Modern 3/4t Gassers

[jhama78]

FWIW, I have an 06 CC LWB 4WD Silverado 3500 with the 8.1, Allison 6spd, and 4.10s on 275 bfgs. Not really modern but not really all that old either.

Just got back from a 900 mile round trip from the east coast of Va to Bluefield west va to ride the trails. Trailer and 2 sxs weighed approximately 6k plus probably another 800 or so in coolers, tools, etc... averaged 8 MPG out and back which is only down from 9.8-10.8 daily driving. Power was never an issue, it just wont pass a gas pump...

 

[DocRamsay]

FWIW, I have an 06 CC LWB 4WD Silverado 3500 with the 8.1, Allison 6spd, and 4.10s on 275 bfgs. Not really modern but not really all that old either.

Just got back from a 900 mile round trip from the east coast of Va to Bluefield west va to ride the trails. Trailer and 2 sxs weighed approximately 6k plus probably another 800 or so in coolers, tools, etc... averaged 8 MPG out and back which is only down from 9.8-10.8 daily driving. Power was never an issue, it just wont pass a gas pump...

Man I'm trying to give up my GMT800 addiction! It's led to quite a few argument with the missus standing in the driveway while I bust knuckles on the ol Tahoe and she's yelling "please! just buy a new truck!"

 

[rockota]

Anyone towing with a 7.3/10-speed/3.55 combo?

Considering switching from the 6.7 to 7.3. Want f350, but hard to find with the options I want. Found a few f250’s… but they are 3.55’s instead of 4.30’s.

Drove the neighbors 7.3/10/3.73 combo today and it seems waaaaay under geared to me…. So thinking about 3.55 is giving he hives.

 

[CarterKraft]

Anyone towing with a 7.3/10-speed/3.55 combo?

Considering switching from the 6.7 to 7.3. Want f350, but hard to find with the options I want. Found a few f250’s… but they are 3.55’s instead of 4.30’s.

Drove the neighbors 7.3/10/3.73 combo today and it seems waaaaay under geared to me…. So thinking about 3.55 is giving he hives.

You worried about highway loads or starting out?
With the 3 overdrives you can just lockout 10 or 9th.

 

[rockota]

You worried about highway loads or starting out?
With the 3 overdrives you can just lockout 10 or 9th.

General experience.

Agree with the locking out .. plenty of gears choose from.

Acceleration would be a key item, which means 4.30.

The 7.3 running at 1100 rpm at 50 isn’t the same experience as the 6.7 running 1100 at 50

 

[CarterKraft]

General experience.

Agree with the locking out .. plenty of gears choose from.

Acceleration would be a key item, which means 4.30.

The 7.3 running at 1100 rpm at 50 isn’t the same experience as the 5.7 running 1100 at 50

With the 10 speed 1st is pretty low too but I will say the 3.55 vs 4.11 was felt in my 6.7.
I don't think it actually limits performance on any way but you can feel it in how hard you have to work the pedal/truck.

A comparison might be a cordless drill driving lag bolts in 2ndvor 1st, yeah it can do it in 2nd but it was easier in 1st.

In the gasser you probably want the 4.30 ideally.

 

[YotaAtieToo]

With a 4.2 or so 1st gear, I can't see 3.55 to 4.30s being that big of a deal. Unless you're always towing. Even with 3.55s it's the equivalent to 6.39 r&p in a mid 00s truck



Iirc gunracer1 runs tall gears in his 7.3

 

[gunracer1]

With a 4.2 or so 1st gear, I can't see 3.55 to 4.30s being that big of a deal. Unless you're always towing. Even with 3.55s it's the equivalent to 6.39 r&p in a mid 00s truck



Iirc gunracer1 runs tall gears in his 7.3

3;73s, i lock out 8th 9th and 10 when I'm towing real heavy.

 

[rockota]

With the 10 speed 1st is pretty low too but I will say the 3.55 vs 4.11 was felt in my 6.7.
I don't think it actually limits performance on any way but you can feel it in how hard you have to work the pedal/truck.

A comparison might be a cordless drill driving lag bolts in 2ndvor 1st, yeah it can do it in 2nd but it was easier in 1st.

