Need a tow vehicle...

[SicMonte]

I know I know...trailers are for boats. I get it. I just like the security of knowing that if I do break down then my a$$ is covered!!

That being said I am in the market for a truck. I am a chevy guy so I am looking at a 1500 or 2500. It needs to be 4x4 and that is my only need. This opens up the discussion as to what model to get?? Gas vs Diesel...Crew cab vs Ext cab....long bed vs short bed vs the "bath tub" 5.5 bed.

What do you all have and just give me some of the pros and cons as to what you have.

Thanks!! :cheers:

[rsk68]

I have a 2011 Silverado 1500 crewcab short bed 4x4 with the 6.2, i wouldnt go with the available 5.3, the 6.2 pulls my 20 ft enclosed trailer loaded with ease.

[Johnny Blaze]

Had a 5.3 for awhile, it wouldn't pull well. 6.0 pulls with ease!

[oestek]

Just pulled a 24ft enclosed with '68 Camaro inside over 4000 miles to SEMA & back with '01 Silverado 1500HD 6.0, no troubles.

[parsonsj]

Get the 4 door model (forget what it's called "Crew Cab" or something); the longer wheelbase makes a difference. I'd recommend diesel power if you can afford it. It makes a 50% difference in fuel mileage.

Chevy Duramax, Ford Super Duty, Dodge Cummins -- all good.

[Randy67]

With an open trailer, a 1500 would do it, if it is enclosed, then a 2500/3500 would be a better choice. Mainly because you will end up putting more stuff in the trailer than you think and the 2500/3500 gives you more "breathing" room before you overload it weight wise.

[the dan]

Duramax all day for towing anything, They have the smartest tow package ever, and the tranny shifts so well during it. plus it doesnt kill your millage towing. LBZ

1500 5.3 isnt worth your time. you need something larger motor wise and with a stornger rear end.

[DesertFox]

Love my Duramax ( actually on DMax #4). It'll pull my 4 horse GN (fully loaded # 12,000lbs) up a grade at 70 + with no problem. Car trailers are no problem either.
Made the move from the 5.3 1500 to the diesel 2500 HD in 2002 and never looked back. We just have truck ADD and trade in every 4 years or so.

[Dolmaner]

get a dodge 2500 diesel, wont regret it

[tommycomfort]

I started with an 01 1500 5.3 and towed a 16' loaded trailer all over the country picking up parts cars. Then went to an 04 F350 dually quad cab 6.0Powerstroke and loved it. Decided I could save some money and get a cheaper truck so I bought an 02 1500HD 6.0 and was disapointed going through the mountains on the way to Run to the Hills. So, now we have a 06 2500HD with a duramax and will never look back. Short bed crew cab and it tows like there is nothing back there. Absolutely love it. Oh yeah, they were all 4x4.
Tom

[SicMonte]

Man earlier today I was sold on a 1500 with the 6.0 engine.....now i'm thinking diesel b/c I'll be towing through mountains...

WHAT TO DO??!!??!!??!!??

[parsonsj]

Get a diesel. They cost more, but retain more value, and have longer lives.

[71RS/SS396]

^^^ X2 I have an 07 Classic ( old body style ) Dmax crew cab, it has 125K on it now still has the original brakes with half the life left. I'd say 50% of those miles have been with a 28 ft enclosed trailer. The only things I've replaced outside of tires and normal maint. items have been the trans cooler lines, idler arm, and pitmen arm. I would recommend the 4 door over the extended cab as those suicide doors on the extended cabs get old fast. I've owned both a Dodge and a Ford, the Dodge had a great engine, rode terrible, trans sucked, and the front end fell apart after 50K miles. The Ford had constant problems with the engine and ate brakes.

[damannhw]

I've towed w/many different makes in gas 1/2 and 3/4 tons, and I have used every Ford Powerstroke diesel since the mid 90's and a Duramax. I assue you are looking at used ? IMO, I think the later model ('04 up) 5.4 Ford tows the best of the bunch for gas engines. It has really good torque, and recently towed my heavy Firebird through the mountains to RTTH very well. The GM 6.0 is OK too, but really is tough on fuel. If you plan on towing alot, go diesel. If you are like me, and have to drive your truck daily, and tow once a month maybe, go gas. The later model Duramax is a great engine, but I LOVE F250 Powerstrokes.

