6.6 Duramax or 6.0 gasser? in 3/4 ton.

[geeman]

Thinking I want to upgrade from my '05 GMC Sierra Z71 Crew Cab and towing a 2012 Keystone 28RBS(31 footer). Tows OK going down the highway but shifts down and revs like crazy on the interstate driving. Since I would like to get some longer trips in, we are thinking of a 3/4 ton crew cab. Only get about 3-7,000 miles annually right now.

What do you suggest/recommend and why as far as Gas vs Diesel? Would like to stay above 2006 but thinking below the emissions in the '08, '09+ area.

Thanks

[SAABDOCTOR]

On Thanksgiving eve you want to start a which truck is better war your a brave man. There are good and bad to all of them. as to which gas or diesel that has is points too. pulling a 5er torque is king diesel is the front runner for that. But i comes at a premium. costs more for some reason in the us fuel cost more... bohica! there are people here that tow with a gasser and have no issues same with the diesel. me i prefer diesel. one plus side of a newer dielsel is they are not as loud as the older ones. i get 15mph towing from ct to quebec. But the important part is you and the DW need to like what your driving. so my advice is spend some time driving the different trucks and pick what you like best and what fits your needs. good luck and enjoy thank a latke!

[tdawg]

I would go with the 6.6 don't think you would be happy with the gasser unless you don't pull long distance or in steep hills. I have a 454 pulling a 3535 Alpine i will not go out west with it on steep grades. Next purchase is diesel.

[f6bits]

I'd suck it up and get a diesel. Then totally enjoy it.

[gearhead]

I just got home from trading my GMC 2500HD 6.0 gasser in on a slightly used 2013 Ford F350 6.7 oil burner.

[Bluewater]

I am very pleased with my 8.1 liter 496 cubes gasser pulling our 5er. On long steep hills the diesels do pull a little better but that is a very small instance compaired to the long trip. For ease of service I have no problem with a gasser. each to his own

[Albert]

I think my trailer may be a little heavier then yours. I pull it with a 2012 F250 6.2 gas. I live in the west and have pulled it several times over the cascade passes without any problems. Pulls over Mt. Hood at 50 MPH. I could have gone faster but do not like to push it.

I decided on the gas due to the fact that I just could not justify paying the extra cost for the diesel when my RV was not that heavy. If I were pulling something that was 9,000 lbs or great I would have purchased the diesel.

With that said, if money were no object I would have a F550 diesel.

[Ken / Claudia]

Do not test drive a oil burning tubro charged truck, cause than you will need one. The upside to cost is they resale higher than the gassers. That was not true before tubros arrived.

[therink]

My fiver is 12k loaded and I tow with 6.0 gasser with 4:10 axle. See truck in sig below. I also could not justify cost for oil burner in my case. I tow maybe 3000 miles per camping season and through moderate hills here in upstate NY. I have no complaints. If going GM gasser HD, make sure you get 4:10 axle to maximize the gasser abilities, especially if towing 9000 lbs or more.
Steve

[mguay]

I had a couple of 6.0 gassers before jumping to a coal roller and I will never go back. The 6-7mpgs with the gasser was the killer for me, as well as the 6000rpms while pulling up through the mtns of New England. I tow around 10k miles a year and the fuel mileage alone justifies it for me. In fact I just upgraded from a 07 Classic DRW LBZ to a 13 Denali DRW LML in September. I was surprised to see that the mileage is better on the 13 with all the emissions junk! If you are looking at new...NOW is the time! The first price I got from the dealer was 15k off the sticker and then we worked from there! They are in a position to dump them quick in preparation for the 15 HD's being released in Jan.

[jramsey]

We just purchased a 2014 2500 crew cab Duramax and traded in my 2010 2500 crew cab 6.0. Even though the truck was very expensive the wife and I are very pleased with the upgrade. Not only do we pull the hills in California with ease (I rarely exceed 55 MPH) I especially like the exhaust brake going down hills. My 6.0 gas truck got 9 MPH while towing now with the diesel we get 13-14 MPH. We have the 373 gears in the rear end. One more plus that I feel is worth mentioning is the Allison transmission is near bullet proof, and is rated as one of the best on the road. Short of buying one of those Heavy duty sport chassis models this is the best value for us.

[MarkS]

I have owned both the 6.0 gasser and the 6.6 DMax. For towing, the diesel wins easily.

Diesel is more expensive than gas, but the diesel gets better mileage. I think fuel cost is about a wash. Diesel is a little harder to find in gas stations.

Oil changes are more expensive on a diesel, but I go farther on an oil change. Again a wash.

On a new truck, the diesel option is about $6k. But, a diesel engine will last about twice as long. If you plan to keep the truck a long time, the diesel is a good investment. If you live in the NE, the rest of the truck may rust out before the engine dies.

[jje1960]

We have 30K miles on our 2011 F350. I recently had the tires rotated, front were chopping a bit. Mechanic giggled when he noticed the 30K.... Commented that we had not even broke the bad-boy in yet. We pull 325SRX with golf cart in the bay, everything pulls great.

[LittleJoe]

IF buying a diesel, IMO not newer than 07 in a Ram (5.9) or go to 2013 + and you will be served well.

Best years in GM 06-07 or 2011+

Ford , only 2011+ with 6.7.

My reasoning is based on experience and potential cost of repair for known problems, including emission systems

IF going gas, make sure you have 4.10 gears, easier on everything, in fact the Tundra has 4.30 gears and does a stellar job on mountain pulls. All the newer V8's make lots of HP but there max torque is not available untill over 4000rpm. If you don't mind listening to an engine scream and feed the fuel it uses while doing so, for limited use the gas will do okay especially if you do shorter runs.

Once you drive a diesel with LOTS of torque, you will never go back

[maxx1963]

Duramax!!!!
Go big or stay home!

[concours]

not going to get into the gas/diesel war but never regretted getting the Duramax it just eats up the miles

[KYFamily]

Love my Duramax. I never could use cruise control on my gassers due to the constant shifting. I don't have that problem now. Diesel's are more expensive to buy and repairs can be expensive, but it's worth it to me.

[geeman]

Originally Posted by KYFamily

Love my Duramax. I never could use cruise control on my gassers due to the constant shifting. I don't have that problem now. Diesel's are more expensive to buy and repairs can be expensive, but it's worth it to me.

That would be a kicker for me too. Hate having to work the whole time there by feathering the throttle.....love cruise control. Had thought it was just my half ton tranny, but assume you are talking about 3/4 ton gassers and cruise control?

[KYFamily]

Originally Posted by geeman

That would be a kicker for me too. Hate having to work the whole time there by feathering the throttle.....love cruise control. Had thought it was just my half ton tranny, but assume you are talking about 3/4 ton gassers and cruise control?

Yes, my last two trucks were a 2004 Chevy 3/4 ton with the 6.0 and a Dodge 3500 with the v10. Both were great trucks but can't compare to a diesel. The one gasser that comes close is the 8.1 in comparable years. The new diesels are a whole new beast.

[Bluewater]

Just to ad my experience with my 8.1L gasser. I use my cruise control quite often and it works well. That may be because behind it is the Allison tranny. It has preformed extremely well for us towing over 7000 miles per year in the mountianous west. No substitution for cubic inches. Probably the next truck will be diesel but the new 6.2L GM is looking pretty good.