Researching my next truck, gas vs diesel

[NW-GSP]

Im weighing the pro's and cons of getting a diesel instead of a gas engine. I plan on getting a camper and would be towing a boat at the same time, I would also be traveling across the passes with this set up also.
I have been looking at 06-07 chevy 2500.

[netcoyote]

You didn't state what size camper or boat but generally if you plan to tow something, diesel should be your preference. I've done both and much prefer a diesel for the torque when towing.

[NW-GSP]

Im not sure what size camper or boat due to not owning either one yet. I think the max length of boat i will get is around 22'. I just don't want to get a gas engine and end up wishing I got a diesel.

[jstone]

I would get the diesel for towing you won't regret it.

[jackelope]

You can't go wrong with those years in a duramax. A gas engine will yield single digit mPG's guaranteed and not had the power. The 6.0 gasser will be a turd and the 8.1 will give you about 5 miles per gallon. Monster torque and HP but horrible mileage.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Diesal.

[ckr]

I just got rid of a 05 gmc with the 6l gas motor. A flat 10 mpg weather city, highway or towing a 18ft boat.  Not bad but the diesel would be better

[raydog]

Diesel would be the better option. Around 06 was the better years of the Dmax

[CAMPMEAT]

Diesel ONLY Richard.. I did the same exact thing as you are thinking about. Bought a gas pot and it just didn't have the pulling power. Bought a '13 Duramax, you saw it, I'll never buy another gas truck, ever.

[Rick]

If you want to tow a boat and carry a camper,I'd be looking at more than a 2500HD.

[X-Force]

Diesel, hands down if you plan on actually doing any towing. Through work and play I drive all three brands and the duramax is by far the most fun to drive and tows the best.

[CAMPMEAT]

If you want to tow a boat and carry a camper,I'd be looking at more than a 2500HD.

I have a 2500 with an 8.5 foot camper and a 20 foot cargo trailer with an ATV and a side x side in it and I have plenty of power to spare. I'm right around 14000 libs.

[Rick]

If you want to tow a boat and carry a camper,I'd be looking at more than a 2500HD.

I have a 2500 with an 8.5 foot camper and a 20 foot cargo trailer with an ATV and a side x side in it and I have plenty of power to spare. I'm right around 14000 libs.

I'm at about 21K combined with my '11 2500HD and fifth wheel.  Its not about the power,its about how the truck handles the camper and load behind it. A lot of guys don't seem to mind,but a lot of guys don't know WTF they're doing either (not implying that you don't)

My '11 and your '13 also have 900lbs more payload capacity than the '06-'07 the OP is looking at.

[Buzz2401]

It all comes down to how many miles you are gonna drive truck a year.  I have been towing my boat with a 8' camper on back for years with my 2500HD 8.1L Allison combo.  My boat is 6000lbs and the camper is 2200lbs. It gets 8 mpg with that load.  I did the math and it would have taken me 7 years to break even on a diesel.  I only drive truck about 6000 miles a year and it is all towing.  Don't be one of those guys who buys a diesel because someone told you you need one.  Do a real analysis of what you will be towing and how much then figuire out what will work for you.

[C-Money]

The Cummins and the Duramax would be my first choices if I had the $$. You may look at the Ford V10 in those years and save some money. My 04 F350 V10 6 speed manual gets 13.5 empty, and 11 loaded down. Plenty of power, but I miss the diesel motor going down the passes, I am on the brakes more with the gas motor. A GM 2500HD with the 6.0 gas will get the job done, and are very dependable.  Stay away from the Ford 6.0 diesel and newer.

[Buzz2401]

My 8.1 allison combo uses the transmission to slow truck down.  I never have to hit breaks going down hills loaded at 13500lbs combined weight.  Other then that though the Ford V-10 is a good reliable combo.

[CAMPMEAT]

If you want to tow a boat and carry a camper,I'd be looking at more than a 2500HD.

