2016 Silverado 2500HD w/ Duramax vs. 1500 with 6.2L and Max Trailering

[OutBurst]

I am having a tough time deciding between these two trucks. I plan on ordering a 2016 Silverado 1500 LTZ 6.2L with Max Trailering Package or a 2016 Silverado 2500HD with the 6.6L Duramax Diesel.

 

I will be getting Employee pricing so the costs aren't that far apart (about $5-6k more for the 2500HD). The truck won't arrive until mid to late June so I have some time. I know they are redesigning and updating the 2500HD's for 2017 so I might be able to get better rebates on the truck at that time however now, the rebates are better on the 1500. Who knows - I guess it is a crap-shoot.

 

Does anyone know a website where I can find historical rebates and incentives on Chevy trucks?

 

I won't be doing a tremendous amount of towing but I will be doing enough to justify either engine (7500lb Kubota Tractor, multiple tons of wood pellets, occasional skidsteer rental, Home Depot/Lowe's trips, etc).

 

I like the 6.2L and 8speed automatic because they are the newest technology but the 6.6L and Allison is an awesome powerhouse that will never have an issue with load.

 

Will the diesel regeneration cycles annoy the hell out of me? Will filling it with DEF annoy me as well?

 

Will the gas just suck that much fuel down? The 6.2L requires Premium fuel so the fuel costs per gallon are nearly the same in my area (Connecticut).

 

For a baseline, I currently have a 2013 Avalanche that I ordered in 2013 and since my towing needs have changed (tractor, etc), it just doesn't fit my needs.

[finn5033]

If you can justify having the Duramax than I would get that. A buddy of mine just bought a 1 ton crew cab LTZ with the Duramax and got a heck of a deal on it. I don't know if this matters to you but think of the resale value too. That HD diesel truck is going to hold it's value over the 1500 with 6.2 and it won't even be close.

[Nathan79]

Have you driven them both yet? Nice thing about an HD is you can throw that ton of pellets in the back and not worry at all about going over your payload.....

[OutBurst]

Have you driven them both yet? Nice thing about an HD is you can throw that ton of pellets in the back and not worry at all about going over your payload.....

 

Yes, I have driven both. Each has its charm. Very true about the ton of pellets for payload...!

[TMac99]

OutBurst,

I am new to the diesel world, so not much experience yet, but I do have some opinions on your questions:

 

• Regen doesn't annoy me. The only way I notice it is happening is if I happen to be watching the mpg screen. It typically knocks 5 mpg off whatever you would expect. Just FYI - cruising with no trailer on the highway, I get around 22 mpg at 65 mph, a little more if I am slower and a little less if I go faster.
• I have around 8,000 miles and have only filled the DEF once - so not a big deal. It is easy to find DEF and easy to fill.

Just to put your test drive experience in context (and remember I am brand new to diesels, I knew I wanted the diesel due to towing a 10,000 lb trailer, so I didn't ever really test the gassers). When I first got my diesel, I couldn't really figure out what all the fuss was about - it seemed OK, but certainly not overly powerful, maybe even tending to a little sluggish. It wasn't until the first time that I hooked up my trailer that I understood what torque really did for you. The trailer (at around 8,000 lb since it was empty) didn't really change the way the truck drove at all - just push the pedal a little further, but the performance was the same - up hills, down hills, no matter what it just keeps pulling. If you have already been a diesel guy, you already know this - I only mention it because if , like me, you had never driven a diesel, then the benefits of all that torque are not really apparent during a test drive unless you have a heavy load hooked up.

 

Good luck - I am sure they are both great choices. I love my 2500 HD Duramax - quite, very comfortable, and 700 miles range when not towing (half that when towing) - a great long range cruiser.

[SouthpawHD]

Two completely different trucks.

IMO, the 6.2 is a great motor, but more of a "hot-rod" motor, not a towing beast, but plenty capable. A blast to drive around for sure!

 

The D-max is probably not as much fun around town (they don't seem to like short trips much), certainly not a hot-rod motor, designed more for towing.

 

But I'm sure you know all that. So it really depends on what type of driving you are doing - around town (6.2or more highway use & more towing needs (D-max).

 

As for payload, the 1500 Max Tow is going to be right around 2,000 pounds. The 2500 D-max will be slightly above that, but not much.

