blt2ski
Kirkland, Wa
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Joined: 03/15/2001
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I'm pulling semi frequently a 6500 lb trailer with a 4.3 V6 dual cab 4x. I'm positive the 5.3 would be faster, quicker etc. Especially with the 8 or 10 sp trans. With that said, the 4.3 6 sp pulls this trailer power wise every bit as well or better than the BB 454 3 sp auto setups I used when I bought said trailer back in the early 90's. Granted this is an equipment trailer with a smaller excavator, so not a lot of wind resistance vs an RV trailer.
I did put a 1500 lb helper spring on it, it does not sag as much as stock with 3900 lb springs. I did gain about 1.5-2" of ride height..... balanced this out with a 2' Leveling strut kit..... rides better too.
I've gotten 25 on the freeway at 60 mph, a friend of mine with an equal 5.3 has gotten 22-23. Hes about 3 mpg less in the city. Both of us have the cylinder shut off option. If you do not get this, you can figure getting 2-4 mpg on the freeway less than having this option. I don't get as much now, with the lift, and putting heavier taller tires on it, I've lost about 2-3 mpg all around. Not a lot of seat of the pants power loss pulling my trailer or otherwise.
I have not heard any good or bad about the TD in the 1500's. But with a 25-40 mpg epa city freeway rating. That's with the extra $1000-1500 cost on it!
Good luck on choice!
Marty
92 Navistar dump truck, 7.3L 7 sp, 4.33 gears with a Detroit no spin
2014 Chevy 1500 Dual cab 4x4
92 Red-e-haul 12K equipment trailer
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KD4UPL
Swoope, VA
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Joined: 03/16/2008
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Ordering a truck is crazy right now. I just ordered a new work truck yesterday; a 2022 GMC 3500 cab & chassis. The dealer had 4 allocations for Chevys but they couldn't be work trucks. He had one allocation for a GMC and it could be a work truck and so, my new one will be a GMC.
Further, he said my order was going in ahead of 5 other customers who had wanted certain options that weren't available. He showed me the list. one of the not available features was the 6.6L gas engine. I had been debating on getting the gas but decided to go with the diesel. "So, if I had wanted the gas it wouldn't have been ordered?" I asked him. "That's right." he said. "They won't take any orders for gas engines right now."
What a weird way to have to run a business.
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LITEPHIL
AZ
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Joined: 07/02/2003
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KD4UPL wrote:Ordering a truck is crazy right now. I just ordered a new work truck yesterday; a 2022 GMC 3500 cab & chassis. The dealer had 4 allocations for Chevys but they couldn't be work trucks. He had one allocation for a GMC and it could be a work truck and so, my new one will be a GMC.
Further, he said my order was going in ahead of 5 other customers who had wanted certain options that weren't available. He showed me the list. one of the not available features was the 6.6L gas engine. I had been debating on getting the gas but decided to go with the diesel. "So, if I had wanted the gas it wouldn't have been ordered?" I asked him. "That's right." he said. "They won't take any orders for gas engines right now."
What a weird way to have to run a business.
My dealer didn't express any problems ordering a 3.0 diesel but it wouldn't let him build a truck with the 5.3.
2022 Chevy Silverado RST Duramax NHT
1954 Chevy 3100 Carryall 4x4
2008 Salem T23FBL
04 FXDL Harley
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ksss
Eastern Idaho
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Joined: 02/19/2011
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My brother just got his '22 GMC 3500 Denali with the 6.6 gas last week. It was ordered in July. Personally, I would have waited for the 10 speed and the new interior, but sometimes things don't work out like you would like sometimes. I am anxious to hear what he thinks of it. He is the only person I know that has one.
2020 Chevy 3500 CC 4X4 DRW D/A
2013 Fuzion 342
2011 RZR Desert Tan
2012 Sea Doo GTX 155
2018 Chevy 3500HD CC LB SRW 4X4 D/A
2015 Chevy Camaro ZL1
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LITEPHIL
AZ
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ksss wrote:My brother just got his '22 GMC 3500 Denali with the 6.6 gas last week. It was ordered in July. Personally, I would have waited for the 10 speed and the new interior, but sometimes things don't work out like you would like sometimes. I am anxious to hear what he thinks of it. He is the only person I know that has one.
So far there has been no indication that GM will be putting the 10 speed up to the 6.6 gas anytime soon. Makes no sense
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ksss
Eastern Idaho
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I thought I had heard that they were going to the 10 speed in 2023? Maybe I was just WANTING to hear that.
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APT
SE Michigan
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Joined: 06/09/2010
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How many miles per year overall do you expect? Here are my recommendations:
Less than 8k per year -> 2500 6.6L gas
8>15k per year -> 1500 5.3 or 6.2L
>15k per year -> 1500 baby D-max
* This post was
edited 02/12/22 08:57pm by APT *
A & A parents of DD 2005, DS1 2007, DS2 2009
2011 Suburban 2500 6.0L 3.73 pulling 2011 Heartland North Trail 28BRS
2017 Subaru Outback 3.6R
2020 Chevrolet Bolt
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JCK
Ohio
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Joined: 04/20/2005
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Iv had a 2015 GMC 1500 6.2 eight speed with NHT package pulling a Keystone Bullet 30 ft. At around 6500 lbs. using a Equilizer 4 point hitch. Nice truck hated pulling trailer with it. Lots of power and plenty of payload. Trailer did not sway but could never drive without 2 hands on the steering wheel and would porpoise a little on bridges . Part of the problem was with that package came 2O inch wheels that are P rated with short sidewalls.
I currently have a Grand Design 30 foot TT weighs 7000 lbs and a GMC 2500 Duramax same hitch. Absolutely love this truck see signature.
Have towed over 20,000 miles with this setup. Rain wind mountains doesn’t matter. Been from Ohio to the Rockies 3 times and would not change a thing. 36 gallon tank gets me a range of 400 to 450 miles before I needed to fuel up. Most times I would just fuel up when stoping for the night. With the 6.2 gas1500 small tank it was every 200 miles hated that.
I would not change a thing !!
Jeff
2019 GMC Denali 2500 Duramax
2018 Grand Design Imagine 2500 RL
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Sjm9911
New Jersey
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Ill agree ,had similar experience with my 1500, and stopping for gas with it was really a trip killer. Thats why I asked how far do you tow . It matters.
2012 kz spree 220 ks
2020 Silverado 2500
Equalizer ( because i have it)
Formerly a pup owner.
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LITEPHIL
AZ
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Sjm9911 wrote:Ill agree ,had similar experience with my 1500, and stopping for gas with it was really a trip killer. Thats why I asked how far do you tow . It matters.
Every trip is different and a couple hundred miles between fill ups isn't all that bad but I'm leaning towards the 3.0 Duramax now and that should extend things a bit I hope.
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