Guys I've searched and read every thread talking about these motors. I need a bigger vehicle because the family is growing. We might be towing a couple hundred miles every month or 6 weeks in reality. I used to have an F350 with a 7.3, but I just am having a tough time coughing up the premium for a diesel. I can buy alot of gas for the price of the diesel.

I found 2 2005 suburbans and one excursion. One burb has the 6.0 and the other has the 8.1 and the ex has a V10, but it's a 2001 and only has 9k miles! The 8.1 has 63k and the 6.0 has 77k. I also drive about 15 miles a day total.

Do you guys think a big motor like those would be ok for what I need, or would you absolutley positively cough up the money for a diesel? Which of the above motors would you recommend? I've never read anything bad about the 8.1, but I have seen bad things abot the 6.0 and the V10. I will be towing in the 7k to 10k range. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks and have a good one.

I can't really give much input on this, but I have heard great things about the 8.1. Out of the 3, I say go with the 8.1. 2nd would be the excursion with the v10. Lastly, the 6.0.

The 8.1 will tow whole lot better, will probably last longer, and will be alot more fun to drive. You will not loose much MPG if the trucks are set up the same... My vote would be the 8.1 hands down.

Absolutely go with the 8.1. Don't get me wrong, it will suck down the fuel. But I have been in them both hauling Jeeps over I70 from denver to moab. Hands down the 8.1 is better. To top it off there isn't a significant mpg difference between the two. Go Drive them both That alone will make up your mind..

I had an '01 3/4 ton Burb with the 8100. I traded it in on a Duramax in '06. I still miss the utility of the Burb. With the 8.1, it would tow anything I hooked to the tail. It was also my DD. Daily MPG was dismal. For my 8 mile roundtrip to work I was burning through a gallon of fuel. Adds up quick. I had one of the 8.1s with the oil consumption issue. It would burn through a quart every thousand miles. Not a big deal, but something I had to keep track of.
I have a V-10 in my motorhome and am always impressed by the power of that motor.

If I was in your situation, I would look for an Excursion with the 7.3. Best of both worlds.

I have the sub with the 8.1......

It hauls ass :D

it gets 10 mpg driving around and 7 mpg towing

Thanks for all the helpful comments guys. Decisions....decisions.

I have a pickup with the 6.0 and I really like it. I've heard the 8.1s suck 'cause they aren't usually geared righ...

My 6.0 with a 5 speed manual gets mid teens empty and 10-12 towing depending on weight and hills.

I have an 04 with the 8.1. Pulls my rig and trailer(5000) like it's not even there. DD driving I'm getting low 11"s MPG. Not bad for a 6K rig(4" lift). The 6.0
seems to get about the same MPG, so you might as well have fun with the
really big block.

yeah, that's what I'm thinking.

I like my 8.1 for what I use it for (occasional hauling, mostly DD). It does use between 2-3qts of oil between changes.

Just FYI, My buddies 01 2500 Burb 6.0 will outrun my 2500HD(both towing about 7K lbs) from a dead stop, but the 8100 tows better on the open road due to the Allison tranny.

**edit**
My fuel mileage varies from about 6.5 (towing with a lead foot) to 11MPG (70 mph on the hwy).

8.1 burbs don't get the allison. wich sucks

8.1 burbs don't get the allison. wich sucks

X2

my trans gets to the red zone during the summer........ :mad3:

I have the 4:11's in mine, I bet the 3:73's will get better mileage

X2

my trans gets to the red zone during the summer........ :mad3:

I have the 4:11's in mine, I bet the 3:73's will get better mileage

Same thing with my buddies (3.73's). We installed a plate cooler and synthetic ATF in his and it didn't help much. Finally ended up putting an electric fan on it and it got the temps down to a somewhat respectable level.

8.1 with 4.10 gears and It gets 10 mpg empty and 7-8 towing the jeep. Just check the oil every 1000 miles. They use little oil for some reason but it has never bothered me. Buddys 6.0 gets about same gas mileage.

Another vote for the 8.1... '04 Avalanche 2500 here..

i would go with the v10 excursion. i loved mine, only thing to watch for on them is hte spark plugs, and they eat up a set of ball joints every 30-40,000 miles. it got the same milage my current 6.0l denali gets, put pulling wise there was absolutely no comparison. i pulled my jeep all over the midwest, and honestly never once did i have my buddie's diesels pull away from me, that's a whole nother story with the 6.0l. i got 10-11 pulling with the ex, 12 mpg in town, and 14-15 highway except the 1 trip to gatlinburg it got 16.8. (measured, it was amazing!). the ride quality of the suburban is much better unloaded, but the excursion still drove nice, and the build quality of hte excursion was leaps and bounds ahead of the suburban and denali both that i've had since it.

I had the 6.0L Denali truck and hated it. The 6.0L would have to stay in 3rd (unless going down hill) to pull 70mph in S. Georgia (which is FLAT), and got a whooping 6.5 mpg, and it only got around 12-13mpg. Id take a 1-2mpg less for the 8.1 anyday.

Thanks guys. Great info. I'll test drive the V10 and the 8.1 and make my decision then.

I'd go 8.1, I have racked up quite a few miles on the work trucks with both 6.0's and v-10's and personally I don't think there is much difference in the two other than the 6.0 sucks more gas towing, and less gas DD.

Driving an 8.1 I never notice the trailer, and gas stays right around 10mpg.

Well guys, thanks for all the good tips. I has headed to buy the 8.1 burb today and ran across a 2000 f350 crew cab with the 7.3 that was a one owner and with 66,000 original miles. It's a lariat and like brand new. It was the same price as the burb so I couln't turn it down. I love it!

Did i miss something? You can buy a lot of Diesel for what a another rig costs :flipoff2: