Chevy Silverado 2500 6.6L Gas & 6 Speed Towing 9000 Pounds + MPG: Was I Wrong About This Truck???

[@Back_door_bandit_98]

I’ve had a few 6L90 transmissions and they are great they work even better when paired with 4.10 gears.

[@bw4851]

Glad there is finally a fair review on a gas motor towing. Keep up the good work. Always enjoy your vids.

[@richardjohnson6053]

I got the 6 speed l8t 3500 srw, and I towed a light load of 24k but with goosneck. But so very impressed with motor. Pretty steep hills at 75 mph and it did better than I expected with 198 temp max. Only drove it 152 miles but my average was 9.6 mpg. Great video.

[@campnut6076]

Great video JB, bout time you show a gasser a little love 🤣🤣. I've got same truck in a 3500 4x4 LTZ. I tow a 11K fifth wheel and am very satisfied with the truck. The warmest I've seen the transmission was 211 degrees towing up a 15% grade (mountain) for 4 miles. It held 60 but for 2 sharp turns where I had to slow down. I've never been spoiled by a diesel so I am very pleased with the truck. My last tow I even got my loading figured out to where I'm legal weights. My wife was tired of stopping at the Cat scale. I am getting a consistent 8 mpg towing mostly secondary roads, cant wait to get on an interstate for awhile to see what it will give me.

[@scottburns4515]

GM screwed up when they stopped putting a 4.10 gear in these trucks. 3.73 is a good gear also but with a 6sp a 4.10 is a game changer in a gas truck.

[@matthewanderson9912]

It’s very debatable. It would make 3rd gear pull stronger and that’s the gear the trucks want to be in but it would make 2nd gear useless at highway speeds. So I can see it both ways and it really depends on the speed you’re trying to go. I do wish they would offer it as an option but I think I’d still pick the 3.73. I would without hesitation pick the 3.73 with the 10 speed however.

[@scottburns4515]

@@matthewanderson9912 10sp makes the game charger when it comes to 3.73 vs 4.10 but as far as the 6sp goes, id still like to have a 4.10 gear to tow with. But your right with a 10sp, I believe the 3.73 gear would be the way to go.

[@matthewanderson9912]

Nice video. I have to laugh at you with the WDH comments and then you call out that you’re going 80 mph 🤣. I don’t think you could do that with a 1500 lol. So my 2022 Silverado 2500 LT crew cab, Z71 with 4WD towing my 8.5’x24’ enclosed trailer that probably weighs 7,500 pounds in East Kentucky through Southwest Virginia ending off in East Tennessee on roads that are basically like a roller coaster, especially through Virginia with a starting elevation of 1100’ at my house and a max of about 2500’ (8% grade KY/VA state line) and ending at about 1300’ (race track in TN) averaging about 1800-2200’ almost all through Virginia does the following: 1) water temperature never moved off of 210, even this past weekend with 102 degree ambient temperature with 50% humidity. 2) transmission runs in the 175-180 range give or take 10 degrees. On the 8% grade and another nearly 8% grade (both over 2 miles long) it got 196 last Saturday but has got 209 before. 3) oil pressure cruises above 30 and goes over 60 on the big grades. So my speeds are definitely not 80 mph lol. But on the 2 lane road leaving my house to the 4 lane my speeds are about 35 mph for 3 miles of 2 lane. Very narrow road and one curve after another. Then I have about 3 miles of better two lanes where I can go 55-60 mph. Then I hit the 4 lane highway (US 23 if anyone has ever traveled through East Kentucky and Southwest Virginia) where the speed limit varies from 55 to 60 mph where I do 60 to 65 mph and it’s one grade after another and curvy. And this is the type of road I have the rest of the way to the track so about 118 or so miles of that which of course I do go through a small town when I get into Tennessee. So for about 10 miles I have a lot of redlights and speeds of 40-45 mph, stop and go etc. The worst of it is in Virginia and it doesn’t truly get better until about the last 20 miles in Tennessee before I get to the track. All in all I get 8 mpg with my truck. I had a 2020 Duramax nearly in the same configuration as my 6.6 gas and it got 10 mpg on the same trip. This has been a long post but JB asked for numbers so there they are. Empty my transmission runs on about 147 all the time driving on a 2 lane highway to work that’s about 14 miles for me. On the 4 lane with the grades in Virginia it gets in the 160/170 range. So it performs about the same towing or not. A little hotter towing of course. And yes, the 6 speed needs one more gear between 2nd and 3rd and it would have been perfect.

