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Pappy · 06-25-2012, 07:30 PM

Steve,

Thanks I am trying to get one ordered. Hate it that most of the camping weather will be gone before it gets here. It sure is nice to have a group like this to bounce
ideas off of before making these decisons.

Pappy

dznf0g · 06-25-2012, 08:47 PM

Pappy, Curb weight of a 2500 Sierra Denali, gas is about 6601 with AWD (plus or minus depending on options)...GVWR is 9500....that's WITH the wife, kitchen sink AND a bunch of other stuff in the bed.
If you're really putting enough in the truck to put it at GVWR (2900 lbs), then you're prolly at or around the GCWR.

I think you're over killin' it based on my experience and loading (heavy), but I'd rather see it that way than you convincing yourself to get a 1/2 ton and saying it's fully capable. I DO THINK you will see a 10% fuel penalty....I've compared them myself. But like my daddy used to say...there are some things more important than fuel mileage.

All that said, I'd get the 3.73.

http://www.gmc.com/sierra-2500hd-den...abilities.html

Airtandem · 06-25-2012, 09:28 PM

I had a 2007 2500HD, 6L 4.10. Got 10 mpg with a 98 30 foot Excella and the same with my 10 , FC 25 fb. The 2500 crew had a very hard ride when not towing. Wife complained so traded. Had a 08 yukon with 5.? and 3.43 best ride but terrible towing. It had the short wheelbase. got 11 mpg towing. I now have a Dodge 5.7 and so far so good.
"don't confuse me with the facts; my minds made up"

ROBERT CROSS · 06-26-2012, 07:07 AM

Pappy,

Soundz like your DW lodz like mine....

I've been loaded to 15960 combined. The max for our rig is 19000, I like the extra wiggle-room the 4:10's provide.

The new 6 speeds do close the gap though.

Still, go with whatever gives you the margins your comfortable with.

Stream Happy....

Bob

c_lewis77 · 06-26-2012, 07:20 AM

I had the '07 GM 2500 SLT 6.0L Crew Cab with the 4.10. I had an issue with the truck constantly downshifting and revving the engine up to near the redline at any hint of an incline. I couldnt get much out of the dealer to resolve the issue and ended up getting rid of the truck for an Excursion.
The GMC had plenty of power and was very comfortable. If I could have had the shifting issue addressed/ resolved, I may still have the truck.

dznf0g · 06-26-2012, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by c_lewis77

I had the '07 GM 2500 SLT 6.0L Crew Cab with the 4.10. I had an issue with the truck constantly downshifting and revving the engine up to near the redline at any hint of an incline. I couldnt get much out of the dealer to resolve the issue and ended up getting rid of the truck for an Excursion.
The GMC had plenty of power and was very comfortable. If I could have had the shifting issue addressed/ resolved, I may still have the truck.

The 6 speed cures a lot of that. I've yet to have a 6.0/3.73/6 speed shift to anything below 4th gear...but I've not been in "real" mountains with that combo either.

HighFlying · 06-26-2012, 06:44 PM

I have a 2011 Chevy 2500HD with the Duramax and tow a 97 34' Airstream that can gross out at 9800lbs. With 397hp and 765lbs of torque and 3.73 gear ratio, the truck doesn't know the trailer is back there. Your torque is what moves a load while horsepower is how fast you can do it. I've driven over Raton Pass in sixth gear with and cruise control set at 65 with trailer attached and the transmission never downshifted while maintaining my speed at 1650 RPM. My past truck and trailer combo was a 97 chevy 3/4 ton 454 gasser with a 4L80E transmission and 3.73 gear ratio and pulled a 94 30' airstream. The truck had 290hp and i believe 410 lbs of torque. On the same trip the truck would slow to about 45 to 50 and down shift to third and about 4000 RPM.

So in my opinion get the truck that make's the most torque and is rated for the load you are going to be pulling and you will be happy.

Hope this helps.

slowmover · 06-26-2012, 06:47 PM

Can't touch high compression, but gearing makes a real difference (trans or axle).

Silvertwinkie · 06-26-2012, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dznf0g

I DO THINK you will see a 10% fuel penalty....I've compared them myself. But like my daddy used to say...there are some things more important than fuel mileage.

The difference in MPG between 3.73s and 4.10s is undetectable when towing. If there were a method to detect a delta in MPG between the two gear sets when towing, it would be far south of that 10%...maybe 1%?

Keep in mind we're talking a truck (moving brick), towing a mult-ton trailer, and unless you drive it (any rear gear size) 40-45mph, you are not going to get great MPG. I regularly get 11-12mpg towing about 7000lbs with 4.10s, keeping the engine in the sweet spot of about 60mph. The RPMs are a couple hundred RPMs more than with 3.73s and wear is a non-issue IMHO.

Also someone said that the engine would rev into redline. Just looked at my truck and it goes to about 7k RPM and there is no redline....though I'd like not to have get to 6k rpm. What's more, with tow/haul on, to minimizes downshifting.

My truck as I said is an 04, with a 4 speed tranny. Your results can and will vary.

Steve Bryant · 07-07-2012, 04:11 PM

Pappy,
Have you figured out what you're going to do about the rear axle ratio?

