2500 HD truck breakdown

[Jerry D]

Can anyone with some knowledge help break down some
information about trucks

Looking mainly at ford, chev and gmc but open to ram. 250 /2500 HD's

GAS only, no diesel.

I'm looking for information on when the 6 speed tranny were introduced to these trucks as well as the engine.

I am also looking for specs on the towing capacity for bumper pull with the different gear ratios.

I do understand GM uses a 3.73 and a 4.10 that is rare.

And not to start a debate but if you had to choose, which 2500 HD would you choose and what gear ratio. Trailer is a 7 ton, 20' lowbed equipment trailer.
We load approx 10-11,000 lbs when it's loaded full which is not too often. Short hauls no more than an hour long on flat roads.

[rena0040]

I have a 09 gm 2500 gas. It has the 6 speed Allison trans and 6.0 engine. I think that combo started in 2006.
My book says 10k lbs towing limit and 19k lbs combined limit so you'll be over weight.

I love the engine and trans, its smooth and has plenty power for what I tow, a travel trailer loaded up about 7k lbs.

For your weight you may have to go diesel or newer 3/4 or 1t gasser, they may have more towing capacity.

[Ddawg]

Originally Posted by rena0040

I have a 09 gm 2500 gas. It has the 6 speed Allison trans and 6.0 engine. I think that combo started in 2006.

My book says 10k lbs towing limit and 19k lbs combined limit so you'll be over weight.



I love the engine and trans, its smooth and has plenty power for what I tow, a travel trailer loaded up about 7k lbs.



For your weight you may have to go diesel or newer 3/4 or 1t gasser, they may have more towing capacity.

The Allison transmission was only available with the 8.1 gas engine or the durmax diesel.




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[MrMister12]

Originally Posted by Ddawg

The Allison transmission was only available with the 8.1 gas engine or the durmax diesel.




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Dad had a 6.0l with the Allison. Had to order it though. Also 410 diffs, hard on fuel.

Matt

[Homesteader]

Originally Posted by Ddawg

The Allison transmission was only available with the 8.1 gas engine or the durmax diesel.

Correct......but the 6 spd gm transmission on the 6.0l engines is basically a copy of the Allison, so many people call them one. They are a very good transmission, and matched well to the 6.0 motor.

I had one for 10yrs, mine had 4.10 gears. I believe it was rated for around 11,000 lbs. She had lots of grunt for a gas job. Never a lick of trouble, except she was a bit thirsty

[Ddawg]

You would be better off with a 3500 and 4:10 axle with that much weight and length.


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[Nova]

I'm truck shopping right now as well. If you have a chance of getting weighed, one thing to consider is all the manufacturers have changed the way the calculate tow rating and payload in the last while, though it may not necessarily correlate to any physical changes on the truck. For GM, that change year was 2011. Comparing an extended cab long box, 4wd the 2500HD stayed about the same in payload (around 3200 pounds) while the 3500HD got about a 700 boost in payload up to around 4400 pounds. As far as tow ratings go, both the 2500HD and 3500HD are rated for similar weights, the 2500HD actually has a slight advantage (2-400 pounds) over the 3500HD.

From what I've found, the physical difference between the trucks is the 2500HD has two stage leafs and a 10.5" differential, the 3500HD has three stage leafs and an 11.5" differential. FWIW, the 2500HD duramax trucks also have the 11.5" differential.

If you're buying used and you don't care about short box or long box, the market isn't too bad for the 2500HD, there's a fair bit out there. I'm strictly looking for a 2011 or newer 3500HD, gas, long box and the options are limited......anything decent sells quick.

[jpohlic]

Originally Posted by rena0040

For your weight you may have to go diesel or newer 3/4 or 1t gasser, they may have more towing capacity.

Not always true. I have a 2012 GMC 3500 crew cab long box and it's only rated for 9100 lbs towing.

[Suzukisam]

Ford is out of question unless you go f350 the 250 can't handle that load. axle ratio not available till you go 350 that's why you see more 350 then 250 on the road

[fordtruckin]

Originally Posted by Suzukisam

Ford is out of question unless you go f350 the 250 can't handle that load. axle ratio not available till you go 350 that's why you see more 350 then 250 on the road

Funny cause I've noticed the exact opposite. Way more 250s than 350s. I wonder if it's a regional thing??

[Tigger72]

So it begs to ask why you are opposed to the a diesel??

