The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly - 2020 Chevy HD's

[Ejs4029]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/auto...hVK?li=BBnb4R5

The 6.6 Gas powerplant received not so stellar reviews.

[ronheater70]

I had seen a youtube review by one of those car / truck reviewers and they pretty much said the same thing about the gas version, it seemed uderpowered, and really didnt tow as well as the motors hp/tq numbers suggest it should.

Personally I feel like it probably suffers from the same fate the RAM 6.4 hemi HD trucks suffered when first intriduced. It's probably poor transmission gearing as well as spacing. The New Ram HD's with the 6.4 finally got the 8 speed. and supposedly its a significant improvement. Likewise when the GM gasser finally gets the 10 speed I suspect it will have significantly better ratings.

and personally I kinda like the look of it.

[linedriver]

Originally Posted by Ejs4029

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/auto...hVK?li=BBnb4R5

The 6.6 Gas powerplant received not so stellar reviews.

Most of the reviews compare the 6.6 gas to the Duramax. Comparing apples to oranges. I have a 2020 2500 hd gas that I pull 8000 lbs with. It has plenty of power and didn't cost me 60 grand. If I was going to pull 12 to fifteen thousand regularly I would have a duramax (had two in the past). But for towing less than 10 thousand, the gas engine works just fine, without the additional cost.

[Feel Swift]

Originally Posted by linedriver

Most of the reviews compare the 6.6 gas to the Duramax. Comparing apples to oranges. I have a 2020 2500 hd gas that I pull 8000 lbs with. It has plenty of power and didn't cost me 60 grand. If I was going to pull 12 to fifteen thousand regularly I would have a duramax (had two in the past). But for towing less than 10 thousand, the gas engine works just fine, without the additional cost.

I'm with you.

In regards to this particular review, who buys a 3500 dually and gets a gas engine? Most folks who buy a 3500, even SRW, do so because they need it for high hitch or pin weights and with that comes larger / heavier trailers. I don't buy trucks based on reviews from Motortrend or anyone else. Nothing but a waste of bandwidth IMO, just like TFLTruck and dozens of other online rags.

[aceinspp]

About as many pros as there are cons about the new truck. I chuckled when Feel Swift poste buying a dully gas well that's all I use to buy when I bought dullys and loved them. If I was going to buy a new 3500 I'd still do gas. My las dully was a 2010 with 6.0 and towed 12000 with no problems. Later RJD

[D W]

Not a lot of data in the write-up, but lots of opinion.

[AlaskaErik]

The gasser should have also gotten a 10 speed. 6 speed is just dated.

[Jay2504]

I bet the 10 speed comes out next year. Jay.

[mopwr4me2003]

TFL truck just did a Ike gauntlet tow with 16000# 5th wheel and it really didn’t do all that well down or up the hill. It did however do what it was supposed to and that was pull the trailer up and down the hill. It wasn’t going to win a race that’s for sure but it did do it. There is definitely room for improvement but this is how they make things better. Testing never really gives real world data. I bet in the coming months to maybe year a different transmission will come in selected trims. Who knows maybe a redesigned 6 speed or maybe a 8 or 10 speed but will it really help?

[ronheater70]

Originally Posted by mopwr4me2003

Who knows maybe a redesigned 6 speed or maybe a 8 or 10 speed but will it really help?

Im sure it will be a very noticeable improvement, it was in the Ram HD going from the 6 speed to the 8 speed.

[TheWolfPaq82]

Don't know about the 6.6 2500, but I did test the 2020 1500 and NOT impressed at all. Seemed extremely under powered, the ride was so soft that it was like driving in a large rocking chair that never stopped moving. Side to side body roll was enough to make you sea sick. Was the 2500 a stiffer ride ?

[aceinspp]

Originally Posted by TheWolfPaq82

Don't know about the 6.6 2500, but I did test the 2020 1500 and NOT impressed at all. Seemed extremely under powered, the ride was so soft that it was like driving in a large rocking chair that never stopped moving. Side to side body roll was enough to make you sea sick. Was the 2500 a stiffer ride ?

Most all new 1500 are made to ride like that to make them feel more like a car than a truck. Your HDs will be stiffer in ride. Later RJD

[TheWolfPaq82]

Originally Posted by aceinspp

Most all new 1500 are made to ride like that to make them feel more like a car than a truck. Your HDs will be stiffer in ride. Later RJD

Well....not always like that. My 2013 1500 w/5.3 was way stiffer of a suspension than the 2020 I test drove. I took the 2020 down a hwy that I'd driven before and I knew would be a good test. The body roll on that 2020 was horrendous. Way too soft. My 2019 Colorado has a much stiffer suspension than the 1500 had.

[Ejs4029]

Originally Posted by Feel Swift

I'm with you.

In regards to this particular review, who buys a 3500 dually and gets a gas engine? Most folks who buy a 3500, even SRW, do so because they need it for high hitch or pin weights and with that comes larger / heavier trailers. I don't buy trucks based on reviews from Motortrend or anyone else. Nothing but a waste of bandwidth IMO, just like TFLTruck and dozens of other online rags.

They tested a 2500 HD not a 3500 dually in gas....If you read the article.

The Sierra HD is available with a gasoline or diesel V-8, both displacing 6.6 liters. We also evaluated the gas unit and its six-speed automatic wrapped in the Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD

I'm not knocking the review but it isn't the only online review that says the 6.6 gas is underpowered for what it is....Not that I really care.....I will never be in the market for it.

