Hey everyone,

I've been looking recently for a truck that will be able to pull at 24-28ft enclosed trailer and the one that catches my eye the most is the GMC Sierra 2500 HD or the Chevy Silverado 2500 HD (both are pretty much the same truck).

However, I have some questions that I need help being answered...

1. I see the 2wd option or the 4X4 option. What will have the higher towing capacity of the two? Also is it absolutely necessary that I have the 4x4 or will the 2wd have enough tow?

2. What will get the better gas mileage of the two options of either diesel or gas. But consider the economical factor with today's prices for diesel and gas.

3. If you were buying the truck, what would be the limit on the amount of miles on the truck that you would say "not worth it" anymore. 50k? 75k? 100k?

I have about a $25,000 limit due to having to finance for the truck.

Any help is great, thank you!

 

any particular reason you want to go with a brand new truck ?

you can find a good used dually for around 25k and sometimes even a truck and trailor for around that same neigborhood.

 

No, the idea was for a used truck. I don't want a brand new one...don't have that kind of money. That's why I asked question #3.

 

2 wheel drive would be fine. 4X4's are nice for the resale.

Diesel's get better fuel mileage and tow better because they have more torque.

Diesels have a longer life expectances.

 

50-75k miles on a newer diesel is nothing. Just make sure to get the diesel if you are gonna tow anything. You will get much more for it when you decide to sell too. The 2wd will tow a 24-28 just fine. Much longer trailer you should get a dually.

 

4x4 uses more fuel so just stay with the 2x2. I use a 2007 dodge 1500 hemi and get 14mpg's and its a 4x4, it would probabaly get more like 16 or so if it was a 2x2. 4x4 isn't for towing anyways, you would never cruise at 65-70 with it turned on haha.

 

Thanks for the help guys. Anyone else? Any other suggestions?

 

Just try and plan for the long term.

How long do you plan on owning this truck to tow? Do you plan to race for a few years or just a few times?

 

i own a 05' 2500hd silverado duramax, and i love it. but like someone said here, dont go gas! lol

 

This truck will last me for many of years. Based from what I've been seeing, people are pretty split when it comes to 4x4 and 2wd. But more people lean towards diesel for fuel.

 

i do regret not getting a 4x4 though, it does come in handy when you need it more so the others. if your gonna be towing quite a bit, get the diesel, its well worth it imo. fords do have a nice setup too, and im loving the 250 powerstoke also.

any diesel production pick ups are all really good trucks, but the small things will help you decide on which model and make to get... big motor, trans, power output, upgrades, looks, cabin size, durability, reliability, and most of all cost.

 

Bakersfield CA, I don't believe it snows there right ?

If your towing a boat and you back the rear of the truck in the water FWD would help pull the boat up the wet ramp.

For us in snow country FWD is a no brainer.

 

i just bought a 2000 gmc 1500 with 5.3 t/p & 4x4 haul dame good
i hauled 4 wheeler in the bed and my crx did pretty good

 

No snow in Bakersfield, but I'll be moving to Indiana, PA.

 

I am loving my 2wd dully so far! 7.3 PS turbo diesel. 2wd would be great for you, I am towing a 28 enclosed as well and its awesome! I would look into any of the 6.0 TD fords if i was gonna get a newer one myself. Check out racing junk.com for package deals as well.

 

idk about your area, but i got my 07 2500 hd sliverado classic 4wd new out the door for about your budget. i have an uncle that works at the gm plant here in delaware, and the incentives at the time were good, but there is no way i would get a used over 50k truck to pull the box trailer.

mines a 6l gasser 4l80e trans.

 

just picked up a 03 dodge Dually, getting 18mpg city and 20highway under 75mph

4 door 4x4 I wouldent want to live in PA and not have 4WD. Its not really the snow that is all that bad. just pulling a trailer out of a yard or anything like that you will get stuck.

I paid under 25000 for mine, its loaded to the max and will pull anything. and it has 94,000 on it. (just getting broke in)

 

Is the truck going to be used strictly to tow to the track with or as a daily driver etc? Many of the newer trucks you find are going to be 4x4 automatically because thats what dealers were stocking and selling the past few years. As for gas vs. diesel empty the mileage is going to be similar but while towing the diesel will kill the gas truck. If the truck is going to be empty most of the time a gas truck will be fine and will tow ok (though any bigger on the trailer and you are going to want the diesel). If the trailer is going to be hooked up most of the time get the diesel no doubt. Another advantage of the diesel is more power is just a phone call away

I am curious why the budget of $25k though. Unless you plan on towing long distances all the time and plan on doing it for years to come I see no need to spend that much on a truck. Since your are buying used already why not look into something a little bit older and a ton cheaper? Use it strictly for towing and get something that gets good gas mileage as a daily if need be. You will save needless wear and tear on the truck and won't be spending $100 everytime you get gas. I really don't understand spending as much on a truck as most people have in their
cars. Its not like an older truck won't tow just fine. New(er) trucks break down just like older ones and when they do its not any cheaper to fix them.

Having said all this also look into something like an Expedition/Excursion/Suburban as they can be had cheap (and if you look enough with a diesel) and are more versatile than a truck. A quick search on Autotrader comes up with a bunch of 4x4 Excursions with less than 100k for under $10,000. Just something to think about.

 

28fter wow i miss that part, what i have wont cut it

 

I have a 05 2500 Duramax 2 wheel drive and I pull a 28ft enclosed trailer and don't have any issues at all. I also did the towing stabilizers. 11-14mpg towing

If you decide to go with a Gm product make sure and contact BUCK (screen name) on here, he works for edge.

 

you can find a good deal on autotrader. i got a 2000 f-350 powerstroke, 4dr, longbed with a 27ft enclosed for 13,500. the truck had 180k miles, but like mentioned above, 180k miles on a diesel is just breaking it in. check autotrader

 

I have had a 6.0 gas 2500HD, a V10 F250, and now a Duramax 2500HD. So far I like the diesel better, but gas is $1.00 a gallon cheaper right now.

Here was my fuel mileage towing a 24 foot trailer
6.0 GMC - 12mpg not towing, 7-8mpg towing
V10 Ford - 10mpg not towing, 7-8mpg towing
Duramax - 17mpg not towing, 9-11mpg towing....but I now tow at 80mph with this truck because it is so effortless. I'm not sure what it would get if I slowed down a bit like when I pulled with gas.

The Ford yanked the truck around just as easily as the diesel, but it had to run at like 4500rpm on the highway with a 4:10 rearend. It was loud and the Ford rode like poo and had choppy steering with a big load at speed. Also...the Allison tranny is more valuable than anything. It does a lot of the braking for you.

 

Theres some Great deals out right now check this one out

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...43106

 

Also one other nice thing about the GM trucks, they have digital brake proportioning. It used to be that you had to use a stabilizer bar setup on these long tag axle trailers for numerous reasons, but one of them being that you load a lot of weight on the rears and then 70% of your braking is up front. You go to lock the brakes and the front tires skid. The torsion setup would put more weight on the front of the truck and rear axle of the trailer to help this...and to level the truck. On a GM truck, it tows better without the torsion setup. I can completely overload my 2500HD and it barely squats, and in that same braking situation it would adjust the braking proportions front to rear as needed.

Maybe all the new trucks do this, but I wouldn't trade this Chevy for anything.

 

visit http://www.cumminsforum.com/

for $500 dollar chip and you can make 400hp+/850ft/lb+ out of the dodge. (and still get 20mpg). hands down your not going to get that from anything else.

and dumping soot is cool.