Anybody towing with a Chevy,6.0 K2500?

[HntnFsh]

   I'm looking for a different truck. I have a 25 foot Komfort travel trailer that is 6300 lbs dry. Was considereing a diesel but just cant justify it. Kinda keying in on an 03 to 07 Chevy,GMC 2500HD short bed with a 6.0 and auto. I drove truck to long, so dont want a stick. Lot of used ones out there with 110,000 to 140,000 miles. Found a couple with 70,000. Probably try to find one I like with lower miles. Even though I hear they are a good 200,000 or more mile engine. If it doesnt have a good tranny cooler I will put one on it.
  Just kinda wondering what people with real life experience thought of them. How they towed something with compareable weight. Mileage etc. I'm hearing about 12 mpg towing. Does that sound out of line?

  I appreciate any input.

[Skyvalhunter]

guess not at this time of the morning

[HntnFsh]

Thank you for the valuable input Skyvalhunter

[toyman2]

I have a 99 chevy wih a 6.0 ext cab long box with a 5sp. I have hauled car trailers with no problem.
I also have a 10 1/2ft camper and tow my boat at the same time, that is a big load for the truck but it tows it fine untill i hit a big hill. for the most part I can hold speed just fine, a big hill will slow you a bit.
I get anything from 8-12mpg while towing and 14-18mpg empty. I did have to put airbags on my truck to haul any kind of real load. My chief has the same truck with the auto and said about the same thing as I have. All in all I have no real compaints 99% of the time it has no trouble holding HWY speeds.

[HntnFsh]

Thank you Toyman2. Right now I have a 98 silverado k2500 with a 5.7. It does ok but I wouldlike to make a step up. I think  something newer might do the trick. Thinking about borrowing one or if I find ione that I'm really interested in, Using it to make a short haul with my trailer to see what I gain.

[CplRaines]

I have an 05 2500 HD with the 8.1 gas engine and Allison tranny.
Have no problem towing anything.
I get 0n average 10.4 mpg whether I am empty going downhill, coasting with a tailwind or towing a 12,000 lb load up the passes. But I bought it for the towing power, not fuel economy. The thing is a beast. Love it. 

[JLS]

Thank you Toyman2. Right now I have a 98 silverado k2500 with a 5.7. It does ok but I wouldlike to make a step up. I think  something newer might do the trick. Thinking about borrowing one or if I find ione that I'm really interested in, Using it to make a short haul with my trailer to see what I gain.

The 6.0 from the 5.7 is a huge step up in terms of power.  I had a 2500 '05 with auto and 6.0 in it that I pulled a four horse stock trailer with.  Total weight would have been 6500 lbs or so and it did fine.  Mileage was never outstanding (4.10 rear end as I recall), loaded or not. 

It was a solid truck and I never had any complaints with it.

[fishngamereaper]

I have an 8.1 in an 05 Chev. Its a beast, poor gas mileage, but I love it. The 6.0 was built for towing. Good torque and not a ton of top end speed. If your goal is towing and decent gas then go with the 6.0, youll get about 12mpg while towing. If you want gobs of power, poor gas mileage then go with the 8.1, I get between 8-9 mpg's but I have a 6inch lift and 35's.

Also be wary of what tranny is behind the motor. I have an allison behind my 8.1, bullet proof. Alot of the towing power comes from a good tranny.

[Bofire]

Had one it towed my 22 foot very well, about 5500 lbs. I tow the same rig with my 1500 2010 5.3 now, it does fine but the 6 liter 2500 did a bit better. I think mine was 2005.
Carl

[300rum]

I have an '09 and tow with it.  My trailer is a 24', it will pull your 25' just fine.  I also have the automatic transmission but can switch it to manual if I want to, I think it is a 6 speed.  I am not a truck nut, I don't know much but I do know that it works and is much less expensive then the Diesel, quieter and gets about the same fuel milage as my buddies 2011 Dodge Diesel.  He gets 9 in town, I get about 10 towing.  I get about 13 overall.  This is just what the dash is telling me, I have never checked it other than that.  Mine has a transmission cooler, I can push a button to show the trans. temp.  The temp. has never really gone up much, say when going up White Pass outside of Packwood in the summer, as an example.  I am pleased with it.   

[HntnFsh]

Thanks guys. I ruled out the 8.1 Its a good motor with plenty of power. But everything I hear is it gets about 10 mpg no matter what. I like the Allison tranny. But pretty sure they dont put them in the 6.0. The 6.0 had about 50 more h.p and 40 more ft. lbs of torque at rpms that work better for towing than my 5.7 in my 98 silverado. So I'm sure it will be a step up from what I have now.