[Deer Hunter]

check the front ends for wear if you buy used. Diesels are hard on wheel bearings, ball joints, tie rod ends etc. Typical wear items but can be expensive to repair if you aren't able to do it yourself.

[Headdamage]

My 2006 2500HD duramax was the first year of the six speed allison.

[Dean2]

Assuming the trailer weighs about 5000 Lbs and you load 11,000 you are at 16,000 LBs. I doubt anything short of a HD 3500 is going to be rated for that high a pull weight. To find a 2500 rated for that much weight you are likely looking at only the Dodge and in gas or Diesel you will be right at the top of the 2017 max rated which is 17,400 Lbs for the 6"4" box crew cab diesel.

This list of the 3500s is the Diesel engine option, the largest gas motors by brand will have lower ratings.

2016 RAM 3500 HD — 31,210 lbs.
2016 Ford F-450 Super Duty — 31,200 lbs.
2016 GMC Sierra 3500HD — 23,300 lbs.
2016 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD — 23,200 lbs.
2016 Nissan Titan — 12,310 lbs.
2016 Ford F-150 — 11,300 lbs.
2016 Toyota Tundra — 10,500 lbs.
2016 Chevrolet Colorado — 7,000 lbs.

[Nova]

Originally Posted by Dean2

Assuming the trailer weighs about 5000 Lbs and you load 11,000 you are at 16,000 LBs. I doubt anything short of a HD 3500 is going to be rated for that high a pull weight. To find a 2500 rated for that much weight you are likely looking at only the Dodge and in gas or Diesel you will be right at the top of the 2017 max rated which is 17,400 Lbs for the 6"4" box crew cab diesel.

This list of the 3500s is the Diesel engine option, the largest gas motors by brand will have lower ratings.

2016 RAM 3500 HD — 31,210 lbs.
2016 Ford F-450 Super Duty — 31,200 lbs.
2016 GMC Sierra 3500HD — 23,300 lbs.
2016 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD — 23,200 lbs.
2016 Nissan Titan — 12,310 lbs.
2016 Ford F-150 — 11,300 lbs.
2016 Toyota Tundra — 10,500 lbs.
2016 Chevrolet Colorado — 7,000 lbs.

Those look like dually numbers to me, at least for the Silerado and Sierra.

[gmcmax05]

Can't speak for anything other than the GM's but those numbers are for SRW.

[Nova]

http://fifthwheelst.com/2016-one-ton-truck-towing.html

From the 2017 brochure:

[Dean2]

Originally Posted by Nova

Those look like dually numbers to me, at least for the Silerado and Sierra.

For the 3500s they are all dually. Single rear wheel is about half that for Trailer Tow weight.

[1899b]

Originally Posted by Deer Hunter

check the front ends for wear if you buy used. Diesels are hard on wheel bearings, ball joints, tie rod ends etc. Typical wear items but can be expensive to repair if you aren't able to do it yourself.

Preach brother preach!!!! Lmao...

[gmcmax05]

Originally Posted by Nova

Those look like dually numbers to me, at least for the Silerado and Sierra.

Nova, I stand corrected, I was thinking Dmax which is 24,500 for SRW.

[Deer Hunter]

Originally Posted by 1899b

Preach brother preach!!!! Lmao...

Just think of all the money youre saving there^^!!

[1899b]

Originally Posted by Deer Hunter

Just think of all the money youre saving there^^!!

It is very very unnerving in regards to what shops will charge for certain jobs. I feel bad for those that don't have any mechanical know how and get bent over. Automotive shops are more often corrupt than not. But if you are a person that doesnt know how long these jobs should take, you wouldnt know the difference and the bill like so many goes unchallenged. Anyway hope the OP finds a decent truck. I have learned there is no perfect vehicle out there yet.. All have pros and cons...

[pikeman06]

6 liter Chevy bone stock over 500000 km on him can set a cup of coffee on the motor and scarcely a ripple. Not the best with my maintenence but not the worst. It gets what it needs (plugs, filters, oil change etc) when I got time to do it. Not always plugged in when cold. Excellent motor. Won't lie it's hard as hell on fuel and had one with cold air intake and big exhaust etc that had twice as much jam and was better on fuel but also blew out front and rear seals and probably had oil pump issues when I sold it. The stock one just keeps going but I wouldn't pull a holiday trailer with it. It's a 2000 and the hi perf one was 2003. 2500 hd's

[wildalberta]

there is nothing about the allison transmission remotley close to the 6l90e 6-speed behind the 6.0 gas trucks which started in the gmt900 chassis(2007) ive had many of these as work trucks and cannot stand them. they have no power below 4000 rpm and are terrible on fuel, combined with a small fuel tank gives you no kind of useful range. they need 4.10's absolutley. ive also had a couple 6.2 superdutys over the years and i wasnt very impressed with them either. i towed some heavy loads with them before and it was a major struggle. if your towing quite regularily i would opt for a diesel.

