1500 Hd

[Garrett Street]

My father currently drives a 99 Silverado 1500. He uses it like a truck. Hauls the cows to the sale barn, hauls wood, etc. He feels the 99 is a little weak for his application, I agree with him. It doesn't handle the stock trailer with 4 cows in it too well. He's been wanting a 3/4 ton for a long time now. He found an 06 1500HD 4x4 for sale by a private owner about 5 miles from where he lives. He's wanting a diesel but realizes how expensive and hard to find a diesel will be. So, what I'm asking is, can a 1500HD handle what he wants it to? Or would it too be strained. I mean, I know the obvious differences like the 4L80E and the 6.0. But, is it a workhorse like the 2500 gassers are? The truck seems to be in great shape and has been meticulously maintained. Anybody have any experience with the 1500HD line? Thanks, guys.

[bmp5484]

My Dad has an '06 Sierra 1500HD that he bought in '09 perfectly mintained with 6k on it and he uses it to pull his tandem axle big tex trailer with kubota and Rhino along with other various items as well as a 28' travel trailer high into the mountains with no problems. Never seen it strain with any of the loads he has put on it. He has a volant cool air intake, Flowmaster duals, and a Blackbear tune which I'm sure helps it out some, exactly how much I couldn't tell you. He drove a few gas 2500's and just didn't like the way they rode so he said. He swears that his 1500hd rides better than any 2500 truck he has ever been in.

[uchi]

im not sure what they compare like in terms of the 3/4 ton but i know the old heavy half ton vans of the 90's were beefed up half tons, i dont believe they were quite 3/4 ton spec but somewhere in the middle. my suggestion would be to find a 3/4 ton and be done with it. or even a 1 ton if hes hauling bigger loads. better to have too much truck than not enough

[ScottyBoy]

the 1500 HD is essentially a regular 2500. I dont remember which year they started it, buy GM actually dropped the light duty 2500 and only had the 2500HD after that. The regular 2500 basically was rebadged as a 1500HD. They are 3/4 ton and have 8 lug wheels.

[tonygxp]

my friend had a regular 2500 (2001) had the 6.0 and 3.73's that truck was awesome. rode great and hauled everything including his 26ft race trailer that was 8,000lbs without the 3,500lbs car inside. Awesome...

[jro909]

1500hd=2500 light duty...its a marketing gimmick, think of it as a 2500 light duty, it would easily haul heavy loads

[Prokopchuk_9]

i own a 06 1500hd, good truck...its a 3/4 ton. they have a 14 bolt semi-floating rear end. ive towed over 12 000 pounds with mine, i have firestone ride rite air bags tho. i have a decent tow/93 octane tune too...does the one you want have the big mirrors like mine?? they are nice trucks...heres mine

[music]

Just a little more FYI... the 1500HD is not the same as the "max tow pkg" that GM has used with the GMT900 trucks, although they have the same rear axle. The 1500HD trucks came with 8 lug wheels, LT tires, 2500 frame, and the 6.0/4L80e combo used in the HD trucks. The GVWR was over 8k lbs (maybe 8400 lbs iirc?). Definitely a stout truck. The main difference I recall with the 2500HD was/is the corporate 14 bolt full-float rear axle.

[Garrett Street]

Thanks for all the help guys. We'll be looking into it more later in the week. I can't wait to test drive it. Thanks again guys.

[tyhuck]

I had an 06 that was badged as a 2500, but the VIN classified it as a 1500HD, according to the insurance agent and my credit union. I used it mainly to run around in and occasionally hauled stuff. The biggest load on the truck was a 24' 5th wheel. I thought it did great for having all that weight on it. The heaviest load it pulled was a 45 hp tractor and 6' brush hog on a 24' lowboy gooseneck trailer. The 5th wheel was more nose heavy, but the tractor weighed more and the majority of the weight was on the trailer axels, not the truck. Both situations did great and I really liked the truck. However, if I hauled on a regular basis, Ide go with the 2500HD over the 1500HD just because of the 4.10 gears. My dad had a 2500HD at the same time I had the 1500HD, and with a similar load, he could walk off and leave me. Plus, the MPG was about equal when unloaded.

[SpeedyV]

I had an 06 that was badged as a 2500, but the VIN classified it as a 1500HD, according to the insurance agent and my credit union. I used it mainly to run around in and occasionally hauled stuff. The biggest load on the truck was a 24' 5th wheel. I thought it did great for having all that weight on it. The heaviest load it pulled was a 45 hp tractor and 6' brush hog on a 24' lowboy gooseneck trailer. The 5th wheel was more nose heavy, but the tractor weighed more and the majority of the weight was on the trailer axels, not the truck. Both situations did great and I really liked the truck. However, if I hauled on a regular basis, Ide go with the 2500HD over the 1500HD just because of the 4.10 gears. My dad had a 2500HD at the same time I had the 1500HD, and with a similar load, he could walk off and leave me. Plus, the MPG was about equal when unloaded.

 

Just noticed this...my '03 1500HD has 4.10 gears, so I wouldn't rule out the 1500HDs over that. Gas mileage might not be the best with 4.10s, but towing is better.

 

My previous truck was a 2500HD with the 8.1L/Allison combo and 4.10s, and it was a beast. Much more than most people would ever need.