Who has "upgraded" from a 1500 gas to a 2500 Duramax?

SilveradoX2 · January 6, 2020

21 hours ago, 453030 said:

I'm not an expert, but my general opinion is a lot of the current diesels were never designed with the current emissions requirements in mind. The current Duramax LP5 is hopefully better than the LML my truck had, but I don't know enough about it to say. From what I read about the 3.0 I6 available in the 1500, it sounds like this motor is a ground up design. I never intended to keep mine out of warranty at all, if you have one of the many emissions systems fail or have a sensor problem, or God forbid the blown CP4 fuel pump, you're on the hook for some costly repairs.

My truck had one related warranty repair in 62 months and 69K miles. A failed heater in the DEF tank, so they replaced the entire thing.

Go to the Gale Banks Youtube channel for L5P versus LML info. He's the king on the L5P.

FirstAscent · January 7, 2020

Awesome! Thanks everyone so far, it's nice to see opinions from both sides as well as gassers vs diesel.

I feel that I'm still leaning towards the Duramax High Country but I also haven't test drove the gasser and should at least do that so I know for sure. If it were my daily driver it would add some extra thought to the mix but it's not, and even though I don't tow the majority of the time it's purpose is to be able to tow whatever the future brings. Which hopefully soon is a new enclosed trailer.

Mi99z71 · January 7, 2020

18 minutes ago, FirstAscent said:

Awesome! Thanks everyone so far, it's nice to see opinions from both sides as well as gassers vs diesel.

I feel that I'm still leaning towards the Duramax High Country but I also haven't test drove the gasser and should at least do that so I know for sure. If it were my daily driver it would add some extra thought to the mix but it's not, and even though I don't tow the majority of the time it's purpose is to be able to tow whatever the future brings. Which hopefully soon is a new enclosed trailer.

I'm in the same boat. Coming from 2015 NHT 1500. I ending up with a 3500 Duramax- for the same reason. Want to be able to whatever I want (pretty much) without concern. And I feel I got a stellar deal on a LTZ Duramax, although I really wanted the HC front end.

wesd · January 7, 2020

Currently own both (1500 5.3, 2500 Denali HD 6.6 DMax L5P).

Both good for their own things.

In town, 1500 wins hands down. Actually the 1500 is better for everything EXCEPT towing and fuel economy.

I regularly get 18-19 MPG with the 5.3 on the highway, and 22-23 with the Dmax. I only tow toys as well (camper, ATV).

And I don't get the love for the Dmax power (outside of the torque when towing). The 5.3 feels snappier, is a lot more quiet, and easier to drive.

Outside of seeing the 2500 HD is a bigger truck, it's hard to tell the difference from behind the wheel.

And, I wouldn't consider a gasser HD truck unless you plan to keep 10+ years and fuel economy isn't any kind of concern. They depreciate terribly, and drink gas. I learned this the hard way (previous truck was 2017 F250 6.2 Lariat 4x4).

Edited January 7, 2020 by wesd

FirstAscent · January 7, 2020

I'm in the same boat. Coming from 2015 NHT 1500. I ending up with a 3500 Duramax- for the same reason. Want to be able to whatever I want (pretty much) without concern. And I feel I got a stellar deal on a LTZ Duramax, although I really wanted the HC front end.

Yeah I feel ya there, I have the 1500 HC and I love the front end which is part of why I want another HC haha

Currently own both (1500 5.3, 2500 Denali HD 6.6 DMax L5P).
Both good for their own things.
In town, 1500 wins hands down. Actually the 1500 is better for everything EXCEPT towing and fuel economy.
I regularly get 18-19 MPG with the 5.3 on the highway, and 22-23 with the Dmax. I only tow toys as well (camper, ATV).
And I don't get the love for the Dmax power (outside of the torque when towing). The 5.3 feels snappier, is a lot more quiet, and easier to drive.

Outside of seeing the 2500 HD is a bigger truck, it's hard to tell the difference from behind the wheel.

And, I wouldn't consider a gasser HD truck unless you plan to keep 10+ years and fuel economy isn't any kind of concern. They depreciate terribly, and drink gas. I learned this the hard way (previous truck was 2017 F250 6.2 Lariat 4x4).

I could see that, the 5.3 is still great and even lifted with 35’s it’s not horrible. Id expect the duramax to be powerful but not fast, I’m sure the 6.2/6.6 gasser is quicker just lacks the torque you can only get with the diesel

when I test drove the 2500 duramax it didn’t really feel that much bigger, but I’m sure that’s because I’m used to my 6” lift which just means it would be an easier transition

NWI Denali · January 8, 2020

So you don't tow, but "may" tow sometime down the road. You want a diesel because it's "cool?"

