6.0 vortec VS Duramax

[maddog21]

been doing some research between 6.0 and duramax. All I know is 6.0 mpg is sucks but duramax with 6 speed allison has good mpg but expensive diesel.
Will be towing the 4 place enclosed trailer and towing some farm equipment maybe at least 10000 lbs.
how big is the fuel tank on both for crew cab, short box? (My dad's 04' Sierra with two doors, long box is 42 gallon tank)
both is towing the 4 place enclosed with same mpg? (I guess 12 or less mpg)
What is your feedback on both trucks? thanks guys.

 

[SLDHVN]

i dont have any feedback on the gasser

i have an 04 dmax, bro has an 06 dmax, dad has an 06 dmax
mild tune, and exhaust is well worth the money
pulls the 26 ft enclosed like its not even there
pulls the 42 ft gooseneck like a champ as well

even in stock form the dmax is an awesome platform. if you are talking strictly towing, i dont see why you wouldnt get the diesel.

BUT

there are alot of guys who swear by the 6.0 as well

mpg's with the 6.0 will be worse than the dmax, so the higher priced diesel vs. the extra gas the 6.0 will burn is a wash in my opinion

the shortbed dmaxs have about a 26 gallon tank and the longbeds have about 36 if i remember correctly

 

[Mafesto]

We've been using dura's for the past few years on our trip. 8-10 mpg
with 6.8 v10 or 6.0 vortec 6-8 mpg
with 454 5-7 mpg
Same driving style w/4place enclosed inline.

Depending on fuel prices pretty close to a wash when additive is added.

But the diesel does it effortlessly which actually makes driving easier (more relaxing) if that makes sense.

 

[catrider800]

Had an 03 Duramax and got 9.5-10.5 mpg towing a 27' enclosed inline multiple times to West Yellowstone and back. Can't see a gas doing a whole lot worse than that and when diesel is .50 - 1.00 more its hard to justify. The diesel does pull great though without a lot of shifting. Been looking to replace this truck with a newer 08-10 6.0 Vortec with the 6 speed or a Suburban with the 8.1 so Im curious as to everyones opinion on the 6.0 with the 6 speed.

 

[AndrettiDog]

You are going to see different numbers. I pulled a 18' steel enclosed with a couple sleds, tools and gear and got about 12-13 mpg in my 2006 LBZ (programmer and exhaust). Sometimes I would dip a little lower. Now I have a LML Denali and I have yet to pull the trailer (thanks to the lack of snow). But the Denali gets a little better MPG's than my LBZ did. I'm sure the 6.0 will pull but you will make up the difference in gas and diesel in the fuel mileage difference. Also, pulling with a Duramax is so much more fun than a gasser! My LBZ had a 25 gallon tank (uggg!) but the Denali has a 35 gallon.

 

[milehighassassin]

Fuel tank on the 2011 GM's is the same for long or short beds. 36 gallons standard on the GM.

If you do a lot of towing, I recommend you get the diesel. If you get a Denali make sure you get the diesel. The 6.2 is a great motor but not as good as the 6.0 for towing.

Also remember while the 6.0 has a 6-speed auto it is not the Allison 6-speed. You can only get that with the Duramax. The Allison really helps control a load.

 

[vdog0531]

Fuel tank on the 2011 GM's is the same for long or short beds. 36 gallons standard on the GM.

If you do a lot of towing, I recommend you get the diesel. If you get a Denali make sure you get the diesel. The 6.2 is a great motor but not as good as the 6.0 for towing.

Also remember while the 6.0 has a 6-speed auto it is not the Allison 6-speed. You can only get that with the Duramax. The Allison really helps control a load.

i agree about the 6.0 vs 6.2 and the allison.

I have a 6.0 with 4l80e. I have a sled deck and sometimes tow a 21 ft enclosed. For what i do with the truck, a diesel was not worth it. My combo does what "I" need to do just fine. The fuel mileage sucks but i didnt buy a truck and snowmobiles because fuel cost is a major concern...

