Keep 6.6 gasser or move down to 3.0 Duramax?

[asilverblazer]

On 1/30/2026 at 4:55 PM, KARNUT said:

You all are not considering the cost of the truck. If you buy the right car it cheaper to maintain than the truck. And the truck will last longer lowering the overall cost. 

What do you mean by not considering the cost of the truck and how does that alter the overall financial picture?

Unless the truck is already paid for or has an unusually low payment the variables still don't swing in favor of a second car.

Quantifying how much longer it would last is even murkier, you are saving miles off it, but not time, or depending on how its kept when not in use, weathering. 

Regarding the lower maintenance costs, again, it has to be next to nothing - in my math above 150 a year or less. 

You have to WANT a second car for reasons that COST more money. Making the truck last longer is a reason, but unless the car or truck are already owned or free, it won't save money.

In the case of the OP the trucks considered are likely over 50K when does the additional cost of the second vehicle that presumably would have to be purchased too "lower the overall cost" of the truck begin to save money? My math above looks like years if not decades.

I'm not arguing your opinion, just trying to understand how you make the financial part work.

[KARNUT]

1 hour ago, asilverblazer said:

What do you mean by not considering the cost of the truck and how does that alter the overall financial picture?

Unless the truck is already paid for or has an unusually low payment the variables still don't swing in favor of a second car.

Quantifying how much longer it would last is even murkier, you are saving miles off it, but not time, or depending on how its kept when not in use, weathering. 

Regarding the lower maintenance costs, again, it has to be next to nothing - in my math above 150 a year or less. 

You have to WANT a second car for reasons that COST more money. Making the truck last longer is a reason, but unless the car or truck are already owned or free, it won't save money.

In the case of the OP the trucks considered are likely over 50K when does the additional cost of the second vehicle that presumably would have to be purchased too "lower the overall cost" of the truck begin to save money? My math above looks like years if not decades.

I'm not arguing your opinion, just trying to understand how you make the financial part work.

I have 4 vehicles for the price of one. A truck payment is upwards of 800-1000 per month. I drive 15K miles a year my trip vehicle an odyssey gets 8K miles a year. My Ridgeline gets 8K miles a year. Replacing both would be around 50K. My wife’s Genesis we bought new cost around 60K to replace. If I used it as a trip vehicle it would have had over 500K miles on it.  And be in a junk yard. Adding the 10K miles she puts on. All those together cost me less than a truck payment and each still have lots of life left. The fourth vehicle is a toy 2001 Acura Intagra type r. My wife drove it to work for awhile and put 20k miles on it. It now has 31K. My avalanche my grandson now drives is a cream puff. It looks new has about 190K miles on it. I’d drive it anywhere. It was use sparingly it whole life. Before that I had a 92 Chevy I sold it just 5 years ago another cream puff. Anyone of those vehicles driven my normal mileage would be in a junk yard. I had all those plus some new ones and never spent more than what a new truck would cost And every one I’ve had since I retired 13 years ago still are in service. 

[Pryme]

1 hour ago, KARNUT said:

I have 4 vehicles for the price of one. A truck payment is upwards of 800-1000 per month. I drive 15K miles a year my trip vehicle an odyssey gets 8K miles a year. My Ridgeline gets 8K miles a year. Replacing both would be around 50K. My wife’s Genesis we bought new cost around 60K to replace. If I used it as a trip vehicle it would have had over 500K miles on it.  And be in a junk yard. Adding the 10K miles she puts on. All those together cost me less than a truck payment and each still have lots of life left. The fourth vehicle is a toy 2001 Acura Intagra type r. My wife drove it to work for awhile and put 20k miles on it. It now has 31K. My avalanche my grandson now drives is a cream puff. It looks new has about 190K miles on it. I’d drive it anywhere. It was use sparingly it whole life. Before that I had a 92 Chevy I sold it just 5 years ago another cream puff. Anyone of those vehicles driven my normal mileage would be in a junk yard. I had all those plus some new ones and never spent more than what a new truck would cost And every one I’ve had since I retired 13 years ago still are in service. 

You ever going to sell that type R? That’s a rare vehicle now and very low mileage. 

[KARNUT]

6 minutes ago, Pryme said:

You ever going to sell that type R? That’s a rare vehicle now and very low mileage. 

