1/2 Ton TT Towers

[Rosy]

Originally Posted by DR60

For me, lower rear gears make more difference than moving from 5.3 to 6.2.
Unloaded the lower gears will drop your fuel mileage but loaded you will actually pick up a little by keeping the motor in a more efficient power band. DR

I believe with the GMs, you can get either 3.23 or 3.42 rear gears with either the 5.3 or the 6.2. As you said, I would also go with 3.42, which also gets you the max trailering package.

[Dave Pelletier]

Originally Posted by hemifoot

my daily driver is not technically a half ton,but has half ton payload specs.2021 ram power wagon.it's the best of both worlds,nice comfortable ride with 2500 ruggedness and all the offroad capability you can get,and snowy roads? not even an issue with front and rear lockers.it pulls my cougar 22mls with no issues.i also carry 2 electric fishing kayaks on a rack as well.all told it's about maxed out on payload and the trailers pushing up to around 6500 lbs fully loaded out.it pulls like a dream.6.4 hemi with 4:10's.only downside is it's a really thirsty beast,but for all around functionality,it's the best truck i've owned so far.

Yeah, the PW is a 2500 with a lift kit and lighter springs. There's a youtube video showing a guy loading his 1500 with 1500 lbs and the suspension was on the bumpers. He then loaded 1800 lbs in the PowerWagon and it still had a couple inches to go. IMO, the PW is far more truck than any 1500 and is only a set of springs away from a regular 2500.....I think the payload on them is overly conservative.

Dave

[darrellr]

I thought the Power Wagon was already classified as a 3/4 ton for some reason. But with the Off Road package, it would not be as capable towing heavy as the regular 2500 would be.

[Getaweigh]

Don't know if this helps but this is how I matched my truck and trailer. The Truck is a 2018 GMC Elevation. Details on truck and trailer specs are in the video. No towing issues at all but we stay in the specs.
https://youtu.be/vAIeF4dQx28

[Bowtie Jim]

Originally Posted by Jay D.

people with 1500 gmc's or chevy's what engine do you have 5.3 or 6.2 gas? and how does it perform, power, gas milage? i'm thinking on getting a new GMC but really can't decide on engine size my 2010 has 315 hp and does just about everything i want, i could use a little more power. the new 5.3 is 355 hp then there's the 6.2 a little poorer gas mileage but is it enough to worry about. sometimes more power lets the engine work less and produces better gas milage.

Jay D.

I have both. A 2022 LTD LTZ 5.3 8 spd and a 2022 High Country 6.2 10 spd.
Both are crew cab shortys with 3.23s
Big difference between the two.
The 6.2 will smoke the tires off the 5.3.
The 5.3 gets 1.5 mpg less everyday driving also. 16 for the 5.3, 17.5 for the 6.2.(10 spd is a game changer IMO)
As far as towing if it's flat and not windy, the 5.3 will tow my 6200 gvw TT just fine . Add in some wind and grades, it's a dog. You're looking at 6-7 mpg in these conditions
The 6.2 eats those same grades for lunch. It revs and goes. And it gets a little better mpg.
It can gain speed on grades where the 5.3 struggles.
For towing the 6.2 is worth it.

[Jay D.]

Originally Posted by Bowtie Jim

I have both. A 2022 LTD LTZ 5.3 8 spd and a 2022 High Country 6.2 10 spd.
Both are crew cab shortys with 3.23s
Big difference between the two.
The 6.2 will smoke the tires off the 5.3.
The 5.3 gets 1.5 mpg less everyday driving also. 16 for the 5.3, 17.5 for the 6.2.(10 spd is a game changer IMO)
As far as towing if it's flat and not windy, the 5.3 will tow my 6200 gvw TT just fine . Add in some wind and grades, it's a dog. You're looking at 6-7 mpg in these conditions
The 6.2 eats those same grades for lunch. It revs and goes. And it gets a little better mpg.
It can gain speed on grades where the 5.3 struggles.
For towing the 6.2 is worth it.

THANKS thats the info i was looking for, and yes i like the idea of the 10 speed. other that the 5.3 needs the 342 gears.
Jay D.

