMAX" package or something like that for more towing capacity. The 8.1 tows like honey, but she's a thirsty pig.

Personally I would stay away from the LS motor just because you can't get them with the Allison. I love my Allison.

The Duramax will cost more up front than the 8.1 but will also hold its value better. I would (and did) go Duramax+Allison.

Isnt the 4l80 pretty great that backed the 6.0? Not allison awesome but great, i only am accustomed to them in cars going 10s. For reference over a dozen years ago my grandparents had a 1500 with the 6.0, she put on a hypertune to help tow a gooseneck 5th wheel. She LOVED the truck unloaded and still today talks how it was the fastest truck shes been in (yeah shes a gearhead her cars now, ones got an l33 aluminum ls 5.3 and the other is ironically also a 327 but from 66 in a 54 vette) her only gripe was it wasnt very happy in the appalachian mountains pulling that big trailer which i guestimate to be the same as what your pulling. So if you live where its flat youll be fine, otherwise like others have said, almost anything diesel will be better..cummins, 7.3, maybe some duramax.

Oh and her 6.0 truck was replaced with a duramax sans allison and she said it pulled the trailer like it wasnt there.

The 8.1 is a tank. Although there seems to be a 100% failure rate per engine over time with the lifters. That's just an excuse to put an upgraded cam in it IMO.

On a 24' flatbed car hauler with an 8.1, we did a mild cam when it ate the lifters and we also did some exhaust upgrades. Ever see a medium duty truck with 19.5" dual wheels do a burnout?

My only experience is with the 6.0 on my dad's farm (2002 & 2003, reg cab, LB, 4x4 w/ 4:10 rear axles). In that config the 6.0 has no problem pulling anything a 3/4 ton truck has the business to pull. That being said, they were all open or mid sided trailers, no enclosed ones and it's at sea level (ish). What's your elevation?

The 02 is right around 100k and has been trouble free, the 03 is at about 80k and had a ton of little issues like brakes, PS, AC, but no big issues (typical GM). Both have been treated like farm trucks are and pulled trailers daily from the start. Both are starting to rust away, because Michigan.

For reference prior to the 6.0's our main trucks were older Fords, one with an NA 6.9 Diesel & one with a lemon of a 351, everything feels fast after those two. We also were getting paid by the hour, so speed wasn't a priority.

FIL has an 05 2500HD ext cab long bed 4x4 with 6.0 and 4L80e. i had the pleasure of using it to pull home a 1996 2500 4x4 big block suburban. it could really have cared less that there was almost 9k behind it. i could feel it when accelerating but the truck handled the weight fine. he pulls tractors and hay wagons and crap with it on his farm. both his brothers also have that era 2500's.

I have an 02 2500hd with the 6.0 and 4L80 that is closing in on 200k miles. I borrowed my BILs enclosed trailer when I moved. He has a couple trailers and he openly admits this one pulls the hardest by far. My truck felt like it had its hands full. If I were doing that all the time I would want more engine. The chassis and brakes were sufficient.

The 8.1 will tow fine but it is a PIG on fuel and not as good as the diesel option. If you are going big displacement go with the 6.6L duramax from '04 1/2 on with the Allision 5 or 6 speed.

I've pulled 8-11k lbs of race car trailer all over the east with mine ('04 LLY 2500HD 6.6L) and it is basically what it was made for. Loads just under what you need a dualie for stability to handle, cruise control on, and roll. I get 14-15mpg pulling a 20' normal bumper pull car hauler, 23 MPG highway empty and 17-19 around town. I've got as low as 12 pulling a tall 38' 5th wheel but the drive was the same. It's bone stock save for some 17" wheels to get access to better tire choices. The truck simply has so much capability that I don't worry about wind, weight or how the truck or trailer is loaded.

The only problems I've had with it have been electrical. Door switches, window regs, wiper control, etc. Otherwise it's just been maintenance (some pretty $$$ stuff there like trans fluid @ $50/g and $1000 water pump replacement), and wear items like glow plugs, ball joints and so on well north of 100k.

Summary: Best truck ever.

codrus wrote: Personally I would stay away from the LS motor just because you can't get them with the Allison. I love my Allison. The Duramax will cost more up front than the 8.1 but will also hold its value better. I would (and did) go Duramax+Allison.

Same here. I hear the big block gasser with the Allison is a great option if you just use it as a tow vehicle, but damn is it thirsty.

Javelin wrote: Do not get a DoD/AFM engine *at all*. Other than that, good trucks. You'll end up doing a fuel pump module and a ton of window regulators, and a front end rebuild. The 6.0 should be adequate, but they also had a "VortecMAX" package or something like that for more towing capacity. The 8.1 tows like honey, but she's a thirsty pig.

Well luckily the 6.0 doesn't have AFM. There's a reason they put it in the HD trucks.

This morning I sold my Dad's 2001 with the 8.1 L and Allison. Only 47k miles on it. Driving it from Colorado to North Carolina it got 10 mpg. It's thirsty, but it can tow 16,300 pounds. A very comfortable truck, but I would not want to daily it.

6.0 NV4500

I regularly drive an '02 Suburban 2500 with the 8.1 and use it to tow our 30 ft travel trailer. Tows like it's not there, runs on regular gas, get 12-14 mpg empty or towing (which is what the turbo diesel I replaced did). I'll take the slightly lower resale for the HUGELY lower buy-in and only slightly higher fuel costs (here regular is lower than diesel so the mileage is a wash) as well as the lower total maintenance costs of the gasser, quieter running, and less stink. ;) Only way I'd go diesel is a newer Duramax/Allison and the costs to buy them are way too high for anything with the comfort of the Suburban (not putting my family in an ex work truck just because they cost a little less than the higher trims...)

trucke wrote: This morning I sold my Dad's 2001 with the 8.1 L and Allison. Only 47k miles on it. Driving it from Colorado to North Carolina it got 10 mpg. It's thirsty, but it can tow 16,300 pounds. A very comfortable truck, but I would not want to daily it.

This is the exact truck I have but in grey(and rust), anyone who says they are going to buy a 6.0 for fuel savings isn't thinking it through. The 8.1 gets pretty well the same 10 mpg economy empty or full where a 6.0 might get 12mpg empty but drops way down when loaded. Not a bad place to spend hundreds of miles either.