Further experience with GMC Sierra 1500/6.2/max trailer tow pack truck

[J. Morgan]

Diesels are not green.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/ar...usands-us.html

Better to stick with environmentally sound gasoline!




Brevi tempore!

[tjdonahoe]

Originally Posted by J. Morgan

Diesels are not green.

Diesel is killing thousands say experts, after bullying us into buying the 'green' fuel cars | Daily Mail Online

Better to stick with environmentally sound gasoline!




Brevi tempore!

The best part of this article was the advertising on the right hand column, I will keep driving my diesel outfits....

[J. Morgan]

I thought that was a great place to insert a bit of satire that was meant to seriously tug at the heartstrings of those who take seriously anything said by "experts".






Brevi tempore!

[tjdonahoe]

Originally Posted by J. Morgan

I thought that was a great place to insert a bit of satire that was meant to seriously tug at the heartstrings of those who take seriously anything said by "experts".






Brevi tempore!

I was more interested in the models.....

[CriscoCan]

I have pulled my 1969 International Overlander AS through the nice switchbacks along Hwy 9 between Fairplay and Silverthorne, CO. with my 2007 GMC Yukon XL no problems. It has the 5.3 L Flex-fuel `and a 3.4 RE. no load leveler required. No fancy stuff on her just standard equipment, no leather etc. We have 154,000 miles on her. One heat sensor replaced in transmission, and one rear sensor replaced in light and a tire sensor all this year. Looking to replace her next year with new Yukon XL.

[J. Morgan]

Originally Posted by tjdonahoe

I was more interested in the models.....

Well, you know that the ads are custom tailored to the viewer depending on collected browsing habits right?


Brevi tempore!

[J. Morgan]

Originally Posted by CriscoCan

I have pulled my 1969 International Overlander AS through the nice switchbacks along Hwy 9 between Fairplay and Silverthorne, CO. with my 2007 GMC Yukon XL no problems. It has the 5.3 L Flex-fuel `and a 3.4 RE. no load leveler required. No fancy stuff on her just standard equipment, no leather etc. We have 154,000 miles on her. One heat sensor replaced in transmission, and one rear sensor replaced in light and a tire sensor all this year. Looking to replace her next year with new Yukon XL.

I have almost the same tow vehicle, all I have replaced on it is brake pads, tires, and a battery. I have about 120K on it.

It has been very reliable and it pulls well. I think both of our 5.3s are rated at 315 HP, which is more than any 454 made after 1977.


Brevi tempore!

[BoldAdventure]

That 6.2L is no joke. I used to own one of the LS3's which is just slightly different than the one they shoved in the truck. When we first were shopping for a truck, it was #1 on my list. But every used truck I came across had the 5.3L.

That being said, I was always glad someone at GM felt it appropriate to shove the 6.2L in a 4 door sedan. Actually, this below is the only *regret* I have about full timing. I miss my babies. :'(

[tjdonahoe]

I still don't see any of them old big gas burners on the highways any more, like the IH 549, 501's , the 28 Whites, the 427 Chevys haulin drill pipe from Texas going east....

[Bev1940]

I pulled my 31'AS for years with my 1999 GMC 1500 in July 2014 I did a 7000 mi trip to the Yukon with no problems got about 11mpg. In Feb 2015 I bought a new 2014 GMC 1500 2wd regular cab long box its GCWR is 12000 lbs my GCWR on Cat scale is just over 11000 lbs and I get 15.5 mpg I set the cruise when possible and in tow haul it will hold at 60mph. My oldest son has an all dressed Silverado diesel that about 5 years old and he tows SOB and he told me he only gets 9mpg. I bought both my GMCs at end of year after the next years models were out you can get a good deal on a new truck that way. The dealer took $10,000.00 off the list price of my new truck. From now until Feb is a good time to check dealerships for a new leftover truck . I will be leaving at the end of Dec for a trip to Louisiana and FL will see how it does on that trip.

[ROBERT CROSS]

I still love our 8.1.....








Bob

[DC Bruce]

Now in Zion National Park, Utah. Having crossed the Continental Divide and having made most of the trip on non-Interstate highways (which tend to have steeper grades), we've found this combo to continue to work fine. The 400 mile rolling average fuel economy has varied from a low of 12 (rolling "uphill" to the Rockies) to 13.5. The real key to this truck's performance is the 8-speed tranny. 60 mph at 1750 rpm in 7th gear (typical cruising) and at 1400 in 8th (gentle downhills). When GM matches this tranny with the 5.3 engine, that will be a good combination. Have cleared mountain passes topping 9,000 feet and, while the engine loses power some, there's enough left to ascend at legal and prudent speeds, given the curves, etc. Grade braking works well and , while use of service brakes was needed once in a while, I never felt close to maxing out braking capacity and certainly never got them hot enough to smell. Again, the 8-speed really shines in this application.
A couple of response to other comments: auxiliary diesel tanks seem common. Auxiliary gasoline tanks not so much. I suspect that has to do with the volatility of gasoline and the need for vapor recovery systems. The Airstream Classic was a heavy trailer--10,000 GVWR, if memory serves. That's 2400 more pounds than my Flying Cloud and most that is in trailer weight, not cargo capacity, including 40 lb propane tanks in front rather than 30 in my case. Under those circumstances I might very well go to a one-ton (and diesel power) as well. When Ford puts an 8- or 9- speed tranny in the F150, I think it probably would be just as good as my truck. I'm betting that grade braking works better on my truck than on today's F150.