Go test drive a few different makes/models and take 'em home and tow with them to find what you like. Trucks are dang expensive, even used, so make sure you get one you like.
Good luck :)

[DriverzInc]

I drive a 08 2500HD 6.0 Gas motor, 2wd every day. Love my truck. Mileage isn't the best, but its lifted which doesn't help. Tows our 22ft trailer well, with our displays/or a car in it just fine to shows. I've always has chevy's... I find the seats comfortable, and I like the overall outside appearance better than the other options. ITs my second HD 2500 (previously had an 05) and both have never let me down.

[Bad94]

I have a 09 2500 HD with the 6.0L and 6 speed auto trans, Not sure if i really like the 6 speed, but then again it has 3:73 rear gears, and needs 4:10's. I wish i would have saved more money and got the Duramax. I get around 10-12 MPG, with or without a trailer.

My brother has a 05 2500 HD with the 6.0L and 4L80E and he gets about 15 MPG.

I pull my open trailer with a car on it, no problems.


Buy a 2500 or bigger. If you ever go rent a bobcat or something along those lines, they wont let you out of the lot with a 1500.

[tommycomfort]

Buy a 2500 or bigger. If you ever go rent a bobcat or something along those lines, they wont let you out of the lot with a 1500.

Funny you should say that, I didn't know any better and rented a bobcat with our 1500 5.3 and used our old trailer with worn out brakes. I learned a lot when I blew through my first intersection....

[MonzaRacer]

If going to tow, dont skimp, buy a Duramax if your into GM, but cant knock new Ford Powerstroke either, new Dodges just do not impress me yet.

[BuddyP]

Randy above stated it well, 5.3 would be ok if an open trailer but not with an enclosed trailer. And now that you noted pulling through mtns throw the 5.3 out all together. Personally I'd just go for the Diesel if cost isn't a issue. I pull a 7' wide enclosed with our 5.3 Tahoe and it struggles. The manufacturers got so caught up in the HP wars with trucks that they forgot about the torque. The old late '90's 5.7 with 35 less hp pulls WAY better than the new GM 5.3 and Ford 5.4. Torque peaked down low also vs higher in the RPM range.

[vintageracer]

Buy a GOOD used Rollback!

Haul YOUR cars to shows and make money Junking on the side!

Rollbacks go good in the snow as they are always called to pickup the cars/trucks that are stuck in the snow!

[TheJDMan]

I also have an 07 Silverado Classic Duramax/Allison EC SB. I have a 20' enclosed trailer and I can tell you that trailer was scarey behind my old 1500 but I can't even tell it is behind the Duramax. I recommend you go diesel, you will not regret it.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/01/2500h2a-1.jpg

[Vinz68]

I bought a new silverado 1500 crew cab with a 5.3 in 07 sold it 10 months later and bought a 08 GMC Duramax 2500hd crew cab short bed. The duramax is the best truck I'v ever owned!!!!!! I tow all kinds of stuff with it and its awesome!! Get a Diesel you won't regret it

[Blown73]

If you can afford it, duramax is the way to go if you plan on towing. Keep in mind though, they are more expensive to insure, register, operate, and maintain. If you are only towing a few times a year, a 2500 w/6.0 Gas is not a bad option.

If a duramax is out of your budget, look at the Superduty trucks with the powerstroke. I am on my 2nd diesel and love them. Lots of power, good economy, and is a comfortable ride even though it is lifted. And you are probably 2/3 the cost of a duramax.

Just my .02.

[vintageracer]

Given the price difference when purchasing the truck new or used, given the price difference purchasing fuel and given the price difference for maintainance/service the ONLY way to justify the purchase of Duramax diesel over a 6.0 gas LS engine is to DRIVE the truck over 200,000 miles just to BREAK EVEN on the purchase.

