trcgolf
western NY
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Joined: 08/26/2013
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We are new to RVing and we are planning a long Canada/Alaska trip from Western NY. I bought a new 2013 GMC 2500HD 6.0L gas, crew, 4x4... I use it for my everyday truck and our winters are such I need the 4x4.
Because of this trip, I am re-thinking that I may have bought the wrong engine. I knew the Diesel had higher torque and capacity and that they get better mileage but my calculation was to justify the price of the diesel...additional $9500...I would need to drive 30000 mile a year for five years. Diesel fuel is much higher in price in our area so driving it day to day just did not make sense.
The limited trips I took with the fifth wheel,( 32' @ 10,000), I got between 7-8 mile per gallon.
Doing the Alaskan and Canadian rockies, what should I expect for mileage out of a 6.0L gas? I believe the engine is fine for the weight of our unit but out west may be a different thing.
Should I consider getting a diesel now? Can anyone tell me how their gas engine did out there?
2013 GMC 2500 HD
6.0 L Crew 4x4
Crossroads Zinger
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parkersdad
North Carolina
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Joined: 07/11/2011
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I just traded my 2013 Hemi 2500 on a 2013 Ram with the CTD. The mileage on the Hemi was horrible. I was getting 10.5 in town and about 9 towing. I just got my CTD but so far my dash shows around 15.5 to 16.2 in the city and it is not even broke in yet. I would go diesel if I were you.
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trcgolf
western NY
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I get about 10-11 around town, 14-15 on pure highway but it's towing out west that concerns me.
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OhhWell
Florida
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Joined: 06/27/2011
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trcgolf wrote:I get about 10-11 around town, 14-15 on pure highway but it's towing out west that concerns me.
How fast do you need to get up the hill and how many RPMs can you handle your engine sustaining while doing it?
1998 bounder 36s V10 F53
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waynec1957
North Central Indiana
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Joined: 06/25/2009
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Just for comparison, my 06, 1/2 ton Silverado, 5.3L (3.43 rear end) consistently got 18.5 mpg combined city/highway. Towing my (roughly) 6,000 lb. TT the best I ever got for short stretches was about 10 mpg.
I haven't towed with my Duramax yet (just got it in November) but doing the same combined city/highway driving I have always done, it's getting right at 16 mph. I just topped it off yesterday and that's checking it by hand with not quite 1,800 miles on it using winter blend fuel. Also have to consider that's letting it idle for 10 minutes or so (sometimes a couple times a day) to warm up since we've had this horrendous winter here in north central Indiana. The longest trip I’ve made with it so far is about 50 miles one way so I’m not really sure what it gets strictly highway driving.
All in all, so far, I'm losing 2.5 -- 3 mpg versus the 5.3l, which to me isn't too shaggy considering how much more truck it is. From what everybody tells me, once it’s good and broke MPG should go up…by how much we’ll see. I know towing the TT we have now, I probably won’t even know it’s back there.
2013 Chevy Sliverado 2500 HD LS Crew Cab
Duramax/Allison, HD Tow Package, GCWR 24,500
2017 KZ Sportsmen S330 IK
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Steakman
Calgary, Alberta
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Joined: 06/01/2003
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Quote:...Doing the Alaskan and Canadian rockies, what should I expect for mileage out of a 6.0L gas? I believe the engine is fine for the weight of our unit but out west may be a different thing...
Well, Be prepared for some decent hills my friend. In the 6-8% grade range..
If you are going to use your 6 liter (which I would advise against)...better make damned sure you have a large transmission cooler, brand new fluid and patience. Driving up those hills you might be lucky to get up to 40mph with that 10,000lb rig.! and it will be darn hard on your truck.
Quote:..How fast do you need to get up the hill and how many RPMs can you handle your engine sustaining while doing it?..
Excellent comment Ohhwell.
Mileage in BC 6.0L ~ 6-8 mpg.??