In the gasser you probably want the 4.30 ideally.

I'd much rather have 3.73 or a 4.11 in my current rig. Then again, I've never wanted for more power thus far. It's the loping along at 1050rpm that kind of drives me nuts.

 

[gunracer1]

Anyone towing with a 7.3/10-speed/3.55 combo?

Considering switching from the 6.7 to 7.3. Want f350, but hard to find with the options I want. Found a few f250’s… but they are 3.55’s instead of 4.30’s.

Drove the neighbors 7.3/10/3.73 combo today and it seems waaaaay under geared to me…. So thinking about 3.55 is giving he hives.

you are spoiled to the diesel low end grunt. if you put the truck in sport mode it gives you the true response to your foot, the normal or eco modes give that weak ass gas pedal.

 

[TRINDU]

3;73s, i lock out 8th 9th and 10 when I'm towing real heavy.

So 3k @ 70? Sounds about right.

I think at a certain cubes and weight it doesn't matter. You're getting 10 MPG regardless of perceived rpm.

 

[rockota]

you are spoiled to the diesel low end grunt. if you put the truck in sport mode it gives you the true response to your foot, the normal or eco modes give that weak ass gas pedal.

stomped on his in 3rd and let it go to 5500... it was nice.

Trans didn't seem to want to shift out of 3rd for 1/8 mile after that. I've bitched about the tuning in 3rd on mine for years, though...

 

[gunracer1]

So 3k @ 70? Sounds about right.

I think at a certain cubes and weight it doesn't matter. You're getting 10 MPG regardless of perceived rpm.

more like 80, stock tires are 34''s. and i have got all the way down to 5.8 mpg with a headwind and two hummers on the trailer. but i have got 6.0 mpg with a diesel also. shitty wind drag.

 

[Kunker]

So once you get used to lying about mileage on a Cummins, it continues to every other truck you buy for the rest of your life. Got it.

18mpg from a 3/4 ton gasser. LOL.

2020 2500 Chevy, 6.6L gas. Unloaded, 15-17l/100km (Canadian, you google it). That's over 15k KM before I unloaded it (not using it enough to justify). 18 might be a bit high, but not unheard of if you have more highway and a light foot. Dropped to 20-30l/100km with a 4K TT, which my old common rail Dodge did not do.

EDIT. The Dodge averaged 15l/100KM pretty much dead on unloaded, and rarely got over 20 when towing the same load, over the 40K km I kept track. All hand calc'ed.

 

[CarterKraft]

2020 2500 Chevy, 6.6L gas. Unloaded, 15-17l/100km (Canadian, you google it). That's over 15k KM before I unloaded it (not using it enough to justify). 18 might be a bit high, but not unheard of if you have more highway and a light foot. Dropped to 20-30l/100km with a 4K TT, which my old common rail Dodge did not do.

EDIT. The Dodge averaged 15l/100KM pretty much dead on unloaded, and rarely got over 20 when towing the same load, over the 40K km I kept track. All hand calc'ed.

What did he just say?

 

[YotaAtieToo]

you are spoiled to the diesel low end grunt. if you put the truck in sport mode it gives you the true response to your foot, the normal or eco modes give that weak ass gas pedal.

You came from a duramax no?

Last I looked the 6 speed still has a 3:1 first gear, with 3.73s I noticed our various duramax trucks seem to feel strained to get a load moving. Of course I mostly run a F550 with a 6.7 and 4.88s. But even my personal F350 has 3.73s and doesn't seem to mind as much.

 

[YotaAtieToo]

2020 2500 Chevy, 6.6L gas. Unloaded, 15-17l/100km (Canadian, you google it). That's over 15k KM before I unloaded it (not using it enough to justify). 18 might be a bit high, but not unheard of if you have more highway and a light foot. Dropped to 20-30l/100km with a 4K TT, which my old common rail Dodge did not do.

EDIT. The Dodge averaged 15l/100KM pretty much dead on unloaded, and rarely got over 20 when towing the same load, over the 40K km I kept track. All hand calc'ed.

 

[gunracer1]

You came from a duramax no?

