Looked at a few trucks and saw a couple of nice ones with 6.0L engines. Wondering how they do towing an enclosed power wise. Any fuel mileage results towing?

I have an 02 gmc sierra 1500 hd with the 6.0 4x4 and I have a 24' enclosed with 2500 lb tongue weight. I had to add air bags and use the equalizer hitch, but as for power, no complaints. 40 miles an hour over the three passes we have from California to Nevada but cruises fine flat. Now as for mileage, not good. Around town, stop and go, 8-9 is best, freeway maybe 15 flat ground, no towing. Towing my heavy trailer, the best I ever got was 12 freeway, stop and go towing as low as 5mpg. Towing my trailer is like towing the Titanic.

Mileage is what it is for these. 14-16 is the best all around I get without a trailer. Worse with the trailer.

I'm in the Illinois flatlands, and the 6.0 in my 3/4 ton was fine with the 28' trailer. It gets the job done with my 44' gooseneck. Handles the trailer fine with bags. But could of course use some extra unph. It's working. I really don't want to go diesel. But may have to eventually. I even thought about a 90's 454 dually. I have said before that if I can't write a check for it, I don't drive it. But the price tag on anything diesel with under 200k on the odometer is a hard check to write.

2002 chevy 2500hd 24ft trailer 1400 f.e.d.11/12 mpg.Without trailer 13/14mpg,take off tailgate 14/15 mpg.Has 230,000 miles with good service record.

The price of worn out diesels has skyrocketed, paying 20k for a truck with almost 300k on it just doesn't make good sense to me.
I didn't expect a 6.0l to get good gas mileage but what I see it's acceptable. I've got an old 28' Pace and a 3k door car so it's heavy. I tow with a K2500 with a 5.7L right now so it would be nice to have more power. If I stay local within an hour or 2 my 5.7l is adequate, local track is 7 mi. If I travel there is no direction I can go that doesn't have a mountain except to go towards Chattanooga.

I agree with the above posts, I wouldn't buy a used diesel right now. I'd wait until those paying these high prices put their trucks back on the market. I'd feel better with a couple more downshifts per trip and being stuck with an overpriced truck right now.

I have a 2004 2500HD 6.0 and a 4:10 gear. Towing a 10,000 5th wheel I would get 7 to 8 mpg. Driving truck 14 - 15. same pulling my fishing boat. For me it cost to much to maintain a diesel. I will be towing a new to me bracket car next summer with an open trailer I expect to get 10 mpg with it.

Maybe consider trying to lighten the load and a lighter 24’ trailer, perhaps aluminum.

Mine is a 3.73 gear. I have thought about 4.10 or more. But it’s 4wd and a fair investment. Not sure if it would be worth it. I’m basically never using 6th gear now while towing

quote:

Originally posted by Bucky:
Mine is a 3.73 gear. I have thought about 4.10 or more. But it’s 4wd and a fair investment. Not sure if it would be worth it. I’m basically never using 6th gear now while towing

One of my trucks was a 454 and I think it came with 4.10, who ever had it put lower gear (probably 4.56?) anyway it is terrible for towing, it just puts it right where it is kicking down and screaming motor every few minutes at cruise speed. Real pain in the tail. Although it does pull better from a stop I would not put lower gear in it.
There may be a way to change transmission settings so it does not do it as bad?

That has to be irritating! Is it lugging and running out of power before the downshift? You are right it may just be a bad spot rpm wise. And the four speeds have a wider distance between ratios each gear.
I think it used to be popular to install a gear vendors in those for the racing guys pulling heavy trailers. Those units aren't cheap though.

I had a '96 GMC with a 7.4 and it was a dog
Bought it new...4x4
I added a cold air intake and used a programmer and it was a lot better but had to run premium fuel
Mileage was never great and towing with a truck camper on the truck was 10 or less

I bought a 2007 Duramax after that and still have it...Night and day difference....not even close...

Mileage is a better than the 7.4 and pulling power is a huge amount better....

It's getting crusty but I will keep it till it needs something out of my ability to fix...

Newer trucks are better on mileage. My 2017 2WD Suburban with 5.3L gets 22mpg highway cruising at 75-80mph. It has the "max trailering package" that ups the rear gear from 3.08 to 3.42.

Towing an 18' open trailer with 4,000lb street/strip car on board, I get 14mpg at 65-70mph. I figure I'm right at 6000 lbs total trailer plus car.

The factory rated towing capacity is 8500 lbs - don't know if that would cover your loaded 28' enclosed or not.

I agree with Scdiv1.
I have a 98 K3500 with 7.4L. It never met a gas station it didn't like!
And had to hammer down a mile before the bridge crossings. Mine was stock.

A friend just took his new 2023 GMC 6.6L 2500 4X4 to NC from NJ for the dooslammers race towing a 28' enclosed with five people in the truck.Said it was the best tow he ever had.

I only towed with my 2003 2500HD extended cab 2WD 6.0 a handful of times, but I was impressed with it power-wise as my trailer is 9500 lbs (32', dragster, golf cart, drum of alky). It definitely had more power than my 90's era 454 and it was respectable on gas. Just a heads up though - I just bought a 2015 2500HD crew-cab 4wd with a 6.0. I love the truck and I have not towed with it yet but even though it has a higher HP rating than my old 2003, it doesn't seem as powerful, which I am assuming is because its bigger, better equipped & has 4WD.... I was just a bit surprised as I was expecting the new truck to feel faster than the old truck. The 6.0 is a great engine though - I think unless your trailer is very heavy or you typically tow in a lot of mountainous areas you will be ok.

4016 2500 HD towing 32" not loaded but has quite a bit parts and tools. Getting 9 mpg towing backroads and around 12 HWY. That was few weeks ago towing to show in Mountains but no real hard grades.

I wanted the Duramax but repair bills for one kept me from buying one. Mine pulls fine does take more time to pull up to speed than I would like and the extra tq of diesel would be nice. Just my take on it power wise

I have a 2015 6.0 and a 2022 6.6. both are crew cab 4x4 2500's. Both tow well and are great trucks. 15 gets 10-12 towing. 22 gets 12-14 towing. 6.6 feels like it has a bunch more power and drives much smoother. Steering in the 22 is like butter. Nicest riding truck I've ever had. Can't kill those GM gas engines imo. I had diesels and they are AMAZING!! Dodge and GM. I stayed way this time due to no dealers having a clue how to fix them and all the emissions stuff.

I have a 16 2500HD 4 door with the 6.0 and tow my 30' trailer, golf cart, dragster, honda 6500 and almost a spare of everything except motor. It tows great without leveling bars.

Doesn't GM offer a 6.2 now also?

Apples and oranges I know but I have a 6.2 Ford and it tows great. I only tow right at 7000lbs though.

'23 6.6 SLT Crew Cab 2WD dually, gets 8.2 - 9.2 towing the 24' enclosed 68-72 MPH, 17 mixed driving -19 highway empty.
L8T 6.6L iron block, no DOD tricks.
All the power you could want.
Too much money?
Yeah, but so far worth every penny.

For the money, in the current market, just buy new.

I shopped, off and on, for that "right" used Crew Cab truck, for 20 YEARS before I just pulled the trigger on ordering "my" truck.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Goob,