Going From A 2500 Hd To A 1500

[demented]

With the rising cost of fuel on everyones mind these days, I have been seriously contemplating trading in my '06 2500 hd for a 1500 series pickup. My biggest concern is the towing power of the 1500's. What are most of you guys able to tow comfortably with a 1/2 ton pickup? What is the factory tow rating for the 1500 pickups? I do tow an enclosed trailer and am looking to see if getting a smaller trailer to go with a new truck may be what I need to do. It looks like the 1/2 tons will get better gas mileage than the truck I have now. Looking for some honest input. Thanks.

[Zembonez]

What sort of weight do you intend to carry in that trailer? The trailer should be no big deal with a 1500 unless it's a 30 footer or carrying 5000lbs. All I have towed with my 1500 is about 2800lbs. Not a lot of weight I know but it handled it like it wasn't there.

 

A 1500 should get somewhat better fuel economy and have a smoother ride. From what I have read in here the MPG difference isn't a lot but these days 2 or 3 mpg can add up over time.

[demented]

Well my current trailer is around 9500lbs fully loaded. Now I know that kind of weight would kill a 1500 quickly, so I can get rid of alot of the weight and change things around to get my trailer down to about 7500 lbs. I think that a 1500 could pull that weight without a problem. I don't pull that kind of weight all the time, but when I do I need to pull comfortably.

[Daniel T]

Well my current trailer is around 9500lbs fully loaded. Now I know that kind of weight would kill a 1500 quickly, so I can get rid of alot of the weight and change things around to get my trailer down to about 7500 lbs. I think that a 1500 could pull that weight without a problem. I don't pull that kind of weight all the time, but when I do I need to pull comfortably.

 

here you go....a 1500 with the proper tow package (max trailering package) and the 6.0 with 4:10s will to 10,500#

a properly equiped 1500 can tow the same as a 2500 6.0L with 3:73s

I currently tow an ~8000# RV with my y2k 1/2 ton Burb with 4:10s and a 5.3L I have towed with this combination for 8 years and over 35,000 miles of towing with no mechanical issues with my truck.

My next tow vehicle will be a 1500 Chevy/Sierra with 6.0L, max trailering package and 4:10s. But not until they come out with the 6L70E transmission in the half tons....probably 2009 from what I am hearing.

 

 

1500 WITH VORTEC 5.3L V8 ENGINE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Model Box Length (ft.) Max. Trailer Weight (lbs.)1 Required Axle Ratio GCWR2,3 (lbs.)

1500 2WD Regular Cab 6.5/8 7,200/7,000

8,200/8,000 3.42

3.73 12,000

13,000

Extended Cab 5.8 6,800

7,800 3.42

3.73

12,000

13,000

Extended Cab 6.5/8 6,700/6,600

7,700/7,600 3.42

3.73 12,000

13,000

Crew Cab 5.8 6,600

7,600 3.42

3.73 12,000

13,000

1500 4x4 Regular Cab 6.5/8 7,900/7,900

8,900/8,900 3.73

4.10 13,000

14,000

Extended Cab 5.8 7,500

8,500 3.73

4.10 13,000

14,000

Extended Cab 6.5/8 7,500/7,400

8,500/8,400 3.73

4.10 13,000

14,000

Crew Cab 5.8 7,500

8,500 3.73

4.10 13,000

14,000

1500 WITH VORTEC MAX 6.0L V8 ENGINE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Model Box Length (ft.) Max. Trailer Weight (lbs.)1 Required Axle Ratio GCWR2,3 (lbs.)

1500 2WD Extended Cab 5.8 8,800 3.73 14,000

1500 4x4 Extended Cab 5.8 8,500 3.73 14,000

1500 2WD Extended Cab 6.5 8,800 3.73 14,000

1500 2WD Extended Cab with MAX Trailering Pack 6.5 10,200 3.73 15,500

1500 4x4 Extended Cab 6.5 8,500 3.73 14,000

1500 4x4 Extended Cab with MAX Trailering Pack 6.5 10,500 4.10 16,000

1500 2WD Crew Cab 5.8 8,700 3.73 14,000

1500 2WD Crew Cab with MAX Trailering Pack 5.8 10,200

3.73

15,500

1500 4x4 Crew Cab 5.8 8,400 3.73 14,000

1500 4x4 Crew Cab with MAX Trailering Pack 5.8 10,500

4.10

16,000

[VMax2007]

Well my current trailer is around 9500lbs fully loaded. Now I know that kind of weight would kill a 1500 quickly, so I can get rid of alot of the weight and change things around to get my trailer down to about 7500 lbs. I think that a 1500 could pull that weight without a problem. I don't pull that kind of weight all the time, but when I do I need to pull comfortably.

