Chevy 2500 HD

[C.M.]

I am thinking about buying a Chevy 2500 HD crew cab. I need the additional interior space for the family, but still need a box, so a Tahoe or Suburban would not work. Can anyone who has one please give me their opinions on this vehicle as far as the ride I can expect and gas mileage. I would be interested in the 6.0 liter gas engine. Thanks in advance for your help.

[goldie]

you should look @ the new avalanche thats comming soon .
it's like a suberban with a 5 foot 3 inch box, but the seats fold down and the rear window folds up so you can have a box that will haul anything a pickup with a 8 foot box could haul.
i also think the 5.3 litre is better . iam on my third new style chevy with 5.3 and for what i ben told it gets better millage. all of mine get 15 in town and 17-21 hiway deppending on load and speed.thers only 15 hp.difference
i put a suppercharger on one so it has 425 hp. qand 513 lbs torke and woork great for pulling and millage

[Steve W.]

C.M.: That truck is now available in the 1/2 ton with the 6.0L engine and 3.73:1 gears. I have one on order, scheduled delivery is early April. I presently have a 2000 extended cab with the 5.3L. The ride is excellent and the gas mileage is better than the older 5.7L trucks.
In the past with the 6.0L engine you had to get the 4.10:1 gears, that's what hurt the mileage, the 3.73:1 gears should put the mileage above the 5.3L engine. My present truck gets the same mileage as my partner's 3/4 ton with the 6.0L engine on the highway, so the differnce is'nt real drastic. Steve W.

[Hans]

Can't comment directly on the 2500, but I have a 2001 1500 Ext Cab LT 4-door with the 5.3L and 3.73 gears.

This is a long wheelbase, so ride is excellent, rivals my 2001 Bonneville. The 5.3L is stronger (by far) than my old (96) 5.7L. Mileage (wintertime) has been about 14MPG around town, 17MPG on the highway. The interior of the ext cab is pretty good already, so I'm sure the crew cab will be excellent.

Hans

[JRJ]

I own a 2500HD 3/4 ton Crew Cab with a 6.0 and love it. The only thing I have to say negetively about the truck is the mileage I am getting. Although it has been a cold winter so far and a lot of warming up adds to the consumption. Over all the truck rides better than my 1999 crew cab and the interior of the HD is awesome for comfort. As far as looking at the new Avalanche I don't believe it would provide the same amount of room. The last comment I have is in regards to towing. The 6.0 is adequete based on my experience in pulling snowmobiles, as I pulled a double enclosed trailer with two sleds and one in the box. The truck has a lot of guts when passing with that wieght loand and feel my boat will be no problem.

[Bear]

Let me make sure I got this straight. They now make the 1500 in a 4 door crew cab model with the 6.0L engine? I hope so.

Thanks,
Bear

[Fred_G]

Just checked the Edmunds.com website. The 1500HD crew cab with the 6.0L engine is listed there WOW! What a truck!! Fred

[Steve W.]

Bear: You have it right. When I ordered the truck back in December they only had the 2500, my dealer spec'ed it out as a 1500 and as a 2500. I told him I preferred the 1500 but would take the 2500 if the 1500 didn't become available soon. Well, to my surprise GM picked up the 1500 order, with 3.73:1 gears and 6.0L engine, and scheduled it for production. I can't wait to get it, I've got a new Champion coming too, and hopefully the colors will match. LOL

Steve W.

[Steve(CO)]

Goldie:
I have a '94 K2500 with a 5.7L engine and a 4.10 axle. I get lousy mileage and keeping up speed going uphill here in the rockies is severely compromised (I would not get a 4.10 again). You mention that you put a supercharger in previous trucks. Would that help the problems I mention? The truck is used primarily for camping/recreation and only has 35,000 miles so trading in would be a low probablility if there was another answer. Thanks.

[goldie]

steve;;

a supercharger would help but i dont think it would be cost effective unless you are really pulling some heavy loads.you could also get taller tires to help step up your gear ratio.

[Steve(CO)]

goldie:
I use a slide-in 9 1/2" pop-up camper and pull a Lund 1700 Fisherman. I'm not sure if that qualifies as a really heavy load or not. It pulls fine on the flats; the only problem is going uphill at altitude (pulling power okay, just slow, 40-45 mph at best) and the gas mileage. I suppose I can buy a lot of gas for the cost of a supercharger. What do they run, anyway? Finally, my truck is already so tall the camper people complain when they've had to remove the unit for repair. It is a 4WD with the suspension beefed up after-market. Bigger tires might be overkill, but I'm ready for new tires so I will look into that. Thanks for your comments.
Steve

[goldie]

steve e-mail me