FirstAscent · January 8, 2020

So you don't tow, but "may" tow sometime down the road. You want a diesel because it's "cool?" [emoji23]

Yeah I wanna be cool, so what.

Jk, nah I don’t tow much now but mainly because I don’t have a trailer, minor details. But I’m getting a trailer for the toys and then just thinking ahead and preparing for whatever else comes ahead. At least the money will be going toward, what I think, will be a better truck.

redwngr · January 9, 2020

On 1/7/2020 at 10:05 PM, NWI Denali said:

So you don't tow, but "may" tow sometime down the road. You want a diesel because it's "cool?"

Some just prefer the way they drive.

If it was strictly needs based, lot's of truck users would have to run something else.

Edited January 9, 2020 by redwngr
add 'users'

Dunn · January 12, 2020

funny cuz I was all set to get 2500 and talked myself into 1500 which is fine really, but 2500 would be a lot better at certain times (payload wise)….now new truck feeling has wore off I kind of regret not getting 2500....payload and 8ft bed would really help for my construction work and bigger gas engine would be nice (not diesel motor fan and don't tow so it works out).....maybe in cpl yrs.

Edited January 12, 2020 by Dunn

Pfc1 · January 22, 2020

Never owned a truck before my 05 1500, then an 11 and the a 15, all 1500's with 5.3's. Then we bought an 18 2500 duramax crew, LTZ. That choice was hard thought out, we tow a camper but I had a hard time justifying the added cost. this Friday we are picking up our new 2020 3500 dually and of course it's a diesel. I was concerned about maintenance cost but there hasn't been any outside of the norm.Great power, tows anything and the fuel economy I've experienced is amazing considering the size of the truck. I can honestly say it was not a mistake, good luck with your choice.

Pfc1 · January 26, 2020

Here's some pictures of the most recent, long awaited 3500 Dually.

FirstAscent · January 26, 2020

Never owned a truck before my 05 1500, then an 11 and the a 15, all 1500's with 5.3's. Then we bought an 18 2500 duramax crew, LTZ. That choice was hard thought out, we tow a camper but I had a hard time justifying the added cost. this Friday we are picking up our new 2020 3500 dually and of course it's a diesel. I was concerned about maintenance cost but there hasn't been any outside of the norm.Great power, tows anything and the fuel economy I've experienced is amazing considering the size of the truck. I can honestly say it was not a mistake, good luck with your choice.

Yeah I’m surprised how much the add on is JUST to go to diesel. $10k is quite a bit extra.
I keep hearing how much more they are to maintain if something goes wrong, so hoping for a good solid truck.

Your truck looks great! Those dually’s with the long beds are beasts! And the SRW’s are already big haha. Congrats on finally picking her up, I think this is the second DRW I’ve seen on here now.

NWI Denali · January 27, 2020

8 hours ago, Pfc1 said:

Here's some pictures of the most recent, long awaited 3500 Dually.

That is a great looking red. Congrats!

Cowpie · January 27, 2020

On 1/6/2020 at 9:37 PM, wesd said:

Actually the 1500 is better for everything EXCEPT towing and fuel economy.

I regularly get 18-19 MPG with the 5.3 on the highway, and 22-23 with the Dmax.

Problem is, though the Dmax is getting better fuel economy, the actual fuel cost per mile is the same since diesel is higher priced that gas. So there really is no appreciable benefit in that regard. Towing would be the only advantage, and then it all depends on what one is towing.

Edited January 27, 2020 by Cowpie

Cowpie · January 27, 2020

On 1/6/2020 at 9:37 PM, wesd said:

And, I wouldn't consider a gasser HD truck unless you plan to keep 10+ years and fuel economy isn't any kind of concern. They depreciate terribly, and drink gas.

They do drink gas, for sure. But I have done several looks at prevailing costs via NADA and other sources on used HD's in both gas and diesel, especially since the diesel emissions game came along, and while the gasser will always be lower in value than the diesel version, the spread gets tighter as the vehicles get older. So the gasser is not loosing nearly the percentage of value as the diesels of the last 5 years.

It is getting harder to truly justify a diesel, given the complexity and emission stuff. They do still have their unique niche that cannot be topped by a gasser, but very few folks actually fit into that niche. Of all HD pickups out there, very few are being used to yank around super 5th wheel RV's over Vail pass and such that would justify having a diesel. What most folks actually do could be accomplished quite well with a 6.6 gasser in the GM stuff and the 7.3 gasser in the Ford stuff. If my wife can tow my 20,000 lb semi truck tractor thru heavy mud spring thaw gravel roads, over several hills, two miles to the nearest highway with my 2015 2500 6.0 gasser like she had to do last spring, then I think it suffices for my lighter trailer towing and snowplow work I do with it.

Edited January 27, 2020 by Cowpie