mkletka
South Bend, IN
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Joined: 04/16/2012
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I've been out of the truck camper world for a few years but want to get back into it before I get too old to enjoy it. Looking to buy an older Chevy 3500 w/ an 8.1 gas motor. Want to make sure I can handle any camper I will find. Hoping to do just short trips 600 miles or so from home. Any input from 8.1 truck owners? I've had the a duramax in the past but would rather have a gasser since they are easier to work on and not as expensive to repair as diesel engines.
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Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
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Joined: 05/06/2013
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Has virtually nothing to do with the engine/power and everything to do with the class of truck and tires/wheels/suspension.
An 8.1 would not even be a good consideration imo unless you needed the extra power to tow. And at that, most of the advantage would be in the Alli vs the 4L80 behind the 6.0.
Toss up really dead reliable 6.0 with not as awesome of a trans vs 8.1 which could be great, could suck oil but the best trans.
And going old, it’s less about brand and more about miles and condition.
I’d be looking at older Super duty gassers equally. And 3rd gen Dodges if you find a cherry one. They’d be last on the list for gassers IMO.
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5” turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold
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notsobigjoe
southeast
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Joined: 09/15/2016
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Don't have one but always was impressed with the three 7.4 I've had. The 8.1 is a tork machine! Primarily on heavy duty PU. The Vortec can be a tricky ***** but you probably already no that.
https://chevytrucks.org/chevy-8-1-vortec-ultimate-engine-guide/
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wnjj
Cornelius, Oregon
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Joined: 01/11/2007
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Been running a 2005 8.1L 3500 SRW with a ~4000lb wet Eagle Cap 950 since late 2006. I added Rancho adjustable shocks but not sure I noticed a huge improvement. I'm sure they are better than what OEM shocks would be once worn out. No issue with power even with a 2k trailer in tow. I've only checked the mileage a couple times and it's solidly in the 8's with mixed freeway and back roads.
Only ~70k miles on the truck with a MAF sensor, oil pressure sender and coolant cap replacement so far.
If you are looking for "any camper you find" you will need a dually or limit your choices to ~9.5' campers or less.
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mkletka
South Bend, IN
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Joined: 04/16/2012
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My hope is to find a dry bath with slides so getting the truck first I'm wanting to have the ability to carry a heavy camper. I've driven a 1 ton Ford for years so I'm always happy when I can get 10 mpg. My only concern with the 8.1 is that they are not the most popular engine choice so fewer of them around. The engine was built to handle much more hp so the life of it should be excellent as it's hardly working.
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MORSNOW
Mountain Home, ID
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Joined: 10/29/2013
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I think you're dismissing the 6.0 gasser too quick, they are designed as a fleet vehicle engine and just plain last forever.
2014 Wolf Creek 850SB
2012 GMC Sierra SLT 2500HD
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Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
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MORSNOW wrote:I think you're dismissing the 6.0 gasser too quick, they are designed as a fleet vehicle engine and just plain last forever.
Way too quick….they’re 300k mile engines, average I’d say. While I haven’t seen any 300k’s in our fleet, the company has a ton of them and plenty of late 2000s models that have been beat on daily for the last 15 years and a new engine or significant engine problems are not heard of afaik.
The 8.1 can be a great engine. Also can be an oil sucking pig and you won’t know it until the check clears….
The 6.0 which will doo fine in front of the 4L80 albeit kinda anemic is even better if you step up to the late 2000s or newer for the 6L80.
Don’t expect better gas mileage than any other truck or similar size/era. That’s not what you’re purchasing anyway and frankly is WAY down on the list of importance when buying an old truck and expecting great service out of it still.
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Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
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PS, you’re in the Midwest. Second only to the northeast for vehicular cancer. Unless you find the Diamond in a goats ass up there, you also ought to be looking elsewhere like the South or the NW if you want an old truck that isn’t half ferric oxide already.
Good news is the GMT 800 you’re targeting is pretty good at not rusting out quickly. Bad news is the few “clean” Midwest trucks like this are well on their way, even though they may not be showing it much yet to the casual observer.
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mellow
Salisbury, MD
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"dry bath with slides"
As already mentioned add DRW to your list of needs.
2002 F-350 7.3 Lariat 4x4 DRW ZF6
2008 Lance 1191 - 220w of solar - Bring on the sun!
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WarrenS65
SoCal
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I bought a new 05 Chevy 3500 with the 8.1l and Allison to carry a Lance 961 that was 4200# and towed a 7000#-8000# box trailer. What a great combo. The 6l had a few more HP, but the 8.1l had a lot more torque. By the time I sold it last year, it had about 150k miles and I went to an F450. It got about 8-8.5 MPG loaded.
2022 F450
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1987 Honda TRX250R
2002 Honda 400EX
2023 Yamaha Raptor 700SE
2018 Look 24' enclosed trailer
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