'13 vs '14- Rebate ?- Best Value?

Sorry for the slow replies to some and updates to this thread!

APT- There is a chance the new 7600gvw 1500 may be enough now if it was available, but as our 10yr old twin boys grow, and things they want to take...well you know that story I'm sure.

Reply to everyone! There ended up being some additional rebates on the '13's!!! Total in rebates we received $8500 off a '13 Silverado LT CCSB 4x4 6.0!!!! Plus with the positive from our trade, and the lower interest rate, our payment went down from the '10!!!!! We signed the papers last night, and the truck rolled in (dealer trade) late this evening, so we pick her up tomorrow!!!!

Interior it is pretty much the same options as the '10. Have to throw my tow mirrors on the '13 as it doesn't have them.

I will start a new TV Thread in the next couple days after we pick her up and I get a few pics!

Best part is our truck was built nearby at the Flint plant, so it is a "Hometown truck"!!!

TY again!
Chris

You are muddying the waters by mixing 2013/2014 with 1500/2500 trucks. The best deal is going to be on a 2013 1500 and the highest price will be for a 2014 2500 truck. I saved more than $6,000 by buying a 2011 2500 truck a month after the 2012 trucks started to hit the dealers' lots.

The more popular a truck model is the easier it will be to find one that a dealer is anxious to sell and willing to deal. Start by talking to only the internet salesperson or the sales manager or the fleet manager and this people do not get a commission and that will save you at least $1500 and probably more. Even at dealer invoice the dealer is making a healthy profit as they get discounts based on the number of units sold during a given period and they get them on every vehicle sold so they bust their butts to hit the breaks.

When you are not towing the 3/4 ton is going to use more fuel and be less fun for your and your passengers in terms of its ride and handling. Unless you are towing over 10,000 lbs. there is no need for a 3/4 ton truck. The current 1/2 ton trucks greatly exceed the capabilities of 3/4 ton trucks made 10 or more years ago in every respect.

Where people shoot themselves in the foot is in getting a truck with high gearing thinking they are going to get great gas mileage and then finding that the MPG is little better and that towing performance is greatly compromised. With the GM trucks a 4.10 rear end increases the towing capacity by 25% compared to the same trucks with the 3.73 rear end. People are buying trucks with 3.55 gears and then not happy with their towing performance, especially in the mountains, and blame the truck and not their poor choice of gears.

I really like the full interior of the 2014 half-tons. I like the new radio and climate control functions, as well as how quiet they are. However, the 2015 HDs will probably cost more (no rebates) than 2014s, and I do not know how quiet they will be.

I really like my 2011 HD with 6.0 and 3.73. Does very well towing my TT, and does get relatively good fuel economy.

After using a 2014 half-ton, I thought that I might get away with reducing my tow vehicle. After towing this last week, and in the winds yesterday, I will stay with a HD for my tow vehicle.

2013 and 2014 2500hd and 3500's are the same. The 2013's gas motors have the 3.73's as standard gears for 2014 4.10's are now standard. So if you want the 3.73's get a 2013 4.10's are harder to find. 4.10's will be easier to find in a 2014. If you are looking for an extended cab you have to get a 2013 they are not making any 2014 extended cabs. You will like the heavier chassis of the 2500hd vs the 1500. A small benefit is the 36 gallon fuel tank. Wether you get 3.73 or 4.10's there is not much difference in fuel mileage. The 4.10's will not have to shift down as much. Just find the truck you want

Hi Chris,

Need-A-Vacation wrote:

My "crazy" thinking for the 4.10's is that even though we recently stepped into our current tt, it will give us the option down the road to step up if we so choose since rated towing is 9500lbs vs 13000lbs, 3.73 vs 4.10, all else being equal. Not to mention being a little over 7k now, the added rear gear will make hills more laughable!

Empty I usually do up to 75ish, towing usually try to stay around 68ish.

Frankly, I wouldn't put too much stock in 4.10s magically allowing you to pull 37% more weight. 4.10 / 3.73 ~= 1.10, which means 10% more torque to the rear wheels at any given speed.