[Dean2]

Originally Posted by wildalberta

there is nothing about the allison transmission remotley close to the 6l90e 6-speed behind the 6.0 gas trucks which started in the gmt900 chassis(2007) ive had many of these as work trucks and cannot stand them. they have no power below 4000 rpm and are terrible on fuel, combined with a small fuel tank gives you no kind of useful range. they need 4.10's absolutley. ive also had a couple 6.2 superdutys over the years and i wasnt very impressed with them either. i towed some heavy loads with them before and it was a major struggle. if your towing quite regularily i would opt for a diesel.

You cannot beat the toque modern diesels, the Dodge Cummings putting out 900 Ft Lbs in one version, even Cat engines in a Peterbuilt didn't make that much torque a few years back, and that is what makes towing as effortless as it can be. That said, the OP was very specific and for some reason wants gas. Not to mention the diesel retains far better resale value, but gas is what he asked for so that is what we have advised on.

[EZM]

Originally Posted by Dean2

You cannot beat the toque modern diesels, the Dodge Cummings putting out 900 Ft Lbs in one version, even Cat engines in a Peterbuilt didn't make that much torque a few years back, and that is what makes towing as effortless as it can be. That said, the OP was very specific and for some reason wants gas. Not to mention the diesel retains far better resale value, but gas is what he asked for so that is what we have advised on.

I was looking at the specs .... and I do agree .... with one caveat - diesels suck when they break and get ready to pay big to get them fixed

F-350 Gasser DRW will pull 15,000 lbs conventional and 19,800 lbs on a 5th wheel

F-350 Diesel DRW will pull 21,000 conventional and 27,500lbs on a 5th wheel

Amazing how much these trucks will pull.

You are pulling lots of weight - so I would consider the Diesel at least one more time. I, myself, hate to tow anything that close to the max rating. I try and stick to 60%-70% max so I'm not beating up my truck too much.

[wildalberta]

there is allot of mis-information in here about the trucks specs. The 6.0 chev powertrain is a buletproof combo for longevity, however its performance is quite lacking in my opinion. has anyone here pulled anything heavy with any of the mentioned gas trucks? because ive put 10,000 behind a f350 6.2 ford and it was a royal struggle and downright scary. these new trucks tow ratings are absurd, they have been the same powertrain for a long time, 2007 to be exact for gm, and yet they just keep raising the limits.

[sako1]

Originally Posted by 1899b

It is very very unnerving in regards to what shops will charge for certain jobs. I feel bad for those that don't have any mechanical know how and get bent over. Automotive shops are more often corrupt than not. But if you are a person that doesnt know how long these jobs should take, you wouldnt know the difference and the bill like so many goes unchallenged. Anyway hope the OP finds a decent truck. I have learned there is no perfect vehicle out there yet.. All have pros and cons...

I have been in the business a long time. I honestly don't think automotive shops are more corrupt than honest. Some people are able to do their own work which is awesome. But because they can,they think if they would have paid a shop to do the work they are getting ripped off. Not usually the case.

[gmcmax05]

Originally Posted by wildalberta

there is allot of mis-information in here about the trucks specs. The 6.0 chev powertrain is a buletproof combo for longevity, however its performance is quite lacking in my opinion. has anyone here pulled anything heavy with any of the mentioned gas trucks? because ive put 10,000 behind a f350 6.2 ford and it was a royal struggle and downright scary. these new trucks tow ratings are absurd, they have been the same powertrain for a long time, 2007 to be exact for gm, and yet they just keep raising the limits.

GM changed their frame to boxed in 2011. on the HD's.

[Alta_Redneck]

Originally Posted by Suzukisam

Ford is out of question unless you go f350 the 250 can't handle that load. axle ratio not available till you go 350 that's why you see more 350 then 250 on the road

Not sure what you mean by the axle ratio isn't available. My cousin just ordered a new f250 and you can get either 3.73 or 4.30 With the gas 6.2.
I'm a gmc guy but if I was buying a new gas 2500 I would go with a f250. The gmc power train is old and down on power when compaired to the Ford.