Truck Decision UPDATE: Decison Made (pending)
Here is the deal. I have an 08 GMC 2500 diesel and LOVE it. However, I would like to upgrade to a camper with a slide which I believe will need a one ton to carry. So, I believe I can sell my curre...
Forum Discussion
Needing a 1-ton is only true if you need the load capacity of 4 tires with DRW. Otherwise you can go with 19.5 rims and tires for $3500 with your current truck and have 8800 lbs. minus the weight of the truck as a payload with SRW.
SuperSprings will add the load capacity to your truck's existing leaf packs to gain up to 2800 lbs. of carry ability. Cost is under $500 and an hour of labor.
Diesel is a luxury for hauling a camper around the country. A gas engine with 4.10 gears will do just as well 99% of the time. Towing a 13,000 lb. trailer and diesel becomes closer to a necessity but hauling a 4500 lb. camper is not in the same ballpark by any stretch of the imagination.
I have a 2011 Duramax in my truck and it is nice to have most of the time but it is expensive to buy and to operate and unbelievably expensive with regard to repairs. A simple NOx sensor replacement was $750 and this sensor is not used with a gas engine.
Where people routinely go wrong is in getting a truck for heavy hauling or towing with the wrong gears. Going with 3.42 instead of 3.73 reduces the towing capacity of a truck by 25%. Going with 3.73 instead of 4.10 gears also reduces the tow capacity by 25% - check the manufacturers' specs. With 6-speed transmissions and even 5-speed transmissions there is one or more overdrive gears and these more than compensate for the 4.10 gears in terms of fuel economy on the highway with an empty truck. With a full loaded truck the fuel economy is going to be mediocre regardless of the gearing.
But with the 4.10 gears your engine will be in its peak power range more of the time and acceleration when merging with traffic will be much better and going up steep mountain grades will be much easier on the engine.
If you plan to haul a 5,000 lb. camper and at the same time tow a 8,000 lb. trailer around the country then get the diesel. If not then go with the gas engine and 4.10 gears.
For the cost of the sales tax and DMV fees you can probably fix your existing truck with a gear swap and 19.5 rims and wheels and have a vehicle you know has been properly maintained and not abused.
SuperSprings will add the load capacity to your truck's existing leaf packs to gain up to 2800 lbs. of carry ability. Cost is under $500 and an hour of labor.
Diesel is a luxury for hauling a camper around the country. A gas engine with 4.10 gears will do just as well 99% of the time. Towing a 13,000 lb. trailer and diesel becomes closer to a necessity but hauling a 4500 lb. camper is not in the same ballpark by any stretch of the imagination.
I have a 2011 Duramax in my truck and it is nice to have most of the time but it is expensive to buy and to operate and unbelievably expensive with regard to repairs. A simple NOx sensor replacement was $750 and this sensor is not used with a gas engine.
Where people routinely go wrong is in getting a truck for heavy hauling or towing with the wrong gears. Going with 3.42 instead of 3.73 reduces the towing capacity of a truck by 25%. Going with 3.73 instead of 4.10 gears also reduces the tow capacity by 25% - check the manufacturers' specs. With 6-speed transmissions and even 5-speed transmissions there is one or more overdrive gears and these more than compensate for the 4.10 gears in terms of fuel economy on the highway with an empty truck. With a full loaded truck the fuel economy is going to be mediocre regardless of the gearing.
But with the 4.10 gears your engine will be in its peak power range more of the time and acceleration when merging with traffic will be much better and going up steep mountain grades will be much easier on the engine.
If you plan to haul a 5,000 lb. camper and at the same time tow a 8,000 lb. trailer around the country then get the diesel. If not then go with the gas engine and 4.10 gears.
For the cost of the sales tax and DMV fees you can probably fix your existing truck with a gear swap and 19.5 rims and wheels and have a vehicle you know has been properly maintained and not abused.
