buying 03 ho 6 speed

[yellow jacket]

I am thinking of buying a 03 ho 6 speed 2500. I would appreciate any comments on this truck. Would I be better off w/5 speed 250hp engine? I will haul EMPTY race car trailers - 800 miles per trip . They range 20 to 40 ft & weigh 5-8000 lbs.

Right now I have 1994 3/4 auto cummins.

 

[Fireman]

All I can say is that I am extremely happy with both the HO and the 6.



Fireman

 

[Dean Upson]

I'm fireman's same frame of mind on the 6 speed/HO.



Dean

 

[Badunit]

I've never found that more power was a bad thing. Go with the HO if you can swing the extra dollars.

 

[Task125]

I say HO 6 speed,so far I am very happy with it.

 

[Dean Upson]

I find the six speed to be very easy to shift and the transition between gears is very smooth. The shift pattern took a little getting used to because I had a five speed and they put reverse in a different direction. The five speed has an awful gap between 3rd and 4th, the six speed takes care of that issue. I find that with the low end torque and the 4. 10 transmission, I don't down shift a heck of a lot any way. I would not recomend the 4. 10's if you are not going to do serious towing. I would have gotton the 3. 73's, but I work the truck pretty hard when towing and the 4. 10s give you a little more.





Dean

 

[Task125]

ditto what dean said about 410s,it screams on the highway with stock tires, so if your going to run bigger sneakers I would go with 410s. I ordered 19. 5 245s that should fix it. mike

 

[pstillo]

What is the top rpm on the HO? also what is the top speed with 410 vs 373. I just ordered 373 in my new truck because my 97 2500 with 410 would top out at about 80mph.

 

[David Muench]

IMHO, unless you're towing very heavy (12,000+), stick with 3. 73's with the HO/6 speed combo assuming you're not increasing tire diameter. I had the 4. 10's on my 2001 HO, and just didn't need them (I ordered the truck to tow very heavy, and the situation changed). They cost me more milage than they were worth in towing capacity. And now that the difference between the gear choices is so close (the old 3. 54 choice was quite a jump), the 3. 73's are a no brainer for most people.

 

[JGilbert]

Originally posted by David Muench

IMHO, unless you're towing very heavy (12,000+), stick with 3. 73's with the HO/6 speed combo assuming you're not increasing tire diameter. I had the 4. 10's on my 2001 HO, and just didn't need them (I ordered the truck to tow very heavy, and the situation changed). They cost me more milage than they were worth in towing capacity. And now that the difference between the gear choices is so close (the old 3. 54 choice was quite a jump), the 3. 73's are a no brainer for most people.

The 4. 10's don't hurt the mileage that much co they? Seems to me the 4. 10 would be the best choice for me.



Joe

 

[Casey Balvert]

Given that you drive in a sane manner, I doubt very much that you will see much difference in mileage. Mine have been pretty well consistent with others on this list running 3. 73 axles. I am getting 19 miles to the gallon with mixed driving conditions now. Not bad for a 4 ton hot rod.



Casey

 

[David Muench]

Originally posted by JGilbert

The 4. 10's don't hurt the mileage that much co they? Seems to me the 4. 10 would be the best choice for me.



Joe

Average MPG on my 2001. 5 3500 flatbed, unloaded, not towing, with 4. 10's and the HO/6 speed was 14 mpg or so. . I don't attribute all of that to the gears, but they were part of it I'm sure.

 

[Dean Upson]

Up til this year the choice in gears was either 3. 54 or 4. 10 and the difference between them and the current choice of 3. 73 and 4. 10 was far more dramatic, in rpms,noise, mileage and towing capability. I always thought that the 3. 73 ratio was a good compromise. I think that it is a matter of how much you plan to tow (or carry) and where you plan to do it. I live in the northeast and traveling at 75+ mph doesn't fit into my equation and even if I lived in Montana, I doubt that I'd be towing at that speed. I can think of no instance that I would be traveling empty or towing over 70 mph and I would more than likely be towing at 58-62 mph where I seem to feel the most comfortable and the truck gets pretty good mileage. That said, under those conditions the 4. 10's fit me just about right. If I didn't need a truck to work hard, I would have a smaller means of personal transportation, a 2500 shorty auto might be a thought in that case.



Dean

 

[CATCRACKER]

how much extra was is the 6spd vs. 5spd

 

[Dean Upson]

CATCRACKER, The 6speed is +$400, the anti spin differential to go with it is +$285, if you get 4. 10's it's another 50 bucks. These are the list prices off my sticker. I think you have to get the HO engine to get the 6 speed and to the best of my knowledge it is the only manual transmission offered (with the HO).



Dean

 

[Prairie Dog]

4:10s are a good choice if you plan on installing much bigger tires.

 

[CROW]

How many people have you ever known that complained about having too much power? Get all the grunt you can, which means a HO, 6 speed.

 

[LM6000]

I'm running 305/70-17s Goodyear MTRs on my 2003 with 3. 73-@2000-2050 rpm at 70 mph. That puts me very close to to my 2001. 5 with stock tires at the same speed. I think this combo is great for 95% of my use.

 

[LM6000]

Forgot to mention-HO, 6 speed

 

[Mad Bomber]

2001 H. O. LOVE it. The only down side to the new 03's is they are to quite,and the bombs for them are more$$$