[@supporterofsanity]

Matthew I grew up in prestonsburg so I know exactly where you are talking about lol. I I am old enough to remember when US23 was a two lane!

[@matthewanderson9912]

@@supporterofsanity well that’s pretty awesome. I’m from south of Pikeville near the KY/VA border. Small world for sure. I remember when it was a two lane from the top of the Mountain to Pikeville.

[@chadmiller6487]

I just pulled a 9k 4 horse from Maryland to Indiana and back with my 23 GMC 3500 DRW and ended up getting 9.8.

[@JetTech1966]

Thank goodness you mentioned how much you like the goodyears. I say that on other forums and all I get is flack. I love them actually and will be replacing them with the exact same tire when they wear out. What I especially love about the 6 speed is how effortlessly it takes off when towing. You just take off like normal unloaded and loaded, no extra throttle required. It's just effortless..... oh and if you're ever wondering what gear you are in 2nd maxes out at 60 at 5700rpm, 3rd maxes out at 98 (the speed limiter at 5700rpm. Thanks for the video, I love it!!

[@matthewanderson9912]

I like them too. And you’re right, they get a lot of hate too but I think that’s mostly from the guys that instantly change wheels and tires on their trucks. I’ll probably go back with them too. I sort of wanted to go maybe up a 1/2 size but 275/65/20 is the only size they make these in so I don’t know.

[@JetTech1966]

@@matthewanderson9912 That's all fun and games until it throws off your speedometer and your truck is raining noise from them or rides like helll...been there, done that...Goodyears all the way!!

[@matthewanderson9912]

@@JetTech1966 Yeap. I absolutely hate aftermarket wheels so it’s a hard pass for me on changing out lol. My good years have 27,000 miles right now. I rotate them every 6000 miles. Last time I checked they were at 9/32 tread depth. I think new they are 11 or 12/32. So they are doing really good for me.

[@angelovasilikos7980]

Very crazy but I felt the same thing when I went from the 4 speed tranny to the 6 speed when I bought my 2015 1500. I was so disappointed even though the new truck had much Stronger HP and TQ specs! I went back to the dealership thinking something was wrong but wasn't. The 4 speed was much quicker felt so much powerful all around

[@timothyroberts3371]

I have this same truck, 2022 custom RWD. I love it. I tow a 34.5 ft TT that weighs about 9K without full water. I do have a WDH that does help the front end- but I dont travel above 75mph too often. I have been averaging about 15mpg unloaded city driving and routinely get about 9mpg towing for camping trips. I think one more gear would make a difference on the highway. I am very curious to see your video with the 10 speed.

[@TheRoeshow0324]

I think the stiffness depends on the spring package up front. Snowplow prep/camper package will make you feel it more

[@1hasbeen531]

My old 2015 Ram 2500 with 6.4 and 66RFE got 7.5-8.5 pulling a 41 foot, 17K lbs gooseneck toy hauler.

[@Back_door_bandit_98]

That ram wouldn’t have the payload to even haul that snap the frame in half.

[@elderrob]

Man, you drive fast! 😀No weight distro or sway control? I pull 8.5K on the bumper of a 2015 Ram 2500 6.4 and I am scared to go over 70 mph! Do the newer trucks really handle that much better? Why couldn't you make the trailer dance in your opinion? Seems like a lighter truck would sway more. Please explain. Love the channel.

[@matthewanderson9912]

My Chevy is rock solid pulling almost the same trailer JB has. Mine is 4’ shorter is the only difference. Same brand, same color and everything. So the trucks are great however the spread axles on the trailer make a big difference in towing performance too. I also don’t use a WDH or sway control of any kind.

[@billylee2312]

You need a set of air bags they will change your towing experience

[@duridersa]

If your trailer is equipped with E rated nice tires not those chia-bombs go 75 baby

[@craigwheeler2057]

From what I understand, GM always intended to use the 10 speed transmission with a 6.6 gas engine. That said in 2020, they did not want to put a new motor and a new transmission out to the public. That makes sense to me. Not sure if that’s the way it actually happened but it sounds right.

[@thorneeugene4887]

I did make it to Idaho without a problem from Nebraska. My 2500 HD 2021 did great. I was about 10000 got up here about 500 in fuel.

