Thinking about dumping the half ton.

[buckwuk]

Truck right now is 15 gmc Sierra Denali 6.2. The wife and I(mostly me) thinking about a camper in the future. If I stick with what I got that limits me a lot. So thinking about a 1 ton diesel. Not brand loyal at all so will look at dodge and Ford when the time comes. My dad will most likely tell me to get a gasser, he believes diesels are to expensive outside of warranty. Anyways hope to be pulling some heavy loads soon!

[SouthpawHD]

All depends on what size camper. I pulled a 27' just fine with my half ton. Only reason I needed a 3/4 ton was because of large family and not enough payload. But if your family is smaller, then a half ton could very well be just fine.

 

Now if you want a 40' fifth-wheel, then I'd go 1 ton diesel.

 

For me, I pull a 33' trailer, around 8,000 pounds loaded, with a 3/4 ton gasser and it works great for my needs.

[DBTravelers]

I pulled a 35' travel trailer with my 2013 GMC 1500 5.3, but I had K&N cold air and a set of very good duals to boost the power some. Took the 8000# trailer on a 6000 mile, 11 state, trip from Texas up to Oregon, across to Yellowstone, down through Colorado and back home without any issue. Topped 8300' tall mountains without breathing hard at 50 MPH; could have done 60 if I wanted to buy the fuel. We are upgrading to a 5th wheel early next year so we bought a new 2015 GMC Duramax 3500HD CC, long box, dually for the task. With the 1 ton, dually we can pretty much pick any 5th wheel we want (read: afford)and pull it without problems or much strain.

[buckwuk]

I think another part of me is just like..."I want a 1 ton diesel just to have it?". Plus thinking 35" plus for a fifth wheel. I would use the truck pretty much only for pulling or payload as I have a beater car I drive for work.

[newdude]

If you are thinking big trailer, I'd wait to see what the big three have to offer for 2017 and then decide. GM has a new engine on the way, Ford will probably have a power bump, and Ram, idk.

[buckwuk]

If you are thinking big trailer, I'd wait to see what the big three have to offer for 2017 and then decide. GM has a new engine on the way, Ford will probably have a power bump, and Ram, idk.

It would be a few years or so I think probably an 18 or 19 model year. I usually end up reading into my vehicle purchases way before they happen.

[Jparker2012]

If you're going to drive your truck around town often or as a dd I'd recommend a 3500 srw. I traded my 15 Silverado halfton with the max tow package for my 15.5 3500 duramax and love it. I should have bought it in the first place and saved myself the headache.

 

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[George C]

I went from diesel to gas because I don't tow anymore. I live near Buffalo, and I plow snow. Makes much more sense to run a gasser, and it suits me perfectly.

If I had to tow anything over the weight of a lawnmower, I would go right back to diesel.

[buckwuk]

If you're going to drive your truck around town often or as a dd I'd recommend a 3500 srw. I traded my 15 Silverado halfton with the max tow package for my 15.5 3500 duramax and love it. I should have bought it in the first place and saved myself the headache.

 

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That's how I feel. Kicking myself since my exact truck in a 1ton diesel is only around 8-9 grand more. Feel a bit disappointed in myself.

[Jparker2012]

That's how I feel. Kicking myself since my exact truck in a 1ton diesel is only around 8-9 grand more. Feel a bit disappointed in myself.

Yup, I got out of mine quick enough that I didn't take a huge hit on it. Went back to the same dealership and told them I wasn't happy with the truck so they cut me a great deal on the duramax I wanted. Only thing I lost money on was all of the modifications I put on my halfton trying to convince myself I'd be happy with it. :/

 

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[dmax_highcountry]

Agree- made the switch myself. 30' camper pulls like a dream now.

[2018GMC]

I went from diesel to gas because I don't tow anymore. I live near Buffalo, and I plow snow. Makes much more sense to run a gasser, and it suits me perfectly.

If I had to tow anything over the weight of a lawnmower, I would go right back to diesel.

Lol. Nice lawnmower analogy.

[George C]

Lol. Nice lawnmower analogy.

Haha, I'm here to tell you that the 6.0L is a major league dog..and a pig on fuel. Anyone who denies that is smokin' crack.

If towing is a part of your weekly use, stay far, far away from gasoline.

Aside from that, it's not a bad engine for a DD. Simple, light weight and better heat in the winter, and I like the lighter engine weight when carrying an 1,100 lb. snow plow.

 

Also, a 1500 and a Honda Ridgeline make a better comparison.

The 1500 is a car with a washable trunk.

If you want a truck with an actual suspension, it's a 2500HD.

[Cowpie]

Funny how many of the commercial ag operations in my area didn't get the memo that the 6.0L / 4.10 wouldn't tow very well. I regularly see them towing twin anhydrous ammonia tank trailers around and hauling over a ton of other products. Most of them have moved away from diesel in their 3/4 and 1 ton pickups. One of the reasons I got the 6.0 in my 2015 and have not been disappointed. if I was yanking a TT cross country quite a bit of the year, yeah, I would invest in diesel. It would make sense. Fuel economy with my 2015 6.0 2500HD hasn't been that bad. It has averaged 14 mpg for it's 23K miles and that includes everything... frequent hilly gravel roads, off road in farm country, in town, and highway. Hauling and empty. Winter and summer. And if diesel ever rises to the level of pricing it was a few years ago.. almost $5 a gallon.. I won't be crying in my beer over how much it costs to fill it up.

[Hockeylover86]

Truck right now is 15 gmc Sierra Denali 6.2. The wife and I(mostly me) thinking about a camper in the future. If I stick with what I got that limits me a lot. So thinking about a 1 ton diesel. Not brand loyal at all so will look at dodge and Ford when the time comes. My dad will most likely tell me to get a gasser, he believes diesels are to expensive outside of warranty. Anyways hope to be pulling some heavy loads soon!

 

You live in MN, so dealing with a diesel there is something to consider come winter. You don't have alot of hills/mountains to tow over either.

 

Those things in mind, you would be fine with a 6.0 gasser, it would do the job and maybe better for winter driving.

 

If $$ is no object and you don't mind the extra "stuff" that comes with owning a diesel especially in winter, go for the Duramax.

 

It tows much more comfortably than the 6.0 could dream about.

 

Don't worry about how much fuel "could" cost, today its cheaper than gasoline, and the Duramax will return much better mileage.

 

So its really up to you and your wallet...