Also, the gas mileage rating with the 8.1 and the 6.0 gasser is only a difference of 1 mpg for all of the extra torque and power. The 8.1 towing is night and day compared to the 6.0. Hold out and find one, not to mention the allison transmission is way better, and if wanted you can add a programmer and upgrades to the 8.1. Find One

^^^^^^ This ^^^^^^^^

The 8.1L is FUN to drive. You know you are driving a Big Block Chevy, especially when you have a custom exhaust on it. I have a Dodge 2500 with the 360 as my beater truck right now, but if I found a deal on an 8.1L 2500 Silverado/GMC or a 2500 Avalanche; I'd snatch it up in a heartbeat.

I am sort of in the same situation, may spend a little more for mine after the 1st.. $20kish

What would be the best application for putting a lot of miles?? I would think a diesel as I put 26-28k miles a year and fuel is paid. So 4 years would be over 100k..
Am a ford fan, but wouldn't rule out any truck.....

Wife's Expedition is doing the work on my 33ol so we stay fairly close to home.

I have a 2500 avalanche with 3.73 gears and the 8100 and absoultey love it!! Tows my 311 with no problems. I recently added a cat back, thermostat, headers, cold air kit, and computer tune. The truck was awsome stock, but now it's a beast!!! Picked up mine with a little over a 100k in the low teens.

03 Ram hemi 2500 4x4 85k miles new leather wheels tires etc. $14k come and get it I'm 2 hours north of you. 2172464411 Tyler

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...59356818&Log=0

FYI have seen numerous 8.1 with 200k miles, without issue. Only problem with the 8.1 in the avalanche is the lack of the allison tranny

I can speak very well to this ,,,,I owned a 2500 6.0 to tow my 36 outlaw 12,600lbs on the trailer. It did "OK" if you end up with one,,, you need to let them rev ( its ok ) and they do shift a lot

Drunk driver took that truck from me and I stepped into a 3500 8100,,,,,night and day difference, and it just grunts up inclines without downshifting.

we used it on a 1800 mile tow with a 42 Fountain from Chicago to New Orleans and back and averaged over 8 mpg,,,, ran 70-80 mostly.

Its now towing a 38 flatdeck around quite well im hearing

I also went with the gas because my truck will sit when not towing the boat,,,, lower initial cost way makes up for fuel savings,,,,,, and I can work on them easily myself.... not to mention the 6.0 Fords,,,, and the Duramaxs in my price range for a tow vehicle have issues so it was a no brainer for me.

FYI, probably 5 years ago I bought a 03 2500hd crew cab shortbox, 8.1, 4x4. LTZ packaged truck with 80,000 miles for $15,000. It was absoloutley beautiful, fully loaded leather interior, dvd player, cowl hood, you name it, it had it. My buddy bought the same truck only a d-max, he paid 25,000 for it. In my eyes 10k buys alot of fuel.

I sold the truck and blew it off for 9,500. Within 2 days I had people calling as far from 2 states away. One guy even said he already lined up plane tickets, and hotel when I told him it was sold. (my wife talked to him the first time and said it was still in the driveway, not realizing I had taken a deposit 1 hour earlier over the phone from someone else.) I'd hold out for one, keep shopping but have you ducks in a row, and be ready to pull the trigger at a moments notice, they dont last long.

Mild Thunder, I've gathered you like the vortec 454's. Are they pretty responsive? I tested out a 94 tbi 454 dually the other day and it was a pooch. The last tbi 454 Ihad had a stick behind it and it was ok, but the auto made it seem poochy. I've never had nor drivin a vortec 454.

I've been thinking about building my next tow rig out of a early 80's crew cab dually and I'm trying to figure drivetrain. But if I can avoid and engine/trans swap and straight axle a vortec truck like I did a previous tow rig I had....I'd be pretty happy.