EVERYONE says they will keep their truck and drive it until the wheels fall off however the reality is they do not. Most guys who buy a diesel truck have NO NEED for a diesel engine since all they do is ride around and MAYBE pull a trailer once a month but it sure is cool to have a diesel truck.The cost difference between a larger displacement gas engine truck and the diesel engine truck from any of the Big 3 is between $8K-$10K new and $4K-$6K for any late model used truck. Given the price difference in fuel and maintainence you will never drive out the cost difference when purchasing your "New To You" truck.

A larger displacement gas engine like a 6.0 GM (3/4 or 1 ton) engine truck will PULL & STOP just as good as any Duramax diesel (3/4 or 1 Ton) truck with an enclosed trailer. The same is true with Ford and Dodge. Yes a diesel is COOL however it makes absolutely NO SENSE from a DOLLARS & CENTS, Pulling, Stopping and Safety perspective for the average enthusiast to even consider buying a new or used late model diesel truck!

SAVE YOUR MONEY AND BUY A GAS TRUCK!

[parsonsj]

Given the price difference when purchasing the truck new or used, given the price difference purchasing fuel and given the price difference for maintainance/service the ONLY way to justify the purchase of Duramax diesel over a 6.0 gas LS engine is to DRIVE the truck over 200,000 miles just to BREAK EVEN on the purchase. I think you left out that the Duramax will be more valuable at trade-in or sell time, and are discounting the quality/peace of mind a diesel brings to the towing experience.

[shortrack]

Given the price difference when purchasing the truck new or used, given the price difference purchasing fuel and given the price difference for maintainance/service the ONLY way to justify the purchase of Duramax diesel over a 6.0 gas LS engine is to DRIVE the truck over 200,000 miles just to BREAK EVEN on the purchase.

EVERYONE says they will keep their truck and drive it until the wheels fall off however the reality is they do not. Most guys who buy a diesel truck have NO NEED for a diesel engine since all they do is ride around and MAYBE pull a trailer once a month but it sure is cool to have a diesel truck.The cost difference between a larger displacement gas engine truck and the diesel engine truck from any of the Big 3 is between $8K-$10K new and $4K-$6K for any late model truck. Given the price difference in fuel and maintainence you will never drive out the cost difference when purchasing your "New To You" truck.

A larger displacement gas engine like a 6.0 GM (3/4 or 1 ton) engine truck will PULL & STOP just as good as any Duramax diesel (3/4 or 1 Ton) truck with an enclosed trailer. The same is true with Ford and Dodge. Yes a diesel is COOL however it makes absolutely NO SENSE from a DOLLARS & CENTS, Pulling, Stopping and Safety perspective for the average enthusiast to even consider buying a new or used late model diesel truck!

SAVE YOUR MONEY AND BUY A GAS TRUCK!

Right on the money!

I cant believe nobody has asked the obvious first question....is the truck going to be your daily driver???.....how many miles a week are you going to put on the truck????....it all falls in to place after that

[SicMonte]

I am trading in my daily driver(HHR) to get this truck. I have a company vehicle for during the week so the "new to me" truck will be used on the weekends and for towing the monte to different events.

[olason]

Get a Duramax if you can, I grew up on a farm and people have mixed views. Any Duramax owner will not trade their's for a different build of diesel. My dad has 247k miles on his 2002 and he has had injectors go bad under warranty, other than that nothing but normal wear and tear on it. Sees a lot of gravel and fields, and pulling fuel trailer or header trailers, etc.

[Off Duty]

I know I know...trailers are for boats. I get it. I just like the security of knowing that if I do break down then my a$$ is covered!!

That being said I am in the market for a truck. I am a chevy guy so I am looking at a 1500 or 2500. It needs to be 4x4 and that is my only need. This opens up the discussion as to what model to get?? Gas vs Diesel...Crew cab vs Ext cab....long bed vs short bed vs the "bath tub" 5.5 bed.

What do you all have and just give me some of the pros and cons as to what you have.

Thanks!! :cheers:

There's a lot to be said for trailering, especially to shows and events.
Less maintenance, easier to keep clean, yada yada yada.

As for the rig, they all have their pros and cons.

The engine configuration IMO, would depend more on what (weight) you tow, and where?
If you're going to tow heavy, think 5th wheel, large toy hauler, etc., or spend a lot of time running up and down mountain passes (it's the "up" part that sucks!), then i'd go diesel without thinking about it twice.

