1 load gravel 1 Rick firewood and my ride quality has suffered

LaserBlueZ71 · December 31, 2015

Should have just bought a 2500HD.

Is your truck a Duramax, or the 6.0L?

George C · December 31, 2015

Is your truck a Duramax, or the 6.0L?

Just a 6.0l.

LaserBlueZ71 · December 31, 2015

Just a 6.0l.

Is it just as hard on fuel and gutless as people have told me before?

I looked at a Sierra crew cab 3500HD with the 6.0 before I bought my half ton. Didn't get to drive it, but still wondering if I should have bought that instead.

GuyGene · December 31, 2015

Glad you got'er done Gofas! I bought some of those blue thingamajig helper springs from Summit Racing for my '96 Silverado a few years ago. They are the kind of half a leaf looking things. They work good.

1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, that is the question! I've always wanted a 3/4 ton, but not diesel. I tow about 5,000 lb travel trailer often and 1/2 ton is fine for that, but we want a bit bigger trailer now. I've learned over the years of driving a lot that travel is ROUGH on any vehicle! Whew, roads are a mess, weather, traffic, you need a tough vehicle on the road! I'll never want to travel in anything but a truck.

GMLOYAL81 · January 2, 2016

I previously owned a 2005 2500hd Sierra. I now have leased a 2015 1500 Silverado. I way overloaded my 2500 more times than I can remember. And I mean overloaded! So much weight that my front end was "floating" on one short trip (3mi). The truck was indestructible! I haven't worked my 1500 near that hard, yet. But I am disappointed in how it seems to squat so easily. I hauled a 24' tilt trailer that I usually use for equipment. It was empty. It almost flattened my springs. Not to the bump stops but almost flat. I understand fully the tounge weight on the trailer.

I have been thinking about beefing up the suspension with additional springs and upgrading the Rancho shocks that came w the Z71. I know it will jeopardize the ride while empty. But I just don't have the confidence in this new truck to even haul it's rated capacity.

Any thoughts?

George C · January 3, 2016

Is it just as hard on fuel and gutless as people have told me before?

I looked at a Sierra crew cab 3500HD with the 6.0 before I bought my half ton. Didn't get to drive it, but still wondering if I should have bought that instead.

Definitely NOT to be confused with a DMax. Haha.

Seriously, not a bad engine at all. Runs decent, but is hard as hell on gas. Nowhere near as gutless as a 5.3l.

I went with gas because I plow snow with it, and I didn't want the extra weight of a diesel, along with my 1,200 lb plow on the torsion bars.

redwngr · January 4, 2016

I previously owned a 2005 2500hd Sierra. I now have leased a 2015 1500 Silverado. I way overloaded my 2500 more times than I can remember. And I mean overloaded! So much weight that my front end was "floating" on one short trip (3mi). The truck was indestructible! I haven't worked my 1500 near that hard, yet. But I am disappointed in how it seems to squat so easily. I hauled a 24' tilt trailer that I usually use for equipment. It was empty. It almost flattened my springs. Not to the bump stops but almost flat. I understand fully the tounge weight on the trailer.

I have been thinking about beefing up the suspension with additional springs and upgrading the Rancho shocks that came w the Z71. I know it will jeopardize the ride while empty. But I just don't have the confidence in this new truck to even haul it's rated capacity.

Any thoughts?

If you ever see a 1500 frame on the floor beside a 2500 frame. you will not even consider loading a 1500 the way you can load a 2500.

(not to mention brakes etc etc)

Gofas · January 6, 2016

4600 bilsteins

I like the ride better now with all 4 shocks that are working.

Now I feel the jiggle of the tires and not so much every bump in the road.

Gofas · January 6, 2016

If you ever see a 1500 frame on the floor beside a 2500 frame. you will not even consider loading a 1500 the way you can load a 2500.

(not to mention brakes etc etc)

I did not realize such a difference in parts between the two truck models.

My thought now is the 1500 is just for fun and light duty hauling after this experience. GM needs to reduce payload sticker to 1000# at the most would be my guess. A half ton! Lol

I'm Still enjoying my hot rod truck compared to the 4 banger.

It's never too late to learn re-learn lessons in life. Time will tell if 2500 is what I ultimately need.

Now considering expedition leaf pack by atlas as possible upgrade in the future.

George C · January 7, 2016

It may be a shock to some of the 1500 owners and their egos, but the 1500 really isnt what GM is advertising and projecting when it comes to trucks.

More like a nice riding car with a open trunk and great interior room. Maybe the perfect family vehicle.

They have their place for small loads from Home Depot or Sears, and maybe some very light towing.

Yeah, some will disagree..until they pony up for a heavy truck.

If you need a truck to haul or tow, buy a truck, and that's a 2500hd or an F-250/350.

And now with the ride improvemnts to the heavy trucks, there is no way I ever buy a half ton again.

Georgia1911 · January 7, 2016

It may be a shock to some of the 1500 owners and their egos, but the 1500 really isnt what GM is advertising and projecting when it comes to trucks.

More like a nice riding car with a open trunk and great interior room. Maybe the perfect family vehicle.