I have a 2500 with an 8.5 foot camper and a 20 foot cargo trailer with an ATV and a side x side in it and I have plenty of power to spare. I'm right around 14000 libs.

I'm at about 21K combined with my '11 2500HD and fifth wheel.  Its not about the power,its about how the truck handles the camper and load behind it. A lot of guys don't seem to mind,but a lot of guys don't know WTF they're doing either (not implying that you don't)

My '11 and your '13 also have 900lbs more payload capacity than the '06-'07 the OP is looking at.

No offense taken. I drove and owned heavy haul trucks, 105,500 for 20 years. So, I do know what I'm doing at least..

[sirmissalot]

I had he same decision to make at beginning of this summer and settled on a diesel. I'm glad I did. I just got back from a trip to Cody wyoming with a camo trailer behind me and it was a breeze, I'm still amazed at the power that truck has. I averaged about 12 mpg but it's a pretty heavy trailer and we were cruising at 75 most the way. I get 23 highway with nothing behind it, with a '14 bone stock cummins. I have a 9,000lb boat i tow for fishing and it handles it without a problem, my ford always struggled with it.

[baker5150]

I had he same decision to make at beginning of this summer and settled on a diesel. I'm glad I did. I just got back from a trip to Cody wyoming with a camo trailer behind me and it was a breeze, I'm still amazed at the power that truck has. I averaged about 12 mpg but it's a pretty heavy trailer and we were cruising at 75 most the way. I get 23 highway with nothing behind it, with a '14 bone stock cummins. I have a 9,000lb boat i tow for fishing and it handles it without a problem, my ford always struggled with it.

Really?  Is that hand calculated or are you going by what the truck tells you?  For a stock truck that is really good mileage.

The Dodge's are great, I own one, but the tranny is a weak link, and its a rough ride.   The Chevy's are great too, good tranny, but the body has very thin sheet metal and Chevrolet is still cutting corners on their paint.  Ford's are great as well, as long as you know a mechanic who owes you a ton of favors.

Either way you go, try to get one without the newer emissions, that's the kicker theses days.  You will never regret buying a diesel truck over a gasser. Unless you buy a Ford

[sirmissalot]

That's just off the computer on the truck, and I'm just talking strictly highway around 65mph. I was amazed when I saw I could get that.

[baker5150]

That's just off the computer on the truck, and I'm just talking strictly highway around 65mph. I was amazed when I saw I could get that.

I would do a hand calculation.  My truck says 21, and my programmer says 23, but when I hand calc it I'm only getting 17 ( Granted I have 35" tires ).  This seams to be pretty common with Dodge trucks.

[wildmanoutdoors]

Keep in mind, your camper length will also determine your boat weight. I have a 9.5 camper on a 8 foot bed. So I use a super hitch extended hitch. My 36" extension is rated for 5000 pounds. So if you want a BIG camper, you may not be able to haul a BIG boat too.

[Hawgdawg]

I am also looking for a slightly used 2500 diesel. Towing around 7k. great info. TAG

[DRobnsn]

Yep you cannot trust the factory computer fuel consumption average on most diesels. On the diesel forums they call them Lie O meters for good reason. I'm curious NW what county you reside as to me this would determine what year of a truck to buy based on emissions testing. I believe 07 dmaxs have the first versions of DPF systems, which can be very problematic if left intact.

[KFhunter]

I would get a 3500

Campers are heavy and even a conservative sized camper + boat will push your GVWR over the top very quickly on a 2500. 

I got a 19 foot boat and 10 foot camper, my GVWR is well exceeded then by the time my wife n kids pile all their crap in....well 

[CAMPMEAT]

I would get a 3500

Campers are heavy and even a conservative sized camper + boat will push your GVWR over the top very quickly on a 2500. 

I got a 19 foot boat and 10 foot camper, my GVWR is well exceeded then by the time my wife n kids pile all their crap in....well 

Not really. My camper weighs 3500 lbs and the trailer is around 4000 lbs. Easy, smeasy towing.

