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2500 Duramax or 1500 5.3

Mark140

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Mark140 Enthusiast

Mark140

Posted
Posted

We bought a 2014 Silverado 5.3 last year to pull a 5,200lb travel trailer that we bought then as well. The truck has just under 10,000 miles on it and we're thinking that it might be a bit under powered for our future needs. We really like this trailering thing and might want to upgrade the coach in the future. We plan on hanging up our work clothes in 3 years and trailer full time.

 

The research I've done on diesel vs gas is all over the map. I've been reading all of y'alls posts for a year now and value your opinion.

 

Would a diesel motor get better towing mileage than gas?

 

If the diesel is a daily driver for three years at about 4 miles a day round trip will it harm the engine?

 

Why could I buy one 2500 diesel for the price of two generously equipped 1500?

 

Cheers,

 

Mark

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redwngr Senior Enthusiast

redwngr

Posted
Posted

A duramax wouldn't even now that your 5200 lb trailer was on the back.

 

How happy are you towing with your current rig?

 

Do you have a max tow truck? (tow mirrors and higher ratio differential)

 

I think you will find that similarly equipped, they are not 2 for the price of 1.

 

 

If I was looking for a duramax to tow with in 3 years when retired, I'd drive the 1/2 ton til then - and perhaps order the dmax so that deliver matches up with when it is needed. Warranty is both time and mileage - might as well have fresh warranty when you start to put on higher mileage.

The dmax community is expecting significant refresh/upgrades by then anyway. The current chassis and drivetrain on 2500/3500 is unchanged essentially uncahnged since 2011.

SouthpawHD Enthusiast

SouthpawHD

Posted
Posted

Split the difference and get a gas 2500HD.

Yep, that is solid option and far less expensive than a Duramax.

 

 

6.2 max tow?

IMO, this is the best of both worlds. If I could've found one with seating for 6 in the max tow, I'd have been all over it.

 

 

If he wants a big 5th wheel it is going to take a HD to do it.

Sure, but as of now, the OP has not stated that.

 

OP, I have a 5.3 Max Tow for a trailer bigger than yours, and power is not a problem. Payload can be, hence the reason I went from a standard 1500 to the max tow.

jamin87ss Senior Enthusiast

jamin87ss

Posted
Posted

I pull 10k without va issue, however it is a boat, much different then a camper, given ur current setup I'd drive it, however if a much bigger camper is in ur future I'd upgrade, yes with a diesel your fuel mileage will not fall off like a Gasser, but the added initial cost of a diesel, fuel, and maintenance will buy a whole lotta gas, I work with diesels and the current emmisons is out of control, they are nothing but problems, every make! DEF is the common denominator, there is no reliability, guys with success have gone DEF delete, also voids the warranty, speaking of which, if u want one u better go get one with the 100k warranty

Sierra Jon Enthusiast

Sierra Jon

Posted
Posted

The gas 2500HD DRINKS gasoline. I had an '09 and I used to get 9 mpg towing my camper (TT/8000 lbs).

 

With my 2014 5.3 (no max tow) I get just under 11 mpg. That being said I can feel the difference in weight and braking, meaning my HD handled it a little (very little) better. I don't have any complaints with power though and my tranny searches less and runs 15 to 20 degrees cooler than it did in the '09 HD.

 

If I were you I'd do what redwngr said and upgrade to the dmax in a few years. Diesel fuel is a pain to find sometimes and as mentioned has the added maintenance.

 

Best of luck!

