question about pulling a trailer

TXShay85 · April 13, 2003

i will have to be pulling a 2,000 pound trailer around everyday will it be necessary for me to get a diesel, or will i be fine with a regular V8 1500 silverado?

tps0424 · April 13, 2003

I would think that 2000 lbs is well within the capacity of a 1500 with a V8. You might want to go with the 5.3 for performance reasons but, even the smaller V8 should be fine.

carguru · April 13, 2003

1500 should do just fine. With a 2000 lb trailer, it won't even be breaking a sweat. Plus with the price of diesel fuel and the added expenses of the operating the diesel, you would be much better off with a gasser.

BlackSilver · April 13, 2003

Even the base 4.3L V6 is rated to pull more than 2,000# (although I wouldn't really want to!)

But any of the V8's will do fine. I've pulled nearly 7,000# for short distances with my 5.3L. (although I wouldn't want to do that very much either.)

Certainly you don't need a diesel for that load.

BlackSilver · April 13, 2003

.....the added expenses of the operating the diesel.....

The "added expenses of operating a diesel" are pretty much a myth.

carguru · April 13, 2003

Well, the price of the fuel is already an added expense. Running a fuel conditioner in cold temps sort of adds to that. Of course price of admission is much more than the gas counterpart.

BlackSilver · April 13, 2003

Well, the price of the fuel is already an added expense.

Balderdash!!!! My fuel costs dropped by almost 35% when I quit towing with gas and switched to diesel. Granted, the cost per gallon averages about 8% more, but the increase in MPG actually lowers the operating costs.

I don't pretend that diesel is right for everyone (in fact, I advised TXShay85 against the idea). The increased entry cost is certainly an issue.

But if you're going to routinely use a truck for heavy hauling or pulling, then the operating costs of a diesel are lower than gas, and your statement is a myth.

By the way, I live in Minnesota, and I don't even know where I could buy fuel conditioner. Most suppliers here in the northland blend their fuel during cold weather months, or provide side-by-side #2 and #1 pumps and let you make your own custom blend based on expected temperatures.

canadianchevy33 · April 13, 2003

In canada during winter they have winter diesel so thats not a problem and as for maintenance costs almost none really and diesels are more dependable long term. A diesel isnt for everyone but they really shine when they pull thats where the fuel economy of a gas motor really declines.

carguru · April 13, 2003

I'm not going to argue the fact that if you are going to tow heavy loads for long distances, the diesel is better. But I stand behind the fact that the diesel is going to cost you more unless you put more than a 130k miles a year.

If you can assume that the gas and diesel trucks cost the same except for the engine. The Dmax engine is a $5010 premium. Assuming regular unleaded is $1.50 a gallon and that you tow a 2000lb load 20k miles per year and you get 10 mpg with the gas. For the gasser, at 10 mpg you get a range of 270 miles. Annualized fuel cost is roughly $3000. Using your figure of 35% less yields $2222.22 for the diesel. This is a difference of $777.78 per year. Just with that, it would take 6.4 years to just recoup the engine cost. This doesn't even take into account the cost difference of the 1500 vs 2500HD. I went through the same calculations a few years ago to try to justify getting a diesel. It would take a while before I would start seeing any savings. Or maybe I missed something.

BlackSilver · April 13, 2003

I'm not going to argue the fact that if you are going to tow heavy loads for long distances, the diesel is better. But I stand behind the fact that the diesel is going to cost you more unless you put more than a 130k miles a year.

If you can assume that the gas and diesel trucks cost the same except for the engine. The Dmax engine is a $5010 premium. Assuming regular unleaded is $1.50 a gallon and that you tow a 2000lb load 20k miles per year and you get 10 mpg with the gas. For the gasser, at 10 mpg you get a range of 270 miles. Annualized fuel cost is roughly $3000. Using your figure of 35% less yields $2222.22 for the diesel. This is a difference of $777.78 per year. Just with that, it would take 6.4 years to just recoup the engine cost. This doesn't even take into account the cost difference of the 1500 vs 2500HD. I went through the same calculations a few years ago to try to justify getting a diesel. It would take a while before I would start seeing any savings. Or maybe I missed something.

Yes, I think you're missing something.

First, you're comparing apples and oranges when you bring up the difference in price between a 1500 and a 2500HD. The discussion is simply between gas and diesel.

Second, the discussion started out about operating costs. You've introduced the additional concept of ownership cost ($5010 cost premuim).

Be that as it may, the diesel is still more economical over a reasonable term of ownership.

Let's compare two identical trucks, differing only in gas vs. diesel. Both are 2500HD, one with Duramax diesel and the other with Vortec 8.1L. The purchase cost difference (presuming we both pay full sticker) is $4,160. We both drive the trucks for 4 years and them sell them.

My fuel savings over the 4 years, using your example would be 4 x $777.78, or $3,111.12. So from an operating cost standpoint, I am the clear winner.

Now we go to sell the trucks. Comparing NADA prices for 4-year old vehicles, the diesel will bring a sale price premium averaging about $3,000, which means that my net ownership cost is $1,160 more than yours.

In other words, the combined ownership and operating costs over a period of 4 years favor the Duramax by $1951.12.

And, oh by the way, after 4 years/80,000miles your factory warranty is a distant memory, but the new owner of my Duramax engine still has 20,000 miles remaining under warranty.

Sunuvagun!

General Lee 01 · April 13, 2003

You shouldn't have a problem with the 1500 pulling 2000 lbs.

My Grandfather Tows cars frequently with his Ram-Charger (I know, I know. I'm comparing a Shotgun to a Rifle, but still)

HillHound · April 13, 2003

i will have to be pulling a 2,000 pound trailer around everyday will it be necessary for me to get a diesel, or will i be fine with a regular V8 1500 silverado?

No problem with that trailer. If you have either V8 (5.3/4.8) you can tow up to 5000lbs without any problems and a little more if you're careful and know what you're doing.

BTW-GM recommends trailer brakes for anything over 2000lbs. I pulled twice that without brakes several times when I had my Silverado 1500 5.3L but you will definitely need some extra stopping distance.