Chevy Express 6.6l Duramax Tow Test

What was done to this Chevrolet Express 3500 6.6 Duramax.
4x4 Conversion with Coilover Kit:
weldtecdesigns...
Rear leaf Springs:
weldtecdesigns...
In this video we take out this super rad pony of a van 6.6l Duramax and put it up to a tow test. We had previously towed with the 2.8l duramax and it did fairly well for being a smaller diesel, but now its time to try out the big dog. First we tow a 6,670lb race trailer to see how it performs with a lot of weight for those towing big, then we tow Jeremy's boat which weighs 4,700lbs which is good for those who wont be towing as much weight. The 6.6l absolutely crushed it and pulled the race trailer and boat with ease. As expected it performed way better than the 2.8l Duramax! Leave a like and subscribe for more videos to come!
2.8L Duramax towing video
• Chevy Express 2.8L Dur...
For more info on the products we use to make these awesome vans or social content check out:
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[@rionegro7368]

That is the best van ever made 6.6 duramax

[@WeldtecDesigns]

Agreed!

[@erichatten]

If it came with a allison it would be better

[@Cosmotopalien]

I've towed 35 ft Avion trailer loaded from Phoenix to Jacumba bone stock 07' Van. 45 mph up mountain springs grade. Also heavier 4 unit talent trailer from San Fernando valley to jacumba. No problem 45 mph up grades alpine and 40 mph acorn casino grade. Still have it. I do use it a lot. Wish it was a 4x4.

[@stevenflathers1585]

We have a 2016 6.6 15 passenger and haul a 86 1 ton chevy on a 20 foot equipment trailer to take the truck out wheeling. Total trailer weight loaded is about 9200 lbs. the van hauls it no problem. On flat you can get it up as fast as you feel you can safely tow. 85+ no problem. On hills holds 65. Pretty much the perfect tow rig if your family can’t fit in a crew cab.

[@WeldtecDesigns]

Wow this is great info, thank you for this feedback it's greatly appreciated!

[@Sig721Tau]

85 mph? Only dumb assholes tow a trailer that fast. Very unsafe.

[@davidevans1128]

@@Sig721Tau I must agree I drive the 10 freeway through the inland empire everyday nothing is more infuriating than guys weaving and wobbling in and out with no respect for othersI have personally witnessed one trailer and one boat in an accident at high speed towing where they just disintegrated all because they were driving like idiots way too fastif they want to do that s*** to themselves that's fine but when you put others on the highway with them it's just absolute ly moronic. I'm a gearhead is much as the next guy but guys coming back from the river or glamis with a 12-pack in them or just in a hurry to get home back to EL Aaaa..... It's just plain irritating.

[@Tempestx86x]

Thats still the LGH duramax with a 6l90E right?

[@joeldepas9928]

yes this is awesome. keep it up ! looking forward to the gas as well!

[@WeldtecDesigns]

Thanks for the feedback! Appreciate it!

[@333jsh]

No eating flowers today? I do love this van conversion, and I want to get a trailer someday for my van! I have the 5.7 v8 though. It does good burnouts and it's always two tire fire

[@WeldtecDesigns]

Not yet! however its always on the list.. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@edwong9254]

Still waiting for the 6.0

[@WeldtecDesigns]

I Know i know, I've been slacking, we've been crazy busy over here. I'll have to do a stock 6.0 because my van has waaaayyy to much weight to give you guys a good comparison. 👍

[@mattnunes5617]

We need stats! How much slower/weaker is the 2.8 compared to the 6.6? And yes, want to know how these will compare to the 6.0 gas....

[@jeremyjohnson8361]

The 2.8L was about 10MPH slower then the 6.6 on the big hill with the BOAT. The big pig trailer towed by the 2.8 was almost 25 MPH slower then the 6.6 Duramax Diesel. kzbin.info/www/bejne/p3LGhqOuhq-LhNk

[@D_Cali_Life]

2.6 tows less than 7,000 6.0 maxes out at 9,000 And 6.6 can do 10,000

[@Sig721Tau]

@@D_Cali_Life *2.8L

[@davidevans1128]