It’s actually my wife’s. She used to be into small cars for awhile. She was looking at a regular Intagra and I saw the brochure on the salesman’s desk. I said if you’re going to buy that thing, get this one. We had no idea it was anything special. One day on the way home from work a cop pulled her over and told her it was high on the theft list. Since then I drive it once a month to keep it fresh. It still smells new and drives like new. As far as selling it that’s up to her. I think if the day comes she decides to get a new car she’ll probably sell it. She loves her Genesis. I wish she would so I can put a Camaro, Mustang or Challenger in its spot.

[Atlas]

An '01 Type R with 4800 miles sold for $204k (US dollars) on Bring a Trailer last summer. That's oddly high considering it's not what collectors would call a zero-mile car, but it probably is one of the lowest mile Type R's to have sold in a while. Amazing.

 

I bet you could get anywhere from 30-60k for that one Karnut, lots of good comps in that range with similar mileage as yours.

[KARNUT]

17 minutes ago, Atlas said:

An '01 Type R with 4800 miles sold for $204k (US dollars) on Bring a Trailer last summer. That's oddly high considering it's not what collectors would call a zero-mile car, but it probably is one of the lowest mile Type R's to have sold in a while. Amazing.

 

I bet you could get anywhere from 30-60k for that one Karnut, lots of good comps in that range with similar mileage as yours.

It’s more like 60-80K. My wife belongs to a type r club. She was offered 45K ten years ago.

[PBNB]

I spent years trying to make my little trucks capable of towing. Started with a 2019 Ridgeline and it was too small then went to a 2022 Tundra and it actually had less payload than the Ridgeline! It was bigger but we still got pushed around by the trailer. Then they couldn't get the engine issues sorted so we had to punt it! 

 

We decided that the engine in our next truck was going to be a known reliable power plant so we looked at Cummins and Duramax. We didn't look at Fords offering. Then we found a slightly used 3500 Duramax and we haven't looked back. It get's better mileage than the Tundra did. and pulling the trailer is so much better and relaxing. 

 

We have a second vehicle (a little EV) that we use for most of our running around so the truck gets less use and that works out just fine. 

 

We have been tweaking it to fit our needs and so far so good. I can't see going back to a little 1/2 ton. 

[Dunn]

I traded a HD for half ton 3 times, since 2020 (because I can be stupid like that at times).....regretted it everytime, thank god the market was holding so I didn't really take a hit....finally bought GMC 2500 at end of 2024 and did consider switching it again but stopped myself....I will buy a beater car if I need one

 

it will be able to do anything I would need and I don't even tow much (may be a time in future though for sure).....haul some weight that would cringe a half ton more so....but really the overall truck just feels so much more substantial in every way....only got a diesel cuz motor was free and gas versions were hard to find at the time....haven't had any issues yet and honestly the longer I own it the more I like it, dropped PSI down and am so used to the ride barely even notice it

[GAMark]

100% Keep your 3500. I agree with all others.

[c4racer2]

Agree with keep what you have - 100%.  I just spent the last 10 years in Colorado's, last one for 8 years a 2018 long bed V6 / 8spd 4x4, lifted 2".  Tow rating is 7000, payload is 1550 which isn't bad.  I towed a 5-6Klb car trailer quite a lot including long distance trips over significant mountain ranges.  The small truck did great for a small truck, but it did make for a more stressful drive every time.  I used a wt. dist hitch always.  My trailer tracks really well - it's a very nice trailer and open car trailers are reasonably aerodynamic which helps too.  So it was adeqate.  But I was always alone in the truck - if I had passengers and cargo it would have blown up the GVWR for sure - I was near the limit on everything.

The biggest issue I had was power, and since I moved to CO last year it's a real problem in the mountains around here - the poor V6 is ripping along at 6Krpm trying to maintain 45mph up the steep grades on I70.  And there isn't much margin there.  So while it's workable and technically within the limits of the truck, it's not ideal.

 

I have had larger trucks including 2500 suburbans so I have a good feeling for the difference.  Never really owned a 1500, but had a Nissan Titan but that thing was a beast and closer to a 2500 in ratings.

