Chevrolet 1/2 ton diesel

Ralph Cramden wrote:

IdaD wrote:

TurnThePage wrote:
For those mentioning to buy a bigger truck, the lament is that the half ton is no longer a half ton once a heavy diesel is installed. If they address that, then no big deal. Why buy a huge, rough riding truck that won't fit in your garage because you need a couple hundred more pounds of payload?

Heavy duty trucks aren't any bigger than half ton trucks other than being a little taller. They ride rougher but it's not like they're tractors anymore.

I am with ya, never quite understood how people claim trucks up the capability ladder from 1/2 tons take up more space or are harder to park and drive, when they use most of the same body panels and are the same wheelbase. As far as ride, most 1/2 tons are set up to ride like cars for when the wife runs out for bread and milk. Its not that heavy duty trucks ride rough, it's more that 1/2 ton trucks ride too soft. I will put the ride quality of my 2015 GMC Sierra 2500HD up against anything out there, including my 2013 Ford F150.

1/2 ton trucks used to be trucks until about 1990, then they turned into glorified cars.

True about half-tons turning into cars. Mostly that's what people use them for these days. But there are exceptions, like the off-road trucks. Our 2009 Tacoma TRD had a lot worse ride than our current RAM 2500, but low payload and towing capability.

We're very pleased with our 2500's ride. Perhaps the rear coils really help. And if you lower the tire pressure some it's even better, so I'm told. Nice trade-off between ride and tow/haul capability.

But I would say the Cummins+68RFE combo is definitely less smooth and less quiet and more tractor-like than most half-tons. But that's a big diesel. I imagine any of the gasser/tranny combo's would be better, except when struggling under heavy loads :).

TurnThePage wrote:

IdaD wrote:

TurnThePage wrote:
For those mentioning to buy a bigger truck, the lament is that the half ton is no longer a half ton once a heavy diesel is installed. If they address that, then no big deal. Why buy a huge, rough riding truck that won't fit in your garage because you need a couple hundred more pounds of payload?

Heavy duty trucks aren't any bigger than half ton trucks other than being a little taller. They ride rougher but it's not like they're tractors anymore.

My truck is a quad cab. They don't make those in the HD models. My garage doors are 7' high. HD models are too tall for that too. However, my next home WILL accommodate larger vehicles. :)

My garage doors are 7' tall and I've fit both Ram and Ford 2500s in them.

kw/00 wrote:

N-Trouble wrote:

wowens79 wrote:
I'd love to see it with 300hp, and 500ft/lbs of torque, as long as it has the payload. My TT loaded is around 7500lbs. We sometimes carry 4 bikes, and 4 kayaks in the truck along with 4 people and a 80lb Golden Retriever, so we need a pretty stout payload.

Currently I've got a 1500HD with the 6.0, and it does well, but it could really use a little more power, but I think a 6.6 Duramax is more than I need, and dang they are expensive.

The Titan XD, is probably the perfect size for me, but I hate to leave Chevy, the 1500HD had 205K miles on it, and has been almost trouble free.

Your 1500HD is backed by a 4-speed and 3.73 rear end. Not the greatest for towing when paired with the 6.0. The 6.0 in the current 2500HD trucks is backed by a 6 speed, better gearing, and higher output. Would be the perfect truck for your needs IMO.

I can add to this. I had an 02, 1500HD just like what you have. Upgraded to a 2500HD 09 with the 6 speed and 6.0. Love it! Would fit your needs very well!

Yes sir, the current 6.0 in the GM HD's, only available with the 4:10 gear, is certainly a hoss. Its more than capable up to a point before getting into oil burner territory which comes with increased dead weight behind you, if you know how to drive it. The tach which tops out at 6K does so for a reason and its no problem to have the needle up in that 5K+ territory as much as you want. It sounds good when up there as a bonus. Lots of reasons the gen 4 LY6 6.0 Vortec is still used in the HD as opposed to say the gen 5 L86 Ecotec 6.2, not the least of which is the 6.0's cast iron block for a beefier bottom end and lack of direct injection and active fuel management. The gen 4 6.0 is considered by GM to be a heavy duty motor, not the 6.2


These 1/2 ton diesels are being designed for a niche market. It has more to do with fuel mileage than it does towing or hauling capability. No matter who the manufacturer is, with a 1/2 ton diesel you're still going to get the smaller suspension components, brake components, etc.

IdaD wrote:

TurnThePage wrote:
For those mentioning to buy a bigger truck, the lament is that the half ton is no longer a half ton once a heavy diesel is installed. If they address that, then no big deal. Why buy a huge, rough riding truck that won't fit in your garage because you need a couple hundred more pounds of payload?

Heavy duty trucks aren't any bigger than half ton trucks other than being a little taller. They ride rougher but it's not like they're tractors anymore.

