anyone tow w/ 8.1 and 6 speed? - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

85xtracab35s · 10-07-2007, 06:21 PM

has anyone towed w/ chevy 8.1 and 6 speed trans? what are your opinions? good, bad? also what was last year they put 8.1's in the 2500's? there is an 03 chevy 2500 ext cab ls 4x4 w/ 8.1 and 6 speed w/ 78k for 14,500. good deal?

nissancrawler · 10-07-2007, 07:09 PM

Towed what? A pinto? 1/2 ton? deuce and a half? walmart?

AERONUTT · 10-07-2007, 07:12 PM

That truck will give the diesels a fair bit of competition for towing. It's only a good deal if you don't mind buying a lot of gas. For comparison, I got 15,900 in trade for an 03 1500 ext cab LS when I upgraded to my 06 diesel, but that was 1.5 years ago... Obviously the options and condition of the vehicle will weigh heavily on the market value.

fj40guy · 10-08-2007, 09:32 AM

Ditto. What are you pulling?

Recent log (2500HD Crew w/ automatic).

Around town is 12.5mpg, normal (empty) freeway is 15mpg (75).

Empty trailer out (2000#), loaded (7000#) back

(format is miles, $$$$, gallons, mpg)

16-Sep Sonora, TX 195 49.32 17 11.5
16-Sep Van Horn, TX 251 68.3 23.1 10.9
16-Sep Deming, NM 215 33.46 10.1 21.3
17-Sep Tollenson, AZ 327 63.75 25 13.1
17-Sep Needles, CA 224 65.89 17.8 12.6
17-Sep Kramer Junction, CA 173 40 13.7 12.6 58 & 395 Arco
17-Sep June Lake, CA 222 65 18 12.3
18-Sep Carson City, NV 76694 186 50.58 13 14.3 5 gallon gas can

Total/Average empty 1793 436.3 137.7 13.0

23-Sep Gardenerville, NV 46 12.54 4.58 10.0
23-Sep Phelan, CA 77255 189 65.05 20.2 9.4
23-Sep Indio, CA 88.2 23.2 7.48 11.8
23-Sep Bishop, CA 149 44.34 14.49 10.3
24-Sep Tonopah, AZ 146 56.99 16 9.1
24-Sep Marana,AZ 77601 156 45.22 17 9.2
24-Sep Lordsburg, NM 160.4 50.93 17.2 9.3
24-Sep Fort Hancock, TX 214 61.39 20 10.7
24-Sep Fort Stockton 78151 178 56.37 18.48 9.6
24-Sep Sonora, TX 138 44.25 15.15 9.1
25-Sep Cedar Park, TX 196 45 16.1 12.2

Total/Average Loaded 1660.6 505.28 166.68 10.0

Trip Average 3453.6 941.58 304.38 11.3

EDIT: I always hear "I get xxx miles per gallon" Well a LONG road trip is a nice way to see what is really going on. Locations give an idea of Mountain/Hill climbs going on. Wasn't flat. Kept wondering why my cruise control was kicking off at night... LONG climb,
did speed limits (80, 75) on the way out. Dropped down to 70 mph on the way home to keep trailer tires from getting too warm.

ddestruel · 10-08-2007, 01:41 PM

the 8.1 6spd manual is a real slick setup. we had one for a yard truck for a few years. my employees beat the crap out of it and it served us really well. had it been a 4x4 it would have found its way home to my house but in a 2x4 format and with the body work it needed it just wasnt worth it

it towed really well, shifts fairly well the only thing we had issues with was around 100k miles the tranny had an issue with a bearing Inland truck in missoula said the chevy ZF6spds were manufactured without the oil cooler pump (something about a cost savings for GM) and system but that all the bosses ect were there so they added that in and replaced the smoked bearing and the truck was back on the road.

Definately would recommend that combination for a tow rig. mileage wasnt awesome but the pricetag for the power was hard to beat.

10-07-2007, 06:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
85xtracab35s Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Member # 74126 Location: acworth, ga Posts: 82	anyone tow w/ 8.1 and 6 speed? has anyone towed w/ chevy 8.1 and 6 speed trans? what are your opinions? good, bad? also what was last year they put 8.1's in the 2500's? there is an 03 chevy 2500 ext cab ls 4x4 w/ 8.1 and 6 speed w/ 78k for 14,500. good deal?