[300rum]

There is a big differeance between my old 5.7 and the 6L engine when towing.  You will be happy with it. 

Thanks guys. I ruled out the 8.1 Its a good motor with plenty of power. But everything I hear is it gets about 10 mpg no matter what. I like the Allison tranny. But pretty sure they dont put them in the 6.0. The 6.0 had about 50 more h.p and 40 more ft. lbs of torque at rpms that work better for towing than my 5.7 in my 98 silverado. So I'm sure it will be a step up from what I have now.

[Wanttohuntmore]

My father in law, and also a friend, both have that setup, and pull the same weight trailer, both of their's are 2005 models, 4x4, short bed, with 6.0.  They both get about 8mpg towing 7000 lbs.  I have a 5.7 Tundra and get about 8 as well, towing on I90.  Getting better than 8, I will be surprised, unless it's a diesel.

[JLS]

My father in law, and also a friend, both have that setup, and pull the same weight trailer, both of their's are 2005 models, 4x4, short bed, with 6.0.  They both get about 8mpg towing 7000 lbs.  I have a 5.7 Tundra and get about 8 as well, towing on I90.  Getting better than 8, I will be surprised, unless it's a diesel.

8 mpg is about what I would get towing, 11-12 mpg regular driving.  Those year trucks really are nice.

[C-Money]

We are running 3500 with the 6.0 for grass trucks. They haul 300gal of water and a full compliment of tools/gear. Seem to do Ok, but the auto tranny does shift a lot at highway speed. Good reliable trucks, but I would want a little more motor if I was doing a lot of hauling.

[Grit dog]

It will tow your TT ok, but not stellar.  No way 12mpg towing.  More like 12-14empty and <10towing.  Nothing wrong with the truck or engine, they just don't make good torque down low.  They need to be wound up to pull hard.
I'd hone in more on a 8.1/Alli combo.  Your gas mileage won't really suffer at all compared to the 6.0 and it will pull like an older diesel but not as good of mileage.  Plus the Alli is twice the trans the 4L80 is or whatever the lighter trucks have.
Edit: my exp with these trucks is at high altitude, so you'll do a little better here in WA overall in terms of power. 

[Woodchuck]

6.0's are good engines, the lighter duty trans is not a real highpoint but it is what it is. Do this, hook a 6.0 truck to your trailer and pull a big hill. Then go hook it to a Duramax and pull the same hill. The difference is startling.
The Duramax takes the least amount of oil of all the diesels. Injectors are a known possible issue at least in the older ones, they are fired by multiplied oil pressure. It has been suggest by many that regular oil changes seem to really lower the rate of failure in the the Duramax and Powerstroke. The Allison trans can not be beat in the light truck auto trans world. The mileage gains alone help offset some of the higher maint. costs for a truck that will last a great deal longer. 

[MHWASH]

While Woodchuck makes a good point on the diesel, not everyone needs one. I could not justify spending the 5-6k when I only toy 10 -12 times a year. I had a '04 2500 w/ the 6.0, and now have a '09 6.0. They both do a fine job, but not in the same class as a diesel. If you can step up to the newer tranny like I have in the '09. It is a 6 speed and  I like it alot better than the 5spd auto. Both rigs got the same mileage, 12 average, 14 hwy, and 9 towing. Being a gas motor I'm very happy with the PU. I tried to find a 8.1, but they were just not around.

[HntnFsh]

Ya,I was seriously kicking around a diesel. And would love to have 1. But with the amt of towing i will be doing,the price difference in fuel and maintenance. I just cant justify the added costs. Around here gas has been dropping significantly. But diesel is still really high.45-75 cents a gallon more. I wouldnt use the diesel in a way that would come close to offsetting the costs involved.

 I have been seeing a few 8.1s with the Allison. And they seem to run a little cheaper than the 6.0. From what I have been hearing they get about 10 mpg no matter what. I may consider that option. It might just come down to which 1 I can get a better deal on. Wish I could step up to an 09 but I'm going to have to stay around 20 grand.

Think I will start getting the Tundra detailed and ready to sell.Then start some serious shopping.

[rasbo]

i own one and tow a 23ft komfort,9 mpg ...11mpg towing my 17ft alumaweld..15 to 17 mph depending on terrain with the truck alone...I use tow mode and gear down on climbs and take it easy

[Masterhunter340]

I have 01 6 liter with 170,000 miles and it tows my boat with camper or my stick trailer great. I even added the computer chip and it gives it even more power!