I'm just starting to think about my first truck, to tow my first travel trailer. No experience yet with either one. All I know (not much) I got from reading brochures!

I'm trying to decide what size (capacity, engine, rear axle, etc) I'd need to tow a travel trailer about 26-28' long, with a GVWR of about 8,000#.

So far, I'm inclined to think a 3/4 ton Silverado with the 8.1L engine would do nicely. I'm not so sure the same truck with the 6.0L engine would, and I'm almost positive the 5.3L engine won't do the job at all.

But beyond that, I'm overwhelmed by the jargon and the marketing terms you truck experts all use so expertly!

Can someone please explain to me in non-technical simple English the fundamental differences in the four "styles" I've included in the subject of this message?

buy a diesel lot of power whit chip lake big dog chip
my frent got doge ram whit that chip and hi run 15.554 in 1/4 88 mph
i got chevy silverado 5.3l 4x4 whit gipson exhaust and cold air intek
80 mm throttle bodies and hypertech and hi still bit me from the start
in my opinion diesel is beter then gas engine and beter gas mph
i hope that helps good luck whit your choise
get 2500 hd more hevy duty

how big is the trailer. If it is LARGE get a 2500HD w/diesel. :2cents:

GVW ratings are based on the suspension and brakes. For example: A 3/4 heavy duty, probally has a GVW of 8900, It has more leafs in the rear than the 3/4 standard, and possibly 13 inch brake drums,dual servo power hydralic braking, heavy chassis (formerly called the "D" frame), heavier front coils (to increase the GAW). Engine does not have a whole lot to do with your payload weight max. A 18 wheeler fully loaded is about 50,000 lb's (rough estimate) and a cummins engine running at 350 hp. The power is in the gearing, 2 spd. diff..etc.

Hi Tom, welcome to the forum!
(For all my comments below, I'm assuming you're NOT talking about a fifth-wheel trailer, just ball and hitch)

With your trailer weight, and adding in all the EXTRA stuff that goes with it (water, LP, rest of the family, firewoood) I'd definately go with the 2500 series. The 1500 trucks can only tow 8,000lbs for the most part, and that's already at your limit.

Basically, if you're going to pull that trailer around on mostly flat roads 3-4 times a year, then the 2500 6.0L would do fine. Depending on if you get a Crewcab,Extended Cab, or Regular Cab your towing capability will vary.

At the very least, the 2500 6.0L Crewcab (the lowest rated towing one) can pull 9,800lbs.

http://img130.exs.cx/img130/7218/2500-6000.jpg

*************************
http://img100.exs.cx/img100/7346/2500-8100.jpg

----------------------------------
Now that we've agreed on a 2500HD, do you want the 6.0L or the 8.1?
-----------------------------------



The same truck (as I mentioned above) with a 8.1 can pull 12,000lbs (2wd, 4wd, crewcab, they're ALL the same.) -I'd get this motor if you're towing that trailer over mountain passes, or taking it out 3 times a month. It's going to have all the power you need.

All my information is from here:
http://www.chevrolet.com/silverado/specifications/
(Click on "trailering" when that link opens up)


The Diesel (with Ball and Hitch) has the SAME towing capacity as the 8.1
However, it's another $5000.00 to order it. Want the cool Allison tranny with that Diesel? -That's an ADDITIONAL $1200.00
$6200.00 for the package.
Make sure you're gonna use it before you spend the money.



Good luck, and let us know what you end up with.
~Rob

P.S. The axle choice is simple: YOU DON'T GET ANY !! :)
The 2500 6.0L only comes with a 4.10 and the Diesel only comes with a 3.73.
The 8.1L is your only option (3.73 vs. 4.10), but it doesn't affect your towing capability.



.

3500 rock and the rest, I guess there good for getting dog food.

Just kidding.

Really it comes down the axle, tranmission, springs.
Engines, Gas mileage is about the same.

For resell:
1500 - would hold its value and be quicker to sell; more people want this type of vehicle, just because they think it is cool to own a truck. About 80 % of 1500 actually need a truck

2500 - People shy away from used 2500 because most of the time they are used for heavy / medium towing. Which they are designed for. Pretty much about 85% owners of 2500 need a 2500. If you are not going to haul a RV around the country this vehicle is for you.

