2022 Duramax Chevy 2500 LT with leather and bucket seats vs GMC AT4 with 6.6 GAS and more options????????

[Gabe Bunn]

I can get dealer pricing because my grandfather once owned a GMC dealership here in Alabama. I have driven a F250 for the past 10 years. Tired of the Ford thing and am wanting to go back to GM.  I can get either of these trucks for around $59,000. One is the LT Chevrolet with leather and bucket seats and has the Duramax vs the GMC AT4 with the 6.6 gas motor and ab more options than the LT Chevy. I LOVE the look of the AT4 by far, not even close but I love the Duramax as well. I am NOT spending over $60K on a truck so I am down to these choices?????? WHAT do ya'll think??? I have a 22' pontoon boat and a 30' travel trailer I pull 6-8 times each a year for approximately 60 miles roundtrip. Mainly 80 city/20 highway driving. I'm 45 years old with 2 kids and a wife, so I'm not really trying to impress anyone any longer. Ha ha 

 

Edited August 12, 2021 by Gabe Bunn

[Thankful]

I'm not a fan of the AT4 model.  I have a Denali and like it much better.

[sweatandsteel]

I was looking for an AT4 3 months ago but they were hard to find and I lucked up on a 2021 2500 High Country with the gas engine. It pulls our 37' travel trailer great so I would go with the more options and get the AT4 as the gas engine will serve you fine.

[Another JR]

Gas engine should do the hauling you describe just fine. I am very happy with the gas engine and the transmission in my 2021 SLT, and glad I didn’t get diesel. 

[CRApex]

I'd go with the Duramax simply because I enjoy the diesel driving experience much more than the gas.  I have both and there is no comparison in power while towing. I also prefer the way the Duramax drives empty.  As others said though, the gas will get it done, just not close to the level of the diesel.  Oh and don't forget about the 10spd that comes with the diesel, its awesome and the 100k power train warranty.  I have had several GM diesels and all have been great so don't over react to those that whine about the diesel emission systems, few and far between.

[kylant]

I have a '20 Denali/Duramax. I would 100% go with the gas AT4.

For what you tow and the frequency, the diesel is just not worth it. 

Despite what CRApex says about emission issues, they are not few and far between. They are actually quite common. Also you could potentially have all the fuel related issues as well. For me, I am over diesel. My towing needs don't warrant it. 

[nards444]

Like the AT4, I started with the GMC then bought a chevy, found the fenders with reflectors ugly among other things on GMC.  The denali version with chrome wasnt bad though.  Either way GMC/Chevy going to be the same mechanically.

 

Ive driven and owned both, gas is not in the same ball park as diesel just isnt,  will get the job done as some will say, and thats fine.  But not everybody needs diesel if what I was hauling around was 5k or less I wouldnt bother getting a diesel, and if I was hauling between 5-10k around sporadically probably still wouldnt get the diesel.  But you pay for capability and it all depends on how much that is worth it you.

 

Another thing is MPG.  Im getting 17-18 all around with my diesel,  around 13-14 hauling 10k lbs, and depending on highway speed unloaded I can see 19-22mpg.  Those gas engines are dogs on gas, and between hauling and unloaded you will be in the 8-12ish range with fuel.  Now with that said even getting 5mpg better with diesel, your talking 5-10 years breaking even on that 10k upgrade for the motor.  On the other hand that diesel will hold its value better and you will probably see some of that 10k back, which probably makes your break even point less than what I said.

 

Diesel comes with DEF fluid hassle, which so far I have 7k miles on my truck and had to fill once,  oil changes cost more.  But I have had no DEF or any issues at all after 7k miles.  There are some known issues, but those are extrapolated and always somebodys horror story or they know a buddy story.  Make a million trucks even at 1% having issues is a lot, but odds are in your favor.

 

Just my personal opinion here, but I have owned Ford(which I still like the best) Dodge and Chevy, in both half tons and 3/4 tons.   When I go to 3/4 ton I get the diesel,  half tons are more than capable ride better and get better fuel mileage, so Im not bothering with the gasser 3/4s. 

Edited August 13, 2021 by nards444

[Njmurvin]

On 8/12/2021 at 4:24 PM, Gabe Bunn said:

I can get dealer pricing because my grandfather once owned a GMC dealership here in Alabama. I have driven a F250 for the past 10 years. Tired of the Ford thing and am wanting to go back to GM.  I can get either of these trucks for around $59,000. One is the LT Chevrolet with leather and bucket seats and has the Duramax vs the GMC AT4 with the 6.6 gas motor and ab more options than the LT Chevy. I LOVE the look of the AT4 by far, not even close but I love the Duramax as well. I am NOT spending over $60K on a truck so I am down to these choices?????? WHAT do ya'll think??? I have a 22' pontoon boat and a 30' travel trailer I pull 6-8 times each a year for approximately 60 miles roundtrip. Mainly 80 city/20 highway driving. I'm 45 years old with 2 kids and a wife, so I'm not really trying to impress anyone any longer. Ha ha 

 

It depends on how much you want a Duramax.  If I had your towing requirements, I'd probably opt for the gasser. You trade off the cost of Chevy diesel package for more features/options in the GMC.  That said, I have an LT Duramax with leather (not buckets, though) and like it very much.  Either way, you seem to be getting a great price and won't lose whichever way you choose to go.

