Help Me Order My New Gm Hd

[rotti]

These things have gotten expensive, don't let me make a mistake!

I'm interested in a HD, CC, SB, 4x4 with high end trim.

 

First of all I'm going to be light: Four Wheel pop up slide in camper (700 lbs dry) and occasional utility trailer use with a Harley or two (maybe 4,000 lbs max). So no diesel or DRW.

 

2500or 3500?

I know I don't need a 1 ton but its only about $700 more, any down side? From the spec sheet the one disadvantage I see is that the 2500 makes 38 HP MORE than the 3500??? Torque is the same.

 

I kinda prefer the mug of the GMC over the Chevy, so Denali or SLT?

The Denali seems to be mainly fluff but I could be missing something? But it sure is pretty and is only about $500 more.

 

Dual battery option?

On the gas engine, is the second battery a starting battery or a camper battery? I don't need two starting batteries.

 

Rear view camera?

Looks like it is on the tailgate and my tailgate is coming off. Has anyone dealt with this?

 

Other options would probably include the 160 amp alt, off road package, camper mirrors and sliding rear window.

 

Any help the GM experts here could offer would be appreciated.

 

As a side note I found out if you have a AmExp card you can get GM supplier pricing which is under invoice.

http://amexnetwork.zag.com/new-car.html

[becker87]

Get a 3/4 ton truck, from what you have said you don't need a 1 ton at all. A 1/2 ton would probably do the job as well.

[GMC Denali HD]

I would not consider a 1/2 ton with a slide in camper especially if you are towing. There is simply not enough carrying capacity. The 3/4 ton would be my choice. I have the Denali HD so of course I am a bit bias, but for me the look was better and it comes standard with some creature comforts that as you pointed out is only a few bucks more.

 

And by sticking with a gasser, you should be able to negotiate a great deal as fuel prices are raising. I love the diesel, but if you don't need it save the money.

[becker87]

I would not consider a 1/2 ton with a slide in camper especially if you are towing. There is simply not enough carrying capacity. The 3/4 ton would be my choice. I have the Denali HD so of course I am a bit bias, but for me the look was better and it comes standard with some creature comforts that as you pointed out is only a few bucks more.

 

And by sticking with a gasser, you should be able to negotiate a great deal as fuel prices are raising. I love the diesel, but if you don't need it save the money.

 

700 lbs in the bed is less then half of the payload of certain half tons and the few times he will be carrying a trailer, 4000 lbs is nothing. I agree with you if he has the camper in the bed the majority of the time and is traveling a lot with it then yes go 3/4 ton, but if is is only a few times a year save yourself the money and gas for the times it's not loaded down and get yourself a 1/2 ton. Although if you need a crew cab then you have no choice then to get a HD because of the bed length in the 1/2 ton.

[GMC Denali HD]

I would not consider a 1/2 ton with a slide in camper especially if you are towing. There is simply not enough carrying capacity. The 3/4 ton would be my choice. I have the Denali HD so of course I am a bit bias, but for me the look was better and it comes standard with some creature comforts that as you pointed out is only a few bucks more.

 

And by sticking with a gasser, you should be able to negotiate a great deal as fuel prices are raising. I love the diesel, but if you don't need it save the money.

 

700 lbs in the bed is less then half of the payload of certain half tons and the few times he will be carrying a trailer, 4000 lbs is nothing. I agree with you if he has the camper in the bed the majority of the time and is traveling a lot with it then yes go 3/4 ton, but if is is only a few times a year save yourself the money and gas for the times it's not loaded down and get yourself a 1/2 ton. Although if you need a crew cab then you have no choice then to get a HD because of the bed length in the 1/2 ton.

 

 

I wish you were right about a 1/2 ton, I looked for a year, wanting to take advantage of the 1/2 ton pricing and great drivability, but after looking at the labels on the door jambs that list the true carrying capacity, most of the trucks I was interested in with any options were all around 1200 to 1400 lbs. The OP said his slide in was 700 lbs dry ( add a few hundred lbs of stuff inside) , then add the tongue weight of the 4000 lb traiier, say 15% which is 600 lbs, add a passenger, 150 lbs and you end up carrying 1750 lbs, over most 1/2 tons true carrying capacity, or way to close for comfort. Lesson, don't trust the GM carrying capacity charts, use the sticker on the truck for an accurate and legal rating for carrying capacity.

[cliobogger]

2500 or go home if you want to do ANY carrying at all. you can never go wrong with TOO much truck. however, you can go very wrong with getting too little. id say a 2500 HD would suit your needs very well.

[Popeye77]

2500 or go home if you want to do ANY carrying at all. you can never go wrong with TOO much truck. however, you can go very wrong with getting too little. id say a 2500 HD would suit your needs very well.