[KFhunter]

I would get a 3500

Campers are heavy and even a conservative sized camper + boat will push your GVWR over the top very quickly on a 2500. 

I got a 19 foot boat and 10 foot camper, my GVWR is well exceeded then by the time my wife n kids pile all their crap in....well 

Not really. My camper weighs 3500 lbs and the trailer is around 4000 lbs. Easy, smeasy towing.

You truck is 6821 lbs
Camper 3500
trailer  4000

for a total of 14321.

Which is 4421 LBS over your GVWR,  I suspect you're a good bit higher than that once loaded up with all your junk.

I think that's 1 ton territory.  You do fine with it because you know how to drive right, most don't. Still it's hard on the lighter weight drive train, wheel bearings, springs and all that jazz.   3500 will have all those components beefed up.

[CAMPMEAT]

I would get a 3500

Campers are heavy and even a conservative sized camper + boat will push your GVWR over the top very quickly on a 2500. 

I got a 19 foot boat and 10 foot camper, my GVWR is well exceeded then by the time my wife n kids pile all their crap in....well 

Not really. My camper weighs 3500 lbs and the trailer is around 4000 lbs. Easy, smeasy towing.

You truck is 6821 lbs
Camper 3500
trailer  4000

for a total of 14321.

Which is 4421 LBS over your GVWR,  I suspect you're a good bit higher than that once loaded up with all your junk.

I think that's 1 ton territory.  You do fine with it because you know how to drive right, most don't. Still it's hard on the lighter weight drive train, wheel bearings, springs and all that jazz.   3500 will have all those components beefed up.

Here's a thought:

If any and all 2500 HD or similar type trucks are over weight, the coppers would be writing tickets all day and Chevy would be out of business and so would Ford, Dodge etc. I went through the stateline scales on the Idaho/Washington line last year loaded up, they weighed me and I continued on my merry way. No worries about weight with these trucks, unless you're hauling hog fuel........

[netcoyote]

I would get a 3500

Campers are heavy and even a conservative sized camper + boat will push your GVWR over the top very quickly on a 2500. 

I got a 19 foot boat and 10 foot camper, my GVWR is well exceeded then by the time my wife n kids pile all their crap in....well 

Not really. My camper weighs 3500 lbs and the trailer is around 4000 lbs. Easy, smeasy towing.

You truck is 6821 lbs
Camper 3500
trailer  4000

for a total of 14321.

Which is 4421 LBS over your GVWR,  I suspect you're a good bit higher than that once loaded up with all your junk.

I think that's 1 ton territory.  You do fine with it because you know how to drive right, most don't. Still it's hard on the lighter weight drive train, wheel bearings, springs and all that jazz.   3500 will have all those components beefed up.

Not to mention the addition of the trailer tongue weight to the cargo capacity. Even at a conservative 10% of trailer weight, that's another 400 lb on top of the 3500 lb. that's going to be on top of the springs, bearings, axles and tires. I don't care how careful a driver you are, that's some serious overloading (for a 2500).

[NW-GSP]

Campmeat I was drooling over your truck when I saw it.

what would you consider high mileage for a diesel?, saw a 06 chevy 2500 with 150,000 miles going for $25,000
i

[CAMPMEAT]

Campmeat I was drooling over your truck when I saw it.

what would you consider high mileage for a diesel?, saw a 06 chevy 2500 with 150,000 miles going for $25,000
i

From what I understand, 50,000 on a Duramax is just getting broken in. Personally, if you're going to spend money on a used diesel, get a Carfax and a spend the money to have a DIESEL mechanic look it over and run tests on it and dicker on a extended warranty.

[CAMPMEAT]

I would get a 3500

Campers are heavy and even a conservative sized camper + boat will push your GVWR over the top very quickly on a 2500. 

I got a 19 foot boat and 10 foot camper, my GVWR is well exceeded then by the time my wife n kids pile all their crap in....well 

Not really. My camper weighs 3500 lbs and the trailer is around 4000 lbs. Easy, smeasy towing.

