The wrong message at the Detroit Auto show

[busterbrown]

I find it funny that beyond the glimmer and shine on the HD 2500 trucks at the NAIAS, there are red flags that not many see. I suppose I was once one of them. The flash...the tech...the guy sitting in the driver's seat of the 2500 Denali talking about this being his next purchase to pull his 40' 5ver. He might as well get a GM gasser 1/2 ton and save $20K. The placards say it all.

Pics 1/2 - 1500 Chevy Silverado Z71 in LT trim.
Pics 3/4 - 2500 GMC Sierra in Denali trim.
Pic 5 - A very "capable" Toyota Tundra. Although, it did have wonderful 2nd row leg room.






A side not...I'm not just picking on GM. It's similar across the different brands. RAM was kind enough to leave off the placards on all their new HD lines. Bummer.

[Wing-in-it]

huh...my ‘08 has a GWR of 11,000 lbs....

Mine is 2wd however. Annnnnnd I only paid 31k in 2010. Daggone 72k for a truck!

[busterbrown]

Originally Posted by Wing-in-it

Daggone 72k for a truck!

Ford had a couple F250 and F350 Limited trim on display that weren't priced for the public. The show rep said MSRP would be around $80K. I guess they were too shy to publish that.

[mtofell]

A buddy of mine has a Ram 1500 with every option you can name and his payload is 1070#. We were out camping and another buddy with a Subaru Forester got curious and looked at his sticker - 950#. Ram buddy just grabbed another beer to help with the pain

[slow]

Our 2014 Honda Fit has a 850 lb payload.

[busterbrown]

Originally Posted by slow

Our 2014 Honda Fit has a 850 lb payload.

That's small ultralite territory! Looks like you got 2 tow vehicles in the family.

[Frank G]

Originally Posted by busterbrown

I find it funny that beyond the glimmer and shine on the HD 2500 trucks at the NAIAS, there are red flags that not many see. I suppose I was once one of them. The flash...the tech...the guy sitting in the driver's seat of the 2500 Denali talking about this being his next purchase to pull his 40' 5ver. He might as well get a GM gasser 1/2 ton and save $20K. The placards say it all.

Pics 1/2 - 1500 Chevy Silverado Z71 in LT trim.
Pics 3/4 - 2500 GMC Sierra in Denali trim.
Pic 5 - A very "capable" Toyota Tundra. Although, it did have wonderful 2nd row leg room.
Attachment 19954
Attachment 19955
Attachment 19956
Attachment 19957
Attachment 19958

A side not...I'm not just picking on GM. It's similar across the different brands. RAM was kind enough to leave off the placards on all their new HD lines. Bummer.

The placard on the 2500 complies with federal law, has nothing to do with reality or safety. If this 10,000 lb GVW law for 3/4 ton pick-up's did not exist the manufacture could tell us the true capabilities of the vehicle. I am not suggesting anyone disregard the sticker, I am saying it is not telling the truth.

[Javi]

My 2015 F350 CC has a payload of 6062, and I paid $38,000 out the door including TT&L with hitch, and spray in bedliner.. Had 26 miles on it...

[Gegrad]

Originally Posted by busterbrown

I find it funny that beyond the glimmer and shine on the HD 2500 trucks at the NAIAS, there are red flags that not many see. I suppose I was once one of them. The flash...the tech...the guy sitting in the driver's seat of the 2500 Denali talking about this being his next purchase to pull his 40' 5ver. He might as well get a GM gasser 1/2 ton and save $20K. The placards say it all.

Pics 1/2 - 1500 Chevy Silverado Z71 in LT trim.
Pics 3/4 - 2500 GMC Sierra in Denali trim.
Pic 5 - A very "capable" Toyota Tundra. Although, it did have wonderful 2nd row leg room.
Attachment 19954
Attachment 19955
Attachment 19956
Attachment 19957
Attachment 19958

A side not...I'm not just picking on GM. It's similar across the different brands. RAM was kind enough to leave off the placards on all their new HD lines. Bummer.

While those other truck #s are depressing, I am impressed with the 1832 lb rating on the 1/2 ton. That is a good number; If that truck were a 2WD model that payload would be over 2000 lbs. Chevy has made some improvements there in their 1/2 ton lineup.

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by Frank G

The placard on the 2500 complies with federal law, has nothing to do with reality or safety. If this 10,000 lb GVW law for 3/4 ton pick-up's did not exist the manufacture could tell us the true capabilities of the vehicle. I am not suggesting anyone disregard the sticker, I am saying it is not telling the truth.

