Chevy 6.0 up grade for towing

[mlh]

You can get a tuner for well under a couple grand but it isn’t going to do you much good.
Lynwood

[Joint Venture II]

Originally Posted by kowbra

Mike,

Of course, I and so many others on this forum are here to help... and we get so much help as well!

My concern for you is that no matter what you do with your existing truck, you are greatly exceeding its tow ratings; didn't someone post the ratings for your truck at 10,500 and you are towing over 12k? If that is correct, then you are towing about 20% over your limits. No matter how you try to solve the problem, especially at a lower budget, you will only be able to address one of the many reasons why your truck is not rated high enough to tow what you want to tow.

So, again to try to help... is there no way to find the right buyer for your truck and find a deal on a newer and more capable truck that works within your budget? IOW, instead of a few grand into your truck, what if a few grand got you into a newer truck? (again not saying "new" but "newer"...)

A quick search on autoblog... a 2000 Chevy 2500 6.0L has a price range of $23k to $29k and a 2010 has a price range of $27 to $34k... so about a $4-5k difference for 10 years newer; if that's realistic numbers and if it were me, I'd sure consider that option before the money pit of $2k, $3k, $6k+ into an upgrade cycle on the 2000 model that will never be rated high enough no matter what I spend.

And, the 2010 model Chevy 6.0L trucks have 360hp and 12,500lbs towing; looks like a nice upgrade (both about 20% improvement) and now within the specs for what you're trying to do.

Maybe that deal isn't out there today, but what if it is with a few weeks of searching? I hope it doesn't sound like I'm pushing, but I am worried that the upgrade path won't end up where you want and will cost you way more in the end.

hth,
Brad

There is a lot of wisdom in this advice and some well chosen words. Impressive.

[Theunz]

Kowbra is offering the only solid advice. Irregardless of towing capacity you will never get dependable power output from that engine for pulling heavy loads in the mountains. Even if it generates the needed torque to pull the mountains you’ll likely run into overheating or transmission issues. There’s a reason they put diesel’s in heavy duty pickups, and they don’t have to be noisy or stinky.

[DutchmenSport]

I've followed this thread since it started and kept my fingers away from the keyboard hoping someone else would respond for some similar thoughts I was thinking also. And yes, it has been said.

My mother was perhaps one of the tightest, most spend-thrifty human ever on planet earth. She was born in Germany in 1923 and lived through WW2, Hitler, and the whole thing. She learned how to barter and get the things she wanted when there was nothing to get or nothing to barter with. When the war was over, she was in her mid-20's and by now, her character and personality was set in stone.

Fast forward years and years later. She ended up divorcing my dad in 1970. But even before that, she was as frugal as can possibly, humanly, be. Myself and my 2 sisters never had store bought toys. Our toys were rocks and sticks and old socks and a very active imagination.

Dad had his own business that eventually failed because of his alcoholism. My mother, from that time onward attempted to squeeze blood, not out of turnips, but out of other drops of blood. She was awful. Wouldn't spend a penny on anything, saved everything she could, recycled absolutely everything ... LONG before recycling became an issue. She sewed all our cloths. I never had a store bought shirt until I was 18 years old.

OK, so this story sounds like "Coalminer's Daughter". Well, kind of, but not THAT bad.

Still, my mother....

There's a point to this, hang in there....

My mother's real down fall was her extreme thriftiness. She made so many horrible, bad, financial choices it was awful. In her attempt to save a dime, in time, saving that "initial" dime, cost her later, not only the dime, but also another dollar.

In other words, in her best attempts to save a dime, it ended up costing her $1.10 before "it" was all over. She did this with many, many bad decisions, and would not listen to the advise of anyone.... anyone .... because she knew better, it was her money, and no one knew her situation better than she did. End result ... it cost her more.

I gave you this story, not to sound critical or harsh, but the real bottom line is, .... you say getting another truck is not an option. I differ with your opinion. It's your only option. The money you throw at your current truck will be money lost, because in the end, you'll end up getting a different truck anyway (if you really want to continue towing that trailer).

Sorry my friend, but reality is harsh sometimes.

I hope the best for you. Good luck.

[mlh]

The 6 L small block puts out between 360 and 380 pound feet of torque at 4000 to 4400 RPM and torque is what pulls your camper. You can get a model with more HP. But not more torque. In other words it isn’t a great engine to pull a camper unless you just love to hear a truck turn lots of RPMS.
Lynwood

[team bradfield]

you need a bigger truck...

[Mike S]

Guys, thanks for the input---even though it is pretty much hard to swallow, it is genuinely appreciated.



There is a reason I am pulling a 2005 trailer with a 2000 truck. Retirement income only allows so much.


Brad, Joint Venture, Dutchman, Kowbra and others-----Thanks.

[mlh]

I see people putting with with this size truck all the time. They don’t seem to be having any more problems than people with much larger trucks. You would be welcome here in western Va.
Lynwood

[Mike S]

Originally Posted by mlh

I see people putting with with this size truck all the time. They don’t seem to be having any more problems than people with much larger trucks. You would be welcome here in western Va.
Lynwood

Thanks



My truck does just fine for 95% of our towing. It manages for the other 5%, but it would be nice to give it some extra grunt at times.