 

I just traded in the Colorado for a new 2500HD 6.6L.  This thing is a serious truck - it will tow my rig with ease.  And it does give me the opportunity to consider getting a travel trailer down the road.  No reason for a 3500 in my case and my kids are grown so if we did get a travel trailer it would just be for 2 of us so don't have to go nuts there at all.  Anyway - just went the other direction as what you are considering and so far I wouldn't look back on my move.  3 days a week 50miles RT I would just drive it - maybe it depends where you live but assuming gas prices get back to where they were or close - we get gas for $2.5 a gallon in CO so 150miles a week or aprox 7K miles a year considering vacation weeks, etc. doesn't seem like much of an issue to me.  It's not my only vehicle in my case - I have two Camaros so if it were me I would drive the 2016 all summer and the truck all winter and no biggie.   How bad is the mpg on these things anyway?  I would think it can pull 17 on the highway?  That's not terrible at $3 / gallon.

[BuckWallace]

8 hours ago, c4racer2 said:

Agree with keep what you have - 100%.  I just spent the last 10 years in Colorado's, last one for 8 years a 2018 long bed V6 / 8spd 4x4, lifted 2".  Tow rating is 7000, payload is 1550 which isn't bad.  I towed a 5-6Klb car trailer quite a lot including long distance trips over significant mountain ranges.  The small truck did great for a small truck, but it did make for a more stressful drive every time.  I used a wt. dist hitch always.  My trailer tracks really well - it's a very nice trailer and open car trailers are reasonably aerodynamic which helps too.  So it was adeqate.  But I was always alone in the truck - if I had passengers and cargo it would have blown up the GVWR for sure - I was near the limit on everything.

The biggest issue I had was power, and since I moved to CO last year it's a real problem in the mountains around here - the poor V6 is ripping along at 6Krpm trying to maintain 45mph up the steep grades on I70.  And there isn't much margin there.  So while it's workable and technically within the limits of the truck, it's not ideal.

 

I have had larger trucks including 2500 suburbans so I have a good feeling for the difference.  Never really owned a 1500, but had a Nissan Titan but that thing was a beast and closer to a 2500 in ratings.

 

I just traded in the Colorado for a new 2500HD 6.6L.  This thing is a serious truck - it will tow my rig with ease.  And it does give me the opportunity to consider getting a travel trailer down the road.  No reason for a 3500 in my case and my kids are grown so if we did get a travel trailer it would just be for 2 of us so don't have to go nuts there at all.  Anyway - just went the other direction as what you are considering and so far I wouldn't look back on my move.  3 days a week 50miles RT I would just drive it - maybe it depends where you live but assuming gas prices get back to where they were or close - we get gas for $2.5 a gallon in CO so 150miles a week or aprox 7K miles a year considering vacation weeks, etc. doesn't seem like much of an issue to me.  It's not my only vehicle in my case - I have two Camaros so if it were me I would drive the 2016 all summer and the truck all winter and no biggie.   How bad is the mpg on these things anyway?  I would think it can pull 17 on the highway?  That's not terrible at $3 / gallon.

Other than the ride comfort and fuel mileage I don't think you'll regret your 2500! If you're on level ground doing ~60 you can definitely get 17, but anything over 65 and the mpg suffers. I'm definitely jealous of your $3/gallon. Here in Oregon it's $4.70 at Costco (generally the cheapest for top tier)—I put in 28 gallons today and it cost me over $130...

[Chuck FB]

10 hours ago, c4racer2 said:

Agree with keep what you have - 100%.  I just spent the last 10 years in Colorado's, last one for 8 years a 2018 long bed V6 / 8spd 4x4, lifted 2".  Tow rating is 7000, payload is 1550 which isn't bad.  I towed a 5-6Klb car trailer quite a lot including long distance trips over significant mountain ranges.  The small truck did great for a small truck, but it did make for a more stressful drive every time.  I used a wt. dist hitch always.  My trailer tracks really well - it's a very nice trailer and open car trailers are reasonably aerodynamic which helps too.  So it was adeqate.  But I was always alone in the truck - if I had passengers and cargo it would have blown up the GVWR for sure - I was near the limit on everything.

The biggest issue I had was power, and since I moved to CO last year it's a real problem in the mountains around here - the poor V6 is ripping along at 6Krpm trying to maintain 45mph up the steep grades on I70.  And there isn't much margin there.  So while it's workable and technically within the limits of the truck, it's not ideal.