Last I looked the 6 speed still has a 3:1 first gear, with 3.73s I noticed our various duramax trucks seem to feel strained to get a load moving. Of course I mostly run a F550 with a 6.7 and 4.88s. But even my personal F350 has 3.73s and doesn't seem to mind as much.

i lined my 19 duramax up with a buddies 19 f350, both crew 4x4 long beds. he had a little heavier trailer than mine. i had driven the ford that morning and swore it felt faster than my truck. he took the hit and got a fender on me going up this big hill. as soon an i got on boost i slowly reeled him in. honestly i don't think there was a 5 hp difference between the trucks. now a days everyone has 400 or more hp, we can tow anything we can hook to legally no problem, gas or diesel.

 

[zerobalance]

Anyone towing with a 7.3/10-speed/3.55 combo?

Considering switching from the 6.7 to 7.3. Want f350, but hard to find with the options I want. Found a few f250’s… but they are 3.55’s instead of 4.30’s.

Drove the neighbors 7.3/10/3.73 combo today and it seems waaaaay under geared to me…. So thinking about 3.55 is giving he hives.

My 6.2 6 speed 2019 SUCKED with 3.55. I have 4.30 with the 10 speed and 7.3 and it's absolutely perfect in my opinion.

 

[YotaAtieToo]

i lined my 19 duramax up with a buddies 19 f350, both crew 4x4 long beds. he had a little heavier trailer than mine. i had driven the ford that morning and swore it felt faster than my truck. he took the hit and got a fender on me going up this big hill. as soon an i got on boost i slowly reeled him in. honestly i don't think there was a 5 hp difference between the trucks. now a days everyone has 400 or more hp, we can tow anything we can hook to legally no problem, gas or diesel.

I agree. It was more the gearing that was noticeable. The F550 has a lot less power being a debrated c&c, but it is night and day getting the load moving over the duramax. But that's 4.88x4.1 1st vs 3.54?x3.0

If I was towing heavy with a lot of stop and go I'd opt for 4.30s, but otherwise I'd think the 10 speed would make up for a lot.

 

[What?]

FWIW, I have an 06 CC LWB 4WD Silverado 3500 with the 8.1, Allison 6spd, and 4.10s on 275 bfgs. Not really modern but not really all that old either.

Just got back from a 900 mile round trip from the east coast of Va to Bluefield west va to ride the trails. Trailer and 2 sxs weighed approximately 6k plus probably another 800 or so in coolers, tools, etc... averaged 8 MPG out and back which is only down from 9.8-10.8 daily driving. Power was never an issue, it just wont pass a gas pump...

I love my 8.1 also and damn comfortable, mpg isn't as good as diesel but damn it tows good and love that instant torque. It's awesome you got the 6spd Allison on yours

 

[FordFascist]

2020 2500 Chevy, 6.6L gas. Unloaded, 15-17l/100km (Canadian, you google it). That's over 15k KM before I unloaded it (not using it enough to justify). 18 might be a bit high, but not unheard of if you have more highway and a light foot. Dropped to 20-30l/100km with a 4K TT, which my old common rail Dodge did not do.

EDIT. The Dodge averaged 15l/100KM pretty much dead on unloaded, and rarely got over 20 when towing the same load, over the 40K km I kept track. All hand calc'ed.

Dicks are measured in inches. Vaginas are measured in CM.

 

[89yjon]

So I just got back from my trip. Ohio to Missouri and back. Grossing about 27k, truck trailer and both jeeps. Did 1724 miles total at an average speed of 73-78 mph and hand calculated 7.4 mpg. When on mostly flat ground, the truck would run in 10th gear at 2200 at 79 mph.

 

[Rockwood]

6.2 ford seems to be the way to go.
no way a modern diesel is worth the hassle unless your pulling something that actually needs one.

7.3 or 6.8 Godzilla. I have a couple of 6.2s with service beds that used to also have 6-7k enclosed trailers hooked to, without 4.30:1 they're not very happy about it. Godzilla is a clean-slate design specifically for HD fleet use.

Yeah... the Fords get 11-14 depending on which driver and where they are driving. These are non towing numbers. I get a fuel report every month and this is what I see across my fleet. Not sure how guys are seeing high teens in these trucks.

The guys getting high teens are also paying for the gas?