I am with ya, never quite understood how people claim trucks up the capability ladder from 1/2 tons take up more space or are harder to park and drive, when they use most of the same body panels and are the same wheelbase. As far as ride, most 1/2 tons are set up to ride like cars for when the wife runs out for bread and milk. Its not that heavy duty trucks ride rough, it's more that 1/2 ton trucks ride too soft. I will put the ride quality of my 2015 GMC Sierra 2500HD up against anything out there, including my 2013 Ford F150.

1/2 ton trucks used to be trucks until about 1990, then they turned into glorified cars.

kw/00 wrote:

N-Trouble wrote:

wowens79 wrote:
I'd love to see it with 300hp, and 500ft/lbs of torque, as long as it has the payload. My TT loaded is around 7500lbs. We sometimes carry 4 bikes, and 4 kayaks in the truck along with 4 people and a 80lb Golden Retriever, so we need a pretty stout payload.

Currently I've got a 1500HD with the 6.0, and it does well, but it could really use a little more power, but I think a 6.6 Duramax is more than I need, and dang they are expensive.

The Titan XD, is probably the perfect size for me, but I hate to leave Chevy, the 1500HD had 205K miles on it, and has been almost trouble free.

Your 1500HD is backed by a 4-speed and 3.73 rear end. Not the greatest for towing when paired with the 6.0. The 6.0 in the current 2500HD trucks is backed by a 6 speed, better gearing, and higher output. Would be the perfect truck for your needs IMO.

I can add to this. I had an 02, 1500HD just like what you have. Upgraded to a 2500HD 09 with the 6 speed and 6.0. Love it! Would fit your needs very well!

Thanks for the input, I've been kinda leaning that way, thinking a big diesel is overkill, and over budget ;). The ol 1500HD has been a solid truck, I bought it new and it has 205k miles on it now. My plan is to give it to my son when he turns 16 in a year and a half, and get me a new truck then.

N-Trouble wrote:

wowens79 wrote:
I'd love to see it with 300hp, and 500ft/lbs of torque, as long as it has the payload. My TT loaded is around 7500lbs. We sometimes carry 4 bikes, and 4 kayaks in the truck along with 4 people and a 80lb Golden Retriever, so we need a pretty stout payload.

Currently I've got a 1500HD with the 6.0, and it does well, but it could really use a little more power, but I think a 6.6 Duramax is more than I need, and dang they are expensive.

The Titan XD, is probably the perfect size for me, but I hate to leave Chevy, the 1500HD had 205K miles on it, and has been almost trouble free.

Your 1500HD is backed by a 4-speed and 3.73 rear end. Not the greatest for towing when paired with the 6.0. The 6.0 in the current 2500HD trucks is backed by a 6 speed, better gearing, and higher output. Would be the perfect truck for your needs IMO.

I can add to this. I had an 02, 1500HD just like what you have. Upgraded to a 2500HD 09 with the 6 speed and 6.0. Love it! Would fit your needs very well!

wowens79 wrote:
I'd love to see it with 300hp, and 500ft/lbs of torque, as long as it has the payload. My TT loaded is around 7500lbs. We sometimes carry 4 bikes, and 4 kayaks in the truck along with 4 people and a 80lb Golden Retriever, so we need a pretty stout payload.

Currently I've got a 1500HD with the 6.0, and it does well, but it could really use a little more power, but I think a 6.6 Duramax is more than I need, and dang they are expensive.

The Titan XD, is probably the perfect size for me, but I hate to leave Chevy, the 1500HD had 205K miles on it, and has been almost trouble free.

Your 1500HD is backed by a 4-speed and 3.73 rear end. Not the greatest for towing when paired with the 6.0. The 6.0 in the current 2500HD trucks is backed by a 6 speed, better gearing, and higher output. Would be the perfect truck for your needs IMO.

IdaD wrote:

TurnThePage wrote:
For those mentioning to buy a bigger truck, the lament is that the half ton is no longer a half ton once a heavy diesel is installed. If they address that, then no big deal. Why buy a huge, rough riding truck that won't fit in your garage because you need a couple hundred more pounds of payload?

Heavy duty trucks aren't any bigger than half ton trucks other than being a little taller. They ride rougher but it's not like they're tractors anymore.

My truck is a quad cab. They don't make those in the HD models. My garage doors are 7' high. HD models are too tall for that too. However, my next home WILL accommodate larger vehicles. :)

Bedlam wrote:

DinTulsa wrote:

fireman41 wrote:
It's a half ton. If you want or need more payload get a bigger truck.

100% agree. The problem is they will advertise the Tow rating and people will by them and overload them from day one. The majority of people don't do the proper research and trust what the manufacturers tell them.

That's why I would like to see that diesel as an option in the 2500.

Yeah it would be nice to have a couple diesel options like gassers have.

TurnThePage wrote:
For those mentioning to buy a bigger truck, the lament is that the half ton is no longer a half ton once a heavy diesel is installed. If they address that, then no big deal. Why buy a huge, rough riding truck that won't fit in your garage because you need a couple hundred more pounds of payload?

Heavy duty trucks aren't any bigger than half ton trucks other than being a little taller. They ride rougher but it's not like they're tractors anymore.