c4racer2

oh ya that's good to know - I would rather use a gear than the brakes down a long hill. I would not let cruise control take over on snow or towing a trailer for sure on hills anyway. The other thing about the CO trip was that was all done above 6K feet for the most part, so that has to use more gas as the motor is down a good amount of power up there. If I drove my 2016 Camaro with a very similar V8 to this 6.6 it would probably get about 23-24 on the fast run up to NE. But the premium fuel premium is steep here in CO, so it would still only save about $40 in overall costs for the round-trip. And you sure can't carry much gear in a convertible camaro!

Seats matter a lot. I would start there - good advise here. I had a 2018 LT Colorado before my 2026 LT Silverado, and the seats are so much better in the new one it's not even a contest. That was one thing I always hated about the Colorado and I owned two of them spanning 10 years - but I did it so I could park in the garage mainly. Now I have a much larger property and a huge barn so I have plenty of parking options and a full size is more useful for maintaining the property and current hobbies as well. I wasn't evenb thinking about the seats as part of the reason for the move to the Silverado, but after two back to back 700mile road trips I am sold on the LT seats w/ leather 100%. The other LT features are also nice - one thing I really like is the power rear window on the back window by the bed. And the lighting in the bed is also very nice to have - I doubt that comes on the lower models. Power tailgate - also quite useful - it's a heavy slug! What else - I could take or leave the screen - but heated seats and steering wheel and cruise control on the steering wheel is very useable - I would never want to live without that. Even the colorados had that.

I think the ship has sailed on the fuel injection type - everything is getting direct now. Does it help with mpg? Not really and nobody buying a HD truck really cares anyway. But that is what it is at this point. Piston rings is something they may well adjust over time to get them right.

Yes that's correct on the route to Durango - we just followed what google maps recommended. That is quite the pass btw - very steep going back down. I didn't even need manual mode - I just used cruise control and set the truck at 50 I think when it was a 45 posted speed and for the most part it just held it there by keeping it in the right gear - everyonce in awhile there is a sharper turn that I just braked for - but it was pretty smooth going down it on both sides. Amazing views around there for sure - we had no real time to stop, were on the clock for a set-up time, but we did stop in some 2 horse town somewhere a couple hours oustide of Durango in the middle of nowhere for burgers. And yes - lots up up and downs on the Durango trip but I think it's a big difference going 70 vs. going 80-83 with the aero in play with these big trucks. Even the much smaller Colorado does reallt bad on gas going up over 70, I think I would have been lucky to get 18 on that trip in the Colorado honestly. The full size is definately more comfy for a long road trip too, and the amount of gear we had would have meant two vehicles if I still had the Colorado.

Just got in two back to back road trips of about 700 miles each with my new 2026 2500HD trail boss. Really nice highway cruiser. Two very different trips - both loaded with gear for my band. First trip was to Durango for an event with Indian Motorcycle - saw some really nice bikes while out there! All mountain driving on back country highways - very pretty scenery - lots of hills along the way including a crazy pass that went up to 11,000 feet! Overall MPG for that trip was 15, speeds were typically 60-70 range depending on road. This past weekend was into rural Nebraska, so mostly fast interstate (76 and 80) with some fast 2 lane getting to / from the final destination outside of North Platt. Speeds mostly ~80. Also mostly flat although somehow dropped from 5K to 3K feet and then back up getting back into CO - didn't really notice it was subtle probably over a long distance. Overall MPG for the trip was 14. Truck is still barely broken in - just got past 2K miles on the second trip. We survived some torrential thunderstorms in NE on Sat. night - especially driving to the hotel after the gig at 1AM. Truck didn't skip a beat - I think the weight of these HD trucks really reduces the hydroplane chances. All good - made it back to Denver area mid day on Sunday for fathers day. I did a quick calculation to compare MPG and overall trip cost to my previous truck, a 2018 Colorado V6. From previous experience I would have expected to see a 4mpg improvement on both trips. Based on current gas prices which are starting to come down but still $0.75 to $1 higher than they should be based on barrel pricing, each trip was about $40 more. Really not much of a concern in the grand scheme of things I must say.

no - I did not cut open the filter btw. I did use a PF63 which I will do for at least a few years worth of oil changes just for good measure. I really don't trust dealers for these tasks - I have no issue using them for larger tasks, but I also tend to consider the value of my time in the equation and if I can easily do it myself in significantly less time than the whole process of taking it to a dealer I will choose that every time. I am a very competent mechanic - I have built cars, engines etc. from the ground up and maintained race cars for years and years, built hot rods even from newer platforms with EFI, swapped engines, transmissions, brakes, rear ends - you name it. Oil change is pretty mundane and I can have it done in the time it takes to drive to the dealer let alone drive back and wait for them to do it.

Did the first oil change at 850 miles on my 6 week old 2026 2500HD TB 4x4 V8. Used Mobil 1 5W30 which I have been using for years in my trucks and late model GM cars, and a PF63 AC Delco filter. Took exactly 8 QT and right to the top of the dipstick. Debating if I will let the dealer do the next one. It's $60 worth of supplies and 30min of my time to DIY and probably would end up wasting a lot of time if I brought it to the dealer, not to mention the risk of them doing something stupid. I mean it happens. first longer road trip this weekend so I wanted to get this done first. Saw very minor metal flake in bottom of drain pan - nothing significant, as you would expect.

I wouldn't buy a 5 year old truck just because of the 6 speed vs. 10 speed. You really have no idea how it was treated and the motors surely have improved over time so I figure the newer the better - get a new or 1-2 year old truck with very low miles - I really prefer to buy new vs. a year or two old too so you can really know exactly how it has been treated and maintained - I think the first 25K miles are pretty critical in the long term reliability of these trucks.