For just towing a standard hot rod around, especially of you stay out of the mountains, the gasser should do you well also.
Don't misunderstand, both can do the job, but you'll notice the power loss if the gasser in the passes and under heavy load.

In general you'll get better fuel economy, more torque, and longer life from a diesel rig over a similarly equipped gasser.

As for the number of doors, again it all depends on your needs.
If you're going to be hauling a family, crew or friends, you'll want more doors:)

With the Gm lineup, in diesel, you're pretty well limited to the duramax crew cab for new vehicles.
There's always the older rigs though, the old MIL-Spec blazers and crews, and a ton of Government vehicles coming off the line. They're usually in pretty decent condition, and you can get them cheap.
The diesel Suburban's are roomy, pull/haul well, and have a lot of creature comforts. With the IFS 4wd, while not the best for any serious off roading, they're great on the road, in the sand and at the boat ramp.

If you weren't a Chevy guy, I'd suggest the MEGA CAB from Dodge.
It's probably the largest of the "crew type" cabs under the 650, on the market.
Very comfortable and with the Cummins diesel, "should" give you a lot of trouble free driving.

If you have need to haul more than 5 adults including the driver, I'd consider an older 7.3 Excursion.
Its a workhorse of an engine with huge reliability, and the "bus" can haul 8-9 people with ease.
If you want to stay GM, there's the older diesel "Burbs" as well, 80's models, and the newer, very nice riding Suburbans. But remember, the new ones are gassers.

Gas vs. Diesel?
Eh, it's tit for tat for the reasons given above.
Diesels are a bit more maintenance intensive and less forgiving (again IMO) when neglected.
In the dead of winter, the gasser can usually be fired right up without issue as long as the batteries are still charged.
the diesel usually requires some prep for the colder climates.

Hope some of this babble helped?

[shortrack]

I am trading in my daily driver(HHR) to get this truck. I have a company vehicle for during the week so the "new to me" truck will be used on the weekends and for towing the monte to different events.

IMO the 6L gas is the way to go for you.....a bit hard on fuel but your company car is your DD

Diesel's are nice but its insane to own any modern diesel truck out of warranty....so one with a warranty would be an expensive truck just to drive on weekends......an injector change or injector pump repair cost can easily top 5 g's for a single repair on a diesel.....for that you could buy an entire new 6L longblock and have a new engine!.....everything is great on a diesel till something goes wrong then look out.

your in the same "boat" as me with a company vehicle for a DD....I have an 01 2500HD quad cab with the 496 gas for towing my 9500lb boat....tows like a bear, I love it.....it sits for weeks/months at a time and I go out and just turn the key and go....in general diesels dont like to sit for long periods of time.....been there....the 496 gas mi doesnt change much loaded or unloaded the 6L gets noticeably better mil unloaded

If your going to spend money spend it on the quad cab.....If you have a wife and kids overall more practical than the standards or ex cabs....

If you do go diesel the Dmax is the only way to go...the 6.5/6.2 cant pull worth a damn.

[vintageracer]

I think you are discounting the quality/peace of mind a diesel brings to the towing experience.


I am curious as to the "quaility/peace of mind" a diesel brings to the towing experience. Both a 3/4 or 1 ton gas or diesel truck will SAFELY pull, stop and ride him down the road in comfort all while pulling his ONE car enclosed trailer with his car inside.

Did I miss some type of ZEN experience the last time I drove my 17 year old diesel truck pulling one of my trailers?

[parsonsj]

Did I miss some type of ZEN experience the last time I drove my 17 year old diesel truck pulling one of my trailers?Who said ZEN?

Let me clarify what I meant...

Quality/peace of mind that a diesel truck brings to the towing experience:
1. More torque to pull up mountains without needing 4000+ rpm.
2. More torque to get up to speed faster when pulling onto the highway.
3. Fewer fuel stops due to the 80% increase in fuel mileage while towing.
4. Reduced stress on the drivetrain (think Allison) due to the beefier nature of the rest of the powertrain.

