Hello everyone. Im currently looking for a new truck and cant decide between the 6.0 or 5.3. Reasons being money issues in the difference with the 3/4 ton and 1/2 ton. Either way i will go with the LS 4x4. I wont be doing much towing at all, but love how much bigger the 2500hd are. I was looking for approx. mpg for both and if in this time of such high gas prices somehow justify the 6.0 or just settle with the 1/2 ton 4x4.... please help thanks
Matt:ro)

What are you going to be doing with the truck? Towing?

No, not towing. Will be driving back and forth from Ft. Worth to Lubbock for school and was considering a bigger truck. Just like the size difference...ground clearance, overall size, etc...

I owned an 03 Z-71 with the 5.3. I absolutely loved the truck right up until I bought my travel trailer. The truck was rated at 7800# and my camper tops out at about 6000#. This truck just absolutely did not want to pull it. I was ready to do the whole list of upgrades when I decided just to go ahead and upgrade to the Duramax instead. (Now I'm doing mild mods to it, go figure :rolleyes: ) The fuel economy was not great on the 5.3. I believe that I was getting about 16 empty and 8-9 mgg towing. The truck was great around town empty though. It had plenty of zip in the RPM's. It just really has no torque to speak of. Did you check out the 1500 heavy duty trucks with the 6.0 liter. I believe that you can get one in a quad cab even.

Do you think I would be able to justify how much more gas it will take for my needs. Mostly in the summer while im off of school its mostly city driving to and from work and such. But most of my miles i would consider would be highway, you think thats enough reason to step up to a 6.0? Even without towing now, even the possibility of something needed to be towed, i should go ahead and step up to the 6.0

That's a really tough call for me to make. If I were you I would spend some quality time driving both trucks (don't baby them) and just see which one suits your need the most. I don't know the specs for MPG on the 6.0 but I would bet that it is not that far off from the 5.3. I know that if I had originally bought the 6, I would probably still have it instead of spending more $$$ on the diesel. I hope that this helps.

I've had the 5.3, the 6.0 and currently have the 8.1 and the 6.6 Duramax, FYI. ......If you can swing a new 6.0 loaded out, then just get the 6.0 and buy more fuel, much more fuel. However, if you are on a budget get the 5.3. The 5.3 is a good motor and has enough power to kind'a spin the tires and get ya around. .......Don't get the 4.8.

how significant is the gas difference goin to be between the 5.3 and the 6.0?

6.0 "at best" will get 16.9..at best. The 6.0 will avg around 12 MPG..and if you're young or drive like hell..it get's worse. The 5.3 can achieve 20+ MPG. Remember, the Z-71 has a smaller rear, smaller trans and smaller frame than the 6.0. The main difference between the 6.0 and the 5.3 would be pulling and you don't really pull, right?

correct. not really pulling anything. i just like how the 3/4 tons are considerably larger than the 1500's. and with the new crew cab 1/2 tons, the larger interior is thanks to a sig. about of lost bed space. another reason i was lookin at the larger end trucks. lots of int. room and still a full size bed. i do field services work in the summer and need the full size bed along with my toolbox but at the same time wanted more interior room......sorta whats goin through my mind with the two choices if that helps any.....

Burner,
What setup do the heavy half's with the 6.0 have? 1/2 ton frame with 6 lugs and a 4L60E? Do they just upgrade the suspension in them?

bars, lower A-arms, trans, and rear. The frame is different on the HD, which I thought he was referring to.

Go with the 5.3L. Better MPG. That's what I'm trying to do. Although I have a DMax, I need to get a gasser so I won't go through another round of high diesel fuel prices that are 30 to 40 cents higher than regular gas. Still deciding between the Avalanche and the 1500 Crew Cab 4x4.

I actually just sold my dmax and bought a '99 gasser 4.8 (don't ask--but I did real well on the sale and picked this gasser up cheap). Not sure yet on mileage, but it runs just as good as my buds 5.3 avalanche, and is much quieter (no piston slap when cold).

