That sucks that the 6 sp doesn't work better. Wonder what it'd get in a regular van?
Considering new van, thoughts?
- Thread starter Monty
- Start date
chefdennis
Veteran Expediter
Scott the guy i am talking about is Noel, he is having a fit and can't figure it out....
Chef, is it new? Maybe a slightly heavy foot?? Aerodynamics?
Sounds like an injector is not spraying properly or dribbling into the cylinder. I'd dump an injector cleaner in the fuel just to see if it made a difference. Can't hurt.
I'm wondering if the 6.0 is just that bit harder on fuel.
chefdennis
Veteran Expediter
Yeap Steve, new 2011 6.0 V-8 6 spd....less then 7000 miles on it
And yes the 6.0 is a pig on gas....
And yes a "heavy foot" is also a killer...and mine weighs a ton...it is killing me to drive at 63 mph to get 12-13 mpg at the most (13.7 has been the best at 63 mph, 11.2 the worse at 70 mph)....I have never "flashed" soo many TT's into the rt lane as they pass me....
And yes the 6.0 is a pig on gas....
And yes a "heavy foot" is also a killer...and mine weighs a ton...it is killing me to drive at 63 mph to get 12-13 mpg at the most (13.7 has been the best at 63 mph, 11.2 the worse at 70 mph)....I have never "flashed" soo many TT's into the rt lane as they pass me....
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Yeap Steve, new 2011 6.0 V-8 6 spd....less then 7000 miles on it
And yes the 6.0 is a pig on gas....
It may be just the engine being a "pig" on gas like you say, but I would try the injector cleaner just to see if it made a difference. If it doesn't, I'd try 3/4 tank of regular unleaded combined with a 1/4 tank of the middle grade to bring up the octane rating. My 5.9 always got better mileage on the middle grade versus regular.
Monty
Expert Expediter
I said:
Here is a link to one I saw on the ground also .... it is the SRW model, but there are some pictures there for comparision to a Sprinter perhaps?
I am indeed looking at a DRW ....
Jack_Berry
Moderator Emeritus
moot islandfire is sitting over there and not shot a pic yet but it looks kinda like this,,,,,,
chefdennis
Veteran Expediter
A couple of things to keep in mind..if you are going to go with a "pool chassis" make sure you double check the axle ratio..I know they are building the DRW with the 6.0 and the 6 spd trans, but the axle ratios thend to be lower in the 3:73 to 4:10 ... i know the 9900 gvw is available with the 3:42...but not sure about the 10,000, make sure you get the best you can...i can tel you the 6.0 is a pig , I have a the 6.0 with the 4 spd and a 4:10...I am fighting to get 13 mpg and that is driving at 63 mph with the areo box of the Cargo Max...that bigger wider edge hanging outside the cab Supreme or Unicell box would be worse....
Now, if you are using a poo chassis...think about going to a "Motorhome chassis"..or a "Shuttle bus chassis" yes they will be rated at 12,300 gvw on the INCOMPLETE CHASSIS MANUFACTURER DOOR TAG...But the FINAL STAGE MANUFACTURER CAN LOWER THE GVW TO THE 10,000 GVW DOOR STICKER....I know for a fact it can be done, because mine was done and unicell does it all the time...it is not an issue.
As I said, if you aren't in a hurry, get with a GOOD fleet truck dealer and order the chassis as you want it, have it drop shipped to the body company you want to use and then work with their sales people to set the body up as you want...it will save you time and money....Just make sure you are working with a good fleet dealer and a saleperson that knows what they are doing.....
If you can get the curb weight in the 7000 lb area and the gas mileage up as good as it can be from the factory and then work on it from there, then you should have a unit that will serve you well....just make sure you cover the axle ratio and total curb weight issues before you commit...