It's just another way of saying that diesel trucks are available from GM/Ford/Chrysler precisely because they are better at towing, and that has value that wasn't in your original argument. They have higher resale too, for the same reasons, and that wasn't in your original argument either.

[andrewb70]

As always, another perfect example of "subjective value." :-)

Andrew

[vintageracer]

All that is fine but STILL takes over 200,000 miles or more of driving and YEARS of time driving a diesel truck for anyone just break even from a monetary standpoint to even think about the added up front expense of a diesel engine. And INCLUDES the diesel engine truck being worth more used at trade in time!

The fact of the matter is still the same that you still get there in same Safety and comfort with a gas truck versus a diesel truck for a lot less money! REMEMBER the thread starter is only pulling a one car enclosed trailer every now and then. It VERY hard to overcome the $0.50+ per gallon difference in fuel cost AND the outrageous upfront extra cost for the diesel engine. It takes time and lot's of miles to do that. Far more miles that most anyone drives any single vehicle they own must less a pickup truck!

[parsonsj]

another perfect example of "subjective value."I'm not familiar with that term. It that the marketing term for "some value it more than others"?

[TheJDMan]

I am curious as to the "quaility/peace of mind" a diesel brings to the towing experience. Both a 3/4 or 1 ton gas or diesel truck will SAFELY pull, stop and ride him down the road in comfort all while pulling his ONE car enclosed trailer with his car inside.

Did I miss some type of ZEN experience the last time I drove my 17 year old diesel truck pulling one of my trailers?

Engine braking! The gas engine has none, neither does your 17 year old diesel. By comparison, a 2012 3500HD Duramax can maintain a steady speed on a 6% downgrade with a 19,000# trailer on the hitch with no braking. Here is a recent comparison test nick named "King of the Hill" done by Diesel Power Magazine which compared the big three diesel pickups.

http://www.dieselpowermag.com/features/1111dp_king_of_the_hill_rematch/viewall.html

BTW, your 17 year old diesel just proves the point of diesel longevity. However, your 17 year old diesel is no comparison performance wise to the moden diesels currently on the market.

Here is an excerpt from an earlier "King of the Hill" shootout done by Diesel Power Mag.

"The exhaust brake test brought out similar success for the Duramax and Allison combo. As we began our downhill run, the Ford descended the western slope well but required an average of 14 applications of the truck's brake pedal to hold the vehicle speed between 50 and 60 mph. The exhaust brake was clearly working, but the nearly 28,000 pounds (with four people in the truck) was more than the Ford could control without driver input.

The Chevy, on the other hand, crested the top of the hill feeling like a totally different kind of vehicle. Just by the exhaust noise we could tell the Duramax's Garrett turbo offered far more exhaust braking than the Garrett unit the Power Stroke uses. Going downhill in the Chevy, the driver had far less work to do. While the Super Duty managed the load by hitting the brakes 14 times, the Chevy only required 1 brake application for the entire 8-mile downhill run. While the difference in hillclimbing between the Chevy and the Ford is impressive, the exhaust braking advantage of the Silverado is staggering.
Exhaust Brake Test Winner: Chevrolet Silverado 3500"



Read more: http://www.dieselpowermag.com/features/1102dp_king_of_the_hill_silverado_vs_super_duty/viewall.html#ixzz1eBsaibTv

[shortrack]

Engine braking! The gas engine has none, neither does your 17 year old diesel. By comparison, a 2012 3500HD Duramax can maintain a steady speed on a 6% downgrade with a 19,000# trailer on the hitch with no braking. Here is a recent comparison test nick named "King of the Hill" done by Diesel Power Magazine which compared the big three diesel pickups.

http://www.dieselpowermag.com/features/1111dp_king_of_the_hill_rematch/viewall.html

BTW, your 17 year old diesel just proves the point of diesel longevity. However, your 17 year old diesel is no comparison performance wise to the moden diesels currently on the market.

so you suggest the OP buys a $60000+ truck to pull a single car trailer on weekends to get the latest technology????

were trying to give realistic suggestions.....

[vintageracer]

so you suggest the OP buys a $60000+ truck to pull a single car trailer on weekends to get the latest technology????

Apprently So!