 

 

I'd go with a Vmax with the NHT (4.10's) Max trailering pkg. Nothing less IMO.

[vranasaurus]

I once towed 7000 lbs.(74 dodge truck with a camper on a tandem axel trailer) with my 06 1500 CC 4X4 and it was not at all comfortable. I probably would have been all right if I had a weight distributing hitch but without it it got real squirely over 45 MPH.

 

If you get the proper equipment a 1500 should be OK pulling 7500 lbs. But I wouldn't want to do it all the time.

 

Just my .02 cents.

[alaska511]

I would keep your 2500. I sold my 2500HD for this truck, but also sold the weight I was carrying. If I was going to tow 10K again, I would get another HD. You cannot beat the stability of those trucks, it is an excellent platform. I will be gettting a lightweight TT to tow behind my half ton.

 

This is just my opinion guys, don't jump my ass, I have towed and hauled a bunch.

[pm26]

I would absolutely not attempt to pull 7,500 lbs with a 1500 series pickup on a regular basis. Once in a blue moon over a short distance it is OK, but not daily. Have you considered keeping your truck and getting a small older car for general commuting?

 

My truck is rated to tow about 7500 lbs (5.3, 3.73 gears, crew cab 4X4). But that is in my opinion not something you can do comfortably at 60 MPH all day. The transmission would have to stay in third gear all the time and fuel economy would probably drop to 7 MPG. The biggest problem is that the 1500 series running gear, like axles, and transmission is a lot weaker than those on the 2500 series. I would say that 5k lbs is a good practical towing limit for a 5.3 equipped 1500 truck (assuming 3.73 or 4.10 gears) Any other gearing is a joke for towing and probably good for about 3500 lbs.

[Christine-C.S.C]

I don't have one of these new trucks , but I've pulled about 7600 pounds with my 02 Silverado 3.73 5.3 with max tow package. It wasnt that bad ; I wouldn't want to take it on a road trip loaded down like that tho.

 

Off topic whats the max tow rating of the 99-02 body trucks?

[svensk]

My truck is rated to pull 8400, but I sure wouldn't want to try it. 6K is the max comfortable weight I like pulling.

[vranasaurus]

I would seriously consider getting an old car fr daily driving and keeping your truck for towing. Your gas mileage will go up far more than it will switching from a 2500 to a 1500 plus you will still have the bigger truck for pulling.

 

The difference in gas mileage while pulling that heavy of a load will be very slight.

[Daniel T]

you guys crack me up...........

 

why is a properly equiped 1/2 ton truck not acceptable...

as I said I have towed my 8000# RV for almost 8 years with my 1/2 ton Burb with no issues....goes up and down the hills, tows great in wind, goes and stops just great...why does everyone think you need an HD to do any towing chores?

If the truck is properly equipped, proper trailer brakes and brake controller (at least a Prodigy), proper weight distributing hitch and the knowledge how to use all of this stuff properly and you can do just fine....

If Chevy thought folks were going to rip the rear end out of a 1/2 ton truck towing above 7000#s they would not rate them that high and they would steer everyone to HDs.

Bigger is not always better, just different....

 

I have towed with HDs, 1/2tons, new and old. A properly equipped 1/2 ton truck of today tows better and safer than a 3/4 tonner of yesterday...

 

and NO, you do not have to stay in 3rd gear....I tow on the flats on Interstate 5 in California all the time...4th gear OD, in tow/haul mode.

at 62MPH I am running just about 2K rpms. Unless I get a fairly stiff hill, I can keep it locked in 4th with out the trans. hunting between 3rd and 4th.

If I drop down around 55MPH, I drop it to 3rd because the 5.3L doesn't have enough torque, and even with the 4:10s the RPMs are too low to pull any type of grade....you have to pay attention to what the truck wants, and what it is telling you.

[ZZ327]

double post

[ZZ327]

what does your trailer weigh , and what do you have in it when towing? If its what the rating is on the silverado 1500 capacity or lower. You will be just fine.

[jbannick18]

if your looking to get better fuel economy in a 1500 when pulling that much weight, i doubt you'll see it. I'd just stick with a 2500 hd