 

I have had larger trucks including 2500 suburbans so I have a good feeling for the difference.  Never really owned a 1500, but had a Nissan Titan but that thing was a beast and closer to a 2500 in ratings.

 

I just traded in the Colorado for a new 2500HD 6.6L.  This thing is a serious truck - it will tow my rig with ease.  And it does give me the opportunity to consider getting a travel trailer down the road.  No reason for a 3500 in my case and my kids are grown so if we did get a travel trailer it would just be for 2 of us so don't have to go nuts there at all.  Anyway - just went the other direction as what you are considering and so far I wouldn't look back on my move.  3 days a week 50miles RT I would just drive it - maybe it depends where you live but assuming gas prices get back to where they were or close - we get gas for $2.5 a gallon in CO so 150miles a week or aprox 7K miles a year considering vacation weeks, etc. doesn't seem like much of an issue to me.  It's not my only vehicle in my case - I have two Camaros so if it were me I would drive the 2016 all summer and the truck all winter and no biggie.   How bad is the mpg on these things anyway?  I would think it can pull 17 on the highway?  That's not terrible at $3 / gallon.

 

What elevation roughly do you live and drive at in your part of Colorado. Also have you had a chance to pull that car hauler loaded over some of those same significant passes yet and wondering which exact passes those are and if I had been over any of them myself by chance years ago when doing a bit of traveling around Colorado exploring ( not pulling anything thankfully as it was enough for just the truck loaded to the max with camping gear .. 4L60E tranny explains it all ! ). 

[c4racer2]

16 hours ago, Chuck FB said:

 

What elevation roughly do you live and drive at in your part of Colorado. Also have you had a chance to pull that car hauler loaded over some of those same significant passes yet and wondering which exact passes those are and if I had been over any of them myself by chance years ago when doing a bit of traveling around Colorado exploring ( not pulling anything thankfully as it was enough for just the truck loaded to the max with camping gear .. 4L60E tranny explains it all ! ). 

 We live at 5400.  The worst grade I have experienced is Loveland Pass going from Silverthorn East towards Denver just before the Eisenhower tunnel.  That one is a killer.  I have done that twice with the Colorado, but not with the 2500HD - I bought it this week!  With a loaded truck and car trailer @ 5500lbs the colorado struggled up that hill - basically 40mph was about all it could muster.  That goes up to around 9K feet I believe - actually maybe 10K because Dillon itself is pretty much already at 9K and it climbs up from there.  Even just the trailer and a 800lb exercises bike the Colorado can barely keep 55mph up, so that's about a 3K lb trailer and nothing in the truck.

 

Anyway - plenty of passes in CO and UT that go up to 8-9-10K feet.  Rockies are high!!

 

I haven't towed anything with the new 2500HD, but I have towed plenty with a 2500 8.1 suburban and a 6.0L gen 3 2500HD long bed, so I have a decent idea what they are like towing.

Edited April 26 by c4racer2

[Chuck FB]

37 minutes ago, c4racer2 said:

 We live at 5400.  The worst grade I have experienced is Loveland Pass going from Silverthorn East towards Denver just before the Eisenhower tunnel.  That one is a killer.  I have done that twice with the Colorado, but not with the 2500HD - I bought it this week!  With a loaded truck and car trailer @ 5500lbs the colorado struggled up that hill - basically 40mph was about all it could muster.  That goes up to around 9K feet I believe - actually maybe 10K because Dillon itself is pretty much already at 9K and it climbs up from there.  Even just the trailer and a 800lb exercises bike the Colorado can barely keep 55mph up, so that's about a 3K lb trailer and nothing in the truck.

 

Anyway - plenty of passes in CO and UT that go up to 8-9-10K feet.  Rockies are high!!

 

I haven't towed anything with the new 2500HD, but I have towed plenty with a 2500 8.1 suburban and a 6.0L gen 3 2500HD long bed, so I have a decent idea what they are like towing.

 

Even living at 5400 feet, already that takes away a good chunk of power your truck would otherwise have cruising along in "the valley" if that is where you typically drove in your former state. I wasn't sure how long ago you bought your 2500HD so if I was you I wouldn't be towing with it at all until it has some miles under it and at least its first very short oil change period dumping out the factory oil ( its always unsettling to cut open the factory filter even after 500 to 1000 mile from new engine wise and see the sparkles and easily seen bits of mystery metal/aluminum shavings ), and that applies to the transmission and rear end gears mating in before subjected to high loads. 

