Besides price, what are the reasons to buy a 1500 instead of 2500?

[ChevyZ71LTZ]

This is probably a stupid question but if there is significant weight in the bed of a 2500 how well do they ride compared to unloaded?

[PMattras]

For me the 1500 is all I need to do light towing etc. No need to pay the extra cost for the truck and additional cost to register etc. It is a nice truck if you have a need for it.

[kstruckcountry]

Just like a 1500 the ride mellows out with a bunch in the bed.

[mrsullivan]

I didn't intend my post above to appear confrontational, so I hope it wasn't taken that way. What I'm clumsily trying to ask is if you have some needs now (or expected later) that a 2500 would meet better than a 1500.

 

No offense taken. I probably don't need a 2500. Per my post, we currently own quads and a small bass boat. We haul around dead deer a few times during season and that is about it :-). However there has been family talk of buying a camper rv and /or potentially horses. Just got me thinking about the future and whether or not we might outgrow the 1500. Then that got me thinking - why not just get the 2500.

 

I think this thread has reinforced that I would suffer too much street ride quality and that the 1500 6.2 will probably be sufficient. I have already test drove that truck, I will drive a 2500 just to see, but still leaning toward the 1500.

[mrsullivan]

We're all forgetting the really reason 50% of the people buy 2500 DMAX. I'm not talking about the farmers/workers/long haul pulling or the people that use their trucks like trucks. But to the young guys with white sunglasses, rockstar gear and always seam to drive around pulling a boat or hauling something on a sled-deck. With a 6 inch exhaust that actually hurts their performace. Thier reason, to try and prove that their balls and bigger.

I am definitely not "that guy" :-). Too old to be, even if I tried....

 

But to be honest that argument sort of falls apart with the fact that the trucks are very close in price. And if you are willing to trade off a few of the luxury options you could easily be in a 2500 for the same money as a 1500, so not sure why the 2500 is seen as the "baller" truck.

[anthony2558]

My 2500 was a stiff ride till you put 4 adults in it with some weight in the back. No where near as smooth as a 1500.

 

Sent from my Nexus 5

 

 

[Savagecanuck1]

Smaller,sportier feel around town.Easier too park.No need to add DEF.Not getting ripped off as bad at the fuel pumps. Personally loved my 2011 Duramax,ride was just as good as my 14,real quiet inside.Duramax has no equal on the hwy or towing,most powerful vehicle I ever owned. Would pass just about anything up a hill.Just didn't need it but crossed it off my bucket list.

[colton_m]

Here's something else to consider, assuming you are dead set on a gasoline engine the '15 2500 trucks will not have the new EcoTec 6.2, they will have the older Vortec 6.0L I'm sure this will change in later years but I have the new EcoTec 6.2L and it's badass. I'm averaging 16mpg while driving all city and like an idiot. The Vortec 6.0L will be worse and with less power.

 

In my mind the only reason to go 2500 is to get the diesel engine. Or if you need an 8 foot box with a crew cab...

[Knepp1bj]

I went from a 2012 1500 to a 2012 2500 gasser. I am pulling a camper 6500 lbs dry...My thought was get more than I need, however, didn't really seem to pull that much better.

 

I will be going back to a 1500 next year when the 15's come out because in Michigan we can only camp a few months, I spend more time not pulling then pulling, so 16-17 mpg driving empty is a lot nicer than the 12 I am getting with my 2500.

 

on both my 1500 and my 2500 I get 8-9 mpg pulling the trailer anyways.

 

one thing I will do next time is upgrade the 1500 tires to a heavy duty tire versus the passenger rated tires, my buddy did that and it made a pretty big difference.

 

get the 1500.

[redwngr]

Here's something else to consider, assuming you are dead set on a gasoline engine the '15 2500 trucks will not have the new EcoTec 6.2, they will have the older Vortec 6.0L I'm sure this will change in later years but I have the new EcoTec 6.2L and it's badass. I'm averaging 16mpg while driving all city and like an idiot. The Vortec 6.0L will be worse and with less power.

 

In my mind the only reason to go 2500 is to get the diesel engine. Or if you need an 8 foot box with a crew cab...

Or an 8' box with a double cab.

[simon.hed]

I pull hay trailers (13k++) once a year and its then that I really wish I had a 3/4 ton. Many of my buddies have F250s and they say there is nothing like em for pulling heavy loads.

 

After I bought this one I pulled some of those heavy trailers and it did ok. I have wondered if I would have been happy with a 2500 had I gone with one of those when I got this one.

 

When it is time to trade I will look long and hard at a 3/4 ton diesel just because. That prob will be several years from now.

[T_Wilcox]

I have owned several HD diesels and just got back into the 1500. I had a 1500 about 5 years ago and I really missed it for its simplicity, comfort, and reliability. If you are towing a lot, like others have said, get the 2500 even if it is overkill for what you are towing. Eventually you will need to tow something that is beyond the capacity of your truck and that is one of the most annoying things in the world. There is nothing worse to me than towing something that is way too heavy for your truck. It's not safe, its stressful, just not fun.

 

With that said, I took a realistic look at what I tow. A ski boat, a 5k lb camper (fully loaded), and a 4k lb tractor. All of these are well within the capacities of the 1500. And I don't tow those often. Better on gas than the 2500's and better fuel economy than I was getting with my big diesel trucks. I don't fear driving into the city, I don't have to watch for gas stations that sell diesel, I don't have to replace expensive injectors, or have crazy expensive oil changes, dpf filters, or DEF refills.

 

HD trucks are awesome if you use them for their intended purpose. If you don't they are the largest headache to live with day to day. I enjoyed them but I don't miss them one bit. I guess its all about priorities. Drive both, consider what you tow and how often, and make the choice if the extra cash is worth it.

 

P.S. don't believe the hype about diesel resale. Yes they are worth more when you go to resale them but often only 5-6k more than a comparable 1500. I think the Diesel cost 8-10k extra now?? You lose an extra 3-4k on the deal.

[kstruckcountry]

I drive HD trucks every day I'm at work. The ride isn't that bad honestly. And if you're using it as a truck the diesel is great. Even a gas HD is so much more capable than a half ton. And the resale on a diesel is great. I wanted a 3/4 ton diesel, couldn't get one because the only non-work trucks were $25k+. And this is for a 6 year old truck!!! Resale on a Duramax can't be beat.

 

So much is personal preference. I feel at home in an HD, many people don't.

[redwngr]

More expensive oil changes? No. Cost difference makes an insignificant difference in cost per mile.

 

Duramax holds 10 quarts.

 

'14 5.3L holds 8.5 quarts.

 

With the change in gas/diesel pricing over the last few years, your fuel cost per mile will definitely be higher with the Dmax, when running around empty.

 

Obviously, the towing capability is much higher on the 2500/3500 series trucks. Besides pulling, you need to consider stopping. The HD's have larger brakes. There was a very significant increase in the brake size starting with the 2011 model year.

 

The exhaust brake is another bonus if you are pulling in hilly country.

 

All that said, the reason I'm visiting this forum is that my pulling requirements have changed and after 8 or 10 years of 2500 series Duramax/Allison trucks I'm giving serious consideration to trading to a 1500.

[Jon A]

What are the brake rotor sizes of the 2015 HD's?