[TheJDMan]

What I'm saying is that once you own a diesel, even the big displacement gas engines feel like toys.

[parsonsj]

Steve and I are saying that a diesel provides a better towing experience for a variety of reasons, several of which can't be quantified by purchase price, or maintenance or fuel costs, but do provide value. And so far, nobody has acknowledged that a diesel truck is worth more at trade-in than one with a gasoline engine. It's important to factor those elements when making purchases. Otherwise, you'll be making a decision without considering all the variables.

But anyway, to the OP, have we helped? :)

[shortrack]

The cost difference between a larger displacement gas engine truck and the diesel engine truck from any of the Big 3 is between $8K-$10K new and $4K-$6K for any late model used truck.


here

[parsonsj]

The cost difference between a larger displacement gas engine truck and the diesel engine truck from any of the Big 3 is between $8K-$10K new and $4K-$6K for any late model used truck.Cool, missed that, though it's not exactly what I asked. But it will do, as it kind of makes my point. In order to calculate value, you need to subtract the higher used vehicle price from the higher purchase price. In other words, the true purchase cost difference for a new diesel vehicle is about $4K when factoring in higher trade-in value at the end.

[WS6]

I was and still am in this boat to some extent. I posted about it a while back when asking about long versus short bed if you care to find the thread. What I ultimately decided was that I'll go for a 6.0 gas motor when the time comes. They are cheaper, I know how to work on them already, and I won't be towing all the time. Even going through the mountains of Colorado, which I intend to do once I move back there, I have no doubts the 6.0 would suit my needs. Mainly because I won't ever be towing that much weight or that often. Now, should that prove incorrect and the 6.0 just won't cut it, I know how to turbo or supercharge a 6.0. Problem solved :)

BTW, my work truck is a crew cab 4x4 long bed superduty. I pull a 30ft twin I beam 5th wheel all over SW Kansas and the TX and OK panhandles. My truck alone weights ~9100lbs (verified by scales) and pulls my heavy trailer very well. This includes off roading with said trailer in tow also. I do like diesels but still will choose the gas at this point in my life for my personal vehicle.

Oh and one huge point that scared me considerably with the D-max, that Allison transmission is nice until something goes wrong. It's ridiculously expensive to fix and rather sensitive to engine mods. Considering how easy and often people mods diesels, it's imperative you know how to look at a used one for damage to the transmission. The cost to fix that thing alone bothers me.

[vintageracer]

Price of gas today in Nashville Tennessee is $3.07 for GAS and $3.89 for DIESEL at the same station.

That's $0.82/gallon MORE for Diesel. That makes the cost difference even GREATER!!

[nekkidhillbilly]

sell you my dmax

[brans72]

I have thought this also through and would go with gas as I will not be towing every weekend or anything more then a car on a open trailer (poor man). If I had choice right now I would go with a 1500 HD extended cab, due to you can find them easier,cheaper on gas,cheaper to fix,cheaper to insure,cheaper to buy up front. If your not towing least 3 times a week heavy loads do you really need a diesel sitting around?

[71RS/SS396]

Price of gas today in Nashville Tennessee is $3.07 for GAS and $3.89 for DIESEL at the same station.

That's $0.82/gallon MORE for Diesel. That makes the cost difference even GREATER!!

That's not the norm in my area for the difference in fuel prices, with that being said that is the only pro vs con for a gas truck vs diesel imo. The 6.0 gets lower fuel economy empty or loaded and the disparity is greater when loaded. I owned a 6.0 truck and the fuel economy pulling a trailer was from 7-9 mpg, the worst I've ever seen from my Dmax has been 12 mpg pushing it through the mtns, average is 14 mpg loaded and 18-20 mpg empty. Everything else about a Dmax is better for towing, more torque, better trans, and more longevity. My 07 still has the dynamic engine braking, you set cruise and never have to touch the brake so you don't have to buy the $60k truck to get that.

[The Stickman]

Man earlier today I was sold on a 1500 with the 6.0 engine.....now i'm thinking diesel b/c I'll be towing through mountains...

WHAT TO DO??!!??!!??!!??

You already know my thoughts on this lol.

