Yeah there's really no point going with the gas engine if your already stepping up to 3/4 ton. He would have doubled his mileage. Not to mention the night and day difference in power.

Isn't it true that modern diesels suffer from short trips due to new emissions standards?

Diesels are NOT good choices for driving to the grocery store and back.... They like to WORK....so if you're not putting the boots to 'em once in awhile -- towing etc -- then why would anyone have one?

Even towing a 24' trailer and a stinky little Camaro isn't really making 'em work hard. I agree with the others when they say -- if you're not putting very many miles on a tow rig... then it's kind of a waste. The motor option alone is like 5 grand.... a guy can burn a lot of 6 MPG fuel for 5 grand... for the two or three times a year he hauls a 2,000 mile round trip. And if you're just going 500 miles round trip.... the whole conversation just doesn't pan out.


My personal hauling is Seattle - to LA - or to No Cal - or to AriDzona - or even back and forth to Sun Valley.... those are FREQUENT trips with lots of mountain climbing (almost monthly - so figure 9 trips like that per year) so a diesel is a must...

Do the math -- a gas truck gets 6 mpg -- a diesel will get 10 or 12.... Diesel costs more than regular and the difference will take forever to use up the cost of the diesel motor. Not to mention the resale value you'll get back for the diesel.... but a guy really has to think about the true costs for the amount of time spent using it correctly.

They do make a better 1500 and its called the mighty max package. It has the 6.2l engine with the 6 speed and the bigger rear axle. My 1500 would pull my Camaro up the Grapevine as fast as I want to go. I let off at 85mph the max my old f450 would go one time. It really no difference with an enclosed. The problem with the 2500 with the gas engine is that is the same engine in the 1500. So it gets worse mileage then a 1500. To me it's either a 1500 or the Duramax 2500. The gas powered 2500 is a waste of time. My old dually would be more stable then my 1500 in crosswinds or passing traffic. But my 1500 gets 11mpg towing and my f450 got 8mpg empty or loaded. My Freightliner gets 7mpg.

So ---- remember the old horse power wars??? The ratings were always "fudged" by the OEMS picking the RPM's they used to show HP.... we know now that those numbers were mostly marketing BS or a way to trip up the insurance companies....


Now here's the latest OEM fudge factor.... "the tow ratings"



The 5.3-liter V8 Crew Cab 4x4 we're sitting in can tow 9,600 pounds thanks to optional zero-cost 3.42 axles. An optional Max Trailering package with 3.73 axles and stiffer leaf springs will boost that to 11,200 pounds: The 11,500-pound advertised maximum tow rating requires the 4x2 Double Cab configuration. Add the mighty 6.2-liter V8 and it nudges to 12,000 pounds.

Of course GMC, like Chevrolet, has decided to ignore the new SAE tow rating procedure that would make these numbers relevant to the competition. As it stands, the ratings are only useful for comparison within the GM family.

I bought a used Yukon XL 2500 to use for towing and sold my newish Duramax dually. We might tow to a show 2-3 times a year. Never more than 6-8 hours one way, usually less. The dually was very nice and would tow like a dream but we never used it for anything. Too big and too much coin tied up just sitting. The Yukon is a lot more useful for everyday stuff and even though as Rodger pointed out it only has the 6.0l gas burner, I've programmed and exhausted it up to respectable performance. Plus it has 3/4 ton chassis and brakes and the 4l80E with all the extra coolers and cooling. I can load all the gear (chairs, coolers, canopy) inside and not have to worry about that stuff being exposed in the open bed.

It also has the Quadrasteer. If you've never driven one, they are a hoot! It makes a lousy trailer backer like me look talented!:excited:



Jeff-

I hear you but try to find one in the used market. Three years ago, I couldn't find one.

My Ram 2500 diesel gets an avg 22-24 mpg.... When I tow my trailer with a car in it.... Around 14-16....

If you are towing hard/heavy every day, a diesel is for you, if not, a gas will do. I choose a gas engine when I was looking for a new truck. It will tow anything I want. It is not my daily driver so gas is not a big issue. And believe me, the maintenance on a gas truck is much cheaper. And the cost of a diesel will buy a lot of gas! I am sure this will start a war, just putting out there that gas engines will tow big items with ease as well.

Thanks for the replies. I will be looking for an open trailer since I dont have a giant truck.