So buying another new truck and was hardcore headed for the Ram but then started looking at the Chevy as well. I'm looking at Ram 2500 Laramie or Big Horn diesel, the 3500 srw with the aisin tranny and then I started looking at the Chevy 2500HD/3500HD duramax in the LTZ trim but haven't looked at the GMC SLT package in person yet. Is the GMC the way to go instead of the Chevy? I know they are pretty much the same truck however I've always thought the GMC was a fancier version?They will all tow what I have so I'm not even going there. Just wondering if someone has compared the two GM packages and which was preferable. Ive owned a lot of Rams but haven't owned a GM. As far as Ford I don't like the interior right now and they are at the end of their cycle for '16. Is the digital dash only on the Denali? It's out of my price range but wasn't sure about the SLT having it as an option. Any options to must have? Stuff that you can't add in the future. I am pretty new to the GM side so was trying to study up. The same dealer carries all three brands so working with the same salesman.

You want to be really careful if you will be towing a fifth wheel at some point to have plenty of cargo rating. If you will stay with travel trailers, then a 2500 should offer plenty of cargo rating, and still carry a maximum of 1,400 pounds hitch weight.Yet even the smaller 30' fifth wheels can exceed 3000 pin weight when fully loaded. So if any plans include a fifth wheel in the next 6-10 years, I would go for the extra $900 and get the SRW 3500 truck.I have heard that a 3500 SRW Dodge is less expensive than the 2500 set up for towing. This is because the diesel is standard on the DRW 3500, and the SRW 3500 is a deduct option to remove the two extra wheels, and fenders, so it became less expensive MSRP than the 2500 diesel all optioned up (that came with gas engine standard, and a expensive diesel option). You can not beat any of the big trucks put out this year. My sister just traded in her F-150 Ecoboost for a new 2016 diesel F-350 dually. She was impressed with the power of the EB, but now is REALLY impressed with the power of the 6.7L diesel. Before she had a Expedition that was traded in for a 1500 GMC crewcab, and was not impressed with it's ability to overheat on a short run into the mountains east of Phoenix towing her boat. The F-150 did much better towing the 8,000 pounds. But the F-350 dually is much better than both of those!Yes the news is out on the 2017 F-350's with aluminum body. That should be about 700 pounds lighter than the current 2016. No word yet on how many months one will need to wait to get the 2017's though. They normally come out with the next model year in June or July, but nothing it out yet on the delivery dates. With the 2014 / 2015 F-150's Ford had two factories to convert. They did the first one in August, and Kansas City I think in October. So KC plant could still produce the 2014 F-150 late into 2014, producing around 5,000 trucks a week in either plant. With the F-250 through F-550 plant, they have to convert it all at once. Hopefully sooner than later!Good luck,Fred.

My last truck was a 2012 3500HD SRW Silverado LTZ. Current is a 2015 GMC 3500HD SRW Denali Dmax. Night and day difference between the two. As far as GMC versus Chevy, simply preference for looks. I believe the LCD dash is only in the Denali trim level.

I can't complain about my Chevy 3500 Duramax diesel dually. I'm on my 2nd one now (first was purchased used and the body was falling apart, second one was purchased new). Before that, we bough a gas 3500 Chevy dually. No comparison between the gas and the diesel. I'll not go back to gas for towing. I can't comment on the GMC version, never towed with one. But I do know my set-up is a really sweet ride for towing! After owning a dually, the stability, never a hint of trailer sway, and ... oh the power .... I'd never want to tow a trailer with SRW now. I'm just too spoiled now. And I sure do enjoy a comfortable ride, and driving uphill when towing a 35 foot trailer and STILL be able to pass passenger cars that are breathing through life-support just to make it to the top!

Sorry, I would not go with a 2500 series from anybody. They are simply too limiting for many RVers. Instead for nearly the same price get a 3500. Brand? Heck that is just too personal to get into. Kind of like saying because your wife is not a red head she is not pretty. Meaning no disrespect, but you get the idea? What I like and prefer has no bearing on the subject. Its your money your spending, pick what YOU like best. What I will say is, go test drive all theee, preferably all on the same day and pick what you will be happiest with.

