Can anyone give me the straight scoop on what the real difference between these trucks are? I have heard so many things on what makes them different, I'm lost.

I know the GVW rating is lower on the 1500HD. 8600 vs. 9200. Lower payload rating on the 1500HD. 1500HD has the 6.0L gasser only. 2500HD has the 6.0L or 8.1L gasser and 6.6L DMax. The 1500HD sits slightly lower. On the Crew Cabs, the only thing different that I notice is behind the rear seat on the 2500HD there is folding flap that covers the gap between the rear seat and the back of the cab. The 1500HD doesn't have it. And I believe that the 2500HD comes with the new (taller) hood and grille design versus the Avalanche look on the 1500HD. I think that about it. Members, please chime in.

I should also say I am looking at the 6.0 motor so that is not an issue. I tow a 21SSO Starcraft hybrid trailer that maxes out at 5000 lbs. I currently tow it with my 95 1/2 ton 4x4 extra cab which does the job but the motor does have 152,000 miles and is starting to get tired. I will add that this truck has been an outstanding truck (never turned a wrench on it other than maintenance). I love my truck but I see the need for updating soon. I was looking at the Duramaxes but my trailer doesnt warrant the duramax and even if I do upgrade I will not get anything larger than a 24 ft so I think the 6.0 is ok. My truck is also my commute vehicle so that plays into it as well. I am looking at getting a cc sb 4x4. Will I notice a big difference between 4.10 and 3.73's? Thanks for the help. Joe

The 1500 has a smaller rear axle w/o the floating axles.
I think u can still get auto-trac in the 1500 hd

1500hd is the same thing as the 2500 (non-HD), same truck different name. the 1500hd is only available in a crew cab short bed 6.0 with either 3.73 or 4.10 gears. check out this site and see how the specs measure up between the two.

http://www.chevrolet.com/silverado/specifications/

I have a friend with that has the 2003 1500HD with 6.0L and 4.10 gear. His best mpg was about 12-13. Then again, it setup for towing heavy loads, hence lower mpg. Now with the 3.73 gears, mpg should go up but you will lose about 2000 lbs towing capacity. I guess it will depend how often you will be towing versus the commute angle.

Look at the frame rails, HD bigger.

i would get a straight 2500 in your case the best of both worlds still get auto track and smaller hood design with higher towing capacity.

IMHO Auto-track = sucks for long term in a heavy truck.
Also, if you do plan on having your next truck for 150k+, I would opt for the DMAX. 24k a year in a 6.0 @ 12(at best!) MPG = 2,000 gallons a year on fuel and 6 or more oil changes. If fuel was 1.75 and the oil changes cost 30 per, then the cost would be 3680.oo or about 15.3 cents per mile. 24k a year in a 6.6 @ 17 MPG = 1,412 Gallons a year and three oil changes. If fuel was 2.00 and the oil changes cost 60 bucks per, then the cost would be 3004.oo or about 12.2 cents per mile. that's only saving about 500 bucks a year. However, a loaded 6.0 cost is about 4k less than a Dmax.. unless you get the 4-wheel steer thing. So, @ 24k miles a year it would take over 8 years to make up the difference in fuel.... about your trade in point. Here is where the difference really starts to grow. If you want to, you can keep the Dmax for another 300k or sell it and have the difference "in hand", so to speak.

Diesel ...Good points / bad points ....... Higher cost/better resale ...... higher upkeep/better MPG.....Pulls better/weighs more.....better gears and trans/higher cost.....Feeling of driving a Dmax/(nothing bad)........

Gasser ....fuel is easy to find/ sucks fuel.....drives peppy/sucks fuel.......tows trailer/and that's all......has auto-track/fancy stuff is expensive to fix........ligher weight/trailer moves truck around......It's really quiet/folks won't move out of your way......High cost/crappy resale........ Feeling of driving a 6.0/ where is the next fuel station?

2500 HD also has some extra leafs in the suspension.

TOXIC

IMHO Auto-track = sucks for long term in a heavy truck.
Also, if you do plan on having your next truck for 150k+, I would opt for the DMAX. 24k a year in a 6.0 @ 12(at best!) MPG = 2,000 gallons a year on fuel and 6 or more oil changes. If fuel was 1.75 and the oil changes cost 30 per, then the cost would be 3680.oo or about 15.3 cents per mile. 24k a year in a 6.6 @ 17 MPG = 1,412 Gallons a year and three oil changes. If fuel was 2.00 and the oil changes cost 60 bucks per, then the cost would be 3004.oo or about 12.2 cents per mile. that's only saving about 500 bucks a year. However, a loaded 6.0 cost is about 4k less than a Dmax.. unless you get the 4-wheel steer thing. So, @ 24k miles a year it would take over 8 years to make up the difference in fuel.... about your trade in point. Here is where the difference really starts to grow. If you want to, you can keep the Dmax for another 300k or sell it and have the difference "in hand", so to speak.

Diesel ...Good points / bad points ....... Higher cost/better resale ...... higher upkeep/better MPG.....Pulls better/weighs more.....better gears and trans/higher cost.....Feeling of driving a Dmax/(nothing bad)........