What brought me here was last night a woman in her late 40s in a 6.6 2016 Express family van van took off from a red light leadfoot style.... I am driving an mid 2000s Audi 3.0 Quattro... And I could NOT pass her! The Vans ARE that quick easily the fastest vans EVER put on the road.... hands down. Sure once I got to 80+ I would have easily passed her..the lol Audi can hit 150 mph...but on the road it's all about 0-60... lol 😄 I have an 03 Ford E350 7.3 diesel with a few tuning upgrades the Chevy Express is WAY faster, bone stock then my Ford is modified or even further modified. That Chevy is one impressive battleship! My Ford 7.3 is supposedly capable of 600,000+ miles... If it doesn't I won't be repairing it I will be buying one of these used Chevys. They look good, they are far quieter and even though they have their own potentially terminal problems.... They have FAR less problems than the damn Fords do.... The maintenance and preventive maintenance on the Fords sometimes can be intimidating and overwhelming. Especially for a working guy on a very tight budget. I learned something I did not realize that they did not come with an Allison transmission. I have a friend that has that transmission in his 2016-17 4 x 4 Crew Cab Chevy Duramax Silverado. The guy has never got stuck..in anything.. He will drive that damn beast of a thing 2 miles into the dunes... it has pulled everybody and everything out.... Nothing fancy it's 100% completely stock 4x4... Just has a pro Comp lift and 38 s. He goes anywhere .. Seriously it's never been stuck it's incredible. Its pulled a crew cab Ford towing a a 30' foot toy hauler.. that was stuck to its axles... That bone stock Chevy pulled that rig out effortlessly...... I was frankly speechless so is everybody else. That Duramax 6.6 especially in 4x4 is the real deal. And it's freaking fast too! for a truck.. think about it... it's a full-size Chevy Crew Cab 4 by 4 with 38s & does 0 to 60 in about 8 seconds with big ass tires. That my friends us just sick!! now I realize that is nothing compared to the new Chevys and Fords released this year with 1,000 pounds of torque.. . But it also did not cost a 100 Grand we either! A diesel Chevy Express family van.... That's the way to go .

[@jasonhemann9825]

I have a exspress 3500 with a 6.0 it absolutely sucks at towing a 18 foot enclosed trailer with only kitchen cabinets. About 7.8 mpg. My 03 cummins gets double that with same trailer

[@ZR1Terror]

6800 lbs to test towing capacity on a diesel??? Is this a joke??

[@rionegro7368]

I am on roofing business and I have Chevy express 3500 6.6 duramax pulling a big trailers heavy loads

[@breakinggames6356]

The 6.6 duramax vans are very underrated but its a cheap way to get a rust free LBZ seriously people with a 230,000 miles lbz truck want 25,000 while a lbz van is 10,000 same condition but way lower mileage

[@narbiscarmona3372]

This cargo vans are amazing I have a 2005 e350 and I tow almost daily 10k lbs like it’s nothing.

[@WeldtecDesigns]

They are great vans! wish they still made them.

[@RoyalKennedy601]

I’m thinking of getting a gmc 3500 I need it for towing a 20’ car trailer . I have to get a gas engine .I need 4wd . Is an extends van any better or worse for towing . Seems backing with a trailer might be easier with a regular wheelbase . My other question is the gears what would be the best ones . Would regular gears be ok vs a creeper gear

[@bennypesquire]

I have the short wheelbase 3500 Savana Quigley...looking for a travel trailer...what should I expect on towing and weight? Do you know of any power adders???? Keep up the great work!

[@bennypesquire]

Ok, I forgot to say...6.0 gas

[@WeldtecDesigns]

i tow a 10k trailer with my 6.0 gas and 4:56 gears and 35" tires.

[@Moribus_outdoors]

WeldTec Designs what rear axle do you have?

[@jacobzarley5600]

Do y'all have much experience with motor work on the 6.6?? I have a cutaway bus I'm converting. Was going to change the thermostat right from the git go you can tell the obviously the intake/rad hosing/ and thermostat housing are different from the trucks. I can't find anything online i'm looking for some advise

[@streetriderskc]

I have a 2012 chevy 6.0 van.... what tunner would you recommend for towing ?

[@WeldtecDesigns]

We are about to do a video on this! stay tuned..... LOL

[@bigounce5893]

From being a witness I've seen a 6.6 duramax towing 15000lbs

[@bbs720]

Jeremy, Do you know anyone that is versed in these LGH Dura max engine? I really want to get more performance from mine like the LML version of the same motor. Thanks

[@morisventura674]

Did you use the tow haul button?

[@63grandsport11]

Whats with the word going around about the bad Bosch fuel pumps in the Dmax motors grinding themselves into dust because we use a different blend then they do in Europe then destroying the complete fuel system and damaging the engine.I heard theres a law suit against GM Anyone out there know.....

[@WeldtecDesigns]

That's interesting, I'll have took into that, I haven't heard anything about that before!

[@63grandsport11]

@@WeldtecDesigns Search Results Featured snippet from the web Image result for lawsuit against GM and the duramax diesel fuel pump issue The national suit, initiated by attorney Bob Hilliard, claims the Bosch fuel pump used on certain Duramax diesel trucks and vans is prone to catastrophic failure, spreading metal debris within the vehicle's fuel system and leaving the owner on the hook for thousands of dollars in damage

[@D_Cali_Life]

Yes many trucks have blown at 60k+ miles. Soon even sooner . U.S.A. diesel doesn't have the lubricity our pump was designed for. Change your CP4 pump to a CP3 Conversion is about $1,500 plus labor So expect around $3,200+ for it Fass Lift Pump and bypass kits will also help. Use fuel lubricant additives as well . I've put about $4,500 into mine for fuel management and filtering . Better than $15k+ in damages. The pump is a shrapnel time bomb . There are lawsuits but nobody has been paid yet. Maybe in 5 years. 2007 ford owners just got paid yesterday for a lawsuit . Took them 13 years. And only 1 owner got $1,000,000

[@TheRoadDude]

@@D_Cali_Life Generally, the '01 through '10 Duramax, including the LMMs like my '08, have the CP3. And yep, you bet, a lot of later Duramax owners have been advised to swap their CP4 pump for the earlier CP3.

