The 454 tows much better than a chevy 6.0
I've towed 7k lbs for years with a 6.0 chevy, and it was ok. Many times I pulled large hills in first gear at 4200 rims at 17 mph. This gets old fast. Especially not being able to run ac while towing. On the flat land is fine, put it in 3rd and roll all day at 3000rpm at 70mph. Once it's in the hills expect engine and trans temps to be at 220ish. As well gets around 4 mpg In the mountains. The rpm range is 3500-4500, below that go to 1st gear, flashers on, right lane 17 mph.
With a 454 and the same load, can run od on flat ground and get 9 mpg. Pulls all hills better and gets 6-7 mpg in the hills. Practically twice the fuel mileage as the 6.0. Much cheaper to buy than the newer stuff with 6.0s and don't have nearly the electrical gremlins as the 01-07 years.
My dad has towed with a 454, everywhere that I have towed with a 6.0. He gets the same or better fuel mileage than the 6.0, and he is pulling 1-2k lbs more than me.
Now I have avalanche with 8.1, pulling 7k, and my dad pulling 8500 lbs, I cannot pull away from him on hills.
He stays right with me, and can pass me if I fall out of the powerband, and he is cruising at 4k rpms.
The 454 get better mileage pulling a heavier load than my 8.1.
Over 4k rpms the 8.1 falls on its face, while the 454 pulls hard to 4500.
The 8.1 does better from 3000-3500.
My push button 4wd sucks, while the only issue of the older stuff is having to replace the front actuator every 100k miles.
@karatejosh witnessed this on our last trip.
Long story short, my 04 2500 avalanche with 8.1 was 13k with 86k miles with all options. Suburbans of similar years were the same or more expensive.
My dad's 97 k2500 454 suburban was $4600 with 44k miles. It now as 100k, and is only used to tow his rigs, or to the beach to fish.
We have 4-2500 suburbans to our family. Several have over 200k, one with over 300k.
Two needed transmissions at 220k. One was 01 6.0, other was 99 k2500.
One has 5.7 with 300k, all original minus water pumps and fuel pumps.
I tow 3k daily with the 01 k2500 with 6.0. I would much rather have a 454. If you are towing under 5k lbs, and stayed out of the mountains it's great. Definitely better mileage on flat land, and will never leave you stranded. Awesome suburban to run at 3500 rpms all day for 10 hrs towing 7k lbs and never miss a beat. But after driving and towing with them all,
I would only buy a 454 if I'm towing and offroad truck to the mountains often, and the 6.0 if I'm towing a boat to the beach. But the fact that you could almost buy two 96-00 suburbans for the price of one 01-07, is hard to beat.
Just my experience driving and towing with 6.0-454-8.1 for the last 12 years.