 

 

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

f8l vnm Senior Enthusiast

f8l vnm

Posted
Posted

The 2500 6.0 is a dog :) desperate need of more power. Yes I know it's a strong motor

gmckenzie Enthusiast

gmckenzie

Posted
Posted

I'd wait until you get the bigger trailer. I went from an 01 Duramax 2500HD that was starting to have issues (plus looked like it needed injectors a second time) to a 15 max tow. Pulling a 34', 8200 lb (loaded) trailer. The 5.3 handles it fine, slower than the DMax but I have about a 3.5 km commute and ended up parking the diesel and driving a POS through the winter. Decide on a truck and trailer at the same time. At that point you may find you want a big 5th wheel and dually. Or you may not.

smrr1 Senior Enthusiast

smrr1

Posted
Posted

If he wants a big 5th wheel it is going to take a HD to do it.

I must have missed that part.
George C Enthusiast

George C

Posted
Posted

I own both diesel and gas. Two gas trucks, one diesel.

There is no comparison between them when it comes to torque.

Personally, I won't own another 5.3L under any circumstances. It's underpowered IMHO, even for light towing. Some may disagree, but my standards are set with diesel, and the torque made with the 5.3l is a joke.

The 6.0l gasser in my new 2500HD isn't much better.

 

Go with the Dmax. Resale will always be strong.

SouthpawHD Enthusiast

SouthpawHD

Posted
Posted

The gas 2500HD DRINKS gasoline. I had an '09 and I used to get 9 mpg towing my camper (TT/8000 lbs).

 

With my 2014 5.3 (no max tow) I get just under 11 mpg. That being said I can feel the difference in weight and braking, meaning my HD handled it a little (very little) better. I don't have any complaints with power though and my tranny searches less and runs 15 to 20 degrees cooler than it did in the '09 HD.

 

If I were you I'd do what redwngr said and upgrade to the dmax in a few years. Diesel fuel is a pain to find sometimes and as mentioned has the added maintenance.

 

Best of luck!

 

 

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

Wow, some honest feedback - almost every other HD driver will state "can't even tell its back there...". So its refreshing to see someone state that while there is a difference, it's small.

 

I went from a 1500 to the 1500 max tow and can tell you that the max tow definitely pulls better with those 3.73 gears. So I suspect that if you had a max tow, you might even notice the HD vs max tow would be even closer in comparison.

Sierra Jon Enthusiast

Sierra Jon

Posted
Posted

 

Wow, some honest feedback - almost every other HD driver will state "can't even tell its back there...". So its refreshing to see someone state that while there is a difference, it's small.

 

I went from a 1500 to the 1500 max tow and can tell you that the max tow definitely pulls better with those 3.73 gears. So I suspect that if you had a max tow, you might even notice the HD vs max tow would be even closer in comparison.

Yea i think there would be a much wider difference comparing the 09 1500 to the 09 2500. Also, that is before the HD went to the fully boxed frame so there are multiple factors.

 

I only didn't buy another HD because I wanted the improved mpg of the 1500 and they increased the tow rating and the 1500 had the brake controller (must) and the 6L80E tranny now....

 

My main concern now is in braking so that's what I plan to upgrade first. It's funny cause on paper there isn't much of a weight difference between the 14 1500 and the 09 2500 but I can tell you from experience that you can feel it.

 

That being said... If I hadn't owned an HD in the past I would probably think everything is perfect.

 

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

SouthpawHD Enthusiast

SouthpawHD

Posted
Posted

Yea i think there would be a much wider difference comparing the 09 1500 to the 09 2500. Also, that is before the HD went to the fully boxed frame so there are multiple factors.

I only didn't buy another HD because I wanted the improved mpg of the 1500 and they increased the tow rating and the 1500 had the brake controller (must) and the 6L80E tranny now....

My main concern now is in braking so that's what I plan to upgrade first. It's funny cause on paper there isn't much of a weight difference between the 14 1500 and the 09 2500 but I can tell you from experience that you can feel it.

That being said... If I hadn't owned an HD in the past I would probably think everything is perfect.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

What kind of upgrades to your brakes are you making?

 

My brakes work pretty decent on the truck and the TT. If I set them too high, they do lock up to easily though. But I can say the GM integrated brake controller is much nicer than an aftermarket inertia controller.

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