10-07-2007, 07:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
nissancrawler Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Member # 76684 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 2,919	Towed what? A pinto? 1/2 ton? deuce and a half? walmart? __________________ [QUOTE=nahmus;9175355]asking chit chat to stop before they are done is kinda like asking piranhas to stop after one bite.[/QUOTE]

10-07-2007, 07:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
AERONUTT Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Member # 64817 Location: Papillion, NE Posts: 612	That truck will give the diesels a fair bit of competition for towing. It's only a good deal if you don't mind buying a lot of gas. For comparison, I got 15,900 in trade for an 03 1500 ext cab LS when I upgraded to my 06 diesel, but that was 1.5 years ago... Obviously the options and condition of the vehicle will weigh heavily on the market value. __________________ Volunteers needed: Finish my truggy for me!

10-08-2007, 09:32 AM	#4 (permalink)
fj40guy Rock God Join Date: Jan 2002 Member # 9576 Location: Texas... off 183A Posts: 2,230	Ditto. What are you pulling? Recent log (2500HD Crew w/ automatic). Around town is 12.5mpg, normal (empty) freeway is 15mpg (75). Empty trailer out (2000#), loaded (7000#) back (format is miles, $$$$, gallons, mpg) 16-Sep Sonora, TX 195 49.32 17 11.5 16-Sep Van Horn, TX 251 68.3 23.1 10.9 16-Sep Deming, NM 215 33.46 10.1 21.3 17-Sep Tollenson, AZ 327 63.75 25 13.1 17-Sep Needles, CA 224 65.89 17.8 12.6 17-Sep Kramer Junction, CA 173 40 13.7 12.6 58 & 395 Arco 17-Sep June Lake, CA 222 65 18 12.3 18-Sep Carson City, NV 76694 186 50.58 13 14.3 5 gallon gas can Total/Average empty 1793 436.3 137.7 13.0 23-Sep Gardenerville, NV 46 12.54 4.58 10.0 23-Sep Phelan, CA 77255 189 65.05 20.2 9.4 23-Sep Indio, CA 88.2 23.2 7.48 11.8 23-Sep Bishop, CA 149 44.34 14.49 10.3 24-Sep Tonopah, AZ 146 56.99 16 9.1 24-Sep Marana,AZ 77601 156 45.22 17 9.2 24-Sep Lordsburg, NM 160.4 50.93 17.2 9.3 24-Sep Fort Hancock, TX 214 61.39 20 10.7 24-Sep Fort Stockton 78151 178 56.37 18.48 9.6 24-Sep Sonora, TX 138 44.25 15.15 9.1 25-Sep Cedar Park, TX 196 45 16.1 12.2 Total/Average Loaded 1660.6 505.28 166.68 10.0 Trip Average 3453.6 941.58 304.38 11.3 EDIT: I always hear "I get xxx miles per gallon" Well a LONG road trip is a nice way to see what is really going on. Locations give an idea of Mountain/Hill climbs going on. Wasn't flat. Kept wondering why my cruise control was kicking off at night... LONG climb, did speed limits (80, 75) on the way out. Dropped down to 70 mph on the way home to keep trailer tires from getting too warm. Last edited by fj40guy; 10-08-2007 at 09:35 AM.

10-08-2007, 01:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
ddestruel Zeus of the Sluice Join Date: Jul 2003 Member # 20999 Location: Lost in Nor Cal Posts: 2,828	the 8.1 6spd manual is a real slick setup. we had one for a yard truck for a few years. my employees beat the crap out of it and it served us really well. had it been a 4x4 it would have found its way home to my house but in a 2x4 format and with the body work it needed it just wasnt worth it it towed really well, shifts fairly well the only thing we had issues with was around 100k miles the tranny had an issue with a bearing Inland truck in missoula said the chevy ZF6spds were manufactured without the oil cooler pump (something about a cost savings for GM) and system but that all the bosses ect were there so they added that in and replaced the smoked bearing and the truck was back on the road. Definately would recommend that combination for a tow rig. mileage wasnt awesome but the pricetag for the power was hard to beat. __________________ I AM ONE OF MANY WHOM WASHINGTON HAS CHOSEN TO IGNORE OR FORGET But i Vote GO UM Montana Griz "Jeep Lurker" KEEP REMEMBERING 9/11 Jeep with Rambler motor, SUA, front 608.9 and some bolt on stuff. I miss my old 4bt powered chief Support Frank the Tank Last edited by ddestruel; 10-08-2007 at 01:47 PM.

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