I was looking to buy a second gen d max for an around town truck and someone else told me id do better with gas mileage on an empty or semi empty pickup with a 6 liter gas vehicle. Which would be better? Need help, and have many different opinions on this isuue

I typically get 15-16 on local trips with my lly. Less if a lot of hills or very short trips. I think that you could do at least the same with the equivalent 3/4 ton gas pu. Better mileage would probably come from a 1500 gasser.

how muxh do you pull a trailer? and if so how big? I get around 15 in town and not quite 20 on the highway with my 05. If you dont pull very much and its just for around town a 1500 with the 5.7(350) would most likeely serve you better that 2500 just from the overall weight of the veichle. The weight even unloaded between a 1500 and 2500 would be reason enough alone to go with a 1500 for a dailt driver, unless you pull larger loads frequently. If you end up with a 2500 or 3500 gasser, stay away from the 8.1 liter (discontinued in the past year or 2) because you wont see much more than 8 or 10 with it anywhere.

I had a 2001 2500 HD w/6.0 4x4 best I ever got was 15 on the highway, cruise control set at 60 in town I got 9-10 and towing I got 9-10.....I added a programmer from superchips, 3" exhaust headers and cool air intake and my 'round town got to 11-12, freeway stayed the same.
my partner has the same truck but w/8.1 liter motor he gets 12, in town, on the highway and towing......as far as the half ton option goes.......I had one of those 2wd 2002 model and w/all the same mods,(cold air, headers, programmer, exhaust.....)I could get 22-23 highway (any speed)
16-17 in town.... you don't wanna know towing......it had 4.8 great motor. they have not made the 5.7 in several years, the options for half tons are the 4.8 and the 5.3,

good luck

Do not count on the 6.0 liter for fuel mileage, I had one for 3 years
and it was bad on gas. (12-15 mpg towing or otherwise) I now have
an 05 Duramax and its much better.(16-20 depending on driving habits)

I had a 6.0 L and it was awful on MPG, 10 TO 11 mpg.

I dont get why everyone says 6.0's suck. I get 17-18 on the freeway 20 highway and 15 towing our boat with my 6.0 and it has almost 117,000 miles on it. I do take very very good care of it though.

get a regular cab! probly better on fuel around town....

02 2500 HD Gasser - Exhaust, intake & Hypertch - avg 12 mpg - towing 7 mpg
05 2500 HD D-Max - Intake - avg 16 to 17 mpg - towing - 10 - 11 mpg

get a regular cab! probly better on fuel around town....
I had the regular cab HD 6.0 gasser and the mileage was awful, it didn't help

I had a 2004 6.0L gas truck it got about 15.5 mpg (driving like grandma)
towing I got 9-10 mpg
Traded it in on a 2004.5 dura-max with a LLY was getting 20.3 mpg same
driving habits.Just had the pcm and tranny done so little heavy on the throttle this tank I think I will get about 16-17 mpg haven"t towed with it yet so I can"t comment on that

LOVE THE TRUCK

It really depends on your needs. Yes you'll probably get some better mileage with the duramax. But in reality its hard to break even money wise. The extra cost of the engine and the higher diesel costs. I wouldnt trade in my duramax for anything and I do love it but if you break it down mathematically the gasser ( even if it gets worse mileage) will most likely be cheaper in the long run. I think someone estimated you gotta drive like 200k to break even on the diesel. Correct me if I'm wrong please. Either way your buying a cool truck.

you buy a diesel for more things than just milage. just about everything else about it is better than a gas truck and that is what you pay for

you buy a diesel for more things than just milage.


yeah, like the noise. :cool:

My old 04 Crew 6.0 on 35s saw a consistent 8 mpg whether city, highway, or towing 10k pounds

I know I bought my diesel over a gas truck for the fun of driving factor, gas mileage, reliability. Driving the diesel truck on the interstate in traffic or on the highway is much nicer than a gasser, you can actually accellerate really easy going up hills and you can pass on two-lane highway very easily. I owned a 6.0 in my old denali and while it had power, the power wasn't usable unless you wanted to rev it like a honda.