OK thanks - good to know - the website didn't make that very clear.

Personally I wouldn't run that tire - I only run snowflake rated tires, even if I might still run dedicated snow tires part of the winter. KO3's are at least snowflake rated - they may not be fantastic in the snow, but they are decent for at least the first half of treadwear. The OEM versions ride quite nicely IMHO. I had a set of KO2's on a Colorado and had no issues with them other than getting a bit loud as they wear past halfway. I also had the cooper 4S and won't run that tire again - not nearly good enough in the snow, and not very good at all offroad.

thanks for the welcome. I did my first mini tow over the weekend - yes, I know it's not broken in yet but I think it will survive this. Had to move a fridge so hooked up my utility trailer and drove it about 6 miles. I forgot how much I hate backing up that tiny thing - one axle. I am calibrated to a 20f dual axle car trailer and I always forget to adjust. Pulling it is fine, but backing it up I feel like I have no clue what I am doing and I can drop that car trailer anywhere without much thought!

I won't tow over those very often, but it can happen from time to time. I'll be fine with the gas. Most of my driving is around town or weekend road trips with my wife or with my music gear for my band. wasn't worth the extra $10K up front especially consdering diesel is a 25-30% premium over gas here. I had to do a quick tow this weekend, but it was just my small untiliy trailer with a fridge on it and 6 mile round trip. I think it will live. I forgot how much I hate backing up that tiny one axle trailer - I am used to a 20' dual axle car trailer and can put that anywhere but the small one axle is so different. Also - I didn't do Loveland pass proper - just the one over 70 - I don't think it's as high and it's not windy but it's sustained 8% grade so rather steep. I have done Loveland in the snow when the tunnel was close due to a big rig crash. Luckily the wife was sleeping - she would not have been amused! that's a nasty road. I would hate to tow over it - but it can be done that's the normal passage for all the haz-mat trucks.

We live at 5400. The worst grade I have experienced is Loveland Pass going from Silverthorn East towards Denver just before the Eisenhower tunnel. That one is a killer. I have done that twice with the Colorado, but not with the 2500HD - I bought it this week! With a loaded truck and car trailer @ 5500lbs the colorado struggled up that hill - basically 40mph was about all it could muster. That goes up to around 9K feet I believe - actually maybe 10K because Dillon itself is pretty much already at 9K and it climbs up from there. Even just the trailer and a 800lb exercises bike the Colorado can barely keep 55mph up, so that's about a 3K lb trailer and nothing in the truck. Anyway - plenty of passes in CO and UT that go up to 8-9-10K feet. Rockies are high!! I haven't towed anything with the new 2500HD, but I have towed plenty with a 2500 8.1 suburban and a 6.0L gen 3 2500HD long bed, so I have a decent idea what they are like towing.

new member here - just traded my 2018 Colorado long bed LT/4WD V6, lifted 2" w/ ZR2 wheels for it's big brother - 2026 2500HD LT / 4x4 / trail boss 6.6L in the same sterling gray color. I tow a 5-6Klb car trailer and moved to CO last year from CA and now have a farm property, so plenty of room and more hauling duties as well plus the mountains / elevation around here really kills the already underpowered V6 in the Colorado. I don't drive a lot, so the Duramax wasn't really necessary, and gas around here is $1 cheaper than diesel as well. This truck has well more than double the towing capacity I need anyway - I was just looking for some margin and to cover for the mountains which go up to 10K feet in some places.

Agree with keep what you have - 100%. I just spent the last 10 years in Colorado's, last one for 8 years a 2018 long bed V6 / 8spd 4x4, lifted 2". Tow rating is 7000, payload is 1550 which isn't bad. I towed a 5-6Klb car trailer quite a lot including long distance trips over significant mountain ranges. The small truck did great for a small truck, but it did make for a more stressful drive every time. I used a wt. dist hitch always. My trailer tracks really well - it's a very nice trailer and open car trailers are reasonably aerodynamic which helps too. So it was adeqate. But I was always alone in the truck - if I had passengers and cargo it would have blown up the GVWR for sure - I was near the limit on everything. The biggest issue I had was power, and since I moved to CO last year it's a real problem in the mountains around here - the poor V6 is ripping along at 6Krpm trying to maintain 45mph up the steep grades on I70. And there isn't much margin there. So while it's workable and technically within the limits of the truck, it's not ideal. I have had larger trucks including 2500 suburbans so I have a good feeling for the difference. Never really owned a 1500, but had a Nissan Titan but that thing was a beast and closer to a 2500 in ratings. I just traded in the Colorado for a new 2500HD 6.6L. This thing is a serious truck - it will tow my rig with ease. And it does give me the opportunity to consider getting a travel trailer down the road. No reason for a 3500 in my case and my kids are grown so if we did get a travel trailer it would just be for 2 of us so don't have to go nuts there at all. Anyway - just went the other direction as what you are considering and so far I wouldn't look back on my move. 3 days a week 50miles RT I would just drive it - maybe it depends where you live but assuming gas prices get back to where they were or close - we get gas for $2.5 a gallon in CO so 150miles a week or aprox 7K miles a year considering vacation weeks, etc. doesn't seem like much of an issue to me. It's not my only vehicle in my case - I have two Camaros so if it were me I would drive the 2016 all summer and the truck all winter and no biggie. How bad is the mpg on these things anyway? I would think it can pull 17 on the highway? That's not terrible at $3 / gallon.