Chevy 6.2L for Daily Driver/Towing

[catrider800]

Ok, so Im looking to get rid of my 03' Duramax and my car and just get one truck to use as a daily driver and for occasionally towing a small camper, boat, and my 26' enclosed trailer a few times a year out west. Heaviest load is around 6500 lbs. The duramax works great on our long trips, but its a big truck to get around with and diesel gets expensive. Plus all the other downfalls of a 3/4 ton diesel, rough ride, maintenance, slow warm up in the winter, etc. Im looking at getting a newer Denali with the 6.2 or trying to find a GMC SLT with a 6.2 max trailer package. What does everyone think of these trucks? Mileage, ride, handling, etc..?

 

[KG]

Had a 2010 chevy with the 6.2l, very good motor. Mileage is not that far off of a 5.3L but with lots of power. Pulled a 7 x 29 out west relatively easy, no diesel of course but the mileage was around 9 or 10. But I am now back with a diesel, said those same things when I bought mine but missed the diesel when pulling. Also the ride and handling seemed to be good and mine had 20's with low profile tires on it.

 

[catrider800]

That's good to hear, now its just a matter of finding one that has what I want on it. We averaged around 11 mpg with the diesel pulling a 7x26 with 5 sleds in it. If I can get 9-10 with the 6.2 at $0.50 cents less per gallon that would be fine by me.

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

I love my 11 denali, been a great truck, milage empty commuting everyday has been running 16-18 in the summer time, pulling a steel 4 place with 4 sleds(about 5000 pds) has averaged 10-12..mine has every option except the gps stereo, including the lower 3.42 gear package..if you watch you can find a chevy LTZ with the same 6.2 but in the max trailer tow package you get the bigger axles,(9.5 rear axle with 3.73 ratios), part time t-case and a bigger trailer tow rating(if i remember right its 10,700 pds vrs the denali at 9700 pds)I think the denali with its stock high performance suspension package drives/handles slightly better..but both are really nice trucks....

 

[catrider800]

16-18 sounds great with the all wheel drive. The part time t-case should do a bit better even.

 

[trickedout700]

Tell me where you are located because a friend of mine that lives in California has a new Denali with sweet wheels and all the options and he wants to sell it. I know he would bring it up to Montana or somewhere around here.

 

[8alltheway]

We average 7mpg with a buds denali truck on trips towing a 7x29 with 5 sleds. Its a damn nice truck tho. Handles the trailer well and rides sooo much smoother than our diesels do

 

[Mafesto]

I've used a friends Denali 6.2 for towing approx 5000# load.
Power is not a problem, you have to get used to running high RPM's

 

[catrider800]

Im in MN so he's a ways away. It's good to hear good things about this motor/truck. I dont think I would be happy with the standard 5.3 after coming from a diesel. The 6.2 should be a good compromise.

 

[luckyjones]

my 2010 gmc with 6.2 is a pulling machine. 3,73 gears. the heaviest i pull is a 27ft toyhauler when fully loaded gvw with pickup is 16500lbs. gets around 8.5 mpg at 60 mph pulling that load. it holds about 2150 rpms in 5th gear at 60 -62mph. when it kicks to 4th itll climb anything and push my buddies v10 up the hill but its running over 3000 rpms. i would like to do a comparison between the 3.73 and 3.42 gears. 3,42s could run in 4th gear at roughly 2500 rpm i think wich is where the 6.2 really starts to pull. pulled a mustang to minneapolis in an enclosed trailer and averaged 12mpg.
unloaded the pickup gets 17.5 with a k and n intake (which i would highly recomend the cold air intake)
in comparison my dodge 6.7 cummins only gets 6.5 pulling the toyhauler.