Now, on the flip side, if all i did was tow with this thing and didnt use it as a daily driver and a weekend sled hauler, then a diesel is the only way to go.

 

[MT rydn]

been doing some research between 6.0 and duramax. All I know is 6.0 mpg is sucks but duramax with 6 speed allison has good mpg but expensive diesel.
Will be towing the 4 place enclosed trailer and towing some farm equipment maybe at least 10000 lbs.
how big is the fuel tank on both for crew cab, short box? (My dad's 04' Sierra with two doors, long box is 42 gallon tank)
both is towing the 4 place enclosed with same mpg? (I guess 12 or less mpg)
What is your feedback on both trucks? thanks guys.

If upfront purchase cost is not an issue would go with a diesel. We have many miles towing both the Ford V10 gas and Chevy 6.0 gas and both duramax and now 6.7 Ford diesel. There is just no comparison with the kind of weight you are talking and for up mountain roads/passing/whatever.
Even though upfront costs are higher, your resale will also be that much better. Price used diesels compared to same year gas. Also - when people look at a used gas with a 100,000 miles they are not as confident buying it as a well maintained disel with a 100,000 miles. So your resale with that diesel truck will probably pay you the difference in the upfront costs when it comes time to sell/trade.

Good luck!

 

[thspepper@gmail.com]

I didn't know they made anything but a Diesel. When did put gasser in trucks. I thought those were for cars.

Diesel all the way man. You'll never own a gasser again. You'll buy a diesel sooner or later why not now and enjoy.

 

[M8Chris]

Love my 5.3 but for sure my next truck will be a diesel. If I was buying a 3/4 ton truck I wouldn't even consider a gasser. Get the diesel.

 

[maddog21]

thanks guys
Im thinking about 2006 D-max (LBZ), crew cab, short bed is my best choose.
http://www.duramaxdieselspecs.com/
info about engine, allison, torque, injection, and more from 2000 to newer.

 

[vdog0531]

I didn't know they made anything but a Diesel. When did put gasser in trucks. I thought those were for cars.

Diesel all the way man. You'll never own a gasser again. You'll buy a diesel sooner or later why not now and enjoy.

i did the opposite. I had a diesel and went to a 3/4 ton gas. For my needs, the diesel was a waste. I needed a 3/4 ton for a sled deck and towing in the winter but daily drive it 6 miles a day and didnt need a diesel. If i could justify having a car for the week and a truck on the weekends, id have a diesel and a car but for me, a 3/4 ton gasser is a great compromise.

 

[throttlejocky316]

Have you looked at an older truck with the 8.1L and the allison? The gas mileage between the 8.1 and the 6.0 is practically the same but the 8.1 has much more power.

 

[maddog21]

Have you looked at an older truck with the 8.1L and the allison? The gas mileage between the 8.1 and the 6.0 is practically the same but the 8.1 has much more power.

is the 8.1 has same mpg as 6.0 if towing? how many speed for the allison with 8.1

 

[maddog21]

nevermind, I found the thread about 3/4 ton gasser. for the 8.1, tow the 4 place snowmobiles, open trailer, it take about 6 mpg.

 

[GoBigParts]

I used to pull with a 09 5.3L Suburban. Did all right but the suspension was a bit soft compared to the 3/4 HD so I installed air bags. It tows alright with my 27' inline. Now I have a 06 LBZ crew cab. If we ever get any snow I will let you know how that one tows. I've done a couple short runs with it and it doesn't even know the trailer is there.

 

[AndrettiDog]

A few years ago I found the need for an HD truck so I looked at diesel trucks. I knew I wanted a Duramax. I didn't want a Ford with diesel woes and the Dodge trucks had crappy transmissions. I couldn't afford a new Duramax so I bought a 2006 LBZ. Great choice, better than buying a brand new HD GM with the 6.0. The motor is everything in that truck (paired with the Allison 6-speed). What I'm saying is that it is worth having a used diesel to make up the money difference over buying a brand new 6.0 truck. That 2006 LBZ still has more value than a 2007-2008 6.0 truck with the same trim!