[SicMonte]

Any thoughts on the Chevy 4.8L engine? It only has 7 less hp and 20 less ft/lb than the 5.3.

[carguykeith]

I'd be looking at the torque curve not the peak numbers, my guess is the average torque is a lot more with the 5.3 so will tow a lot better.

People are always surprised how well my "Toyota with a 350" tows, but if you look at the torque curve the Iforce 5.7 is better than most of the chevy 6.0s...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[justin51986]

yeah diesel may cost $0.82/gal more, but my stock 2009 f150 was getting 14mpg....where as my levelled w/slightly larger tires 06 Ram 2500 Cummins is getting 24-28mpg's. i spend WAY less on fuel now. Oil changes are more expensive because my cummins takes 12 quarts of oil, but you change it less. plus you'll get many more miles out of a diesel than you'll ever get from a gas truck. Mine has 161,000 on the odo and still driving like a new truck.. the diesel will have a lot more torque, you won't even know you have a trailer hooked up when you drive it. I had 2,700 lbs in the bed of my dodge the other day and it didn't even squat. it is VERY easy to get great fuel mileage in a diesel if you spend a little $$.. I spent about $1000 to get the MPG's that i get

[vintageracer]

All of what you said may be true but fact still remains that you must drive that diesel truck at least 250K miles to just break even from the initial additional cost standpoint incurred by a diesel truck over a gas truck. The reality is that most people do not keep any vehicle they buy NEW for that many miles. People who buy $40-$50K vehicles new can afford to trade and usually do LONG BEFORE the 250K+ break even point.

You may the exception but you are also still a LONG way from that break even point!

[SicMonte]

What do you all think about buying a used Diesel truck?? I have found a bunch of good looking 04-05 chevy 2500's in the $17,000-$20,000 range with between 125K-150K miles.

[justin51986]

yeah the initial cost of a diesel is more, but they retain their value better as well. nobody is gonna pay 20 grand for a 150,000 mile gas truck, but i was offered 19,000 for mine with 161,000 miles on it a couple weeks ago. you just have to know how to shop around. i have bought trucks all over the country, usually diesel trucks are cheapest in texas, yet I have found a couple good deals elsewhere, such as Utah and Virginia. I have never lost money on a truck either, I have always turned a profit on them even after driving them sometimes up to 2 years before I sell them. just watch the market for a few months and buy when diesel truck prices are down.

[justin51986]

also keep your eye out and you can get a deal on a bank repo diesel.....just make sure it's a bank repo, not a theft recovery or a police seized truck

[SicMonte]

where do you all look for used truck? I just went on ebay and a bunch popped up. Alot of dealerships advertise their inventory on ebay.

[cascius]

What do you all think about buying a used Diesel truck?? I have found a bunch of good looking 04-05 chevy 2500's in the $17,000-$20,000 range with between 125K-150K miles.

This is my personal opinion so feel free to take it for what it's worth. On used stuff it pays to do some research and know what you're getting into. I've owned and pulled with 7.3 Ford's, worked in a GM dealership, and worked at a local performance shop specializing in Cummins powered trucks, and currently run a 2003 Dodge 2500 with a Cummins. I am biased towards the Cummins powered stuff, but I have the capability of working on it myself so that's worth a lot.

Personally, I would never own a Duramax with that high of mileage. In my experiences you don't tend to see as many Duramax trucks with over 200K still running around. I know there are exceptions, but it seems like a lot of people tend to get rid of them before that mark. It seems just like anything, once they get higher miles on them the prices and resale value tend to drop noticeably. If you aren't capable of working on it yourself then this is something to consider.

Also pay attention to any common issues associated with the different years of engines. It seemed the early Duramax's liked to eat injectors. The Dodge's had the same issues in '03-04, and were better in 04-06 but it still wasn't uncommon for it to happen. With injectors running $300-400 each, plus labor to install them, that's going to be a big hit when that happens. I think they are becoming available but I do know Bosch had them on national backorder for a while. We had trucks sitting for several months at a time waiting on parts to become available. The early 6.0 Fords seemed to have lots of issues with head gaskets and turbos. Some were great, others were nightmares. Dodge and Ford have horrible stock transmissions, while the Allison behind a stock engine seems to prove itself very nicely. They are all expensive when they go out, but the Allison is probably the most expensive to rebuild or replace. The 7.3's seem to be pretty bulletproof but lack the power of the newer diesel engines.

