Regular 1/2 Ton With 6.2 Vs Denali Vs 2500 Hd

[kna4977]

Tow a 10,400 lb enclosed 24 ft race car trailer. Current car weighs about 3600 lbs and the trailer weighs about the same unloaded. May eventually tow up to close to the max rating of the trailer though.

 

Currently have an 08 Silverado 2500 HD LTZ 4x4 Z71 Crew Cab Duramax/Allison tows this no problem, but the ride is just too harsh for me. Has been since day 1 but for some reason I thought I would grow to like it. Graduated from an Avalanche and I guess that spoiled me.

 

I'm trying to decide whether to go for a regular Silverado or Sierra 1500 4x4 with the 6.2 and 3.42 or 3.73 gears or an AWD Denail Pickup which I believe comes with just 3.42s When I equip the regular one the way I want it comes out to about what a Denali would sticker for but with a few less features that are not available on the regular 1/2 ton. I like the way the Denali looks and all, but it's almost too flashy if that makes sense. So, I'm not sure whether to keep what I got and jar my teeth out, go for a loaded regular 1/2 ton or go for the Denali which is probably the best value and ride but look too flashy.

 

Any opinions would be much appreciated to help me decide.

[Spurshot]

That's a lot of weight to be pulling with a half ton with passenger car tires, small brakes, etc. Maybe consider a second vehicle for most of your other driving?

 

My 2008 1500 Vmax NHT (heavy suspension, 4.10 gears, etc) rides pretty harsh as well. It's really not any better and may be worse, than my 99 GMT800 2500 in ride quality. It definitely was worse before I put taller sidewall tires and Bilstein shocks on it. I didn't beleive it until my wife complained.

[Spurshot]

Heck, I've been casually looking for some non-NHT rear springs for months to help smooth the ride in my 08 1500 NHT. .. and I have about 400 lbs in the bed all the time with the topper and some metal full length bed drawers.

[csheatz]

Thats pushing it for a half ton, the pure weight of the 3/4 ton truck makes the towing a lot better, not to mention the added power. If you have no problems towing now I would not change anything. A softer riding suspension will bounce around more with the trailer, while the stiff 2500 will not transfer as much trailer bounce to the truck.

[Badass69]

Tow a 10,400 lb enclosed 24 ft race car trailer. Current car weighs about 3600 lbs and the trailer weighs about the same unloaded. May eventually tow up to close to the max rating of the trailer though.

 

Currently have an 08 Silverado 2500 HD LTZ 4x4 Z71 Crew Cab Duramax/Allison tows this no problem, but the ride is just too harsh for me. Has been since day 1 but for some reason I thought I would grow to like it. Graduated from an Avalanche and I guess that spoiled me.

 

I'm trying to decide whether to go for a regular Silverado or Sierra 1500 4x4 with the 6.2 and 3.42 or 3.73 gears or an AWD Denail Pickup which I believe comes with just 3.42s When I equip the regular one the way I want it comes out to about what a Denali would sticker for but with a few less features that are not available on the regular 1/2 ton. I like the way the Denali looks and all, but it's almost too flashy if that makes sense. So, I'm not sure whether to keep what I got and jar my teeth out, go for a loaded regular 1/2 ton or go for the Denali which is probably the best value and ride but look too flashy.

 

Any opinions would be much appreciated to help me decide.

 

If your trailer is 10,400 lbs the only 1/2 ton that is going to legally pull that is an NHT 6.2 powered truck and it's tow limit is 10,400 lbs...... Personally if that's the case I would stay with a 3/4 ton truck and deal with the ride. I run a 6.0 litre powered 2009 3/4 ton and it's not harsh to drive at all..... so I am assuming you are much more sensitive than I in that department. The Duramax is stiffer than mine but I don't consider any GM truck to ride "harsh".

 

If you are only actually towing about 7200 lbs as you also mention most of the time any GM half ton is fine with that. Maybe get the 3.73 geared NHT. I ordered one at a point in time and it rode more or less like any other half ton I have driven. Mine had absolutely no power so I couldn't be bothered actually buying it, but I actually like low end torque and a powertrain that isn't abuse managed to death to the point it can hardly pull itself......