3500 - hard to sell. Most of the time hard / high mileage are on these trucks. If you buy an old one you will need to have some abilities with an wrench. I like them because they are heavy duty everything but gas mileage is pretty bad - I get 14 miles per gallon. If you are going to haul a RV around the country this type of vehicle is for you.

There is some weird new disel gas tax in Texas so now disel is $2.15 a gallon and regular is $1.77. I do not know if this tax is going to spread to other states.

Hey Storm. Thanks for that site. Now I know how much weight I can put in my puny 1500 bed. Now on the ratings for towing. Is that the weight you can tow on the factory hitch right on the bumper? Does the weight rating go up if you install an aftermarket hitch that mounts right on the frame or is that just the better way to go. I dont see many guys with just a ball on the bumper anymore. Just wondering.

I don't know the cost difference between a 2500HD and a 3500 -but the towing difference is only (approx. acrross the different body styles) 1,000lbs.

I'd only get a 3500 if I needed dual wheels.
And I think only a camper would prompt me to do that. :^)



What do *I* use my 2500HD 6.0L for?
Towing a 22' Trailer 6-8 times a year during summer. We rarely go more than 500miles to a camping spot. The trailer when loaded, +family , + extras, +my Quad is just over 8,000lbs. We do fine on most roads.

I get 16-17mpg empty, and I'm very happy with it.
Normal driving is what I do 90-95% of time, so the 6.0L was the best choice for me.


~Rob

Hi Nigel, unfortunately those towing numbers I posted from Chevy are MAX. They can only go down for lower rated hitches.

You *can* get a 5th Wheel for a 1500, but the bed is so short, you'll end up smashing the back of your cab on tight turns. they sell a 5th wheel "sliding" hitch, but it's $2,000.00

One of the 2 reasons I got a 2500 is the bed length.

The 1500 bed = 5'8"
The 2500 bed = 6'6"

(For comparison, the Dodge short bed is 6'3")

The other reason I got the 2500 is my 8000lb towing requirement.
(Don't forget, when you go 1500-->2500 you get a heavy duty Rear axle, HD Springs, and 8-lug wheels)

Hey Storm. Thanks for that site. Now I know how much weight I can put in my puny 1500 bed. Now on the ratings for towing. Is that the weight you can tow on the factory hitch right on the bumper? Does the weight rating go up if you install an aftermarket hitch that mounts right on the frame or is that just the better way to go. I dont see many guys with just a ball on the bumper anymore. Just wondering.

an HD model is a step up in frame,brakes,suspension etc. so a 2500HD is really a 3500 underneath same goes for a 1500HD its a base 2500. i had a reg cab 2500 HD with the 6.0 and i pull alot (tractor, backhoe, travel trailer 8800)
and once i filled it to the top of the cab with railroad ties i think 20 of them i had intake exhaust and chip and i didnt have to bad a time pulling. once you get out on the road its good but i live in the country and gettin to the highway was the hardest part.

So why buy a 2500HD instead of a 3500?

They should be the same except the 3500 comes with 4 full size doors as an option.

I saw a 3500 with was not regular cab and 6' bed.

I always wonder why they offered 2500HD and 1500HD.

2500 has 4 full size doors, there are small differences like gas tanks gear ratios etc

Depending on how much pulling you actually do, it may not be worth the extra loss of mpg. I get about 18mpg empty and about 11-12mpg in my 2500 6.0ltr pulling 6500lbs. My friend has a 2500HD and he gets about 12mpg empty. He's about to retire and thought that he might get an RV someday. Right now he's not happy with the mpg. I have owned 1/2 tons before and it seemed like I was always overloading it. When I bought the 27ft Travel trailer the 1/2 ton just couldn't handel it. I put an extra lief spring which helped, but then I was under powered so in the end I traded it off and bought the 3/4 ton. It pulls just fine and I've filled the back with rock, dirt etc and only the tires bulged a little. The 3/4 ton is the better truck if you plan on really using it. If 99% of your time is using it as a car then I would stay with the 1/2 ton with the 5.3 ltr. AIMO

Looking at 2500 and 1500, I think the 2500 looks nicer inside.

Only bad thing I have heard about the 2500 with 6.0 are header bolts breaking.