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Old 01-27-2015, 10:04 AM   #1
GMcKenzie
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Kicking tires. New 1/2ton question

I am starting to kick tires on replacing my current truck. It's 15 years old, but has about 155,000 KM (~100,000 M) on it. I've done the injectors once and don't want to do them again. Plus it needs a bit of front end work and the fuel gague needs fixing.

So I'm curious about what the new 1/2 tons can really tow. Trailer is 8,500 loaded and around 1,100 on the toungue. I also want to be able to carry my boat and fishing gear.

I know I would need to do the scale thing, but comparing to what I have now is a bit tough as there is no scale near home.

Is anyone towing with a new 1/2 ton? Thinking the GM version with the MaxTow package?
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Old 01-27-2015, 10:40 AM   #2
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My 2011 1500 CC/SB Silverado has a payload rating of 1430# with 9600# tow cap. The factory hitch is rated to 1100 with WDH.
So, based on your numbers, I wouldn't recommend it. I'm not 100% comfortable towing mine with similar numbers.

My opinion, get a 250/2500 with a class 5 hitch (probably 2.5" receiver from factory) for the safety factor.
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Old 01-27-2015, 11:05 AM   #3
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If I where you I'd look into a 3/4 ton because I have a F-250 7.3L powerstroke and I have a Laredo 284BH that the sticker say's like 6,700lbs camper (BS) I took it too the scales awhile back it came in over 8,000lbs it's not hard too tow but I think you are at the outer limit's of a 1/2 ton truck.

Just my 2 cent's worth, also if you go for bigger truck you will have room for growth if you decide on a larger camper or boat.
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Old 01-27-2015, 02:56 PM   #4
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Hansel, keep this in mind. When you talk to most (remember, before you jump me you 1/2 ton owners, I said most) 1/2 ton owners you would get some wild stories about what they can tow, what they have towed and how much they could tow given the opportunity. In reality, buy a 3/4 ton for very few bucks more and then you at least have a chance to move up someday to a bigger trailer without crying about a new truck.
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Old 01-27-2015, 03:31 PM   #5
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Based on your numbers, the ecoboost will be the only 150 that can flame to handle it. Some ecoboost so claim north of 11,000 towing and north of 2,000 payload. Not sure if they can actually do it. I towed with a 150 for 3 years but sure love the job the 350 does. Went with the 350 over the 250 because I wanted to, the price was about the same and dealers around hear have 10 350's for each 250 they have in stock. Good luck.
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Old 01-27-2015, 04:46 PM   #6
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Living where you do and having to do a lot of driving in the mountains - up one side- down the other not once but several times and in view of what you are towing, I would highly recommend a 3/4T diesel over any 1/2T.

Try kicking tires attached to 3/4 T's.
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Old 01-27-2015, 05:01 PM   #7
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My recommendationfor serious towing with any TT over 7000 lbs is a 3/4 ton truck. The E rated tires, suspension and axles, brakes are really designed for heavier tongue weights. Most 1/2 tons lose their payload capabilities long before the max tow weight capacities.
If towing a lot of hills diesel is ppreferable, but gas would be good with a low geared axle (4:10 or 4:30).
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Old 01-28-2015, 05:40 AM   #8
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Just a thought, based on your current truck, you know what the 2500 diesels tow like, not sure why you would want to drop to a 1500. You have your reasons. As for the injectors on your current truck, the OE injectors in those years were known for problems, that was the first years of the high pressure fuel systems. GM/Bosch figured out the issues and they were fixed in the later replacements, I doubt you would end up replacing them anytime soon.