And, it and the fifth wheel are paid for

[scottz]

Be nice, no need for the weight police to hammer this. He is looking for helpful advice. "Go out and buy a new $80k truck" is not helpful.

Kowbra is spot on. Spending money on this truck is probably going to be disappointing. If you only have a problem 1% of the time, why not just sit back and relax. Keep looking around for a good deal; you might be able to swap your truck for a more capable truck for less than you would spend upgrading this one.

Welcome to the forum and best of luck

[mlh]

And, it and the fifth wheel are paid for
Just like my truck and camper. Good for you!
Lynwood

[jimcol]

Originally Posted by scottz

Be nice, no need for the weight police to hammer this. He is looking for helpful advice. "Go out and buy a new $80k truck" is not helpful.

Kowbra is spot on. Spending money on this truck is probably going to be disappointing. If you only have a problem 1% of the time, why not just sit back and relax. Keep looking around for a good deal; you might be able to swap your truck for a more capable truck for less than you would spend upgrading this one.

Welcome to the forum and best of luck

Great reply scottz! I hope the OP heeds it.

[Mikendebbie]

If he was to look for something like the truck below to use for that 1% of the time…would that be asking for trouble? I am not a mechanic so it would be trouble for me.

[Mike S]

Originally Posted by scottz

Be nice, no need for the weight police to hammer this. He is looking for helpful advice. "Go out and buy a new $80k truck" is not helpful.

Kowbra is spot on. Spending money on this truck is probably going to be disappointing. If you only have a problem 1% of the time, why not just sit back and relax. Keep looking around for a good deal; you might be able to swap your truck for a more capable truck for less than you would spend upgrading this one.

Welcome to the forum and best of luck

Thanks, I do not disagree with Kowbra----he makes valid points.



As things stand now, I am still gathering info, and while getting a newer truck is not totally out of the question, it is at the very bottom of the list.



However I will be keeping my eyes open and something may fall into my lap---who knows.



Thanks for the welcome. Appreciate it

[Camp CA]

Originally Posted by Mike S

..........I am looking to upgrade my power for the 1% of the time I have the trailer hooked up..........Tired of creeping along in first gear and wondering if it will make it...........

Install a chip........installed an Edge chip https://www.trucksbrands.com/gas-tru...ormance-chips/ AND https://www.edgeproducts.com/blog/po...uning_options/
on my 2002 Ford F250. My mechanic advised me to have 3 beers and put in mode 5 to see the uphill performance boost. Did not have 3 beers but put it in mode 5 and the truck raced up hills like a porsche.

[Joint Venture II]

Originally Posted by Camp CA

Install a chip........installed an Edge chip https://www.trucksbrands.com/gas-tru...ormance-chips/ AND https://www.edgeproducts.com/blog/po...uning_options/
on my 2002 Ford F250. My mechanic advised me to have 3 beers and put in mode 5 to see the uphill performance boost. Did not have 3 beers but put it in mode 5 and the truck raced up hills like a porsche.

It looks like the EDGE EVOLUTION CTS3 $614 adds 16hp and 20 ft lbs of torque. Not too noticeable towing. What you did to a Ford diesel doesn't really apply much to a gas engine. Much harder to gain power in a gas engine using chips.

Originally Posted by Mike S

And, it and the fifth wheel are paid for

I can easily relate as mine is paid for too. Yes I would love more power and looking at accomplishing that in the future but for now I'll live with what I have.

[mlh]

It looks like the EDGE EVOLUTION CTS3 $614 adds 16hp and 20 ft lbs of torque. Not too noticeable towing. What you did to a Ford diesel doesn't really apply much to a gas engine. Much harder to gain power in a gas engine using chips


This is so true. My 6.4 Ford started life with 350 HP and 650 Torque. I added a tuner it now has 600 HP and 1100 Torque. This is impossible with any naturally aspirated engine. To add much power you haft to get more air in and there is no way to do that with a naturally aspirated engine.
I know the OP likes his truck but a nice 454 might fill the bill IF you can find a NICE one.
Lynwood

[beeje]

All of the newer diesels say within the last 10 years do not smell of diesel at all and are relatively quiet.
I think biggest issue with them is they are quite expensive.
With that being said if I can't tow with a diesel I'm either done or being or will move to something much smaller that can be towed with a gas truck efficiently

[Joint Venture II]

Originally Posted by mlh

I know the OP likes his truck but a nice 454 might fill the bill IF you can find a NICE one.
Lynwood

Poor choice to swap out by todays standard, the 496 8,1L or 501 8.2L would be leap years ahead of a 454, but very costly

[mlh]

Originally Posted by Joint Venture II

Poor choice to swap out by todays standard, the 496 8,1L or 501 8.2L would be leap years ahead of a 454, but very costly

I meant buy a 454 3500 truck that would be fairly inexpensive. If you can find a nice one.
Lynwood