I plan on getting a 2012 Chevy 3500HD Crew Cab SRW Long Box Long Bed with the 6.0 gas engine.
I will be putting a Northen Lite camper on the back....3,700 lbs
The camper will be on the back 90% of the time.
I will tow a 5,000 lb boat about 2,000 miles or less each year.
The truck comes with 3.73's I'm thinking the 4.10's might be a better choice. Better get up and go around town with the camper on, certainly better towing the boat I would think, just freaked that the gas mileage would drop drasticlly.
What to you guys think?
* This post was
edited 04/30/12 01:24pm by egarant *
As primarily a work truck (heavy camper, boat, mountains, etc), I would choose the 4:10...a small mpg penalty yes, but a power advantage keeping gasser in its torque range. Easier on the drivetrain too. JMO...
Under the conditions you stated, I would also opt for the 4.10, which is what I currently have. I don't worry too much about the small loss of MPG since my TV is only used for towing our 10K lb rig and mostly sits in the garage.
....no question; get the 4.1, as sagely outlined above by all respondents.
We too have the 6L Vortec, with 4.1 (however, in the 2500HD configuration). When we did run (for 1.7 years) our truck without camper permanently aboard, we were getting a bit over 15 MPG with casual loads in the 600 LB range (landscaping), with a light foot on the accelerator (never driving over ~~55 MPH).
Our camper is considerably lighter than any NorthernLite, yet we opted for the 4.1
Are you saying you will tow a 5000 lb boat when you have the camper on or will you have a camper or tow a 5000 lb boat? If it is both, I'd probably go diesel. Otherwise, probably 4.10.
I had a 6.0 with 3.73 and it handled a 4000 lb boat by itself fine other than steeper mountains when it geared down.
I'd get the locking rear axle.
'06 F350 Lariat Supercab SRW, 6.0 PSD 4x4 Long Bed, Intake Elbow, Walker Big Truck Muffler. '06 Host Rainer 950 Double Slide, Fastguns. Firestone Air Bags, Rancho 9000s, Vision 19.5s with Hankook DH-01 245s, Energy Suspension bump stops.
Is it a SRW or a DRW truck? That TC is way too much for a SRW I believe. I would weigh the truck and then see what you have.
Frank
2011 Palomino Maverick 1000SLLB on a 2004 Dodge Quadcab CTD Ram3500 SRW long bed equipped with Timbren springs, Stable Load bump stops, Rickson 19.5" wheels/"G" range tires and a Helwig "Big Wig" rear anti sway bar.
jimh425 wrote: Are you saying you will tow a 5000 lb boat when you have the camper on or will you have a camper or tow a 5000 lb boat? If it is both, I'd probably go diesel. Otherwise, probably 4.10.
I had a 6.0 with 3.73 and it handled a 4000 lb boat by itself fine other than steeper mountains when it geared down.
I'd get the locking rear axle.
I will have both the camper and tow the boat, I think the Eaton locking diff is standard, I definitely want it. Remember I am only towing the boat with the camper around 2,000 miles or less a year, the rest of the time I will just have the camper on. Out here in California the differencial between a Chevy gas and diesel in the TOTAL price is around $10,000
I don't have a Chevy but I do have a Ford with the 6.2 and 6 speed auto with the 4.30 gears. I ordered mine that way. I don't believe that mileage suffers that much with the new 6 speed autos. I have gotten as high as 17 MPG on my truck. It was slower speeds most of the time under 65 MPH and easy on the throttle. I pull a 12,000# 5er with it and it has plenty of power and before anybody looks at my profile and sez I live in flat land (have only been living down here for about 8 months) I use to live in MT and that is where I ordered my truck. So I have pulled the 5er in the mountains and it does fine with it.
Butch
2011 F350 KR 4X4 CC LB SRW
2012 Northern Lite 10 2 CDSE
2008 Custom Weld 17' Boat
2010 Can-Am 650XT Outlander Max
2012 Harley Tri Glide
sirdrakejr wrote: Is it a SRW or a DRW truck? That TC is way too much for a SRW I believe. I would weigh the truck and then see what you have.
Frank
Frank,
One thing you have to remember is these new SRW Chevy and Ford trucks can have a GVWR of over 11,000# not like your Dodge with a 9,900 GVWR the same as my 2006 3500 Dodge had with a diesel. My 6.2 truck has a GVWR of 11,200#. This is 1300# more than my Dodge and my 6.2 engine is sure lighter than my Cummins was.
The heaviest NL is the 10-2 CDSE and the dry weight on it is 2970 and this is with almost every option the NL offeres but it is standard on the CD unit. About the only additional is the generator. NL weighs every unit when it leave their lot and puts this weight in the cupboard. I use to own a 10-2 CD and know that I didn't overload my 2002 Chevy EC 4X4 Dmax/Allison and it had a 11,400# GVWR. This unit is less than 300# more than your unit but it already has the AC on it with side, rear awnings, electric jacks, dual pane windows,TV and DVD, microwave oven.
He may have to go with 19.5 as you did on yours.
This is IMO
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edited 04/30/12 01:54pm by Butch50 *
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