Ahhh, but therein lies the rub (see red above). Plus, I'm not really one to believe that all the placards, warnings, "do not exceed"/"shall not exceed" etc. statements are all just "hyperbole" that the manufacturers put in the vehicles to "cover up" that they are so much more capable but we "just don't know". Sort of like the 1/2 tons with "heavy springs" that are now the equivalent of a 3/4 ton or more but they "just won't say it", the 3/4 tons that are really one tons but the 10k "law" won't "them tell us". The specs are on each vehicle - they are what they are. If a person wants something with a bigger "number"...they sell it and you just have to buy it. Sort of like believing you can fly by pasting some duck feathers on your arms...that's all well and good, and probably cool if you believe it, but, when you jump off that 2000' cliff to "fly away"....things ain't going to go so well......JMO

[JRTJH]

We haven't been to the Detroit Auto Show for several years. Every time I went I left depressed because I couldn't leave with two of everything.....

Hard to soar with the eagles when it's duck feathers glued to your arms....

On the other hand, this might not fly, but if you can figure out how to mount a hitch, well, maybe it'll tow "anything it doesn't shake apart".....

[rhagfo]

Originally Posted by Wing-in-it

huh...my ‘08 has a GWR of 11,000 lbs....

Mine is 2wd however. Annnnnnd I only paid 31k in 2010. Daggone 72k for a truck!

First of all your 08, has a maximum listed GVWR of 10,000#, class 2 If it was a 3500 SRW might have a GVWR of 11,000#.

2015 Fuzion 325
2008 Chevrolet 2500HD Duramax
Chesterfield, VA.

Now your 5er has a GVWR of 16,500# that is a lot of 5er even for a 3500SRW. Hope your 2500 has something other than 17" wheels, I just hope you have enough tire to carry the load on your TV rear axle.

2015 Keystone Fuzion 325 Specifications
Technical Specifications:
Length 38'
Width 8' 6"
Height (in/mm) 13' 1"
Dry Weight 12,710#
Payload Capacity 3,790#
GVWR 16,500#
Hitch Weight Dry 2,915#

[Snoking]

Originally Posted by rhagfo

First of all your 08, has a maximum listed GVWR of 10,000#, class 2 If it was a 3500 SRW might have a GVWR of 11,000#.

2015 Fuzion 325
2008 Chevrolet 2500HD Duramax
Chesterfield, VA.

Now your 5er has a GVWR of 16,500# that is a lot of 5er even for a 3500SRW. Hope your 2500 has something other than 17" wheels, I just hope you have enough tire to carry the load on your TV rear axle.

2015 Keystone Fuzion 325 Specifications
Technical Specifications:
Length 38'
Width 8' 6"
Height (in/mm) 13' 1"
Dry Weight 12,710#
Payload Capacity 3,790#
GVWR 16,500#
Hitch Weight Dry 2,915#

Russ, that caught my eye also. I wonder if he has hit a scale to see what his actual weights are at. Chris

[rhagfo]

Originally Posted by Snoking

Russ, that caught my eye also. I wonder if he has hit a scale to see what his actual weights are at. Chris

I wonder that also, just how many of those towing large heavy 5ers with 250/2500’s know where they stand with tires and axle ratings.
With our 2500 I scaled often, and knew while over GVWR, I was always within axle and tire ratings. Now at least for a while don’t need to worry about weights, but will be scaling on the next tow.

[ken56]

I bought my first truck back in '78, $9,980.00 bucks. Manual tranny and the only option was a radio. Trucks are the biggest profit margin vehicles the auto makers have. It is honestly mind boggling that they can reach 80,000 today. Are they nice? You bet, over the top nice. Do they have the guts to tow our trailers? That is the million dollar question. For the most part there is a truck that will do the job we need it to do, but at what price are we willing to pay. Seems to me there has to be ceiling on pricing at some point, just like with gas prices.

[Northofu1]

While looking at many GMC 2500HD's The gassers with double cab regular box all had 2900lbs payload, diesel would have 700 to 800 less. All the gassers had same options.

[rhagfo]

Originally Posted by Northofu1

While looking at many GMC 2500HD's The gassers with double cab regular box all had 2900lbs payload, diesel would have 700 to 800 less. All the gassers had same options.

That is why you don't buy a diesel 2500, and go straight a 3500. It is also the catch 22 of the gas vs Diesel, gas will have a higher Payload, but less pulling power.
It is all in what works for you.

[C130JSuperHerc]

Nice job trolling the tow police!

I’ll just be over here with my airbags on my 2500 duramax minding my own business

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by C130JSuperHerc

Nice job trolling the tow police!

I’ll just be over here with my airbags on my 2500 duramax minding my own business

I wouldn't consider expressing a differing opinion as "trolling" if it were, then your post could also be considered "a differing opinion" and to some would be "trolling"....

Everyone has their opinion, all are welcome here and there are no restrictions on expressing them (as long as you follow the forum rules). However, attempts at "name calling" aren't appropriate. Only those with the approved forum WP badge can carry the title "tow police" or "weight police".....

[itat]

Originally Posted by C130JSuperHerc

Nice job trolling the tow police!

I’ll just be over here with my airbags on my 2500 duramax minding my own business

Nice job .... 2nd post .... insulting others right away....