You truck is 6821 lbs
Camper 3500
trailer  4000

for a total of 14321.

Which is 4421 LBS over your GVWR,  I suspect you're a good bit higher than that once loaded up with all your junk.

I think that's 1 ton territory.  You do fine with it because you know how to drive right, most don't. Still it's hard on the lighter weight drive train, wheel bearings, springs and all that jazz.   3500 will have all those components beefed up.

Not to mention the addition of the trailer tongue weight to the cargo capacity. Even at a conservative 10% of trailer weight, that's another 400 lb on top of the 3500 lb. that's going to be on top of the springs, bearings, axles and tires. I don't care how careful a driver you are, that's some serious overloading (for a 2500).

I drove heavy haul trucks, including dump trucks at 105,500 lbs for 20 years, if that tells you anything. You guys are trying to read too much into this. IF these trucks weren't made to haul/tow/carry that weight, the mfgrs would be out of business. You see these commercials where the Dodge is towing a 30,000 lbs  capacity, or whatever huge load that is.........

[netcoyote]

I would get a 3500

Campers are heavy and even a conservative sized camper + boat will push your GVWR over the top very quickly on a 2500. 

I got a 19 foot boat and 10 foot camper, my GVWR is well exceeded then by the time my wife n kids pile all their crap in....well 

Not really. My camper weighs 3500 lbs and the trailer is around 4000 lbs. Easy, smeasy towing.

You truck is 6821 lbs
Camper 3500
trailer  4000

for a total of 14321.

Which is 4421 LBS over your GVWR,  I suspect you're a good bit higher than that once loaded up with all your junk.

I think that's 1 ton territory.  You do fine with it because you know how to drive right, most don't. Still it's hard on the lighter weight drive train, wheel bearings, springs and all that jazz.   3500 will have all those components beefed up.

Not to mention the addition of the trailer tongue weight to the cargo capacity. Even at a conservative 10% of trailer weight, that's another 400 lb on top of the 3500 lb. that's going to be on top of the springs, bearings, axles and tires. I don't care how careful a driver you are, that's some serious overloading (for a 2500).

I drove heavy haul trucks, including dump trucks at 105,500 lbs for 20 years, if that tells you anything. You guys are trying to read too much into this. IF these trucks weren't made to haul/tow/carry that weight, the mfgrs would be out of business. You see these commercials where the Dodge is towing a 30,000 lbs  capacity, or whatever huge load that is.........

If you are referring to this Dodge, you just made my point. Sure it will tow 30,000 lbs, because it was engineered to tow that much. You're talking about a 3500 dually 4x2 with a 6.7 Cummins. That's not the same as your 2500. Completely different vehicle. They engineer different configurations because everyone has different towing needs. It's always a compromise between cost, capacity, safety and performance. Why would they bother marketing a 1500, a 2500 and a 3500 if you could haul the same load on either?
[smg id=12483]

[CAMPMEAT]

I would get a 3500

Campers are heavy and even a conservative sized camper + boat will push your GVWR over the top very quickly on a 2500. 

I got a 19 foot boat and 10 foot camper, my GVWR is well exceeded then by the time my wife n kids pile all their crap in....well 

Not really. My camper weighs 3500 lbs and the trailer is around 4000 lbs. Easy, smeasy towing.

You truck is 6821 lbs
Camper 3500
trailer  4000

for a total of 14321.

Which is 4421 LBS over your GVWR,  I suspect you're a good bit higher than that once loaded up with all your junk.

I think that's 1 ton territory.  You do fine with it because you know how to drive right, most don't. Still it's hard on the lighter weight drive train, wheel bearings, springs and all that jazz.   3500 will have all those components beefed up.

Not to mention the addition of the trailer tongue weight to the cargo capacity. Even at a conservative 10% of trailer weight, that's another 400 lb on top of the 3500 lb. that's going to be on top of the springs, bearings, axles and tires. I don't care how careful a driver you are, that's some serious overloading (for a 2500).