[ronheater70]

Originally Posted by Ejs4029

I'm not knocking the review but it isn't the only online review that says the 6.6 gas is underpowered for what it is....Not that I really care.....I will never be in the market for it.

With the numbers it has advertised, it certainly is not underpowered. I am thinking it just doesnt work as well with the axle ratio and tranny gearing etc. It should theoretically be at the top of the towing contest if it had an 8 speed or 10 speed.

[Big Sky KLX]

The same thing happened when the 2.7 turbo 4 cylinder came out in the half tons a year ago. One magazine said it gets worse mileage than the 5.3 and everyone freaked out. Yet every other article and youtube video didn't have the same results and got better mileage.

Like someone else said, not a lot of facts and a lot of opinion in that article.

Silverado HD's are flying off the lots right now, they are up like 20% in sales. Dealers are having a hard time keeping them in stock. So, not all of them can be diesels and I haven't heard or seen any other bad reviews about the 6.6 gas.

the two issues I see with the gas 2020's are that they come with 3.73 gears instead of 4.10's like the previous 6.0's. Also, these trucks are so stinking quiet, you cannot hear the engines in them. There is a visceral experience with hearing a roaring V8 that associates it with power, even if it doesn't have that much power. These new trucks seem to lack some of that visceral experience, making them feel less powerful, even though they aren't.

I am thinking in the next year or two, it will be a 10 speed tranny that will help a little. I wouldn't be surprised if 4.10's make an appearance again as well.

[goduc]

Negative reviews I've read complain about the ride and the not so nice interior. Ram and Ford are nicer inside.

[BigH]

I'm not sure what everyone expects.

The gas 6.6 was just ran up and down the ike with a 16,000lbs trailer. 3.73 gears. 6 speed.

On the downhill it required 10 brake applications.
It made it to the top in 11:53.

For perspective the Ram with 4:10 gears and the 6 speed with a 14,500lb trailer needed 12 brake applications and took 13:20 to reach the top.

For folks expecting diesel performance...they may be unhappy but the performance looks about right to me.

Chevy's choice on the gear ratio makes them look like morons...but I read the 3500 is available with a 4:10 rear...I don't know if that included SRW though. I get the rough ride reviews...it looks like most 2500 trucks on the lot have a GVWR over 10600 -that's more than 1100lbs over my truck and I would expect some stiffness increase for the capability.

Anyway, I'm thrilled to death with the timing on these new gas motors from Ford and Chevy. In a few years we will have enough history to help make a decision about the time I may start looking agian...Maybe Ford will figure out how to make aluminum doors work in winter by then.

[linedriver]

Originally Posted by BigH

I'm not sure what everyone expects.

The gas 6.6 was just ran up and down the ike with a 16,000lbs trailer. 3.73 gears. 6 speed.

On the downhill it required 10 brake applications.
It made it to the top in 11:53.

For perspective the Ram with 4:10 gears and the 6 speed with a 14,500lb trailer needed 12 brake applications and took 13:20 to reach the top.

For folks expecting diesel performance...they may be unhappy but the performance looks about right to me.

Chevy's choice on the gear ratio makes them look like morons...but I read the 3500 is available with a 4:10 rear...I don't know if that included SRW though. I get the rough ride reviews...it looks like most 2500 trucks on the lot have a GVWR over 10600 -that's more than 1100lbs over my truck and I would expect some stiffness increase for the capability.

Anyway, I'm thrilled to death with the timing on these new gas motors from Ford and Chevy. In a few years we will have enough history to help make a decision about the time I may start looking agian...Maybe Ford will figure out how to make aluminum doors work in winter by then.

The Chevy 6.6 with 3:73 gears pulled the Ike a minute and a half faster than the ram with 4:10 gears means that it can not be that under powered. Some of these guys need to talk someone who ones and drives one rather than giving much credence to these reviews.

[ronheater70]

Originally Posted by linedriver

The Chevy 6.6 with 3:73 gears pulled the Ike a minute and a half faster than the ram with 4:10 gears means that it can not be that under powered. Some of these guys need to talk someone who ones and drives one rather than giving much credence to these reviews.

The Ram had a well Documented fail safe Kick in to limit speed and stick it in 1st gear and keep it there, thats the only reason it was slower. BUT it still counts. Theres a Genetleman on here who posted above who use to have the 6.0 Chevy and now has the Ram with 3:73 and says The Ram pulls better.

But you touch on a good point, I myself have never driven one. I can only offer opinions based on what I read. So someone says it pulls well and dont know what the Fuss is about.. PLenety of folks Towed well with my previous setup and Loved it also.. I didn't. And it wasn't an issue of being underpowered, That 6.4 Hemi will Move. It was an issue of an overly high first gear in the tranny and a large gap between 1st and second. Thats whay I feel that the people reviewing the GM 6.6 Gasser and complaining it doesnt pull as well cant justifiably say it is under powered. Any motor making over 400HP and 460 lb-ft of torque is a far cry from being underpowered. It has to be the relation of the motor to the drivetrain. My suspect is the tranny gearing and going from a 4:10 Rear ratio to 3:73. But in all Honesty, 4:10 down to 3:73 is not that big of a difference. But none the less I feel like a majority of people will pull with it and be very impressed and pleased.