[sugarjohnson]

I just traded out of my 1500 6.2L Max Tow for a 3500HD. We upgraded to a 5th wheel so it was a no brainer for me plus got an aggressive trade and deal on the new Duramax. The 1500 had 20,000 virtually all towing miles on it. I towed a 5500# TT from WI to Maine, WI to Yellowstone and WI to Mt. Rushmore area. I had zero issues with that truck and in fact miss it quite a bit. I did do some things to set it up better for towing like shocks, tires, timbrens, larger tranny pan and it was tuned. Downside was mileage while towing, fuel tank size and payload. We travel pretty light but with 2 kids and the dog payload adds up quickly. Plan on stopping for gas frequently and yes Premium is a must as it will knock otherwise. Diesel is still cheaper then Premium here in WI,

 

Like another poster stated the Duramax is somewhat deceptive. You definitely know your driving a 1 ton truck. Stiffer ride, worse turning radius imo but man the pulling between the to is night and day. The 6.2L was great but gassers spins lots of RPM and work hard on grades. The diesel is much better at controlling that. The 3500 has the standard bed which is still larger then the 1500 and the payload on my new truck is near 4000# Fuel Tank is also up from the 1500 to 36 gallon. Couple that with my 46 auxiliary and have 82 gallons of go go juice.

 

I like them both but since mine is almost exclusively a tow vehicle the Duramx was the only way to go.

[Nathan79]

My guess also is the HD truck will not only last longer but hold residual value better compared to the 1/2 ton. The HD'S are built to last forever and the design life of the diesel is insane.

[avalonandl]

Well the 6.2 has power and is a hot rod; 0-60 in 6.7 seconds according to C/D. Thats fast. It also has torque.

[brwk]

Had a 15 1500 and moved to a 16 2500 6.6 and absolutely love it. Traded in due to getting a bigger trailer. The biggest scare some people will tell you is the maintenance cost is more. After researching, it really wasn't a big issue. Only issue I have is watching my wife climb in and out....funny.

[OutBurst]

Had a 15 1500 and moved to a 16 2500 6.6 and absolutely love it. Traded in due to getting a bigger trailer. The biggest scare some people will tell you is the maintenance cost is more. After researching, it really wasn't a big issue. Only issue I have is watching my wife climb in and out....funny.

 

How large of a trailer were you towing then and you are towing now?

[Johnnyee]

Well, I had a 2014 half ton LTZ crew cab with the 6.2 engine and max tow. It definitely was a hot rod and pulled my 6000 pound trailer with little effort. I owned it one year, 20,000 miles. Of that that 20,000 miles, one third was towing my trailer. My towing average was approximately 11 mpg and my overall average was 14.84 miles per gallon. The premium fuel requirement was expensive.

 

I traded the '14 in for a 2015 3/4 ton High Country with Duramax engine. The towing average for this truck (with our new 10,000 lb 5th wheel trailer) is approx 12 mpg with an overall avg of 16 after 29,000 miles. Again, I'm running approx 1/3 towing, 1/3 in town, and 1/3 highway. As a side note, both truck averaged between 21 and 22 empty highway driving. I absolutely love the 3/4 ton Duramax, but good luck in which ever way you go.

[Cowpie]

My guess also is the HD truck will not only last longer but hold residual value better compared to the 1/2 ton. The HD'S are built to last forever and the design life of the diesel is insane.

 

 

That's true of virtually any diesel. Heavy commercial truck, engine life is EXPECTED to go 1 million miles or more. For pickups that see mostly long distance highway use, like commercial RV transporter use, I have seen diesels go well above 500,000 miles with no major repairs to the engine, many much longer. That is what diesels are best for... working for hours on end. When driven and operated like gasoline hot rods, they don't tend to hold up as well. If one has to tow frequently, diesel is it. I don't, as I haul stuff in the bed and rarely ever tow anything and then it is light, so a gasser 2500 was a better option for my use. I needed the 2500 payload over a 1500.

[George C]

I've run diesel trucks for years. I just returned to gasoline.

I'm over the diesel thing. Yes, there is no question that gas isn't in the same torque league, but unless you are towing a large load over very long distances, diesel no longer makes sense.

 

My 6.0l does a great job. Fuel is less, initial cost is less, less weight over the front end, simple vs. extremely complex, easy to fix if there is a problem, instant throttle response, and vs. gas, diesel resale still leaves you slightly short changed from the initial cost.

[Cowpie]

Regarding the issue of longevity, not sure why anyone is considering resale values if they are going for longevity. If someone is turning over vehicles every couple of years, then it does make a difference, and in that case, longevity really means nothing. The arguments for one negate the other. And when one considers that the number of 6.0L gassers that have logged over 300,000 miles without a major repair is a record that any OEM would envy. Irregardless of gasser or diesel, the number of folks who want to separate their money from their wallet on a vehicle with 300,000 miles is pretty slim. The engine is not the only thing that makes a vehicle. While the diesel may easily go over 300,000 miles, the rest of the pickup is likely to be a money pit, depending on how it got to 300,000 miles. For a 6.0L gasser with over 300,000 miles, and the pickup generally taken care of very well, while the engine may not outlast the diesel, a replacement crate motor is pretty reasonable, and still can be the better overall value. Get a diesel if you truly need one and can justify it. I own and have owned so many various diesels in my life that the glamour of diesel has faded, most assuredly since the advent of all the emissions stuff on them. But I do have need of diesel in some things, and still go thru about 21,000 gallons of diesel a year. I just don't need one in my pickup.