For the most part GMC SLT trim = Chevy LTZ trim. Differences are in the front end styling differences between GM/Chevy and that is about it. GMC also offers the high end Denali trim which is one above the SLT.One dealer sells both GM and Ram trucks??? Have never heard of this...

Buying a new truck but trying to decide which...

57 Replies

mileshuff
Explorer
Dec 07, 2016
I would never give a deposit for the privilege of being able to look at a vehicle. Never heard of that.
DynoDragn
Explorer
Nov 28, 2016
I never got the deposit back, I just dropped it and won't buy from them. Red River Dodge is where I got mine and the salesman is a family friend. I was just trying to find something more local but decided to go back home. It's going to cost me $1k to get it out here but still way better than any deal locally.
deltabravo
Nomad
Nov 28, 2016
I had to fight tooth and nail to get Dave Smith to refund my deposit. The kept saying they were getting it refunded, and didn't. I finally escalated it several levels up the chain of command to get it done.

Someone was dropping the ball. It took about 3 months to get it resolved. The problem was that my sales guy put in the request (or he says he did) and no one above him processed it.

When I got to the supervisor/manager, he said "deposits aren't refundable." I said, "HUH???" (that was the first I'd heard of that.)
He asked why I didn't purchase the vehicle. I said "It was a used vehicle, and the condition was not up to par with my standards."

What irked me in the beginning of my shopping, was that every time I called and said "yeah, I want to come and look at a vehicle I see online" they would demand a deposit "to lock it down in their system so it couldn't be sold before I got there."

I live about an hour away.

I won't play that "give me a deposit" game again when shopping for a used vehicle with Dave Smith because I won't commit to buying pre-owned until I see something in person, so there's no need for me to make a deposit on it.
DynoDragn
Explorer
Nov 28, 2016
It has the brown interior which is awesome. The best feature is the auto level air suspension for towing.
The_real_wild1
Explorer
Nov 28, 2016
Nice truck. I had a 2013 longhorn. Great interior.
DynoDragn
Explorer
Nov 28, 2016
Well guys I finally got the truck! I went to my hometown dealer and got a '16 2500 loaded out with 16k off sticker.
SouthpawHD
Explorer
Jan 17, 2016
DynoDragn wrote:
Well the deal fell through on that one. Crazy.. I've got a check in hand ready to send just give me the deal sheet. A week later I'm still waiting? Nope.
Found another Ram and this one is 12.5k below MSRP. It's Silver and has the auto leveling rear. Now set it up today so supposed to have the deal sheet tomorrow. Good thing is it's a little closer so can go get it and drive it back.

I had a similar experience. All set to drive 4 hours and pick it up and the dealer won't give me final numbers. Ended up with a better truck a week later at a local dealer.

So what happened to you and this deal? Did you get a new truck?
GeoBoy
Explorer
Jan 11, 2016
I never give more than $100.00 deposit, period. This way if something goes wrong with the deal I'm walking and keep the $100.00 bucks. Good luck and I hope you do get your deposit back.
DynoDragn
Explorer
Jan 08, 2016
Tplife, thanks bro I have had my bank contest the charge as they did not follow through with anything. As far as getting feedback on here, I just like hearing what other people think. I take it with a grain of salt.
Appreciate the consumer reports tip.
tplife
Explorer
Jan 05, 2016
Dynodragon, check your Purchase Order to verify if your deposit is refundable or not: Refusing to refund a deposit
Next vehicle purchase, send $15 to Consumer Reports to get your advice on what to pay and why rather than on this forum. I am both Ford and GM Certified, but based on statistics I'd buy the Ram product. As stated, only the trim is different between them, but the GM has a higher resale value because...wait for it...they manufacture fewer of them than Chevys, so the GMC vehicle is worth more. :)