I've owned and towed with an 01' Chevy 2500HD ex/cab/short bed 8.1/A and it was a HOSS!!! I out ran same year D/A's with the 8.1, (hey, I was only 51 then:)), BUT, the 8.1 got the worse mpg empty or towing than any diesel I've EVER owned, including dually's I've owned. I don't know anything about earlier 5.9 Cummins power trucks, other than thinking they were really loud. But dusted more than several of those with the 496 powered Chevy as well as many a Ford....hey, that truck could RUN!! BUT again, mpg was horrible. Thus, In 03' I went with same configured 3/4 ton Chevy with D/A and it ran really well, but no comparison for mpg...diesel won that hands down, towing, comparing the two, back then was about the same from what I remember.
Your decision, your money...go with your gut....Only negative I ever had with the 496 was the mpg
