2015 Chevy/GMC 2500 Diesel or Gas?

N-Trouble wrote:
My question for the OP would be what was your prior 1/2 ton and are you content with similar pulling power if going 2500 gas? Truck will handle the load much better but pulling power and mileage likely wont be far off from your prior 1/2 ton.

. I have been using a 2012 Suburban (2 trips). Would enjoy more power but it did the job (as far as power).

See sig, love mine have zero issues pulling with gas. The 6.0 and 6 speed is a great combo and will pull it rated load easy. Extremely reliable and easy to work on. If you don't mind RPMs occasionally then the 6.0 or any gas engine will work well for you. If you freak cause it goes over 3 k then u may not like one. I have no issues pulling my 10k through the hills. In fact I'm doing it again next week, so I will send out another report. I have pulled with gas and desiel both. In Florida I lock out 6 th gear and pull in 5th overdrive gear. No issues, occasional 4th gear is needed but it has zero issues gaining speed in the passes and settling back into 5th. Watch the Ike test, both with the gas and diesel. Both at there rated towing max they both kept around 50mph floored. I just watched this last week when they were testing the dually dmax.. Granted much more weight but speed wise similar. You tube that one up. Anyway good luck on what you decide. Again I pull 10 k and no issues.

Little trailers under 7000 pounds go gas. Bigger go diesel. I have towed with both. Towing with diesel is just plain fun. Major breakdown with a diesel not so much. My truck in my signature is a towing beast and pleasure to drive in the mountains with my 5th wheel or my truck camper and boat trailer. But that being said with the horror stories about cost of fuel pump failure it makes me a little nervous. If your buying a diesel just make sure you want it for the right reasons. If you not towing much I would go gas. Like others said if you go diesel get a 3500. For the payload. Because if you decide you want to tow big you will have all the motor you need. JMHO

If you're buying the truck for towing purposes get the diesel.
The 6.0 is a good reliable motor.
But it is no comparison to a Duramax when it comes to towing.

For what it's worth. I had a 2000 2500 6.0 gas. Great truck but real thirsty, now I have a 06 2500 D/A and love it. I have the same fiver that the 6.0 pulled and got 7-8 mpg. Now with my 06 Duramax I get 11-12.5 easy and empty 19-20 easy. The sheer power of the Duramax is awsome. Good luck .

My question for the OP would be what was your prior 1/2 ton and are you content with similar pulling power if going 2500 gas? Truck will handle the load much better but pulling power and mileage likely wont be far off from your prior 1/2 ton.

Gas - 380 pounds of torque
Diesel - 765 pounds of torque

I'll take the higher torque any day when towing. If I was concerned with fuel mileage I'd stay home.

My work truck is a 2015 3500 with the 6.0. It has a tool bed and ladder racks and weighs in about 9,000 pounds empty. I get about 11 to 12 MPG. When towing about 11,000 pounds up a mountain I had my foot flat on the floor and was doing 35 MPH. Other than going that slow the truck did the job just fine.
Towing about 9,000 pounds on the interstate the cruise would hold 65 pretty well except for the steep up hills. I think I got about 9 MPG on that trip.
It's a solid truck. Never given any trouble and it gets worked hard. But, if I was towing regularly I would want the diesel. I have it in my personal truck and it's a much nicer towing experience.

jerem0621 wrote:

smithlaw wrote:
2015 Chevy or GMC 2500 Gas vs. Diesel? I know the diesel is going to be the top choice but does anyone have the gas and are they happy with it? I have a 31ft travel trailer and we are upgrading from a 1/2 ton. I was originally looking at the gas models but am worried the gas mileage might be much worse with the gas and didn't know of any problems I may have with it.

The 6.0 Gasser is a fine fine truck... But if you can stomach the upgrade price and the small bump in maintenance cost the Diesel is the way to go. Either will have more than enough payload for your application. 3/4 ton Diesel trucks can get a little light on the payload side since the motors are so heavy but you should still have well over 2,000 lbs...even if you go with the most loaded model.

While I didn't have a 6.0 Gasser I did have a F350 Dually with a V10 gasser. I also had a 31 ft TT and managed a respectable 7.5 mpg towing at 60-65 mph...

I like gas motors and tend to go that route as it makes sense for me and my family budget.... plus I like the hot rod sound while pulling with the Gasser...

In the end.. You don't "need" diesel but many feel its a more relaxing towing experience since the RPM's are much lower. Many get anxious/nervous as the RPM's climb on a gasser but that is a PERSONAL issue.. the truck is performing as expected... The choice is up to you... buy what you want...

Here is the deal with the gas motors... they make their power differently than a diesel. These gas engines are designed to turn higher RPM while operating to make power.

You will hear of folks say the gas motor was "struggling" or "lugging" at 3,000 rpm or something like that while pulling a hill... No the motor wasn't struggling... the owner was struggling to put the gas pedal down or gear down and let those RPM's rip.

My V10 would SING at 4,500-5,000 RPM while pulling a big hill and you know what... I loved it.

My dad has a 5.9l Cummins and he would often have that motor close to redline pulling his 15k fiver over mountains... but redline is around 3,200 RPM... Sooo... what is the difference between a redline at 3,200 RPM and a redline at 6,500 rpm? As far as the design parameters go....nothing.. both motors have to rev to make power... but a diesel does it much lower in the RPM band

Anyway.. Hope this helps some.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

With a larger trailer or pulling some real hills out west the difference in towing experience becomes much more pronounced than what you may have experienced. Its nowhere close to the same pulling power just at different RPMs as you claim. We no longer have new big block gassers to choose from and modern diesels are laying down much bigger numbers than an ol 5.9. The difference is night/day when were talking "new" TV

If you decide to get the diesel, get the 3500 truck. The diesel engine weighs a lot more than the gas engine, thus giving you a lower payload rating. The 6.0 gas engine in the 2500 should be more than adequate for your trailer.