1500 or 2500 Silverado

Paul - check out the payload capacity (not towing capacity) for both the 1500 and the 2500 and you'll likely see that the 2500 is much more capable in the area of hitch weight, cargo and passenger capacity. Lots of folks focus on "towing capacity", and don't take the payload capacity into account. The payload capacity will be listed on you tire plackard on the door column.

I traded in a 2012 Silverado 1500 (and took a real beating)on a 2500HD this past April and am really glad that I did. While the 1500 towed my 7,000 pound trailer okay, the stability and control of the 2500HD is much better. An 8,000 pound trailer will most likely result in you being over your payload, which I don't like to do.

(If you decide to try it, I have a set of Timbrens, Discount Tire has some LT tires, plenty of overload springs are available, and there are fancy hitches that promise to make any pickup into a towing beast. Get out your checkbook, but you will still probably be disappointed.)

ashnic wrote:
Looking to get some feedback from some folks that are somewhat in my situation. I have a 7k 26' Aruba trailer which I currently pull with my 04 5.3L 3.73 EC Silverado. I have WD hitch setup and the truck pulls it really well, low temps, braking etc. However I know I am stretching the truck ability and do not want to damage it by over working it. So I am looking at either getting a 2011/2012 1500 which has a higher tow rating with the 6 speed tranny or a 2500 with a 6.0 combo. I know go bigger is better but I hate to buy such a large truck when it will only tow once or twice a month for 6 months out of the year. Will the newer 1500 pull 8k ok? Does anyone on here pull this kind of load? What are your experiences?

Really!
Have you ever really compared the size difference between similar 1500 and 2500s? The size difference is minimal, it is how it is constructed, most parts of the running gear are heaver, better cooling, better braking, eight lug wheels, real full floating rear axle.

I pull a similar sized trailer (weight about the same but a couple feet longer) with a 1500 GMC. It does pull fine, I have no issues, but I' don't drive 70 mph down the highway....try to keep it 58-62. Do I wish I had a 2500? Sure....but like you, I pull 1 or 2 times a month for 6 months...and the rest the time the truck is a grocery getter and a commuter vehicle. Its the best balance of what I need. I've even used the 1500 to pull that trailer to Florida and to Colorado on 2 different trips...from my home in IL....2000 miles + round trip of towing each....no problem.

In the past I did have a 2500 to pull a 4000 trailer....more truck than I needed for a small trailer. I loved the truck but regreted the buy. Today, the 2500 would have been a great match to my current trailer.

All boils down to this....to me, your 04 with 3.73 gears would be perfect. You can't get 3.73 gears in a new 1500 easily.

That's my take and I'm stickin' to it!

2x on 2500 if towing.

If you can afford the truck and the decreased gas mileage of a 2500, buy it. We have a 6.0 2500 w/4.10 and it's a great truck. Personally, I want to beefiest truck I can afford. If we had known we would have been buying a travel trailer, I would have gotten a 3500.