I get, with my diesel 10-11 mpg - in BC.
Get the diesel...yes it is more expensive - yes it costs $ to maintain, but you will be still driving it long after that 6L is done and going up hill at a normal 100-105km/hr - tow-haul likely in 4th-5th gear without taxing your tow vehicle.
Wayne..the best way to "break er in" is towing...work that motor, it will love you for it.!
Cheers guys - happy camping.! (I Wish, its still -27 in the mornings at work - Oil sands)
M'self and the Bride...of 32 yrs
'06 GMC DMax CCSB 594,545 km (368,890 miles)
2003 Citation 26RKS.
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waynec1957
North Central Indiana
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Steakman wrote:Quote:...Doing the Alaskan and Canadian rockies, what should I expect for mileage out of a 6.0L gas? I believe the engine is fine for the weight of our unit but out west may be a different thing...
Well, Be prepared for some decent hills my friend. In the 6-8% grade range..
If you are going to use your 6 liter (which I would advise against)...better make damned sure you have a large transmission cooler, brand new fluid and patience. Driving up those hills you might be lucky to get up to 40mph with that 10,000lb rig.! and it will be darn hard on your truck.
Quote:..How fast do you need to get up the hill and how many RPMs can you handle your engine sustaining while doing it?..
Excellent comment Ohhwell.
Mileage in BC 6.0L ~ 6-8 mpg.??
I get, with my diesel 10-11 mpg - in BC.
Get the diesel...yes it is more expensive - yes it costs $ to maintain, but you will be still driving it long after that 6L is done and going up hill at a normal 100-105km/hr - tow-haul likely in 4th-5th gear without taxing your tow vehicle.
Wayne..the best way to "break er in" is towing... work that motor, it will love you for it.!
Cheers guys - happy camping.! (I Wish, its still -27 in the mornings at work - Oil sands)
Trust me...I will first chance I get. ![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/biggrin.gif "biggrin") Problem is, the camper is buried in snow and we're in the beginning of another monster storm. Well...monster for north central Indiana.
CAN NOT WAIT TILL SPRING!!!
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Jarlaxle
New England
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Joined: 11/18/2006
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That $8000+ you don't have to drop on a diesel will buy plenty of gas for a 6.0 GM. Also: diesel is running about an 85 cent/gallon premium over gas in this area!
John and Elizabeth (Liz), with Briza the size XL tabby
St. Bernard Marm, cats Vierna and Maya...RIP. ">
Current rig:
1992 International Genesis school bus conversion
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parkersdad
North Carolina
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Jarlaxle wrote:That $8000+ you don't have to drop on a diesel will buy plenty of gas for a 6.0 GM. Also: diesel is running about an 85 cent/gallon premium over gas in this area!
I said that to when I had a gas motor but now that I have the diesel I disagree. If you buy a diesel at the end of the year like I did you can get a heck of a deal. It ate up almost all of the negative equity that I had. If I had no negative equity I would have only paid $2500 more dollars for the diesel than my gas truck.
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transamz9
Lawrenceburg Ky
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Joined: 07/27/2010
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parkersdad wrote:Jarlaxle wrote:That $8000+ you don't have to drop on a diesel will buy plenty of gas for a 6.0 GM. Also: diesel is running about an 85 cent/gallon premium over gas in this area!
I said that to when I had a gas motor but now that I have the diesel I disagree. If you buy a diesel at the end of the year like I did you can get a heck of a deal. It ate up almost all of the negative equity that I had. If I had no negative equity I would have only paid $2500 more dollars for the diesel than my gas truck.
And when you go to get rid of it you will get that back also.
2016 Ram 3500 Mega Cab Limited/2013 Ram 3500 SRW Cummins(sold)/2005 RAM 2500 Cummins/2011 Sandpiper 345 RET (sold) 2015 Sanibel 3601/2008 Nitro Z9 Mercury 250 PRO XS the best motor made.
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