Another way to get more torque is by downshifting (i.e. changing gear ratio in the transmission). For example, my truck has 3.73s and spins at 2100 RPM in 5th gear at 62 MPH, which is the speed I usually tow. If I had 4.10s, I'd have 10% more torque at the wheels, but my RPMs would also go up 10% to 2300 RPM. Since my truck rarely needs to downshift out of 5th, I don't need that extra torque, but I'd still be paying the price of the extra RPMs 100% of the time.

When I need to, though, I can downshift to 4th and get 32% more torque at about 2800 RPM. I can also downshift to 3rd gear, giving me 77% more torque and still be at a comfortable 3700 RPMs. And I can even grab 2nd if I slow down to about 54 MPH (172% more torque at 5000 RPM). With 4.10s, I'd have to slow down to around 49 MPH.

Need-A-Vacation wrote:

Empty I usually do up to 75ish, towing usually try to stay around 68ish.

At that speed, my truck with 3.73s would spin about 4100 RPMs in 3rd gear. With 4.10s, about 4500 RPMs.

Bear in mind that if you're running ST tires on your trailer, they're rated to only 65 MPH.

-- Rob

How much more payload do you want? The 2014 half ton went on a diet. The fairly well equipped LTZ used in this test has almost 1600 pounds. Lower trim/less equipment will have more. And the NHT package should bump it up by about 250 pounds. The 2014 5.3L has almost the same power as the 3/4 ton 6.0L while getting very good fuel economy unloaded. The cab is also bigger than GMT900 pickups that you have and 2007.5-2014 HD.

Just another option to consider.

bimbert84 wrote:

Need-A-Vacation wrote:

With the little we drive the truck I figure the 4.10's are a better choice if all else is eqaul truck wise!

I definitely would not make that assumption. It's all about final drive ratios, and with today's 6-speed transmissions, the conventional wisdom about shorter gears being the best for towing aren't necessarily true anymore. Choose the ratio that puts the engine RPMs where you want them to be at the speeds you normally drive.

-- Rob

My "crazy" thinking for the 4.10's is that even though we recently stepped into our current tt, it will give us the option down the road to step up if we so choose since rated towing is 9500lbs vs 13000lbs, 3.73 vs 4.10, all else being equal. Not to mention being a little over 7k now, the added rear gear will make hills more laughable!

Empty I usually do up to 75ish, towing usually try to stay around 68ish.

The 6spd trans are great imo! If it wasn't for the low payload of our 1500, we wouldn't be considering stepping up, but with the current deals and used truck values, doesn't seem like a bad time to do so. Powerwise I am fine with the 5.3/6spd/3.42 towing. Am I winning races, NO, but I'm not trying either!

Need-A-Vacation wrote:

With the little we drive the truck I figure the 4.10's are a better choice if all else is eqaul truck wise!

I definitely would not make that assumption. It's all about final drive ratios, and with today's 6-speed transmissions, the conventional wisdom about shorter gears being the best for towing aren't necessarily true anymore. Choose the ratio that puts the engine RPMs where you want them to be at the speeds you normally drive.

-- Rob

it is a 2500 I am hoping to get to replace the short comings of the 1500 (payload!)!

Mdamerell- Are you refering to the ALL NEW 1500? If so , understand there may be "bugs" to be worked out. If the 2500, wonder what happened since the trucks didn't change yet. Funny you live in FW! I live just outside Flint just 10 minutes from the truck plant here!

TY guys so far for the thoughts & opinions! Still not sure which way we will lean if we go for it! Probably come down to what truck is available at what price! Even though we have had a Blue truck for about 13yrs now, I am starting to lean toward the Blue Topaz more & more- even found a '14 with all the options I want (plus a couple not needed! ) with the 4.10 gears!!!! With the little we drive the truck I figure the 4.10's are a better choice if all else is eqaul truck wise!

I will keep you posted!
Chris

You may want to investigate for yourself but GM is having some issues getting the 2014 production truck up and running. Not dishing GM they make a good truck. Many new suppliers and many more parts in the 2014 model. The new trucks looks to be a good truck but like the old saying you don't want a car made on Monday or Friday you might wait a month or so, so they get the bugs out of the new model. Anytime you totally revamp a model there are a few bugs in the 1st runs. Fort Wayne Assembly that makes the 1500 and 2500 Chevy / GMC's is in home town and you hear things.