 

[Chubbydog]

If upfront purchase cost is not an issue would go with a diesel. We have many miles towing both the Ford V10 gas and Chevy 6.0 gas and both duramax and now 6.7 Ford diesel. There is just no comparison with the kind of weight you are talking and for up mountain roads/passing/whatever.
Even though upfront costs are higher, your resale will also be that much better. Price used diesels compared to same year gas. Also - when people look at a used gas with a 100,000 miles they are not as confident buying it as a well maintained disel with a 100,000 miles. So your resale with that diesel truck will probably pay you the difference in the upfront costs when it comes time to sell/trade.

Good luck!

That's exactly what I was thinking. There more expensive up front, but you'll get your money back when you go to sell. I've read people on the diesel forums that there going 300/400k miles on the motor, and transmission. If your gonna be pulling much, go with the diesel. You won't regret it. Not only does it pull better, but they handle better coming down hill, and I feel like I have way more control when it's windy outside. It's not blowing me around so much. The 6 speed transmission in the Duramax is awesome. I've come down some steep grades pulling my 26' TH, and hardly even had to use the brakes. That thing does it for you. Then if you chip it, and your driving it around without a trailer, there so much more fun to drive.

I get about 10mpg towing any trailer. That's going about 80mph, and mostly just flat ground. I did try it going 55-60 mph, and got almost 12mpg. Just depends on how fast you wanna get there. At least with the diesel, you have the choice.

 

[Coldfinger]

I've towed the same 10,000 gvw camper with both of these, same 1300 mile round trip down 75 mph interstate and 2 lane mtn roads and here is my take:

6.0 gas 2002 gmc crew 2500, 4.1 gears, topper shell, 265 tires
Duramax 2006 chevy crew 2500, 3.73 gears, tonneau cover, 265 tires

The Duramax could cruise 75 no problem and wind or hills didn't have much effect on it. Going up mtns lugged it down but not much more than your typical car because we were passing cars going uphill. About 10-11mpg overall.

The gas truck could only run 75 comfortably a few times, mainly no wind and slightly downhill, otherwise we planned on 60-65 generally and if hitting headwind 50-55. Going up mountains 25-35mph and the engine screaming and we were in the slow lane. About 6.5-7.5mpg overall. 10-11mpg winter and 11-12mpg unloaded is what I usually figure on.

We tested the Duramax downhill engine/transmission (the truck had an aftermarket chip that I believe varied the vanes of the turbo) braking coming down the east side of Cottonwood Pass toward Buena Vista CO. There was a real steep grade, I think 10%, for about a mile. We slowed to like 10mph and the truck started to gain speed so the transmission was manually shifted down a notch or two and the truck maintained speed without using brakes. Incredible.

A person doesn't need a diesel in this case, but boy does it make a difference.

 

[jetnier]

Our group has been making the treck from Iowa to Idaho & Wyoming for the last 10 years pulling a 25 - 30 ft enclosed trailer with sleds & gear. We do tend to push the speed limit more than we should and also ALWAYS run into windy conditions. Over the course of those years we have had two different 6.0's, two different 8.1's, and two different Duramax's. I'm sure we give up a little mileage running 285 tires, but none of us can stand the looks of the factory 245's. Our gassers always averaged between 4.5 - 6 m.p.g and i would say i always averaged 10 - 12 m.p.g. unloaded highway driving. Since making the switch to the D Maxx's we average 10 - 14 m.p.g. loaded and 19 - 22 m.p.g. empty. I am definetely not a math guru, but i figure we doubled our mileage pulling as well as regular highway driving.... not to mention that on a few occasions we had to carry gas cans to make it between stops with the gassers! There was zero difference in mpg's between the 8.1 & 6.0 and if i was to go back to gas i would lean toward the 8.1 because of the Allison tranny. Stick to the '06 - early '07 Classic body style Duramax & you will never regret it. I have a new body style '07 as well and the emmisions crap has to be removed to ever come close to getting decent mileage. I would actually like to get rid of our new body style truck and find another '06 to replace it with. Sorry to ramble.... just my .02 worth! HAPPY SHOPPING!!