Steve

Pappy · 07-11-2012, 07:57 PM

Steve ,

It will be the 4.10 axle.
Involved in the Haggling part right now not much fun.
Plus it will have to be ordered and no delivery before the middle of
October.

Pappy

Steve Bryant · 07-12-2012, 08:37 AM

Pappy, thanks for the update. Keep us posted. I'd like to see a picture of the new truck when you get it!

Steve

Ridgerunner3 · 07-12-2012, 11:50 AM

Pappy, I have a 2012 Chevy 2500HD 4X4 with 6.0 engine and 3.73 diff. I traded a 2010 for the 2012. Many 6.0 owners, including me, notice that the mpg improve when the truck reaches around 25000 miles. Mobil 1 synthetic oil also helped with mpg on the 2010. So far I am running the GM Dexos oil in the 2012 but plan to switch to Mobil 1 at about 20000 miles. Non-ehanol gas improved mpg with the 2010. I have not tried non-ethanol in the 2012 yet.

The 2012 2500HD is a great truck. I am certain you will be very happy with it.

dznf0g · 07-16-2012, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ridgerunner3

Pappy, I have a 2012 Chevy 2500HD 4X4 with 6.0 engine and 3.73 diff. I traded a 2010 for the 2012. Many 6.0 owners, including me, notice that the mpg improve when the truck reaches around 25000 miles. Mobil 1 synthetic oil also helped with mpg on the 2010. So far I am running the GM Dexos oil in the 2012 but plan to switch to Mobil 1 at about 20000 miles. Non-ehanol gas improved mpg with the 2010. I have not tried non-ethanol in the 2012 yet.

The 2012 2500HD is a great truck. I am certain you will be very happy with it.

Mobil 1 5W-30 is a Dexos spec oil. Dexos is not a brand....it is a spec. You will find many brands of oils which are dexos licensed and approved. Dexos spec is significantly more robust than even the new GF5 spec. Google Dexos for a list of approved oil manufacturers.

Pappy · 07-21-2012, 08:52 PM

After all the discussion about Gas 6.0 liter with a 3.73 and 4.10 I ended up with a Diesel instead. GMC dealer said I couldn't get a gasser until mid october and no 4.10's to be had. Started looking at Chevys but no 4.10's either. Wife wanted to test drive a 3.73 one more time to see if we could settle for it instead. I drove it then she drove it. We were on a slight up hill run and at 3500 rpm the thing just felt like it hit a wall or stalled out at about 45mph and was going to take a lot more rpm. That was with it empty and not towing. My Titan would have easily ran that hill at under 2000rpm. The wife being the boss said forget this thing we are going to buy a diesel. I never argue with the wife. GMC 2500HD SLT Extended cab all Black. All it needed was some camping mirrors and a few skid plates so we have to wait until Tuesday to pick her up. We got the non z71 which is quite a task to find one with out that option. After driving both the z85 and z71 it was apparent to us that the z85 was the way to go for us and the Airstream.
Can't wait to go back to the Rockies and camp in those high altitude camping spots and put this Truck buying dilema in the rear view mirror.

Pappy

Steve Bryant · 07-22-2012, 08:28 AM

Pappy,
This sounds like a good deal! My son has a 2003 GMC Duramax powered K2500 with crew cab and the Alison 1000, 3.73:1 axle ratio. He's had it since new and it's a great truck that now has about 250 k miles.

When you take delivery and you come off the euphoric high of getting a new vehicle, take some pictures and post them for us. I'm happy for you folks!

All my best,

Steve

Pappy · 07-24-2012, 10:26 PM

Drove it home from Nashville, TN where I found it. About 190 mile trip the computer said 22.1 mpg. Ran mostly at 60mph trying to follow the 500 mile break in procedure of running 55mph almost impossible without getting ran over. Next is mating it up with the Hensley, airstream etc I am sure there will be some more challenges ahead.

Pappy

Steve Bryant · 07-24-2012, 11:41 PM

Great looking truck!!!

Now, we need a picture in a few weeks with it all hooked up the the Airstream!

All my best,

Steve

dznf0g · 07-25-2012, 07:14 AM

FYI, the 6" drop stinger for the Hensley is needed with the 3/4 ton GMs, in my experience. Nice truck BTW. I gotta say, (relative to some of my other posts) money aside, The Duramax 2500HD Silverado I have now for the company ride, is awesome with the 30' AS.
When I do buy, I'm really going to have to struggle with the decision vs. $$$.

Pappy · 07-26-2012, 08:47 PM

I was wondering about the stinger. Luckily I have the 4 and the 6 inch.
The Nissan was 19.5 inches off the ground and the GMC is 20.5. I used both stingers on the Nissan. The 6 to start with but after several years I tried the 4 inch and the ground clearance was better and camper level was a little nose down on one and a little nose high on the other. But only slightly I think the springs may have sagged just enough to make the 4 inch work the last few years. Tomorrow if I can stand the heat I may get her hooked up just to see where I stand. Bad heart and heat are not a good combination. Still breaking her in almost got that 500 miles but not quite.

Pappy