Now, if you are using a poo chassis...think about going to a "Motorhome chassis"..or a "Shuttle bus chassis" yes they will be rated at 12,300 gvw on the INCOMPLETE CHASSIS MANUFACTURER DOOR TAG...But the FINAL STAGE MANUFACTURER CAN LOWER THE GVW TO THE 10,000 GVW DOOR STICKER....I know for a fact it can be done, because mine was done and unicell does it all the time...it is not an issue.
As I said, if you aren't in a hurry, get with a GOOD fleet truck dealer and order the chassis as you want it, have it drop shipped to the body company you want to use and then work with their sales people to set the body up as you want...it will save you time and money....Just make sure you are working with a good fleet dealer and a saleperson that knows what they are doing.....
If you can get the curb weight in the 7000 lb area and the gas mileage up as good as it can be from the factory and then work on it from there, then you should have a unit that will serve you well....just make sure you cover the axle ratio and total curb weight issues before you commit...
I've got the 6.0 and 4sp in a 2009 G3500 extended van. This is a standard one ton extended so I don't have the added weight and drag of a cargo box. I have 3.42 gears. Empty at 60-61mph on relatively flat terrain I can get 19.x mpg. In overall running with loads up to 23xx and/or speeds up to 72-74mph and all terrain including mountains I average 16.7mpg. I do have a very light throttle foot and get up to speed gradually no matter what the conditions and if the hill is enough for the cruise control to downshift I click it off and hold speed with the pedal and it shifts back up.
I don't think the 6.0 is as bad as the rap it gets. It is not perfect by any means but with the right gearing and a light foot it isn't too bad. I'd love to see what it would do with the 6sp but doubt GM will swap out for me to compare.
I don't think the 6.0 is as bad as the rap it gets. It is not perfect by any means but with the right gearing and a light foot it isn't too bad. I'd love to see what it would do with the 6sp but doubt GM will swap out for me to compare.
Keep in mind, For those watching, 9900 and 10,000 is log and scale IF you do Canada.
Monty
Expert Expediter
I've already spoken to Supreme about that, they will not lower the GVW, even though I pointed out it has been done before .
So they, for some reason, see it as an issue.
I'm sure the heavier suspension would come in handy.
Monty
Expert Expediter
Ontarioman, do you have a link to the regulations that state any vehicle LESS than 10,000 pounds require logs?
It may apply to Canadian based vans, but if they comply with the the agreed upon FMCSA rules in affect, I don't see how it could apply.
But what the hey, I've been wrong before.
It may apply to Canadian based vans, but if they comply with the the agreed upon FMCSA rules in affect, I don't see how it could apply.
But what the hey, I've been wrong before.
Monty
Expert Expediter
Ok .. found some of it ....
Commercial Vehicle Drivers - Transport Canada
Now to see if I can find actual logging requirements
The rules are indeed, 4500 KG (9920 pounds),.... anything over requires a log, (technically).
I made a phone call to the Whitby scales, the the officer there said, (and I Paraphrase), "For 80 pounds, nah we not gonna hassle you" ...he also stated, "However, techincally ...."
So there is always the risk ...
Commercial Vehicle Drivers - Transport Canada
Now to see if I can find actual logging requirements
The rules are indeed, 4500 KG (9920 pounds),.... anything over requires a log, (technically).
I made a phone call to the Whitby scales, the the officer there said, (and I Paraphrase), "For 80 pounds, nah we not gonna hassle you" ...he also stated, "However, techincally ...."
So there is always the risk ...
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chefdennis
Veteran Expediter
Nota wrote:
Thats to bad, because i know it is done by more then one company on a regular basis...
Thats to bad, because i know it is done by more then one company on a regular basis...
purgoose10
Veteran Expediter
Ok, now I am confused...that van pictured is a SRW, 9900 gvw chassis..the box looks to be a 12 ft'er...from reading your post, I thought you were going DRW with the bigger box....