My personal truck runs a built automatic and gets driven about 15-20K a year. If I was looking into a tow only rig I would definitely go with a 6-speed manual truck and a good clutch. Like I said, this is just my opinion and I know it'll get torn apart and argued over. Good luck with your decision, whatever it may be.

[TheJDMan]

where do you all look for used truck? I just went on ebay and a bunch popped up. Alot of dealerships advertise their inventory on ebay.

Check these guys out. They specialize in used diesel pickups.

http://www.handpickedtrucks.com/

[justin51986]

I've bought 3 on ebay, my most recent I found on craigslist, autotrader.com has a great selection too. just make sure they are willing to let you test drive it before buying. I usually email the seller and say "i'll give you the selling fee as a deposit and if it doesn't meet my standards, then you aren't out anything because i paid the listing fee" usually ppl are pretty good with that. also I read the Indiana Auto & RV trader....see if there are any for your area....they are free and come out weekly, if you don't find anything, at least you have some "ceramic throne" reading material and some fire starting material!

[zombiekiller]

its a shame you're chevy only. I've towed my galaxie with my '11 f-150 ecoboost plenty ( 23K on the truck since may 3rd). I couldnt be more pleased. regular gas, twin turbos, torque monster, auto trans downshifts and hold gears, tow/haul mode, trailer sway integrated that actually works and to top it off, unloaded i get 22 mpg consitently at 75 mph on the highway, combined i get about 17.3-18. Towing just under 8K lbs i got 13.5. not bad!

[SicMonte]

its a shame you're chevy only. I've towed my galaxie with my '11 f-150 ecoboost plenty ( 23K on the truck since may 3rd). I couldnt be more pleased. regular gas, twin turbos, torque monster, auto trans downshifts and hold gears, tow/haul mode, trailer sway integrated that actually works and to top it off, unloaded i get 22 mpg consitently at 75 mph on the highway, combined i get about 17.3-18. Towing just under 8K lbs i got 13.5. not bad!

what did that cost you?

[howehot]

I have an '01 duramax/allison with 278,000 miles, 4x4, 4" lift. Only problem was injectors at 120,000 miles and GM covered that. Great truck that tows 7,000# of lawn equipment daily. Not sure if you need the added expense of a diesel if you are using it as a daily driver. Winter is also hard on them with short trips and very cold a.m. starts. Back in the 90's when GM came out with the 6.5L turbo diesel they stated you needed to drive 100,000 miles a year to justify the added purchase price of the diesel package. Back then fuel cost was alot less than gas.

Just my 2 cents.

[Randy67]

On gas vs diesel fuel mileage, my experience.
I used to have a 91 F350 7.3L IDI crew cab dually, about 7000+ lbs. I drove it daily for 2+ years in combined driving and it got 17-18 mpg (east side of Atlanta). Now I have a 2000 Dakota R/T 5.9L and it only gets 16 mpg in the same driving (it weighs 4140 lbs). So a diesel can save some fuel costs especially considering mine was an old school diesel with mechanical injection, the newer diesels have more power and better fuel economy. Of course the Dakota is easier to drive (and park) and a good bit quicker. But now I have a car for a daily driver with the costs of fuel now.

My choice when towing is diesel, especially in a full-sized truck. Next would be a big-block.

[Madjack]

I have a 89 suburban,5.7 700r4 it does fine towing my '52 pick up on a 20 ft open trailer just fine!! plenty of room for spare parts& family!! oh ya the dogs too! and still gets 17mpg! good luck on your quest for a truck! it also pulls my sons light&sound trailer,16ft.enclosed .thats his buisness FITH DEMENSION LIGHT&SOUND!

[howehot]

price of a gallon of diesel vs gas in this area is $.50 more for deisel, at times this fall upwards of $.90. Takes alot of mpg to make that up. If you do alot of pulling your mileage will be better than a gas engine thus a better return on your investment.