Towing with a 6.5TD
 

This is to help answer questions with the old 6.5L TDs.

To start out here is a little back ground on me.
Current truck is a 2000 Chevrolet "classic" K3500, crew cab, single rear wheels, 4x4, 6.5L turbo Diesel, 4L80E automatic with 4.10 gears.

I have owned many 6.2s and 6.5 powered trucks of all types, Suburbans, ext cabs, crew cabs, SRW, DRW, auto and manual. Had 3 different Dodge CTD trucks of 1st and 2nd gen, 12V and 24V. Pulled everything from pop-up campers, 18' flatbed, 20' auto haulers, 35' fifth wheel, slide in campers and boats.

Ask away and I'll do what I can to help.

Would a 6.5 or 6.2 be a good starter diesel? I've grown up on a farm my whole life, so between our Peterbilts, 1 tones, and tractors, I'm no stranger to diesels, but I'm looking into buying one for myself for use around the farm. I am only 17, so I don't want something that will be a money pit lol. It would be used for towing cattle trailers and things around the farm, and probably as my daily driver. I want to stay with a Bowtie, or would I be better off getting a 12v cummins, or a 7.3 power stroke?

Also, it would most likely have to be a dually, since hauling cattle can get heavy haha.

Ben,
A non-turbo 6.2(or 6.5) will be under powered for pulling around cattle trailers--if they have cattle in them. Now as a general run about farm truck a 6.2 can be economical with the good fuel mileage they get. I believe most loaded cattle trailers exceed the average 1 tons towing capacity- that is those that can handle more than 2 or 3 cattle.

Also depends on what year trucks you are looking at. If it is from the '80s most Diesels were GMs and you would get a solid front axle if that is something you desire. If you get a N/A 6.2(Naturally Aspirated-aka non-turbo) it is cheap to maintain and fix. The most expensive part is the rotary injection pump but should be rebuildable for $5-600 IIRC.

You will never get the power from a 6.2/6.5 that you will from a Cummins or 7.3. Those are medium duty engines while the GM is a light duty. For most of what you want to do a 6.5TD will work.

When you narrow down you search let us know and we'll see if we can offer some more help.

Thanks for the info Dan! It actually helped allot :)
Yeah the 6.5TD sounds best for Me. One thing I'd be worried about is the rear springs. We have a '99 Chev 3500 dually with the 454, and when you load it up with 10 or 11 cows it sags like crazy, where as our 2002 Duramax ( also dually) does just fine. I don't know if the older trucks can handle something like that.

The newer Duramax trucks have a higher GVW and heavier springs. I'd be willing to bet your technically overloaded with that many cattle even with the Dmax. With that much weight a 6.5 would be way under powered in stock form and that 454 would do better but be harder on fuel.

Haha yeah we could be overloaded, but the duramax still pulls it like nothing. The 454 does definitely pull it, but it almost gets turned into a low rider by doing so. Although it is rare that we haul that many, especially long distances. I'm almost thinking I need to save my pennies for a few more years and get a newer duramax.
Thanks for the help Dan! :)

I like that. We used to have a IH 784 and a 3500 seriesA(yellow).

Thanks! I have a plaque that says that on it lol, figured it would make a good signature. Nice! No Tractor can compare to a red one. We have a IH 1086, and 3788 2+2, plus some newer Case IH equipment.