 

I was through Silverthorne a couple of times but on highway 9 after exploring Rocky Mountain NP ( elevation 12000 ) so crossing over I 70 and never did go further east of that point on I 70 to experience the tunnel or having taken Loveland Pass which oh yes I hear its interesting all right due to how winding it is rather than a high speed freeway and have always wished I had taken the time or had the time to have done Loveland. Your Colorado was doing remarkably well to my way of thinking towing that fast on those grades at that elevation as the top of Loveland is at 12000 feet !. In that general area to the south I have done the passes on highways 9, 91 and 24 and the highest pass of those three is Hoosier at 11550, and also been over ones like Monarch pass and Red Mountain pass etc. The highest I've been on a pass is Imogene at 13115 and then ones like Pikes Peak and Mt Antero at 14000 feet and lets just say the old water sprinkler technology GM throttle body was not happy at 14000, can't imagine how awful it would be to be up there with a sea level carbed engine !. 

 

Certainly if one was doing a lot of towing over the passes in Colorado the diesel or a turbo gas would be tempting for what they can do at elevation but have also heard at least with the F150 3.5 as an example, push them too hard for too long towing up those grades and a chance it may "ecoboom" and that wouldn't make a person feel very good in the pocket book once off warranty. 

[c4racer2]

18 hours ago, Chuck FB said:

 

Even living at 5400 feet, already that takes away a good chunk of power your truck would otherwise have cruising along in "the valley" if that is where you typically drove in your former state. I wasn't sure how long ago you bought your 2500HD so if I was you I wouldn't be towing with it at all until it has some miles under it and at least its first very short oil change period dumping out the factory oil ( its always unsettling to cut open the factory filter even after 500 to 1000 mile from new engine wise and see the sparkles and easily seen bits of mystery metal/aluminum shavings ), and that applies to the transmission and rear end gears mating in before subjected to high loads. 

 

I was through Silverthorne a couple of times but on highway 9 after exploring Rocky Mountain NP ( elevation 12000 ) so crossing over I 70 and never did go further east of that point on I 70 to experience the tunnel or having taken Loveland Pass which oh yes I hear its interesting all right due to how winding it is rather than a high speed freeway and have always wished I had taken the time or had the time to have done Loveland. Your Colorado was doing remarkably well to my way of thinking towing that fast on those grades at that elevation as the top of Loveland is at 12000 feet !. In that general area to the south I have done the passes on highways 9, 91 and 24 and the highest pass of those three is Hoosier at 11550, and also been over ones like Monarch pass and Red Mountain pass etc. The highest I've been on a pass is Imogene at 13115 and then ones like Pikes Peak and Mt Antero at 14000 feet and lets just say the old water sprinkler technology GM throttle body was not happy at 14000, can't imagine how awful it would be to be up there with a sea level carbed engine !. 

 

Certainly if one was doing a lot of towing over the passes in Colorado the diesel or a turbo gas would be tempting for what they can do at elevation but have also heard at least with the F150 3.5 as an example, push them too hard for too long towing up those grades and a chance it may "ecoboom" and that wouldn't make a person feel very good in the pocket book once off warranty. 

I won't tow over those very often, but it can happen from time to time.  I'll be fine with the gas.  Most of my driving is around town or weekend road trips with my wife or with my music gear for my band.   wasn't worth the extra $10K up front especially consdering diesel is a 25-30% premium over gas here.

 

I had to do a quick tow this weekend, but it was just my small untiliy trailer with a fridge on it and 6 mile round trip.  I think it will live.  I forgot how much I hate backing up that tiny one axle trailer - I am used to a 20' dual axle car trailer and can put that anywhere but the small one axle is so different.

 

Also - I didn't do Loveland pass proper - just the one over 70 - I don't think it's as high and it's not windy but it's sustained 8% grade so rather steep.  I have done Loveland in the snow when the tunnel was close due to a big rig crash.  Luckily the wife was sleeping - she would not have been amused!  that's a nasty road.  I would hate to tow over it - but it can be done that's the normal passage for all the haz-mat trucks.

Edited April 27 by c4racer2