Gasser ....fuel is easy to find/ sucks fuel.....drives peppy/sucks fuel.......tows trailer/and that's all......has auto-track/fancy stuff is expensive to fix........ligher weight/trailer moves truck around......It's really quiet/folks won't move out of your way......High cost/crappy resale........ Feeling of driving a 6.0/ where is the next fuel station?
:iamwithst

we have covered this in other posts. it simply does not make sense to buy a diesel if you dont need it for towing. btw, the 6.0 gets 15mpg at best, not 12. ive never gotten lower than 13 except the day i was idling around the entire day doing hurricane debris cleanup. and only $4k upgrade?? give me a break, GM says its a $6800 upgrade, do you think a dealers gonna give it to you for less than that?? not to mention the diesels are more in demand because there are much fewer made so dealers are not willing to negotiate.

your post didnt even warrant a reply but i just couldnt resist. i surely hope you dont believe the stuff youre spouting...:blahblah:

Listen....... I've had a 6.0 and at it's best it got 16.7 MPG on the HWY...on one trip. I had the first series, the one with steel heads. Second, I am basing the fuel or cost numbers on my Brother-N-Laws 4-wheel steer Crew Cab 4x4 6.0 and my fathers Denali pickup. The CC only gets about 120 miles a week on it because of the poor MPG, 10MPG on avg. On the other hand, my fathers truck will get "about" 14 on the HWY if you drive it just right. It's "real" normal driving MPG is about 11.

Remember when the CC 4 wheel steer trucks came out? Well, that's when David bought his truck.... 610.oo per month for 60 months....add it up. That's about the difference between my "CC" and his 6.0 "CC" truck. On the other hand my Fathers truck is a little ol'e exented cab thing. The Old man dosn't care much about trucks.......they get him from point A to point B, that's it. Anyway, he saw his truck and asked "how much?"..... dealer said it was a leftover....truck had 300 miles on it and sold for 32k out the door with a 75k warrenty.


Haney, everyone has their own experince with these trucks. I've owned one, my Dad/partner has one now and the B-N-Law has one. I think that gives the right to voice my opinion.


If you really want proof........ we'll make a little bet. You fly up here and drive David's truck back home. If it gets over 15 MPG you get 1,000 bucks from me in cash....... if it gets below 15 MPG I get 1,500 bucks from you. What do you think? :confuzeld

):h


Burner---------------->:D

:iamwithst

we have covered this in other posts. it simply does not make sense to buy a diesel if you dont need it for towing. btw, the 6.0 gets 15mpg at best, not 12. ive never gotten lower than 13 except the day i was idling around the entire day doing hurricane debris cleanup. and only $4k upgrade?? give me a break, GM says its a $6800 upgrade, do you think a dealers gonna give it to you for less than that?? not to mention the diesels are more in demand because there are much fewer made so dealers are not willing to negotiate.

your post didnt even warrant a reply but i just couldnt resist. i surely hope you dont believe the stuff youre spouting...:blahblah:


the best my 6.0 got was 11mpg on the highway without towing -:t

I'm currently averaging 12.8 mpg - 70% hwy (unloaded). If I baby it till its in OD then I see 13.5 or so. Was going to buy a D/A but with everybody buying extra filtration so the injectors last -- kinda scared me away.

i dunno what to say. ive had my truck for 6 months and have gotten over 13mpg every single tank except one. i was towing a trailer, idling around all day moving limbs and stumps from the hurricane. i spent the entire day (and a full tank of gas) without leaving the neighborhood so the rpms never got above 2000. that tank, i got 9.6 mpg. im young and dont drive slow either. a couple weeks ago, i was thinking about the mileage yall were talking about so i drove one tank kind of hot rodding it. i wasnt reckless, but i would accelerate from turns and redlights faster than normal and would rev it over 4k. that tank? 13.2 mpg. my daily commute is 20 miles each way. i sit in stop and go traffic for a couple miles and the rest is 40-45 mph stopping for about 8 traffic lights along the way. i consistently get 13.5-13.6 mpg.

i have no reason to lie, i have said before that i wish i had the dmax so im not trying to "sell" the 6.0 i just find it hard to believe the numbers yall are posting.

i also dont know what the first generation 6.0s got mileage wise, is that what yall are talking about?? 2000-2002s??

burner, i dont know anything about your bros truck, but i absolutely guarantee that i could drive my truck from my house to yours and average over 14.5 mpg.

EDIT - i just got my 285s on monday and am anxious to see if there is a difference in mileage since it runs in a different RPM range now. i checked my speedo via GPS with my stock 245s but i keep forgetting to grab it and check these tires to see how off i am. according to calculations, i should be off my about 7%.

your post didnt even warrant a reply but i just couldnt resist. i surely hope you dont believe the stuff youre spouting...:blahblah: ----------- That would you calling me out, right?

The first gen 6.0 was the same engine withsteel head, not Aluminum heads.

I got the excab and took heer for a ride..... looks like 11.6 is the Avg for 42k. Like I said, Pops drives real slow.

I don't reacall anything about 14.5, only 15. Lost in translation?


"EDIT"....... The Denali runs OEM tire size and the GMC CC 6.0 runs 285's. You may find out that the 285 tire is too much for the truck...er, engine and gearing.