[Rosy]

Originally Posted by Bowtie Jim

I have both. A 2022 LTD LTZ 5.3 8 spd and a 2022 High Country 6.2 10 spd.
Both are crew cab shortys with 3.23s
Big difference between the two.
The 6.2 will smoke the tires off the 5.3.
The 5.3 gets 1.5 mpg less everyday driving also. 16 for the 5.3, 17.5 for the 6.2.(10 spd is a game changer IMO)
As far as towing if it's flat and not windy, the 5.3 will tow my 6200 gvw TT just fine . Add in some wind and grades, it's a dog. You're looking at 6-7 mpg in these conditions
The 6.2 eats those same grades for lunch. It revs and goes. And it gets a little better mpg.
It can gain speed on grades where the 5.3 struggles.
For towing the 6.2 is worth it.

What fuel are you running? 87 in both or do you put 91/93 in the 6.2?

[Bowtie Jim]

Originally Posted by Rosy

What fuel are you running? 87 in both or do you put 91/93 in the 6.2?

93 in the 6.2
88 in the 5.3

[kdauto]

Using regular 87 octane in a 6.2 would allow the knock sensors to work overtime, thus enabling the PCM to remap using less timing advance, less power, and most likely a very slight decrease in MPG.

I think it'd be a wash moneywise, and who wants to lose performance?

I have a customer with a 2012 Escalade 6.2, and I can always tell when he skimps on premium fuel. It tends to tick more at idle when hot.

[Rosy]

Do you also calculate running costs (i.e. $/mile) or anything like that. 1.5 mpg on the 6.2 sounds better until you realize that 91 octane is about 85 cents a gallon more here than 87. 93 is more than that and it's just 91 with a bunch of ethanol in it.

Also, to get the 6.2, there's a higher purchase cost plus the cost to get into a higher trim level if you were considering a base or volume trim level.

[Jay D.]

Originally Posted by Rosy

Do you also calculate running costs (i.e. $/mile) or anything like that. 1.5 mpg on the 6.2 sounds better until you realize that 91 octane is about 85 cents a gallon more here than 87. 93 is more than that and it's just 91 with a bunch of ethanol in it.

Also, to get the 6.2, there's a higher purchase cost plus the cost to get into a higher trim level if you were considering a base or volume trim level.

ahhh something more to think about.
Jay D.

[tuffr2]

I think the GM 6.2 using 91 octane is the only engine that can give the Ford 3.5 Eco-Boost a run for it's money. Both engines are very powerful and moves the truck with ease. That is the old Corvette engine I think.

I like the 6.2 because it is not turbo charged thus thinking it would last longer.

[Jay D.]

it's a tough decision. my current rig is a 2010 gmc crew cab 5.3 with 342 gears. i'm on the west coast and its hilly i tow approx.. 3-4 k miles a year. the 5.3 gets good gas mileage non towing around 20 mph, 8-10 towing ( 6500#) I'm really wondering what 40 xtra hp and 2 more gears is going to do for me. i'm not excited about haveing to run 91 octane gas, just seems to be a step backwards for me. i want reasonable towing power, just a little more than i have now, and good economical gas milage as i use the truck a lot empty. what really is bothering me is that i don't want to spend 40K and my truck ( just a guess) for a new one or a couple years old and not be any better of than what i have now.
Jay D.

[bross]

Originally Posted by Jay D.

it's a tough decision. my current rig is a 2010 gmc crew cab 5.3 with 342 gears. i'm on the west coast and its hilly i tow approx.. 3-4 k miles a year. the 5.3 gets good gas mileage non towing around 20 mph, 8-10 towing ( 6500#) I'm really wondering what 40 xtra hp and 2 more gears is going to do for me. i'm not excited about haveing to run 91 octane gas, just seems to be a step backwards for me. i want reasonable towing power, just a little more than i have now, and good economical gas milage as i use the truck a lot empty. what really is bothering me is that i don't want to spend 40K and my truck ( just a guess) for a new one or a couple years old and not be any better of than what i have now.
Jay D.

3.5 Ecoboost
My 2016 w/ 128,000km (80,000mi) seems just broke in, it keeps getting better and better mileage over the past few months. Used to average 12.7l/100km pretty much since new, but then a few months ago I was averaging 12.4 and now for the past few weeks 11.9-12.0.

Oh and it tows like a beast.