[music]

We don't know your finances or any of that (which is a serious consideration)... but, ignoring that, I'd say keep the Duramax and find something comfortable to drive daily. If you're using the truck most of the time for other things (like hauling), then I'd just accept the harsh ride. That's all assuming the max tow specs you quoted. If you only pull ~7k lbs, a 5.3/3.42/6-spd is going to handle that fine with good brake/sway controller... but NONE of the "max" 1/2-tons (6.2/6.0) are going to pull/handle like your 2500HD Duramax when towing. Just another opinion, for what that's worth.

[kna4977]

Thanks for all the input. Anyone have any input on the Denali? Was thinking it might ride the best and tow enough. For the sake of simplicity assume no financial factors.

[Stevens03]

Thanks for all the input. Anyone have any input on the Denali? Was thinking it might ride the best and tow enough. For the sake of simplicity assume no financial factors.

 

You can find a 6.2 1/2 ton with selectable 4x4 and 3.73 gears to get the job done and I assure you it will ride better than your 2500 for alot less than a denali.

[ChrisNJ]

I have a 07 Denali w/6.2 and tow 8K with it. I too had a 2500 w/8.1 and couldn't take the ride daily driving in NY Metro. I tow across the Appalacian mountians of PA and NY, going to races 8-10 times a year, and while the 6.2 gets the job done, and better than my old 6.0/4sp's, and just under the 8.1, there is no way I would try 10K with the Denali, no way. I am already at the edge of safety/performance. If you are towing on only the flat then no problem, but if any repetiive hills, stay away from the 1/2ton. Deal with the 2500, or get two trucks. Hope this helps.

[r1byker]

I put Firestone Ride-Rite airbags on my 2500 Sierra and I think it helped with the harshness of the suspension. Unloaded, I keep them inflated to about 7-10 psi. I don't know why it made a difference; logically, it doesn't make sense to me.

[cc1999]

You might try a set of these. This is what I had on my 02 D-max 2500. Made a big difference. I also swapped my tires over to D's instead of E's, with both of those changes, made my HD ride a lot smoother. That would still give you a lot better tow rig with a smoother ride than you are getting now.

 

http://www.chevyhd.com/velvet-ride/

[Prokopchuk_9]

your not gonna get the best of both worlds on this one buddy...d-max will out tow anything gm makes but the half-ton is a little weakling compared to it...but it will ride nice. you want your truck to suffer or your back??? just buy a little toyota to drive around in haha

[nickvrebel]

You might try a set of these. This is what I had on my 02 D-max 2500. Made a big difference. I also swapped my tires over to D's instead of E's, with both of those changes, made my HD ride a lot smoother. That would still give you a lot better tow rig with a smoother ride than you are getting now.

 

http://www.chevyhd.com/velvet-ride/

 

that sounds like your best option

 

also, what PSI are you running in the tires? You can get away with less tire pressure when unloaded and it will soften the ride.

 

in reality, the DMax will tow way better than any other option. I doubt you will be happy towing that much with a 1/2 ton after doing it with the Dmax.

[Gregorio]

I always borrowed a 2500HD for my big towing (10,000# plus) needs but I was using my Denali SUV and once or twice a borrowed Denali pickup for light duty (8000#) towing. Both were very high pucker factor rides at this weight especially the pickup. Trailer brakes are mandatory as both vehicles get pushed around a lot by that much weight. Again, the pickup more so than the SUV. I can't imagine what the light pickup might be at 10,400# but for my $ I went with the 2500 D-Max. Yes, the ride stinks by comparison so I am going to put Sualstic shackles, cab busings and airbags with the overload springs removed to help compensate. I really do miss the ride of the Denali but after some extremely high pucker tows, I decided I needed the right tool for the job.

[kna4977]

your not gonna get the best of both worlds on this one buddy...d-max will out tow anything gm makes but the half-ton is a little weakling compared to it...but it will ride nice. you want your truck to suffer or your back??? just buy a little toyota to drive around in haha

 

Wonder if the new 2011 Sierra HD Denali would be any more of a compromise?

 

I kind of want to get away from a diesel too. Lots of people like them, but I personally think they are slugs unless you stick your foot in it all the time. Like the smoothness and the sound of the V8 gas better.

 

With the new DPF they've put on the diesels there's really no advantage to having a diesel now that I see other than tow capacity and I don't tow all the time every day. The one I have now gets exactly the same gas mileage as the gas version. Wastes 2 gallons of fuel by squirting it out the tailpipe to clean the DPF every time it regens which is about every 800 miles. Yes I could bypass that to improve fuel economy, but that would void the warranty.

 

P.S. I'm an American I don't buy/drive foreign vehicles so that's not an option