Silverado 1500 Vs. 2500 Vs. 2500 Hd

bellinoracing · October 18, 2009

Well I decided to look for a new truck. I am interested in a 1999-2002 2WD extended cab Silverado. Can someone tell me what the difference is between the 1500, 2500 and the 2500HD as far as how much they will haul/tow? Also how much worse on gas is the 2500 and the 2500hd compared to the 1500? I think a 1500 would be enough for me but I would like to possibly get a 2500 just incase I ever need something that will haul a little more. But if the 2500 get 5 MPGs less than the 1500 I will settle on the 1500.

thanks for any comments

700 sportsman · October 18, 2009

Well, what type of driving style to you have (city, country, mixed) and also, how much weight are you plan on pulling, and how often to you plan on pulling it, also is it a bumper pull of a fifth wheel

Stevens03 · October 18, 2009

Spending a little time on the GM website, you can find all that information pretty easy.

nut shell

1500 will get between 13-21 mpg, tow between 6800-8600 lbs with the 5.3 motor

1500 Vmax will get between 13-19 mpg, tow between 7800-10,500 with the 6.0 motor

2500hd will get between 12-16 mpg, tow between 7800-13000 lbs

bellinoracing · October 18, 2009

Well, what type of driving style to you have (city, country, mixed) and also, how much weight are you plan on pulling, and how often to you plan on pulling it, also is it a bumper pull of a fifth wheel

I do a lot mixed driving. I really dont plan on pulling weight very often. If possible I would like to be able to put a 2000 lbs. milling machine in the bed once in a great while. And I am looking at buying an 8000lbs milling machine(plus the weight of the trailer). I figure I can pay about $1500 to have it shipped to me or put that money toward buying a truck.

If my plans work out I am wanting to start a motorcycle shop and I will need something that will pull a motorcycle trailer that would weigh probably 10,000lbs at the most fully loaded. I would rather go with a bumper pull but could go with a fifth wheel if I had to.

So could I get by with a 1500 or will a 2500 even be enough. I would like to stay away from the 3500, I heard those do eat tons of gas and are very expensive to work on.

thanks

bellinoracing · October 18, 2009

Spending a little time on the GM website, you can find all that information pretty easy.

nut shell

1500 will get between 13-21 mpg, tow between 6800-8600 lbs with the 5.3 motor

1500 Vmax will get between 13-19 mpg, tow between 7800-10,500 with the 6.0 motor

2500hd will get between 12-16 mpg, tow between 7800-13000 lbs

What is a Vmax? I have never heard of that. How does a non HD 2500 do? How many mpgs would I lose if I up graded to a 4wd?

thanks again

pwall · October 18, 2009

Sounds like you'll want a 2500hd.

HDcarpenter · October 19, 2009

I've got a truck in the range you're looking for and you can't go wrong with the 2500HD. I have yet to come across something I can't pull. I average what was posted earlier on mileage - 10-12 city and 15-16 highway EMPTY and 13ish loaded. Thats with the 6.0 with the 4spd auto and 4wd. 196k miles and still a good strong truck without any major problems that I know of.

For the price you'd pay.... its worth it just to get the 2500hd since their price is close to the same and the benefits are definately worth it.

Good luck.

music · October 19, 2009

I agree. If you're planning to tow in the 8k to 10k range on any kind of routine basis, you'll prefer a 2500HD, although the NHT (Vmax) option would handle it if you're only doing the occassional pull. "2k lbs in the bed" is also 3/4-ton territory, but guys do that with 1/2-tons and helper springs (or air bags). It just won't hold up to that kind of weight if you're doing it routinely.

ChrisNJ · October 19, 2009

I've owned all of the trucks you are interested in and they ea. have pluses and minuses. If you need to tow 10K regularly you will need the 2500HD, but the ride will suffer unloaded. Gas mileage is insignificant if you need to get a job done, ie.. the 1500 5.4L will get slightly better mpg than the others, but you can not tow 10K lbs. with it., safely that is. GM's 2500 which was also called a 1500HD or 2500LD (non HD), was a great truck for it's time and had the 1500 frame, bigger 6.0 engine, and sprung for 2500 weight, when the 6.0 was not avail. in a 1500. It can tow 10K, but not nearly as effective as a 2500HD diesel. You'll have a hard time finding 1500HD's or 2500LD's though, as I had to special order mine. Most dealers at the time did not even know what they were. If you can deal with the poor ride, go for the 2500HD. Try and stay away from the crew cab short bed in a 2500HD though as they had a resonance problem that would give you a double 'hit' on larger potholes, etc.... that I couldn't personally deal with. Or at least drive it first over rough roads and see if it's OK for you.

GeoHawk · October 19, 2009

+1 on going with the 2500HD for towing something in the 10,000 lb range.

I've had a 99 1500 and an '03 1500HD (both 4wd), and the 1500HD felt substantially more stable when towing anything over about 6,000 lbs. IIRC, my 1500HD was rated for a maximum trailer weight of 9,700 lbs with 3.73 gears, with 4.10 gears it went up to about 10,200 lbs.

Going with a 2500HD, your trailer weight goes up to 10,600 lbs w/ a 6.0L, and 12,000 lbs with the 8.1L or the Duramax using the regular hitch and all the way up to 16,000 lbs with the 8.1L or Duramax and a 5th-wheel/gooseneck.

2003 Model Specs