They have their place for small loads from Home Depot or Sears, and maybe some very light towing.

Yeah, some will disagree..until they pony up for a heavy truck.

If you need a truck to haul or tow, buy a truck, and that's a 2500hd or an F-250/350.

And now with the ride improvemnts to the heavy trucks, there is no way I ever buy a half ton again.

Really? Why not a T800 Kenworth? I have a Class A CDL, have driven my share of 80,000+ pound rigs, and find it more than a little amusing to hear anything less than a class 8 truck referred to as "heavy." My 1500 shows a payload of 1,797 pounds and it neither surprises nor disappoints me that a half ton truck will only carry 9/10 of a ton. It's like complaining that your 5 gallon bucket will only hold 9 gallons. I don't doubt some of us need bigger trucks, either for ego or hauling, but the way some of you talk I can only imagine you use a 4 pound hammer to drive 4d finish nails.

SouthpawHD · January 7, 2016

It may be a shock to some of the 1500 owners and their egos, but the 1500 really isnt what GM is advertising and projecting when it comes to trucks.

More like a nice riding car with a open trunk and great interior room. Maybe the perfect family vehicle.

They have their place for small loads from Home Depot or Sears, and maybe some very light towing.

Yeah, some will disagree..until they pony up for a heavy truck.

If you need a truck to haul or tow, buy a truck, and that's a 2500hd or an F-250/350.

And now with the ride improvemnts to the heavy trucks, there is no way I ever buy a half ton again.

Yep, you're right. Today's modern 1/2 tons can't even bring home groceries

But seriously though, today's 1/2 tons meet or exceed (max tow) the 3/4 tons from just a few years ago. These are very capable trucks, no ego involved.

Really? Why not a T800 Kenworth? I have a Class A CDL, have driven my share of 80,000+ pound rigs, and find it more than a little amusing to hear anything less than a class 8 truck referred to as "heavy." My 1500 shows a payload of 1,797 pounds and it neither surprises nor disappoints me that a half ton truck will only carry 9/10 of a ton. It's like complaining that your 5 gallon bucket will only hold 9 gallons. I don't doubt some of us need bigger trucks, either for ego or hauling, but the way some of you talk I can only imagine you use a 4 pound hammer to drive 4d finish nails.

Right! Can always get bigger and bigger, but it has to stop somewhere.

Hate to say this, but go to the Ecoboost website and see what these guys are towing. Some are a little crazy, but most are well within their limits and report NO suspension problems. I bring this up only because the towing section doesn't have quite the activity.

To the OP, these things can carry what they say, I've loaded mine with ZERO problems. You either miscalculated and over loaded, or the shocks were defective. Either way, haul within the limits and you'll fine.

George C · January 7, 2016

Really? Why not a T800 Kenworth? I have a Class A CDL, have driven my share of 80,000+ pound rigs, and find it more than a little amusing to hear anything less than a class 8 truck referred to as "heavy." My 1500 shows a payload of 1,797 pounds and it neither surprises nor disappoints me that a half ton truck will only carry 9/10 of a ton. It's like complaining that your 5 gallon bucket will only hold 9 gallons. I don't doubt some of us need bigger trucks, either for ego or hauling, but the way some of you talk I can only imagine you use a 4 pound hammer to drive 4d finish nails.

I'm glad you have a big rig to reference. I have a Peterbilt 389 sitting in my driveway that we use as part of our business, so I also acquainted with what's heavy and what's not.

That really has nothing to do with what some of us consider a truck.

Anyone who plows, hauls, or tows would probably be wise to buy a heavier truck. Just ask the OP.

If you haul a few sheets of plywood, then you have the right truck.

George C · January 7, 2016

Yep, you're right. Today's modern 1/2 tons can't even bring home groceries

But seriously though, today's 1/2 tons meet or exceed (max tow) the 3/4 tons from just a few years ago. These are very capable trucks, no ego involved.

I've been driving a mix of halfs and heavies over the last couple of decades. My last work truck was a 2011 Silverado half ton. Nice ride, horrifically underpowered (5.3).

All of my older heavies were more than capable of hauling and towing weight. Sometimes handling excessive weight. Mostly diesels. This is my second 6.0 gasser.

My Silverado was worthless to the point that it will be the last half ton I'll ever own. I was actually not looking forward to driving another heavy work truck, but the new platform offered a ride that rivals my half ton.

SouthpawHD · January 7, 2016

I've been driving a mix of halfs and heavies over the last couple of decades. My last work truck was a 2011 Silverado half ton. Nice ride, horrifically underpowered (5.3).

All of my older heavies were more than capable of hauling and towing weight. Sometimes handling excessive weight. Mostly diesels. This is my second 6.0 gasser.

My Silverado was worthless to the point that it will be the last half ton I'll ever own. I was actually not looking forward to driving another heavy work truck, but the new platform offered a ride that rivals my half ton.

The new 5.3 is quite a bit different than that in the 2011. As a matter of fact, the current 5.3 has only slightly different HP & torque numbers compared to the 6.0.

I tow a 6,000 travel trailer and have no problems with the power from my 5.3.