[@TheDirtyHobo23]

The 5th/ bottom spring is the overload spring on 1/2 and 3/4 tons. I have a 2018 Chevy 1500 6.2L with the max tow 3.42 gears 8 speed(I only put 91 or higher in it!). I pulled a 28 ft tilt deck gooseneck to Idaho and back, and I average 12 there unload(5,000) and 7.5 to 8.5 loaded(12,000) on the way back. The truck had plenty of power, I went up and down a few 6 to 10% grades. It downshifted and kept me at or around my set cruise. I will say if I pulled it more than a few times a year, I’d replace the gears to 3.73 or get a 2500 because loaded it was in 4-6 on the interstate. I get 25 mpg no trailer and that’s why I didn’t get a 2500 lol.

[@b18civicsi00]

So the big question is. Allison 10 speed vs 6l90 paird with the 6.6 gas. Which one is better for towing fifth wheel.

[@ricwestdoesitwork]

Super review JB. Thank goodness GM some work on the 6.0 by making the 6.6 gasser and mating the 10 speed transmission.

[@Greentruck95]

Did you ever compare the Ram 2500 6.4l hemi with the 8 speed to the Chevy 2500 6.6l with the 10 speed pulling that same trailer?

[@billylee2312]

The good years are good for towing but they don’t last. I’m hoping to get 29-30,000 miles out of them. Maybe they will make it until September

[@slaytanic921]

The 6 speed likes to switch gears even when empty. It is sensitive which I like empty. It feels agile. As far as towing I can’t remember what it was like, but we have a few trips this summer. I’ll try and record more.

[@thorneeugene4887]

I went about 68 to 70 all the way. Unfortunately I can't go over 75 my travel trailer is 37.5 feet long starts to sway beyond 70. Mine is a ltz

[@gwendolynbrown9386]

Great Video👍

[@supporterofsanity]

I don’t foresee any huge differences in wide-open throttle acceleration between the six speed and 10 speed. I would think a more normal day to day driving situation would the favor the 10 speed though. For instance say you only wanted to go 45 to 50 the transmission would be able to find a more precise gear and be able to hold that gear As opposed to the hunting up and down which is really annoying.

[@matthewanderson9912]

The biggest benefit is going to be towing grades. The 6 speed doesn’t have a ratio to put the truck on 4000 rpm and do 60 mph. 2nd gear will do about 63-64 mph but it’s 5500 rpm and 3rd gear is at about 3500 rpm to do 60 mph but if the grade is more than 6% then you’re going to be at 3000 rpm and about 53-54 mph. So in other words you can’t really do 60 mph on 7% grades without getting a downshift to 2nd and hitting 5500 rpm.

[@dylanluhowy]

Driving around unloaded the transmission temp is in the 150-170 degree range.

[@JoshBryant-jd1fq]

How hot is it now?

[@JoshBryant-jd1fq]

You need to plan a five day trip with your 3500 gaser with your car trailer fully loaded all the way let's give it about maybe 1100 pounds

[@GTOGregory]

You mentioned a stiff ride. Typically, Fords will have a softer ride. You will also notice Ford springs compress more.

[@joshbryant7363]

Fords have a softer ride? I’ve owned very new models of both…the Ford was SUBSTANTIALLY more stiff.

[@GTOGregory]

@@joshbryant7363 I volunteer to service emergency rescue vehicles at a mile asphalt track. There are Ford and Chevrolet 2500/3500 vehicles. Most of the vehicles are loaded with fire suppression and rescue gear. This is how I make my decision.

[@jimcollins8097]

Even consumer reports rates gm hd truckd as having substantially better ride than the others. Gm uses oil filled body mounts instead of solid rubber.

[@jrpriller]

If you think about it that the 6.2 has 460 lb ft vs 6.6 has 464 lb ft and less hp ..

[@actZR900]

Your point? An lb7 made 300hp/500tq. Different engines made for different applications

[@mattwag11]

The L87 is aluminum block, L8T is cast iron block/aluminum heads, it's designed to be a much more durable engine for the HD trucks. Not to mention you have to deal with the stupid "Dynamic Fuel Management" in the L87 also...no thank you. No such thing with the good ol fashioned L8T which is basically a stroked LT1.

[@JoshBryant-jd1fq]

Let’s get a 4 1/2 RPM

[@JoshBryant-jd1fq]

If you put your wives Wagoneer in that trailer and fuel up all the way and put your air tank and some tires in there and use the white truck for it

[@JoshBryant-jd1fq]

Lets give it 4rpms now

[@anthonypetrella4401]

58mph in 1st gear….umm no lol

[@SirPipman]

🦾🦾🦾🦾🦾🤖

[@07smoker]

Lol at all the terrible gear guesses. You thought it was in first gear going 50 at like 4K rpm 😂. Losing credibility fast…

[@myrongaines5542]

The 2022 looks so hideous thank goodness they changed the look.