24fb freedom
littlerock,ca
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Joined: 04/03/2008
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I have a 05 2500hd 4x4 4x4 crew-cab long-bed with 4:10 gears and the 4L80.I get 11-12mpg in town,15-17mpg hwy and 9-11mpg towing my 8600lb TH. I'm very happy with the6.0L.
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Elmoclayman31
So. Cal.
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Joined: 04/25/2008
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I bought an 07 2500HD last May. Took the TH from Cal. to Utah this summer. Never missed a beat! Just don't be afraid to run the RPM's up to around 4k when going up a grade. It will accelerate like you are on flat. It makes its best HP around this range and you will know it when it gets up in the RPM's. Great gas engine, IMHO.
2007 Chevrolet 2500HD 6.0L
2008 26ft Thor Vortex
01 Suzuki RM250 (mine)
83 Yamaha PW50 (the boy's)
05 Roketa 70cc Quad (the princess')
Living my American Dream!
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bigben55
Cincinnati
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Joined: 08/20/2008
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I'm leaning more toward a Chevy with the 6.0L or maybe the Duramax if I can find one I can afford. Even though the diesel Ford I'm considering is nice and looks good mechanically, all the 6.0L Powerstroke horror stories are getting to me.
One thing that concerns me with regards to the Chevy 2500HDs is the offroad capability. No, I don't plan on ever "wheeling" it like I used to do in my jeeps, but I'll take it hunting and where we go there's a pretty good offroad drive through fields with 5 ft weeds and a few hidden muddy spots and some good sized ruts. There's one short steep part and one off-camber spot. Even though the ground clearance on the GM's is as good or better than the Fords, just looking at them and you can't help but notice how much closer the frame rails are to the ground than the Ford's. I'd probably get a Z71. Anyone able to speak to the GM's offroad capabilities from experience? All that being said, I'm a very experienced offroader who rarely if ever got stuck wheeling my XJ or CJ8 at offroad parks back in my pre-kid days.
Also, the stock tire size on the specific truck I'm looking at is 265/70/R17. Anyone know if I can get 285's in a more aggressive A/T tire without any rubbing or issues for this truck?
Ben
2008 Jayco 28BHS TT
1986 Coleman Chesapeke pop-up
2008 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD 4x4 Crew Cab, Z71, 6.0L gas, 4:10 gears
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JustLabs
Washington State
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Joined: 05/13/2002
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bigben55 wrote:I'm leaning more toward a Chevy with the 6.0L or maybe the Duramax if I can find one I can afford. Even though the diesel Ford I'm considering is nice and looks good mechanically, all the 6.0L Powerstroke horror stories are getting to me.
One thing that concerns me with regards to the Chevy 2500HDs is the offroad capability. No, I don't plan on ever "wheeling" it like I used to do in my jeeps, but I'll take it hunting and where we go there's a pretty good offroad drive through fields with 5 ft weeds and a few hidden muddy spots and some good sized ruts. There's one short steep part and one off-camber spot. Even though the ground clearance on the GM's is as good or better than the Fords, just looking at them and you can't help but notice how much closer the frame rails are to the ground than the Ford's. I'd probably get a Z71. Anyone able to speak to the GM's offroad capabilities from experience? All that being said, I'm a very experienced offroader who rarely if ever got stuck wheeling my XJ or CJ8 at offroad parks back in my pre-kid days.
Also, the stock tire size on the specific truck I'm looking at is 265/70/R17. Anyone know if I can get 285's in a more aggressive A/T tire without any rubbing or issues for this truck?
Ben
I had an '01 2500HD with the 8.1 liter big block. For a full sized truck it was a pretty good off-roader. GMs G80 locking differential works well and I never had a shortage of traction. My 2500HD was a better off-road rig than my Dodge is. The Dodge has more ground clearance,but Dodges limited slip is light years behind GMs G80.
You won't be able to fit 285s without cranking the torsion bars at the very least. I'm not a fan of cranking the T-bars because it makes the ride harsh and puts extra strain on the CV joints.
2007 Dodge Ram 3500 SRW,4x4,Cummins 5.9, 6spd.
2007 Keystone Cougar 289BHS Fifth Wheel.
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bigben55
Cincinnati
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Yeah, I'won't mess with the T-bars. I'll just get some more aggressive tires and be careful. Nowadays, my offroading is from the seat of my Kawasaki Prairie. BTW, does anyone know if a full size quad fits in teh back of the Chevy 6 1/2 ft bed with the tailgate closed? It fit in my F250 crew cab with a few inches to spare, but that had a 4" longer bed.
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JustLabs
Washington State
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bigben55 wrote:Yeah, I'won't mess with the T-bars. I'll just get some more aggressive tires and be careful. Nowadays, my offroading is from the seat of my Kawasaki Prairie. BTW, does anyone know if a full size quad fits in teh back of the Chevy 6 1/2 ft bed with the tailgate closed? It fit in my F250 crew cab with a few inches to spare, but that had a 4" longer bed.
I know a Suzuki King Quad 450 or a Yamaha Grizzly 450 will.