I had a '02 Suburban with a 5.3, it got 18MPG. I had a '03 Denali with the 6.0, it got 16.5MPG.



2005 LLY CC LT

2500HD will be with 4.10 gears. the 1500HD with the 6.0l i think will come with 3.73. I personnaly think the only way you'll even come close to 16 with the 6.0l is with the 3.73 gears. Best i could get out of my 2500 HD ext cab 2wd was 15mpg.

thanks yall for all the help. now i gotta decide with the crew cab or ext cab 1500's. crew cab has a lot more int room but 11 of bed has been lost, while the ext cab still has the bed but not much back seat room. i hate these desicions. what yall think

Crew cab is much heavier, longer, and more $$$. You'll get better mileage with the EC. If you really need to seat large adults in the back in comfort, get the crew cab. But if they are kids or teens, they will be fine with the EC seating.

Another thing to consider is gear ratio choice. Even though you will be doing alot of highway drivin' you might opt for the 4.10s ,especially if you go with the crewcab. The 4.10s will also come in handy if you add larger tires. And look for rear-locking differential.
Side note: My brother bought his Z71 w/5.3 and 3.73s, he then changed over to the 4.10s...his fuel mileage is better by 1.5mpg.
JP

i was in a similar situation when i bought my truck. i didnt NEED a 3/4 ton based on what i tow (20' boat and assorted dirt/mulch), probably couldve "gotten by" with a crew cab 1500. i chose the 2500HD based on several factors though: huge interior and still a full size 6.5' bed, heavy duty suspension so i dont have to worry about the axles breaking, towing package and ability to tow in od means better mileage while towing and no transmission worries. the price was almost dead even and really the only downside to the 2500 is the mileage. i probably get an average of 14 for the life of the truck (13 daily driving, 15 freeway). with an extended cab 5.3, you will get around 16-17 so i would imagine the crew cab would be a little less since its heavier. the trade off off 2-3 mpg was worth it to me. yes this truck is a little more than i need but i like that fact, not ever having to worry about breaking or overloading the truck. and on the few times i have had to tow or haul a really large load, i have been glad to have the big truck. i have had the truck for almost a year and absolutely love it and do not regret the purchase at all. not to mention i can tow the boat down to the keys with a truck full of buddies and fishing/dive gear and still get 12mpg.

EDIT - btw, after owning this truck i will NEVER own another non-crewcab truck again!! i can fold the seats down and have as much cargo area as a tahoe or take 5 full size guys (and trust me, none of us are little!) on a fishing/hunting/dog training trip and we are completely comfortable. its worth the extra PITA to park!! :ro)

i hate my 6.0 i would get a 5.3 over a 6.0 any day. the power feels the same to my but my millage is horrible and makes me cry every time i go to the pump. the 5.3 is the way to go.

side note. GM really needs a dmax suburban. and a dmax denali so i can get rid of my gas hog 6.0 denali

A 6.0 with a hypertech programmer, air intake, and exhaust realy rips. The "heavy half" 6.0 comes in two configurations. The 1500hd is the crew cab version with 6ft box. The 2500 non hd can be extended cab or reg. cab. Both 1500hd and 2500 have 8lug rims with 3.73 gears. I like this configuration the best. It is built more like a truck than a 1500. Only problem...tires, they come with 245's instead of the 265's like the 1500's have. I don't like the looks of the small tires.

I just went through the same thing as you, like 3 weeks ago. I was going to get the 6.0 3/4, but thought about what I actually need right now and how bad prices are. I ended up with a EC SB Z71 with the alum block 5.3 and 3.42 rear end. I'm getting over 18 on the highway right now and its still not broken in. I'm pretty sure I'll reach 19 and maybe even 20. I usually only tow a couple of quads so it will work good for that, havent gone out since I got it though. My truck was a few grand cheaper than a 3/4 would have been and I"m using alot less gas. I get 400+ miles to a tank. I wont tell you to go either way, because I still want a 3/4. Atleast you have someone who was in a similar situation to go off though. let me know if I can help anymore.