I drove heavy haul trucks, including dump trucks at 105,500 lbs for 20 years, if that tells you anything. You guys are trying to read too much into this. IF these trucks weren't made to haul/tow/carry that weight, the mfgrs would be out of business. You see these commercials where the Dodge is towing a 30,000 lbs  capacity, or whatever huge load that is.........

If you are referring to this Dodge, you just made my point. Sure it will tow 30,000 lbs, because it was engineered to tow that much. You're talking about a 3500 dually 4x2 with a 6.7 Cummins. That's not the same as your 2500. Completely different vehicle. They engineer different configurations because everyone has different towing needs. It's always a compromise between cost, capacity, safety and performance. Why would they bother marketing a 1500, a 2500 and a 3500 if you could haul the same load on either?
[smg id=12483]

I really don't know what you're trying to prove. What do you do for a living, not drive trucks I bet. My truck will tow/haul exactly what was asked without any issues whatsoever, period. If you want to buy a bigger truck, knock yourself out, you don't need it.

[netcoyote]

I really don't know what you're trying to prove. What do you do for a living, not drive trucks I bet. My truck will tow/haul exactly what was asked without any issues whatsoever, period. If you want to buy a bigger truck, knock yourself out, you don't need it.

I'm a retired engineer. I don't see what driving trucks has to do with the discussion. We're talking about engineered design loads. Anybody can drive an overweight vehicle. That doesn't make it safe or reliable.

I'm done, I can't add anything that hasn't already been said.

Drive safely.

[6x6in6]

I would get a 3500

Campers are heavy and even a conservative sized camper + boat will push your GVWR over the top very quickly on a 2500. 

I got a 19 foot boat and 10 foot camper, my GVWR is well exceeded then by the time my wife n kids pile all their crap in....well 

Not really. My camper weighs 3500 lbs and the trailer is around 4000 lbs. Easy, smeasy towing.

You truck is 6821 lbs
Camper 3500
trailer  4000

for a total of 14321.

Which is 4421 LBS over your GVWR,  I suspect you're a good bit higher than that once loaded up with all your junk.

I think that's 1 ton territory.  You do fine with it because you know how to drive right, most don't. Still it's hard on the lighter weight drive train, wheel bearings, springs and all that jazz.   3500 will have all those components beefed up.

GVWR is truck and it's payload.
GCWR is truck, payload and a trailer.
Campmeat's GCWR rating should be around 17k and his GVWR rating is probably somewhere near what his camper weighs.
So, from a combined standpoint he's in the clear.  From a payload, not so much when the wife packs up all his beer for the weekend. 

Light duty trucks and their loads are way under enforced by LE. 
Don't expect your insurance company to belly up to the bar when you exceed either of the weight ratios.
With my dually and fully loaded camper (4600#'s +-) that puts me around 750#'s under my GVWR.  Toss the loaded horse trailer behind that and I'm just shy of 23,000#'s and 2,500#'s +-  under my GCWR.  Hauling it is never an issue.  Stopping it is potentially more the issue.  Slotted/dimpled brake rotors, EBC brake pads, good trailer brake controller, exhaust brake and a manual trans has saved my butt from piling up more than one idiot in a Prius.

[Hawgdawg]

I am looking to buy a slightly used diesel so...................................

[6x6in6]

 

[Buzz2401]

I would get a 3500

Campers are heavy and even a conservative sized camper + boat will push your GVWR over the top very quickly on a 2500. 

I got a 19 foot boat and 10 foot camper, my GVWR is well exceeded then by the time my wife n kids pile all their crap in....well 

Not really. My camper weighs 3500 lbs and the trailer is around 4000 lbs. Easy, smeasy towing.

You truck is 6821 lbs
Camper 3500
trailer  4000

for a total of 14321.

Which is 4421 LBS over your GVWR,  I suspect you're a good bit higher than that once loaded up with all your junk.