[@messagefamilystyled1101]

any tips on actually finding a dmax express for sale? that would be my dream work van with a lift from weld tech and a pedal monster from banks power

[@WeldtecDesigns]

Unfortunately coming across those unicorn vans is difficult. I can't hardly find any myself lol

[@whatdansdoin227]

@@WeldtecDesigns what would you pay for one?

[@markm.9590]

If a 6.6 Duramax is taken care of, what do u see milage wise before needing a rebuild? On average. I know each engine can have its own problem s. Thsnks

[@WeldtecDesigns]

In all honesty I'm not the right person to ask, I don't know much about rebuilds and engines in that depth, just the basics lol. That's why we build rad lift kits!!

[@D_Cali_Life]

250,00 miles . Cp4 pump needs to be changed asap as soon as you buy it. Cp3 conversion, Fass lift pump etc. As your stock pump is a time bomb U.S.A. diesel fuel doesn't have the lubricity this truck was designed for. Add fuel lubricants

[@rickyr7790]

@@D_Cali_Life lube like 2 cycle oil?

[@TheRoadDude]

I have an '08 6.6l Savana I've had for about 10yrs, with 412,285 miles on it as of today. I use Red Line RL-2 fuel additive (amzn.to/3wVDn4q) religiously; an oz or two every fill up. Provides the lubricity US diesel fuel needs and improves ignition. I use their winter additive too, when in places like Fargo with 25 and 30 below zero. Keep your oil, oil filter and fuel filters changed; keep her lubed up and tires in good shape (I love my Michelin LTX-AT2s, got 90,000 out of my last set), and keep your fuel topped off in winter. I replaced my glow plugs at 405,000 or so. Replaced the inline exhaust gasket from sheared bolts (I'm back country along the border a lot on rought dirt roads) just last month. Needs a new parking brake cable. Did the tie rods at one point. Just do all the regular maintenance and she'll treat you like a king in return. I had a '98 Chevy Express with 6.5 diesel before this that I drove the piss out of too, all over America, but that wasn't a Duramax. Plenty strong engine, that was, and I put over 500,000 on it, and would've kept it but the body was starting to go to hell. I had plans on getting something else to go adventuring that might be more nimble back country on tight trails, but stuck with what I have and am glad I did. It gets me everywhere I've wanted to go. This van was a Penske leasing vehicle before I bought it at around 3yrs old, with only one driver and light use in the south. Penske is legendary for their maintenance. I'm sure that has a bit to do with the shape it's still in today and I try to keep it as well-maintained as I can. Can't go wrong with a 6.6l Duramax in a GMC or Chevy van!

[@gonzalez_chpn]

where can i get a chevy express duramax 6.6

[@stephanschlenker1428]

What fuel economy did you get when you were towing with the 2.8 On flat ground, with the big trailer?

[@WeldtecDesigns]

We really didn't tow this far enough to determine fuel economy. maybe next time.

[@TheRoadDude]

'08 Savana 2WD long wheelbase here with the 6.6l. I tow an adventure trailer (GVW 3500) all over hither and yon; urban, rural, back country trails, highways and interstates, all the way 'cross country and back. I've had this girl, Vannery O'Connor, about ten years and am out working and wandering for eight-ten months at a time with van and trailer. She's got 412,284 on the odometer today and still going wicked strong. You know my vote is the 6.6. I hardly know my trailer is back there. One of these days I'll be able to swing your lift kit and maybe some other goodies. Thanks for the vids, Road roaddude.com

[@travispace9176]

I can't wait for my 6.6 gas to come in! The new engine for 2021 should tow close to the diesel.

[@WeldtecDesigns]

Yeah definitely gonna be a rad van, can't wait to see how well it performs!

[@travispace9176]

@@WeldtecDesigns for sure! Definitely getting your leaf springs.

[@jeremyjohnson8361]

Where did you see that there is a 6.6L gas engine option for a van?

[@travispace9176]

@@jeremyjohnson8361 I am a fleet director for a GM dealership. My GM fleet rep informed me of it.

[@WeldtecDesigns]

@@travispace9176 That would be great as i found its only offered in the HD truck?

[@ronaldlorang2862]

I can't find towing mirrors

[@acemandave7726]

Check out the hicube mirrors that chevy offers

[@Sig721Tau]

At the 13:30 minute mark, you need to tell your camera man to stay still and quit moving from side to side and zooming in/out. It was making me dizzy. Thanks!

[@rollingacresfarmstead206]

come on 10mpg outta that is terrible there's guys out there running semis getting 9+ loaded to 80k

[@philipgates8693]

A pre-egr Detroit series 60 got up to 8, but not at 80k..

[@SGaryNinja]

I heard him say he gets 16mpg unloaded. Did he say he only got 10mpg towing 7k lbs?

[@loaded.357]

Bullshit ..and I got 2 million Miles of towing hotshot under my belt no semi drive said loaded they get 9+ 5 to 6 @68mph ...maybe 55 mph that get 8 mpg