Edited August 14, 2021 by Njmurvin

[20L8TSierra24]

I'd get the Chevy and just do a HC grill swap. There's no comparison on power not to mention the resale is MUCH better when you sell or trade down the road.

 

 

[Carolina]

The 6.6 gas is NOT the 6.0 . The 6.0 would pull what you have but the 6.6 won’t care it’s behind it . A lot of people are still thinking gas is gas from 15 years ago .  I have an 09 LMM with a 60hp tow tune and my 2020 6.6 gas is more capable , just is . It pulls like the Gm diesels from 5 years ago. Unloaded it’s a very spunky truck also . It makes the biggest heaviest  HD truck GM ever made feel like a hopped up 1/2 ton. The L5P is also not the diesel from 15 years ago it feels like a monster under the hood but the front of the truck is noticeably heavier if you jump from one to the other . I go off-road a lot which is a big draw back to the diesel . My LMM will sink in the mud in the blink of an eye and honestly it annoys me after driving it a while with all the knocking sounds . I never want to cut it off if I’m not staying somewhere long . I towed a 04 ext cab z71 on equipment trailer got 12.8 mpg with the 2020 last week . It really felt very light behind my 2020 . I have pulled a 36’ travel trailer about 7000 miles with it mostly in the mountains and it was very impressive power, mileage not far off from my lmm . 14k of heavy equipment easy. My friends 2020 l5p dually just averaged 13.8 mpg empty with a bed cover on a 600 mile trip all interstate . I’m constantly over 17 on interstate unless I’m running 80 then it’s mid 16. If you gonna sell it in a couple years the diesel would be one less thing the car dealer would have to complain about but they’ll come up with some reason why it’s worth 10k less than you think . If you were buying it to keep it 15-20 years I’d definitely go with gas because of the maintenance and repair cost of the diesel . As much as trucks cost now though you better off to sell in 5-6 years . I got the Ltz loaded with everything but sunroof and I don’t know how I’ll ever go back. All the bs about the diesel holding its value can be misleading. The upgrade cost Is 10k in 3 years that upgrade is worth 6k so it looses 4K more . Most diesel trucks are loaded to the rim so they have a higher package that cost more than most gas trucks which are wt or lt. Don’t believe me look at nada values from a few years back. The only difference if you have same package is 6k for diesel. An Ltz gas will be worth similar to a lt diesel there just haven’t been that many of them until lately but that’s changing rapidly. If you were towing a 40ft fifth wheel toy hauler you’d have to get the diesel 3500 to handle the pin weight and gcvwr  . In the 2500 class the gas will pull anything you will load behind one 

Edited August 15, 2021 by Carolina

[nards444]

Lots of good real world experience.  But not everything in there is true,  be careful.

[Gabe Bunn]

Anything not true that I should be looking at? Just don't want to make a $60K+ mistake. THANKS for the responses

 

[nards444]

13 hours ago, Gabe Bunn said:

Anything not true that I should be looking at? Just don't want to make a $60K+ mistake. THANKS for the responses

 

That you buy a gas engine over diesel for longevity and that the diesel will be worth less down the road.  just not true items

[diyer2]

If I understand the numbers.

If the difference between the 2 trucks at trade time is $5-$6 thousand after 5 years it's not a big deal to me. You're going to loose money either way so buy what you like.  

I would go gas with more options. Use the $10 K for the diesel upgrade toward more options.

[kylant]

1 hour ago, nards444 said:

That you buy a gas engine over diesel for longevity and that the diesel will be worth less down the road.  just not true items

the only thing the diesel has over the gas in the longevity department is the engine itself. everything else bolted to it is does not live longer than gas components. In fact, most components attached to the diesel engine will fail long before the gas parts. IE,... injectors, emissions related components, fuel filters, etc... the 10 speed tranny is unproven, the 6 speed is....

 

at resale, yes the Duramax will bring more value. but you also pay nearly $10K up front for it. I just did a quick KBB comparison of trade values for my truck with Duramax, vs gas 6.6. The trade and retail price difference was $7k. so in reality, diesel does not even bring the initial cost back to trade or sell. 

 

I love the diesel, but will be going gas next truck. with all the issues they have, and my needs, it just doesn't make sense anymore