fatbillybob

I got an 8.1L 2500 suburban to tow with. Anyone had this and the new 6.2L and can give me any feedback of the difference? GM says the 6.2 is better than the 8.1L but I there is not substitute for Cubic inches...or is there?

0Randy@DRM

Well being a life time gas truck fan. I can tell you the 6.2 is a better setup. It is lighter, better on gas and makes more power. The 6 speed they put behide it is very nice also.

But then you start looking back at the 8.1. It's been pulling for years and will be still pulling in many more years. The turbo 400s were pretty damn strong!!!

Both get the job done just fine, everyday truck I would go for the 6.2. Just for pulling, the 8.1 is a pretty safe bet.

Upgrading is a different story, we did a 08 ext cab short box. Forged bottom end, cam-ect and a TVS roots style charger on it. And of course the 6 speed. What a fun truck. LS engines are way more fun to upgrade.

Randy

Snuckley

2005 K2500 8.1 4.10rear is my daily driver- 90,000mi since new- no major problems- still has original rear pads/rotors!!! . Pulls well , GREAT brakes compared to my previous K2500's. 10-12 mpg nontowing. They will eat 1 qt oil in less than 1000mi from new---this is NORMAL. You can read why, but there is no cure. Magnetic shocks are smooth. Hitch receiver is cheap compared to older burbs- if you're pulling >6000 , I'd replace it with a beefier bolt-on unit for < 200 bucks. enjoy it

Bill Dearborn

One of the people I autocross with has a 97 big block sub with 4:10s. He pulls an 89 C4 on an aluminum trailer. I pull a C5Z on a steel and wood trailer with an 03 Tahoe that has the 5.3 engine. He can keep up with me when on level road but on hills I see him falling back. His gas mileage is quite a bit less than mine (12 for me Vs 8 for him). Not sure what the weight difference is but I am sure the weight difference between his aluminum trailer and my 1800 lb steel and wood trailer more than makes up for the difference in weight between 2500 sub and a 1500 Tahoe.

Bill

Tintin

I have a 2007 Suburban with the 5.3 and it tows surprisingly well. I towed my C2 on an open roll-back trailer and had no trouble maintaining 80 mph across the I-10 and up the I-5 Grapevine on a recent trip from Phoenix to Laguna Seca for the ALMS races. I got 15 mpg overall at that speed. I was kind of shocked as the trailer is pretty heavy as is the car at how much pep there was. I wouldn't get the bigger engine unless you have a huge and heavy closed trailer. I think I pulled about 5500 pounds... Here is a pic of the car and trailer:

Skyking1992

I have an 08 3/4 ton Suburban with the 6.0 and the new 6 speed tranny. I tow an open steel trailer. I love it! My previous Suburban was an 97 1/2 ton with the 5.7 and before that a 90 with a 350ci. The 08 is many times better than the previous burbs (all three were two wheel drive with towing package).

wkchevy

The 6.2 combined with the 6 speed auto is a KILLER setup.
I would say it is easily superior to the old big block... the economy will be quite a bit better with the 6.2L as well.

Just depends on what you are doing with the truck. JUST towing, or towing/daily driving.

I pull my C5 on an aluminum trailer with a RCSB 1990 silverado 350 automatic. lol

Unless you are pulling an enclosed trailer, a new suburban with just a 5.3 and a tow package will pull very nicely IMO.

OKsweetrides

If your towing heavier loads and have a lot of drag. The 6.2L will be a like a smoker running a marathon compared to the 8.1L

The 3/4 ton is MUCH better suited to towing than a half ton. Brakes, stability, cooling.

The sole downside to an 8.1L is the mileage... it's always been 9 and 12mpg no matter what you do; but it can also run on Mexican **** gas just fine as well if you ever go to mexico.

disclosure: I have a Avalanche 2500 and a GMT900 Escalade ESV. The Caddy will do just fine with light loads. I don't have the same level of trust when going 5+ hours away though.

p.s. The reason GM says the 6.2 is better is for marketing.. they need to move some products!! A half-ton != 3/4-1ton.
Notice how they don't use the 6.2L in the 3/4ton and 1ton versions. If it was so good... then why do they use the LQ4 derivative?

wkchevy

They continue to use the 6.0 simply because they have to.

If you had a massive stockpile of engines, that are very cheap ,would you stop using them entirely simply because you have developed a replacement already??

No.

This is the exact reason why the Tahoe Hybrid runs on the 6.0L engine as well.

Trust me, the 6.0 is well on its way out the door.

To be replaced by the potent, more efficient, 6.2L LS series engine.

pipeliner1

I also tow with the 8.1/4.10 in an Avalanche. Most of the time its open with a C4 but I have pulled a 24 enclosed.


I am totally confident of the setup. It is not diesel but it tugs. I only get 9 with the enclosed but I have no lack of power. The 1500 will pull an open but the I would be wary of the enclosed.

undertaker

I have an 07 K2500 sub with teh 6.0 and 4 speed 4L80 with 3.73's GM rates it at 7400 (because of teh gears, with 4.10's its 9400) but whatever I've towed as heavy as 12K with it (was happy but got it done) I regularly tow a 24 foot enclosed with it with my crap and everyone else who drives to the glen's crap in it. Truck doesn't miss a beat......screams a bit on the hills but gets it done. Of course I'm not one of those tow at 50-55 mph people I'm doing 75-80 the whole way.

My buddy with the speedshop has a 28 ft enclosed with a 3500 lb car more cabinets and a golf cart, had a 04 or 05 8.1 k2500 before his 07 K2500 (just has 4.10's where I don't) and said it seems every bit as strong compared to his old one. The 8.1's are pigs....

as for mpg I see 14-15 unloaded highway, 9 or so around town (nyc) 7 with the enclosed bout 10-11 with a vette on a steel deck trailer.

oh.....6.0 is very easy to add boost to

http://www.eastcoastsupercharging.co...%20Paxton.html

I've seen and done the 1500 on an enclosed trailer thing (have a obs tahoe with a 502 ramjet, 4L80, 14 bolt etc) but honestly a 3/4 ton is much nicer for lane changes, hills, stopping etc. as compared to a half ton, they're good for open trailers.....

Best analogy is, coming down teh hill from the glen I'd have one hand on the trailer brake controller, the truck in low gear, and a death grip on teh wheel in the tahoe.

With the 3/4 ton sub I'm slouched in the seat, smoking a cigarette, talking on teh phone drinking a can of soda, driving with my knee without a care in the world.....