1/2 ton Vs 3/4 Ton Chevy Road Test
I tow a TT at the max for my Silverado 1/2 ton with a pro pride hitch that I have been using for the last 4 years. I have it dialed in and for the most part it does the job but could be better. I ha...
Forum Discussion
when we first got our TT, we had an 04 Chevy 1500 (327v8) in the extended cab (suicide doors to get into the back seat. our camper is an older Nash 25ft...around 6k when packed and ready to go off for a trip.
with leveler bars on the hitch, the truck sat nice and even and i always felt we had an appopriate amount of truck for the camper size.
with 230k miles on the truck, it seemed like it was time for a trade..and as we have plans to someday go up to about a 32ft triple slide TT, I figured this was the time to go for the bigger truck.
we got into a 2011 duramax (single wheel..not dually)
the differences:
1) safety - with the heavier truck, we control the camper...rather than having it bully our tow vehical.
2) exhaust braking - great coming back down the mountains.
3) power - oh my..used to be climbing the hills had the ol 327 gasser grabbing 2nd gear, high rpms, and dropping well below the speed limit as we'd struggle the climb.
4) as for gas mileage - the best our 327 1500 was rated for by GM was 17mpg...we never EVER got that empty...pulling...maybe 10mpg.
The duramax has gotten into the 22mpg empty and always 15.5 pulling..so while dieself is more at the pump, the mpg makes up for it...but the delta in arriving less fatigued, is worth the price of the truck..btw, our duramax is also 4x4 and I run more aggressive tread...so I didn't expect to get even the mpg that we do enjoy.
with leveler bars on the hitch, the truck sat nice and even and i always felt we had an appopriate amount of truck for the camper size.
with 230k miles on the truck, it seemed like it was time for a trade..and as we have plans to someday go up to about a 32ft triple slide TT, I figured this was the time to go for the bigger truck.
we got into a 2011 duramax (single wheel..not dually)
the differences:
1) safety - with the heavier truck, we control the camper...rather than having it bully our tow vehical.
2) exhaust braking - great coming back down the mountains.
3) power - oh my..used to be climbing the hills had the ol 327 gasser grabbing 2nd gear, high rpms, and dropping well below the speed limit as we'd struggle the climb.
4) as for gas mileage - the best our 327 1500 was rated for by GM was 17mpg...we never EVER got that empty...pulling...maybe 10mpg.
The duramax has gotten into the 22mpg empty and always 15.5 pulling..so while dieself is more at the pump, the mpg makes up for it...but the delta in arriving less fatigued, is worth the price of the truck..btw, our duramax is also 4x4 and I run more aggressive tread...so I didn't expect to get even the mpg that we do enjoy.