The Suzuki 450 is a big bike Its the same physical size as their King Quad 700.
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bigben55
Cincinnati
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Good. Suzuki's website has the King QUad 450 being (83.3 in) in total length. My 2006 Kawasaki Prairie 360 is 81.something inches in total length, so I should be good.
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1100Sabre
Missouri
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Joined: 06/04/2006
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We have an '06 Chevy 2500HD with the 6.0 engine and the automatice transmission. Ours is not the new 6 speed auto but rather the heavy duty 4 speed. We have pulled the in-laws 36 triple slide Montana with it very easily. I have pulled a 28' flat bed gooseneck trailer and hauled a 3500 Dodge Cummin diesel pick up truck and it pulled it just fine. (Now that was a cool site LOL)
"It's not the destination, it's the journey."
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rob85546
Hot arizona
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Joined: 03/14/2006
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I have had all the big three trucks and a nissan.. as far as offroad capabilities?? well, They will all do for LIGHT offroad use, they are all pretty CLOSE to each other... where you get the difference is the kind of tires and room under the truck... To me the GMS have the least stock clearance of the big three underneath.. But put a front level kit and some good 285 tires and it sits pretty nice...Just because these trucks are 4 by they are not made for serious off roading... they will get stuck almost as fast as a 2 wheel drive.
bigben55 wrote:I'm leaning more toward a Chevy with the 6.0L or maybe the Duramax if I can find one I can afford. Even though the diesel Ford I'm considering is nice and looks good mechanically, all the 6.0L Powerstroke horror stories are getting to me.
One thing that concerns me with regards to the Chevy 2500HDs is the offroad capability. No, I don't plan on ever "wheeling" it like I used to do in my jeeps, but I'll take it hunting and where we go there's a pretty good offroad drive through fields with 5 ft weeds and a few hidden muddy spots and some good sized ruts. There's one short steep part and one off-camber spot. Even though the ground clearance on the GM's is as good or better than the Fords, just looking at them and you can't help but notice how much closer the frame rails are to the ground than the Ford's. I'd probably get a Z71. Anyone able to speak to the GM's offroad capabilities from experience? All that being said, I'm a very experienced offroader who rarely if ever got stuck wheeling my XJ or CJ8 at offroad parks back in my pre-kid days.
Also, the stock tire size on the specific truck I'm looking at is 265/70/R17. Anyone know if I can get 285's in a more aggressive A/T tire without any rubbing or issues for this truck?
Ben
2007 GMC DURAMAX,LBZ,4 by Crew, Allison
Magnaflow Turbo Back Exhaust
Predator Tuner
18by9 Helo's on BFG's
5year old boy
3 year old baby girl
Sea ray boat
Wilderness 5th wheel
SandRail
HD WideGlide
FORD Expediton
honda Eu3000
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rob85546
Hot arizona
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My first chevy had cranked t-bars and 285 tires.... rode rough, my current one has the new front "porkchops" as they call them and the shock extentions, and 285 by 18 tires and it rides better than when I got it..... You change the key ways and new Blistein shocks and it rides great..
AS far as the Z-71, its the sticker, I think the Blisteins and skid plates, which many trucks have anyways....
I DONT THINK the older 3/4 tons, Older meaning the 2007 back design have a Z-71 option.
There are many of these trucks out there and finding a good used one with a good price should be no problem.... I think if you could swing it, look for a used 2006 LBZ duramax.... the 06/07 lbz was the best d-max to date and it dont have the emissions the new ones do..
JustLabs wrote:bigben55 wrote:I'm leaning more toward a Chevy with the 6.0L or maybe the Duramax if I can find one I can afford. Even though the diesel Ford I'm considering is nice and looks good mechanically, all the 6.0L Powerstroke horror stories are getting to me.
One thing that concerns me with regards to the Chevy 2500HDs is the offroad capability. No, I don't plan on ever "wheeling" it like I used to do in my jeeps, but I'll take it hunting and where we go there's a pretty good offroad drive through fields with 5 ft weeds and a few hidden muddy spots and some good sized ruts. There's one short steep part and one off-camber spot. Even though the ground clearance on the GM's is as good or better than the Fords, just looking at them and you can't help but notice how much closer the frame rails are to the ground than the Ford's. I'd probably get a Z71. Anyone able to speak to the GM's offroad capabilities from experience? All that being said, I'm a very experienced offroader who rarely if ever got stuck wheeling my XJ or CJ8 at offroad parks back in my pre-kid days.
Also, the stock tire size on the specific truck I'm looking at is 265/70/R17. Anyone know if I can get 285's in a more aggressive A/T tire without any rubbing or issues for this truck?
Ben
I had an '01 2500HD with the 8.1 liter big block. For a full sized truck it was a pretty good off-roader. GMs G80 locking differential works well and I never had a shortage of traction. My 2500HD was a better off-road rig than my Dodge is. The Dodge has more ground clearance,but Dodges limited slip is light years behind GMs G80.
You won't be able to fit 285s without cranking the torsion bars at the very least. I'm not a fan of cranking the T-bars because it makes the ride harsh and puts extra strain on the CV joints.
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