New Trucks Capabilities

tmo · August 12, 2016

February of 2015 I purchased my Sierra with a v6. I love the truck and besides for it not getting fantastic gas mileage I don't have any complaints. I pulled my first trailer about 3 months ago and I didn't even realize I had something behind me so I was wondering why these new trucks with the v6 have just as much power as the old v8, but we can't pull the same amount. For example, we use an old 94 2500 with a 350 to pull a 20 foot hay trailer with 11 round bales (roughly 14000). That truck has I believe only like 200hp and maybe 300torque. So why can't I pull that much with this new truck and why do we need the 6.2 to get close to that number. Any info would be greatly appreciated!

O_J_Simpson · August 12, 2016

Clearly, you bought the wrong truck. The old V8 engine made their power at low RPMs. The new Ecobox V6 engines have to rev way up to make power so the low end power is not there. Why on earth would anyone purchase a V6 that gets crappy mileage compaired to a 5.3L or 6.2L is a world wide mystery.

tmo · August 13, 2016

The v6 trucks make their peak torque at 3900. That's high, but not wide open and with e85 gas there would be even more tq at that rpm.

I didn't buy the wrong truck. I bought the truck that I wanted over other mid size trucks. I didn't need the hp and torque numbers because as a college student I'm not pulling and I'm not going to ask mommy and daddy for money just to have bragging rights. I have plenty of bragging rights in the family's duramax. Thanks for the info I guess.

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redwngr · August 13, 2016

Load rating for carrying or towing is also about transmission capacity, frame strength, brakes, engine cooling differential strength, etc etc.

2500 is stronger in all those categories.

Duty cycle is also considered in the ratings.

Silvern Sentry · August 13, 2016

These trucks max out at 12000lbs no matter the engine or drive train, after that stuff like the suspension and such is not designed for those loads. They probably have much greater requirements / errors of margin / standards these days. And as the saying goes they dont build em like they used to.

tmo · August 13, 2016

Okay, makes sense that the requirements would be greater. We have a 77 Sierra 350 that used to be the "hay truck" and its frame is so flimsy looking compared to mine, but the 94 frame seems small compared to the duramax. Times change I guess. Anyways, I wasn't really asking because I wanted to try anything, but it came up in another topic and I got curious. Thank you to both of y'all for clearing things up!

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truckguy82 · August 13, 2016

A ferrari enzo engine would out perform a big rig diesel engine pulling 80k pounds...

Just need to rebuild the engine once a week

Badass69 · August 13, 2016

You also were grossly overloaded with your old 94 or whatever... It was not rated to pull anywhere near 14000... Like maybe half that much provided it was an 8600 gvwr truck.

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mike221 · August 14, 2016

A ferrari enzo engine would out perform a big rig diesel engine pulling 80k pounds...

Just need to rebuild the engine once a week

Doubt it. Detroit DD15 (pretty common engine) makes 560HP and 1800lb-ft of torque...

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truckguy82 · August 14, 2016

Doubt it. Detroit DD15 (pretty common engine) makes 560HP and 1800lb-ft of torque...

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And how much torque to the wheels does a ferrari v12 make with a 5-6x greater gear multiplier while screaming at 9k rpm

Answer: More

Just not very practical to rev to 8-9k at wot for 60 seconds straight to get your 80k lb load up to highway speed

Donstar · August 14, 2016

The new 4.3 is a great engine and certainly no mystery to me as to why anyone would purchase a truck with this engine. I've owned both a 3/4 ton and 1/2 ton GMC with the 350 motor and neither would have been able to pull more than my current V6.

Chevyguy85 · August 14, 2016

As long as you get traction you can in theory pull almost anything. It's the stopping that's the hard part. Also just because something can pull it, doesn't mean it's rated by the manufacture to pull that much weight. Everyone seems to be obsessed with more HP and in so much of a hurry anymore. The travel trailers my grandparents used to pull with their 350s and 6.0s trucks everyone now seems to think can only be done with a diesel.

Rkaroll953 · August 16, 2016

remember that 2500 probably has 4.10 gears and stiffer suspension to handle the load better. its also heavier for the GCVW. your v6 can probably keep up in horsepower but it might not be a pleasurable experience going down the road.

I elected to get a half ton this time around. i came from a 6.0 2500. wanted the gas mileage and i thought for the amount of time i had to use the bigger truck il just work my 1500 harder. well it definitely has a more powerful engine and i like the gear ratio of the rear end and trans better but the suspension definitely isint there. i had to add some help for the rear suspension to help out.