I can tell you that a friend of mine (the father of the guy driving my old van( just bought one of those (2011 chev supreme box) 6.0 6 spd and he is having a fit with the mileage at 14 mpg's....(makes me feel better
There is no way you can get 18mpg out of that Supreme Box. I have a p/up with that combination and a couple of other things and I will get 23 hwy but in town and hwy 20 and that's a 1/2 ton 2 whl dr. The 6 spd with a load will have to be put into trlr pull mode and that will drop you down. That Supreme box will only get 14 cruising on flat ground at about 1500 rpms. And that's if the wind isn't blowing. I have owned I think every combination of 6.0 engines and transmission they offer. The best combination stock 6.0 and a 4 spd and a 3.73 gear and high profile tires. High profile tires will take it up to about 3.60. The only way to get more is to split the transmission gears in 4th loaded. Auxiliary transmission.
Remember wind makes a huge difference with a box.
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I did talk to a fella from Expressway with a cube...he got stopped by a green and white..asked for log book...$305 fine...now that is just talk,
but it is enforceable...so take your chances if your feeling lucky...
but it is enforceable...so take your chances if your feeling lucky...
guido4475
Not a Member
Ken, remember when Mike's driver got pulled over in Mi on 24? In his white Penske DRW 10,000 gvw cube? After it was all said and done, he had a handful of citations.And keep in mind, a empty DRW cube is going to be alot heavier than one may think..his was coming in close to 8,500#, with very few things inside of it, leaving only 1,500 # of cargo carrying ability.But another thing, imagine going down the highway, and you go by the scales,in youre cube, because youre under 10,000 gvw, and you know you dont have to go in, (in most states) and the man comes after you...because he doesnt know you are under the limit.Now there is a whole lot a B.S. to go through until it is determined that you are okay to leave...is it worth it? The advantage to a SRW van like Chef's is that it is clearly visible that it is a SRW, under 10,000 gvw.Is there any SRW over 10,000 gvw out there? As far as I'm aware of, no.But , I could be wrong..My next vehicle will definately be a SRW Ford, 12' or longer..gasser, I guess..The lost MPG is one thing that will be hard for me to deal with, but gas is cheaper than diesel by almost .50 cents a gallon, so is it really going to be that bad?
Yes it is... 12 mpg is not suitable anymore at todays rates for a CV...you'd need quite few upgraded loads to compensate...
chefdennis
Veteran Expediter
Even the SRW cubes get stopped and in 1 caese of a Bolt driver, he was ticketed in Michigan..bolts lawyers went to court with the guy and everything was thrown out, but yes you can and do get stopped by guys DOT and checked..if you get one that doesn't know or understand the difference in trucks, you will need to fight it..
The same guy with the low mileage cbe that I spoke of above, (Noel w/Load 1 ) was stopped last week and had to go through a level 1 inspection and answer the questions as to being as cube, but under 10,000 lbs (he is 9900 lbs gvw on the door tag) he wasn't ticketed for anything, and he didn't push the fact that the DOT had no authority over him but he still had to deal with it all...
I considered a DRW cube, I still have the quotes for a 15 ft unicel cube bodied DRW, but the while the unicel/areocel body is lighter the the FRP body, it still just didn't leave enough to make the purchase make sense....
They are nice for the size they offer and the room, but the weight of the DRW is critical, as is the gas mileage....
The same guy with the low mileage cbe that I spoke of above, (Noel w/Load 1 ) was stopped last week and had to go through a level 1 inspection and answer the questions as to being as cube, but under 10,000 lbs (he is 9900 lbs gvw on the door tag) he wasn't ticketed for anything, and he didn't push the fact that the DOT had no authority over him but he still had to deal with it all...
I considered a DRW cube, I still have the quotes for a 15 ft unicel cube bodied DRW, but the while the unicel/areocel body is lighter the the FRP body, it still just didn't leave enough to make the purchase make sense....
They are nice for the size they offer and the room, but the weight of the DRW is critical, as is the gas mileage....