As for your trailer, it is very similar to my car trailer, weight wise, when I'm loaded down. The last time I scaled it, 8,400 total with 1,150 on the tongue. I have towed it with several different trucks, 2500 gaseer, 2500 and 3500 dmax, and a very short distance (6 miles) with a friends 1500, the 2500 is the smallest I would go.
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Old 01-28-2015, 08:41 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by notanlines View Post
Hansel, keep this in mind. When you talk to most (remember, before you jump me you 1/2 ton owners, I said most) 1/2 ton owners you would get some wild stories about what they can tow, what they have towed and how much they could tow given the opportunity. In reality, buy a 3/4 ton for very few bucks more and then you at least have a chance to move up someday to a bigger trailer without crying about a new truck.
Oh I know, that's why I try too error on the side of getting too much truck instead of not having enough.
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Old 01-28-2015, 11:23 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bsmith0404 View Post
Just a thought, based on your current truck, you know what the 2500 diesels tow like, not sure why you would want to drop to a 1500. You have your reasons. As for the injectors on your current truck, the OE injectors in those years were known for problems, that was the first years of the high pressure fuel systems. GM/Bosch figured out the issues and they were fixed in the later replacements, I doubt you would end up replacing them anytime soon.
Disagree. The newer are really no better and most people on the diesel sites will tell you they just need replacing every so often. It seems like a crapshoot and while some swear by the extra filtering, there really seems to be no rhyme or reason to it. Problem is, for the first years of the Duramax it is a mojor pain to change them. Book is 16 hours (more than an engine pull). I did mine myself, so saved the labour, but the injectors are still $1,800 USD.
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Old 01-28-2015, 11:32 AM   #11
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And thanks for the comments. I just see towing caps approaching 12,000 and was wondering if anyone has experience.

As much as I like diesel, I drive under 250kms a month in the winter, so end up parking the truck for 6 months of the year and drive a winter beater. Not going to do that with a new truck so got some thinking to do.
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Old 01-28-2015, 01:54 PM   #12
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I towed 10k lbs with a 6.0 GMC 2500. It handled the load, fine, but I do too much towing through the mountains so I stepped up to the diesel. If you don't do much mountain towing, or don't mind going slow and easy to keep the RPMs and temps down, you should be fine. Problem with the 1500s, can't get the 6.0, at least not that I am aware of.
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Old 01-28-2015, 02:22 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bsmith0404 View Post
I towed 10k lbs with a 6.0 GMC 2500. It handled the load, fine, but I do too much towing through the mountains so I stepped up to the diesel. If you don't do much mountain towing, or don't mind going slow and easy to keep the RPMs and temps down, you should be fine. Problem with the 1500s, can't get the 6.0, at least not that I am aware of.
They have a 6.2L in the 1500 with the Max Tow package.

http://www.autoblog.com/2014/06/19/2...unds-official/

And I live in a valley surrounded by mountains. Have to climb 3500 ft to go pretty much anywhere from here.
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Old 01-28-2015, 05:28 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bsmith0404 View Post
I towed 10k lbs with a 6.0 GMC 2500. It handled the load, fine, but I do too much towing through the mountains so I stepped up to the diesel. If you don't do much mountain towing, or don't mind going slow and easy to keep the RPMs and temps down, you should be fine. Problem with the 1500s, can't get the 6.0, at least not that I am aware of.
I use to have a 2002 GMC Sierra 1500HD which had a 6.0L Vortec in it so it's possible to get one.
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Old 01-29-2015, 04:30 PM   #15
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I have to agree with those that recommend a 3/4 ton. You will be right at, and probably over, the limits of any 1/2 ton. If you don't pull much and want to get away from the diesel you might look into the Ram 6.4L. I think GM has also beefed up their 6.2 so they might be what you need/want.
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Old 01-29-2015, 10:11 PM   #16
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Originally Posted by GMcKenzie View Post
They have a 6.2L in the 1500 with the Max Tow package.

http://www.autoblog.com/2014/06/19/2...unds-official/

And I live in a valley surrounded by mountains. Have to climb 3500 ft to go pretty much anywhere from here.
That's too much weight for a 1/2T to control. The writer of the article you quoted agrees:
That said, when we first drove the Silverado in 2013, we were cautiously optimistic about that tow rating. "We put 8,600 pounds of trailer and skid steer behind the new Silverado, and while the truck could confidently pull the load about, we'd think twice about knocking on that 11,500 number's door,"
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Old 01-30-2015, 11:10 PM   #17
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I sell chevys for a living and I would say stick to the 2500's. Will a half ton with the max trailer package tow 11,000 pounds? Sure it will...hell Volkswagen towed a space shuttle with a touareg. But will it tow it safely? In a panic stop, towing max capacity you will not like the results.....a 2500 will pull smoother, stop better, and just give you piece of mind. If you want to tow your camper to you seasonal and back twice a year and use the truck as a daily driver 99% of the time, buy a half ton. If your looking to really do some towing...stick to a 2500.
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