i currently have a 1996 GMC sierra x-cab 4x4 5.7 with 138k.
its a great truck but i'm looking at buying a new one in the near future. it will be a 2007 4x4 x-cab.
my question is this, i'm looking to pull a 3500-4000lb trailer about every weekend and occasionally pull about a 5000-6000lb trailer maybe a few times a year. i'm all about fuel mileage. what combination should i look for? my dad has an '05 2500 with a 6.0 and says its a gas hog. his last truck was an '01 1500 with a 5.3 and he said it was pretty easy on gas.
i haven't ruled out a 2500 or a diesel. all options are open. hybrid? flexfuel? i heard the diesels drink it down pretty good.
it will be loaded. i would be willing to do the programming mods and any mods that will not void my warranty to improve mileage.
as of now it will probably be a 1500 with a 5.3 auto. 4x4 x-cab. i would like to get 14MPG around town. i get about 13.5 in my 10 year old truck so i don't think i'm asking for too much.
i will be keeping this truck for at least 5 years, maybe 10. i only put about 8000 miles per year on my truck.
any ideas or suggestions will be appreciated.

 

The 6.0 isnt that bad on gas when you think about it. If you get a truck like mine that has a 4:10 rearend and super low tranny gears. Yea it dont get real great. But it gets around 12.5 to 14 depending on how you drive. If you get a new one with the 3:92 or the 3:73 you will get pretty good and still have the HP you want.

 

i really like the looks of the 2500 with the factory aluminum wheels but want the mileage.
how much highway driving at 12.5-14?

 

about 50 percent highway and the rest is in town and on country roads

 

if you stay on for about another hour i will be back on and i will answer whatever you want to know

 

ok im back on so if you have any questions. ask away

 

i'm mainly looking for advice on what to stay away from as much as i am looking for what to get.
as i said, i need to pull about 5000-6000lbs occasionally and 3000-4000lbs often. i also want mileage. i don't want to buy a truck and wish 6 months later that i would have gotten a different engine, etc...
i like the looks of the 2500 but i think i want the 5.3 for mileage.
does anyone have any experience with the hybrid or flexfuel truck?
i read where the flexfuel truck gets about 2mpg worse than the regular fueled truck. the hybrid gets 2mpg better.
thanks for any advice.

 

Well a 1500 with the 5.3 would do you just fine, if you could get one with a 3:92 rear end. I think they normaly come with 3:73 wich is fine as long as you dont have to climb alot of hills and go up mountains. My buddy has a 99 Z71 with helper leaf springs. They stiffen the rearend up pretty good. Weave taken his truck to Canada duck hunting a couple times pulling a 16' featherlite trailer loaded down with 4 dozen decoys, 6 cases of shells, and an Artic Cat 500 ATV. We get about 15mpg when we get on some flats, but when we have to climb up hills and mountains it sucks 'er down pretty good. If I were you I would just spend a little extra money and get a 2500HD with the D-max and the Allison 6 speed Auto. You cant really go wrong there. You will get about 18 or 19 unloaded, and around 14 or 15 with a heavy load.

 

i talked to a guy in town that has about a 2002 2500 diesel. he says he only got about 10 MPG until he put one of the programmers on and now he gets about 12. he told me to stay away from the diesel. is there a newer diesel than his that is better?
my 96 has helper leafs so if i need them on my new truck then it wouldn't be a problem.
i will be sure to get all my questions answered before i buy.
i just bought a 2006 jeep commander for my wife in march and we researched for about 6 months on various vehicles before buying.
this won't be a spur of the moment purchase.

 

Yea but he prolly has the Turbo 400 w/overdirve. The Allison makes a big difference with Mileage. Exspecialy if you get the Allison 6speed.