FWIW, I have an 06 CC LWB 4WD Silverado 3500 with the 8.1, Allison 6spd, and 4.10s on 275 bfgs. Not really modern but not really all that old either.

Just got back from a 900 mile round trip from the east coast of Va to Bluefield west va to ride the trails. Trailer and 2 sxs weighed approximately 6k plus probably another 800 or so in coolers, tools, etc... averaged 8 MPG out and back which is only down from 9.8-10.8 daily driving. Power was never an issue, it just wont pass a gas pump...

How many mpq do you get oil consumption wise?

I used to love that motor. Not so much after a lifter took out the cam and needed a whole rebuild. Really not so much after hearing lifter tick again... 190k on it, first rebuild was at 110k. Religious 3,000 mile oil changes, only towed cars on open trailers.

What did he just say?

I think he was apologizing...?



Up to 10k lbs, 1/2 ton. New 1/2 tons are pretty damned capable and comfortable as daily drivers. You do have to use WD hitches though, so if you're not into making sure shit is level or dealing with death springs, 1/2 ton isn't for you. I had a dedicated tow pig (6.8 V10 Excursion with 4.30:1), and it was very capable, but the lack of constant use caused other issues.

 

[jhama78]

How many mpq do you get oil consumption wise?

I used to love that motor. Not so much after a lifter took out the cam and needed a whole rebuild. Really not so much after hearing lifter tick again... 190k on it, first rebuild was at 110k. Religious 3,000 mile oil changes, only towed cars on open trailers.

I'll admit... shes a bit of a sot... in addition to the gallons of gasoline drank she does partake in a shot or two of rotella on a normal basis.... Not terrible though... I've got plans to buy the raylar intake at some point in the future, just now getting the initial project complete switching it over from a service body work truck to a decent long trip tow rig.

 

[Rockwood]

I'll admit... shes a bit of a sot... in addition to the gallons of gasoline drank she does partake in a shot or two of rotella on a normal basis.... Not terrible though... I've got plans to buy the raylar intake at some point in the future, just now getting the initial project complete switching it over from a service body work truck to a decent long trip tow rig.

Yeah, in-laws have always been about 1 qt every 1,000 miles.

 

[pvkj454]

Our local telephone company has several GM 6.6 gassers. The fleet manager told me that they are all using oil.

 

[Covecrawler]

Anyone towing with a 7.3/10-speed/3.55 combo?

Considering switching from the 6.7 to 7.3. Want f350, but hard to find with the options I want. Found a few f250’s… but they are 3.55’s instead of 4.30’s.

Drove the neighbors 7.3/10/3.73 combo today and it seems waaaaay under geared to me…. So thinking about 3.55 is giving he hives.

I have a 22 f250 7.3l with 3.55s.

I had to add timbrens the week I bought the truck to fix the saggy stock rear springs.

I have zero complaints towing with the 3.55s. I haul semi heavy from time to time. I’ve never felt like I needed the 4.30s.

I hauled this load a few hundred miles, not sure the total weight. Truck pulled it easy.

 

[aczlan]

i lined my 19 duramax up with a buddies 19 f350, both crew 4x4 long beds. he had a little heavier trailer than mine. i had driven the ford that morning and swore it felt faster than my truck. he took the hit and got a fender on me going up this big hill. as soon an i got on boost i slowly reeled him in. honestly i don't think there was a 5 hp difference between the trucks. now a days everyone has 400 or more hp, we can tow anything we can hook to legally no problem, gas or diesel.

A coworker has a 22 F350 SRW CCLB with the 6.7L and he says that his friend with a similar Chevy 3500 SRW Diesel (not sure on year, but less than 5 years old), both towing big 5th wheel campers, he claims that his truck has a significant edge on power (walking away in any kind of hills) and while it gets similar fuel milage, his friend's Chevy has a small fuel tank while he has the biggest tank available in a F350, so he has a lot more range as well.

Aaron Z

 

[KDXSR5]

The guys getting high teens are also paying for the gas?

I also own two 6.2 powered trucks (2011 CCLB, 2014 RCLB) and they get nowhere near high teens with me paying for the gas and a light pedal. I am not buying the consistent high teens MPGs out of 6.2 trucks.