Chevy 2500hd Silverado worth it's salt?

[davidz71]

Originally Posted by stowaways

Red...It's shiny white with tan leather! Appears to be a one owner and in great condition. I believe it's a 4.11 rear with a 6.0. After reading a few other posts on the factory receiver, may need to give it a second look. Might consider the extra fuel tank as well---because you know when you left off on the gas---the dogs suddenly have to pee. ; )

I think you'll find the truck has 4.10 rear gears rather than 4.11. The Chevy RPO code is G84 if I am not mistaken.

[16595]

I have a 2006 GMC 2500HD (4.10 rear end). Round trip to Bozeman pulling a 31' we averaged 10.38mpg on 3200 miles. Love it a lot. Would like to have a diesel but the cost...

Another member of the Nebraksa unit has a diesel. In comparison it seems that he pays about 18-20% more for fuel than we do, but gets about 38% better mpg. He is pulling the same trailer as us on the same route for the comparison.

The diesel does not downshift very often whereas we do with the 6.0. But that is not too big a deal.

Dwight

[Denis4x4]

Just returned from a trip yesterday that included Slumgullion Pass and Wolf Creek pass pulling an '06 25' Safari FB with an '06 GMC 2500 crewcab with the 6.0 and 4:10 gears. Overall mileage was 11.2 MPG. On a recent trip from Durango to San Diego, I got 17.6 MPG using cruise control at 64 MPH. Over the course of 6 days, gas prices ranged fro $4.69 for unleaded in Lake City to $3.85 in Alamosa. Diesel was at least 75 cents to a dollar more. Last time I had my truck serviced, I noticed that there was an eight grand spread between a gas and diesel truck.

[Denis4x4]

Clarification: The 17.6 MPG was not towing!!!!

[Ramp]

My 02 Duramax pulls my 27' Excella like a dream uphill and down. One of the great things about the HD is that it has ton brakes and master cylinder. I have pulled a lot of equipment a lot heavier than an Airstream and have not had a problem. 110,000 miles only thing I have replaced were the idler pullys for the fan belt and a front hub. I have never heard of a receiver failing. Mine is rated at 12,000 lbs.

[davidz71]

Originally Posted by Denis4x4

Just returned from a trip yesterday that included Slumgullion Pass and Wolf Creek pass pulling an '06 25' Safari FB with an '06 GMC 2500 crewcab with the 6.0 and 4:10 gears. Overall mileage was 11.2 MPG. On a recent trip from Durango to San Diego, I got 17.6 MPG using cruise control at 64 MPH. Over the course of 6 days, gas prices ranged fro $4.69 for unleaded in Lake City to $3.85 in Alamosa. Diesel was at least 75 cents to a dollar more. Last time I had my truck serviced, I noticed that there was an eight grand spread between a gas and diesel truck.

Not bad mileage for a 6.0 Chevy gasser in 2500hd clothing. They usually get 10 mpg just like the 8.1 in towing and 17-18 mpg not towing on highway. I see 14.9 mpg not towing on the highway with regularity at 68 mph and have broken 15 a number of times at 65 mph.

[16595]

I would be thrilled to death to get the sort of mpg you are talking about. I doubt I've ever done over 14 driving at 65 (interstate).

Do you have any aftermarket mods to do this? Do I need a trip to the dealer for a checkout?

Dwight

[DreamStreamr]

I mentioned in earlier post how wonderful our truck is. Not to detract at all, we have two warranty corrections. Dealer replaced the receiver assembly when we noticed the pin hole in the receiver was wallowed out pretty badly. Dealer said he'd never seen this, but he did not hesitate to replace it No Cost.

I complained to Ressler Chevrolet in Bozeman, MT, of high oil consumption on my 8.1L Vortec. I'd heard these engines were bad for this and might have some dealer/mfr magic they could work on it. He said, No, not for the 2006 but let him look over it anyway. Bingo! They found a cracked oil cooler line, replaced it No Cost. Gave me a GM form to log oil consumption in case it still seemed excessive. Treated me great, got me in and out in under a few hours with the oil leak check, replacement of the cracked line, and an oil change. Very fine customer service, very fine service to my truck. I'll go back next time I'm in Bozeman.

Six weeks and 2,600 miles later, the dipstick oil level is unchanged. Sweet.

The only mods we've made are a tonneau cover, a transfer flow replacement fuel tank to upgrade from a 26 to a 45 gallon capacity, and a bunch of 12v and coax wires for amateur radios.

Gas mileage isn't much to write home about (maybe it'll improve after we get it broken in, only has 26,000 miles on it), power is what we expected from a big block V-8, exhaust sound is better than we expected (quieter than any diesel but has a very nice rumble), seats (cloth captain) are most comfortable of any we've had (vw, audi, mazda, honda, volvo, bmw). What a great truck!

Guess I'll try a Dodge next time, or a Ford, to see what I'm missing, you know? But a diesel? Not in the foreseeable.

Jim
Cascade Locks, OR

[boatdoc]

Originally Posted by BillTex

That truck, with the 4.10 rear, will pull 2 or 3 of anything AirStream ever made...

Bill (nuthin but GM's) Tex

Hey Bill Tex; You are so right. My 06 2500 HD with 6.0 L with 410 hardly knows that is towing my 26' Arg. MPG's depend on terrain and how hard one drives. While the 6.6L diesel with Duramax is the best, I am happy with my gasser. While I do not know much about Ford one thing for sure, I would go crazy listening to that rattle box. At least with Duramax the noise level inside the cab is very tolerable. To improve MPG's I am entertaining the idea of installing a K&N cold intake kit. Aside of the junk factory hitch which I already dumped and installed ULTIMATE FRAME hitch I love my 2500HD. Thanks, "Boatdoc"

[stowaways]

Well, we hitched up this weekend to test her mettle and couldn't be happier! It's so quiet, and from what we could tell, perfectly capable. On the CAT scales they both weighed in (with Hensley) at 13,200 lbs. Truck was too light to weigh independently. Should have a good idea of how close we are to the gross on the Safari. Thanks for all of the input. It made pulling the trigger much easier. : )