 

 

What he said

[wanna_try_gmc]

I'm with the group.....I had a 1500 for about 6 months and missed a true truck ride. Not to mention the abilities fo the 2500 that I use seldom but it's nice to have when I need it.....as far as some of the packages and options, go with the trailer mirrors, you never regret it. The off road package is more flash than not, but if you want to combine some things into one VERY useful package, get the snow plow prep. Even if you never plow you get higher rated torsion bars, the skid plates that come in the Z-71 pkg and the heavier alternator. A lot of bang for the buck on the options list......

[RyanbabZ71]

Also 2500 CC short bed is 6ft 6 and 1500 CC short bed is 5ft 8

[chrisb1]

The 2011 3500HD SRW is significantly more load carrying capacity than the same year in a 3/4 ton.

3/4 ton might GVW art 10K and the one ton with diesel is 11.6K.

 

I currently have a 08 GMC 2500HD extended, standard box. I just traded for a Silverrado 3500HD

LTZ with diesel and 11.6K GVW. The 3500 in 2011 rides much smoother and more quiet than my

08 2500HD.

[rotti]

Thanks all for your replies and suggestions.

 

I agree it is better to have too much truck rather than too little, my only choice was between the 1 ton or 3/4 ton. Still don't understand why the gas 3500 makes less HP than the 2500??

 

Good point on the snow plow option, I'll have to check that out.

 

Probably going to go with the Denali, but still wondering about the rear camera option as it is in tailgate and mine is coming off due to the camper. I guess I'll forget that option and save the $$.

 

Just sold my previous 1983 K20 so I'm suffering from pickup withdrawal.

 

[becker87]

I think it is only the one ton chassis cabs that have less HP, don't quote me on that though.

[Rat4go]

I think it is only the one ton chassis cabs that have less HP, don't quote me on that though.

 

 

I think you're right...just chassis cabs rated lower. However, I think it's because of how the EPA makes the oem's do the testing. A buddy tells me that 'incomplete' trucks do their emissions certification with just the engine on a dyno where the 'complete' vehicles uses a full vehicle on a chassis dyno. There's something about that difference that drives the HP 'rating' to be different. I can remember back in the mid 90's when you could get a Caprice (RWD) with a LT1 at it was rated at like 260hp for most packages, but the towing package was rated at 20hp less (don't quote me on the #'s). From what I was told, the engine and tune were the same....the difference was that the towing package had an engine driven fan and the 'non towing' had electrics. The engine driven fan had to be part of the HP test for the towing package and it had to be engaged. That meant 20 less HP on the towing package as that 20 was going to move air. Crazy.

[Prokopchuk_9]

I would not consider a 1/2 ton with a slide in camper especially if you are towing. There is simply not enough carrying capacity. The 3/4 ton would be my choice. I have the Denali HD so of course I am a bit bias, but for me the look was better and it comes standard with some creature comforts that as you pointed out is only a few bucks more.

 

And by sticking with a gasser, you should be able to negotiate a great deal as fuel prices are raising. I love the diesel, but if you don't need it save the money.

 

700 lbs in the bed is less then half of the payload of certain half tons and the few times he will be carrying a trailer, 4000 lbs is nothing. I agree with you if he has the camper in the bed the majority of the time and is traveling a lot with it then yes go 3/4 ton, but if is is only a few times a year save yourself the money and gas for the times it's not loaded down and get yourself a 1/2 ton. Although if you need a crew cab then you have no choice then to get a HD because of the bed length in the 1/2 ton.

 

 

if it was just that weight and thats it than ya it would do it. but loaded up and ready to go a 1/2 ton would suffer. even with that weight alone a 1/2 would suck to use. 4000 pound weight of the camper, then whatever is in it. thats dry weight you can be sure to add at least another 1500 lbs...especially with full grey water...

[crazydog]

Thanks all for your replies and suggestions.

 

I agree it is better to have too much truck rather than too little, my only choice was between the 1 ton or 3/4 ton. Still don't understand why the gas 3500 makes less HP than the 2500??

 

Good point on the snow plow option, I'll have to check that out.

 

Probably going to go with the Denali, but still wondering about the rear camera option as it is in tailgate and mine is coming off due to the camper. I guess I'll forget that option and save the $.

 

Just sold my previous 1983 K20 so I'm suffering from pickup withdrawal.

 

 

Don't worry about that camera. It is,indeed in the tailgate. It's pretty useless. I got it with my 2500 because it was there---didn't choose it. I wouldn't have paid extra for a camera that is really pretty useless. I would have preferred one IN the bed to help me backing up to my gooseneck horse trailer, lol. And then there's the annoying dinging from the computer to tell you the camera is blocked which is happening daily for me right now because it's covered in snow and road salt, hahaha! Yes, I need a wash, but my passenger side mirror is hanging on by duct tape right now--'nother story--and I don't want it to fall off in a car wash. Besides, there's another snow storm today, anyway!