I think that's 1 ton territory.  You do fine with it because you know how to drive right, most don't. Still it's hard on the lighter weight drive train, wheel bearings, springs and all that jazz.   3500 will have all those components beefed up.

Unless they have started doing things differently recently the only difference between a 2500 and a 3500 is spring capacity there is no diference with anything else.  Brakes, drivetrain, wheel bearings are all the same.

[baker5150]

I would get a 3500

Campers are heavy and even a conservative sized camper + boat will push your GVWR over the top very quickly on a 2500. 

I got a 19 foot boat and 10 foot camper, my GVWR is well exceeded then by the time my wife n kids pile all their crap in....well 

Not really. My camper weighs 3500 lbs and the trailer is around 4000 lbs. Easy, smeasy towing.

You truck is 6821 lbs
Camper 3500
trailer  4000

for a total of 14321.

Which is 4421 LBS over your GVWR,  I suspect you're a good bit higher than that once loaded up with all your junk.

I think that's 1 ton territory.  You do fine with it because you know how to drive right, most don't. Still it's hard on the lighter weight drive train, wheel bearings, springs and all that jazz.   3500 will have all those components beefed up.

Unless they have started doing things differently recently the only difference between a 2500 and a 3500 is spring capacity there is no diference with anything else.  Brakes, drivetrain, wheel bearings are all the same.

  and usually gear ratio in the diff and sometimes the tranny

[DRobnsn]

Campmeat I was drooling over your truck when I saw it.

what would you consider high mileage for a diesel?, saw a 06 chevy 2500 with 150,000 miles going for $25,000
i

150k isn't exactly high mileage for a diesel of any brand, having said that I would personally try to find something in that year range with less than 75k on it. They are around but hard to find and expensive. Pre 07 trucks are highly sought after for not having emissions issues and attain higher MPG's then trucks with DPF emissions systems.

As far as finding a mechanic to look at it, here is my take on that. Bring it to a Dmax performance oriented shop they will have a better idea what to look for with problems, upgrades and if previous owners have modified the truck in such a manner that will cost you lots of money down the road. For instance if someone tossed a high hp tune on it towed heavy and slipped the trans so they traded it in. 

[CAMPMEAT]

I would get a 3500

Campers are heavy and even a conservative sized camper + boat will push your GVWR over the top very quickly on a 2500. 

I got a 19 foot boat and 10 foot camper, my GVWR is well exceeded then by the time my wife n kids pile all their crap in....well 

Not really. My camper weighs 3500 lbs and the trailer is around 4000 lbs. Easy, smeasy towing.

You truck is 6821 lbs
Camper 3500
trailer  4000

for a total of 14321.

Which is 4421 LBS over your GVWR,  I suspect you're a good bit higher than that once loaded up with all your junk.

I think that's 1 ton territory.  You do fine with it because you know how to drive right, most don't. Still it's hard on the lighter weight drive train, wheel bearings, springs and all that jazz.   3500 will have all those components beefed up.

GVWR is truck and it's payload.
GCWR is truck, payload and a trailer.
Campmeat's GCWR rating should be around 17k and his GVWR rating is probably somewhere near what his camper weighs.
So, from a combined standpoint he's in the clear.  From a payload, not so much when the wife packs up all his beer for the weekend. 

Light duty trucks and their loads are way under enforced by LE. 
Don't expect your insurance company to belly up to the bar when you exceed either of the weight ratios.
With my dually and fully loaded camper (4600#'s +-) that puts me around 750#'s under my GVWR.  Toss the loaded horse trailer behind that and I'm just shy of 23,000#'s and 2,500#'s +-  under my GCWR.  Hauling it is never an issue.  Stopping it is potentially more the issue.  Slotted/dimpled brake rotors, EBC brake pads, good trailer brake controller, exhaust brake and a manual trans has saved my butt from piling up more than one idiot in a Prius.

I knew I could find someone who understands............thanks

[longstevo]

Tagging for later read