Help my uncle pick out his '15 GMC

newdude · April 8, 2015

Where did u find this?

Its in the owners manual...

redwngr · April 9, 2015

Where did u find this?

Bottom of page here:

http://www.gmfleetorderguide.com/NASApp/domestic/proddesc.jsp?year=2015&regionID=1&divisionID=2&type=0&vehicleID=16825&section=trailer_specs&page=&butID=8

and here:

http://www.gmfleetorderguide.com/NASApp/domestic/proddesc.jsp?year=2015&regionID=1&divisionID=2&type=0&vehicleID=17048&section=trailer_specs&page=&butID=8

Jon A · April 9, 2015

Yup, and with a real engine in it the 2500 is rated to a 24,500 lb GCWR. When people say its frame, suspension, and brakes are superior to the 1500 when it comes to hauling heavy loads, it's obviously a true statement of fact.

Whether an individual needs that capability for his specific needs is an entirely different question. It is fashionable in some circles these days to say one needs a chassis designed to tow at a GCWR of 24.5K with large margins of safety in order to safely tow at a GCWR of ~12-15K. Some people like overkill and there's certainly nothing wrong with that when it comes to safety, but such notions have clearly left the realm of fact and reside in one of opinion.

So like I said, get an accurate weight on the trailer so he can look at the specs knowing what he needs from them so he can make an informed decision.

darkfox1 · April 10, 2015

My uncle's now saying hes going to look at Dodge.

All GM has to do is paint a 2500hd white diamond and he'll buy it. (It does sound like he needs a 2500.. even if it does have a weaker motor.. which makes no sense to me.)

He's owned GM vehicles since 1982. He probably wont get a Dodge, but hes mentioned it.

jamin87ss · April 10, 2015

Guess dodge has white diamond lol

darkfox1 · April 10, 2015

Nope. I just checked. They don't have anything like white diamond.

He may just be blowing smoke on that one. Like I said he's never owned anything but GM vehicles as long as I've been around. He's an avid GM fan, has restored old GM cars before..

I was kinda hoping I could give him a push back into the market with the 1/2 ton max tow truck, but I dont think its gonna have enough towing from what everyone here is saying. Him and my aunt are both larger folks and they carry a LOT with them. For the past several decades hes carried 2 bed side toolboxes on his truck that are filled to the brim with tools. He's said he may not do that with his '15 (or it may be a '16 at this point) but that'd add probably over 1000 pounds to the "empty weight" of the truck.

He's probably been over loading his trucks for decades. The 94 C1500 he had was sort of a "heavy half." It had 4.10 gears and heavier than normal leaf springs in the rear. It sits very odd now that the weight is off of it. (he still has every truck hes owned since 1994. He gives them to family members to drive.)

galliher_nc · April 10, 2015

If he wants pearl white paint on a 3/4 ton, he'll have to go Ford.

What color is his '08?

darkfox1 · April 11, 2015

its like seafoam. I think its a terrible color, but that's just my opinion. He liked it when he bought it. He's always very particular about the color of his vehicles.

Me personally, I gave up caring about the color of my truck years ago, so long as it's not blue, red, green, or yellow.

Spurshot · April 11, 2015

Justin from BlackBear says that the 2500 6.0 really wakes up with a tune.

jamin87ss · April 11, 2015

Justin from BlackBear says that the 2500 6.0 really wakes up with a tune.

Of course he does lol, even still the 6.2 should be the powerplant, or another new model v8 should be out bye now

darkfox1 · April 12, 2015

As much as I love a Gen 3/4 LSx LQ4/9 motor.. I would agree.

My uncle doesn't do mods though. I'd never convince him of a tune.

I sent him some documentation from the GM website on the 2500 vs 6.2 1500.. the rest is up to him.

JRaschke11 · April 12, 2015

Of course he does lol, even still the 6.2 should be the powerplant, or another new model v8 should be out bye now

Maybe they are just working out the kinks with the 6.2/8-speed on the 1500's so they don't anger the 2500 crowd, which is probably more fleet and business focused and more profitable. Can't leave a fleet truck stranded while they aimlessly swap out transmissions and parts. We might see the 6.2/8-speed in 2016.

I'm just speculating.

darkfox1 · April 24, 2015

My uncle gave me an update this afternoon.

He went to the dealer and test drove a 2500. (Apparently he hasn't even done that up to this point. He was gonna order a truck without testdriving!)

He looked at the info I gave him on the 6.2/8speed trucks, towing capacity, color options, HP/TQ numbers and hes concluded that there's no way my aunt can get into a 3/4 ton because it's too tall. (Right now she actually has a little wooden stool on a rope that she drops down and pulls up once she's in the seat.. its a sight to see in action.)

So he was asking about helper springs for the 1/2 ton. I told him he PROBABLY will want those. Maybe airbag helpers? I figure they're ~$1000.

He said he may do that. He's not planning to travel as much as he used to.

They told him a 6.2/3.42 truck has a 12k pound capacity. He's trying to locate/build a truck now but they're giving him the run around saying he has to pay STICKER if he orders one. They found a 6.2 denali but its blue with a sunroof.. and he's tall so he doesn't want the head room issues of a sun roof (and I'm not gonna change his mind on that one..) he also wants the white diamond still.. they told him 2 weeks left to custom order 15s and then you have to wait on a 16.