chevy 6.5

anybody actually use one of things to pull a trailer?

Hey now, be nice. Just sold my 98 GMC 2500 with 220K on the clock. All original engine. Pulled an 8K trailer with no issues..

My dad and I had a 96 he bought new in 96. Special ordered it with all the things he wanted incl. 4.10 rear. It was like using a 350 v-8 gas for power. It would run hot very easy. Got a 06 Cummins dodge now. end of story

They were intended to have the power of a 350 with V6 economy. This they do very well. A Cummins they aren't. They pull fine, just not fast and no passing power.

Yes I still do, 94 with all the mods needed to keep it running, major issue with over heating is the water pump was undersized from the beginning, also the lack of a air charge cooler, I use water injection instead of a cooler but they are now available, tranny is bullet proof if taken care of, over sized injectors give it more horsepower but the weak link then moved to the rear end as the power was increased to the next weakest point, you can call Heath diesel and talk with bill if you are looking to buy or rebuild, if my truck was not so old I would install a p400 in it, this engine is still used for the military vehicles using a 6.5 diesel I believe, I pull a 36ft pj trailer, it is called the truck killer around here, for you are sure to find any weak link in you vechicle when you pull with a load

6.5 Diesel 2500 GMC don't know what rear end is. 210,000 mi (350,000Km up here), Pulls as well as the 350 gas in previous truck paid $4000 for it 6 yrs ago. Pulls trailers occaisionally, 18ft camper no issues, 18ft tandem with 1840 MFWD JD and loader....0 to 60 in about 5 min. Change oil and filters regularly, have put 3 glow plugs and one set of batteries in it.
Not a Cummins fan, sorry.

(quoted from post at 19:09:36 06/15/15) anybody actually use one of things to pull a trailer?

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I have one and have pulled a LOT of HEAVY loads with it. Yes, it is not the most powerful truck around, and I could not go very fast with the most heavy loads, but it pulled them. The transmission finally gave out, but I personally put almost 100K miles on it with an unknown number of miles on it before that. I did have to replace the electronic "black box" on the injection pump twice and the water pump once, but before the transmission finally wore out it actually gave me less trouble than my current '95 Dodge Cummins..

I still have my 92 6.5 didn't think it was to bad on power till my boy got a 92 Dodge Cummins. A friend had a 92 and traded for a 95 and hated it. No power no mileage. No way to keep the thing from over heating in the summer time. The only way you can keep them from over heating is just use them in the winter.

Back when these were made they did what most of the diesels did at the time no power and good fuel economy from factory . If you are trying to compare to today's engines , well it don't unless you add fuel, air , and a cooling system then it can make some ponies to brag about.

Mine couldn't pull a tractor on a trailer 60 down hill it doesn't run bad had a reman engine 70,000 ago guess it could be wore out again but with a 100 foot lbs less torque then a 92 Cummins and 20 less horsepower I don't expect much just hoping ill be able to pull one horse to go check cows on the summer range without it gernading

Heath diesel has an interesting water pump / fan upgrade but its 700$

Very true. Its nothing compared to my Duramax. Of course I paid 9K for my 98 in 2003 when a used duramax was twice the money..

There are more company"s selling pumps, you just need to start searching, in reference to the cost I understand what you are thinking but if you look at buying a newer pickup the cost right now is ridiculous for a diesel pickup, then you have to know what the problems are with a newer model from the various manufactures, a case in point is the cost of injectors between the 6.5 and the dura max it is unreal, at 100,000 miles if you tow a lot these will need to be replaced, the main thing on the 6.5 is controlling the heat, the 6.5 should have been recalled even the crossover exhaust tube is so restricted from the factory bending that it also limits the output, I have replaced it all with the 4 inch exhaust no more issues with power, a lot of people complain of power but they also are towing in overdrive, use this to control engine rpms instead of just leaving the shifting in one position, the transmission could use a few more speeds, there was someone building a adapter plate to mount the dura max tranny on a 6.5 however they found the transmission uses a lot of power so you went backwards on actual horsepower output with the 6.5, I bought this truck new and ordered it the way I wanted, it will be the last GM product I will ever own and I plan on sending them a letter with a photo of it leaving the farm when the time comes telling them they will never screw me again

Personally I have never owned a diesel pickup, but sounds as if you just need to stick with the Cummins/Goat (Ram). Personally, I did not care for either even though I have owned GM gas trucks all my life, and I am sure the Cummins is a decent enough engine, but I simply cannot warm up to the bodies of those - old or new. Funny that prior to the early 90's body change you would have had a hard time selling a Dodge truck. One guy I knew that tried all the trucks from the big 3 put it best that he wised he could purchase a Ford truck with a Cummins engine. Myself, I would like to have an older Chevy body (67-72 probably) with a 4BT Cummins in it (some have built those). Not trying to start a brand war, just stating my opinion.

They had a 95 at a farm I worked at. Pulled alot of anhydrous tanks and loaded fertilizer spreaders. Did the job, but didn't blow your hair back. Did get great milage empty. 20+ and is a 4x4. Did eat a transmission (auto) and an injection pump around 100k miles. Last I knew they still have it, but it sits behind a barn with the injection pump out of it again. For as cheap as they can be bought, I don't think they're bad.

well i hooked er up to the first load and temp gauge never went above about 220 im guessing as there are no number on the gauge between 210 and 260 i was pulling my 7000 lb gooseneck flatbed trailer and never went above the second line above 210 even when i ran the ac. not alot of power but i didnt buy it for a pulling truck its my service truck and to pull an empty trailer around if i need to or real light load . i have a 98 dodge dualy that i use when i need to pull something . i was worried about the truck pulling anything after the things ive read but now i feel pretty good about the truck

i have a cummins to pull with i bought this 6.5 to use as a service truck and pull the occasional empty or near empty trailer around without having to get out the nice truck i use it for pulling heavy and at high speeds down the freeway or long distances