Potential Buyer

uga40 · April 30, 2021

Hello all,

I am thinking about upgrading from a half ton to a 3/4 ton. The Chevy gasser is in my price range. Are there any major issues? I know the ford has the death wobble and the Ram's payload is too low. I tow a 26ft travel trailer, 6200lbs loaded and my current Ram 1500 Ecodiesel handles it well, but gets a little shaky in windy conditions. Any advice would be appreciated.

2011Chevy · April 30, 2021

I have no first hand experience, I have a duramax but am considering getting a 6.6l gas.
I spoke to a colleague who drives only gas 3/4 tons and has a 2020 2500hd. He puts 80-100k miles a year on them and then trades them or sells at the 2yr mark. He has over 80k on his 6.6 and loves it, zero issues and says it’s a huge improvement over the 2018 6.0 he had.

6200lb travel trailer would be very easy for this truck, and compared to your ram 1500, the longer wheelbase and heavier frame would make for a totally different level of stability. I’ve towed with both size trucks over the years (less weight than you) and there is a big difference.

greatmizzou · April 30, 2021

Only issue ive had is a leaking rear sliding window...very minor and just showed up. Its a widespread problem.

If your goal is having a sturdier stouter truck its pretty awesome for that. You moving to a gas v8 with 6 speed transmission may leave you unimpressed or downgraded from the souped up v6 Ram ecodiesel.

While its not fancy or flashy hp/torque and 10 speed, this truck and gas engine is simple and built like a brick house.

uga40 · May 1, 2021

thanks for the replies. I appreciate the insight. Seems every truck has issues. I forgot about the 6 speed transmission, that might be a deal breaker........

Edited May 1, 2021 by uga40

Ray Pickle · May 2, 2021

Curious why a 6 speed is a deal breaker? A gas 2500 w/6 speed will pull much better than a unmodified ecodiesel and be significantly more stable. In a gas engined truck a 6 speed, vs. 8,9, or 10 gear ratios is not a significant performance inhibitor. The unavailability of an optional lower gear ratio is possibly more problematic for some. My 12k fiver would be better served with a 4:10 diff ratio, but the 3:73 does well, better than my 16' 2500 with 6.l and 4:10.

uga40 · May 2, 2021

25 minutes ago, Ray Pickle said:

Curious why a 6 speed is a deal breaker? A gas 2500 w/6 speed will pull much better than a unmodified ecodiesel and be significantly more stable. In a gas engined truck a 6 speed, vs. 8,9, or 10 gear ratios is not a significant performance inhibitor. The unavailability of an optional lower gear ratio is possibly more problematic for some. My 12k fiver would be better served with a 4:10 diff ratio, but the 3:73 does well, better than my 16' 2500 with 6.l and 4:10.

You make valid points. I was just thinking about the mpgs really. The more I research the HD trucks, the more I am leaning towards the Chevy Gasser LTZ trim level. The Fords 7.3 Liters are having some transmission issu

Edited May 2, 2021 by uga40
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Ray Pickle · May 2, 2021

As an aside,none of them get good mileage but all the testing reviews I have seen indicate g.m. does better than 7.3 Ford

mrjulian416 · May 3, 2021

As I once said in another thread on here somewhere, the GM and the Ford gas 3/4 tons have "essentially" the same towing, payload, mileage, and engine performance numbers. Would a 10 speed improve the GM's? Probably. Is the 6 speed a reason to not consider it since the Ford has a 10 speed? Not that I can ever see/understand.

The GM 6 speed is one of the most reliable transmissions GM ever made (and for the new HD application they added clutch packs and an improved TC). The new Ford 10 speed is now seeing a "recall-not-really-a-recall" for a substantial number of 2020 MY trucks.

uga40 · May 19, 2021

valid points, thank you for the input. Problem is there are not HD trucks in stock.....

bshort · May 22, 2021

I ended up ordering a Ford this time around. I was looking to GMC again, but we couldn't make a love connection. Ordered an F250 Lariat 7.3/4.30. This tow rig should tow real nice. Really wish GM would offer a 10sp option and some ratio choices.

finn5033 · May 25, 2021

I'm glad I found this topic. OP I am in the same boat as you. I currently have a 2020 Ram Ecodiesel and I must say it is a fantastic truck. I currently tow an RV fish house with it that is 26' total length, probably 5,500lbs when loaded up with a hitch weight of 750lbs or so. While my truck pulls this thing fantastic, I can definitely tell it is there. We currently have a bigger heavier custom RV fish house being built and the builder is telling me to expect a tongue weight of 1k lbs. And there is no WDH that works with it. So I'm upgrading to an HD truck. I don't want an HD diesel so I'm going gasser. Also in MN year tabs for 1 ton trucks are $120 so I'm jumping straight to the 1 ton.

Ram is still using their 4th generation cab on the HD trucks, the crew cab back seat is much smaller than Ford and Chevy and the floor isn't flat. The interiors are nicer and I like the 6.4 8 speed combo but to get some of the options I want like LED headlights I have to buy a bunch of stuff I don't want. For those reasons I've ruled Ram out.

I had decided I wanted the Ford 7.3/10speed but I've been told by 3 different dealers that there is no guarantee the truck I want to order would be done this year! And again to get LED headlights I have to step up to a Lariat trim which I don't want because both my wife and I hate leather seats. So for those reasons I've ruled out the Ford

Last night we went and looked at a used 2020 Silverado 3500 CCSB 4x4 LT. Was optioned pretty similar to what I want to order minus a few things. My wife liked it, and the cab and back seat are huge. I took it on a 15min test drive. Went 70-80mph down the freeway, took it on some back roads at 55-60mph. And of course some low speed roads at 30-45mph. I was really impressed. It was very quiet inside, road much nicer than I expected from a 1 ton truck. And it was very snappy from a stop and accelerated to 75mph on the on ramp to the highway pretty effortlessly. I'll admit I had reservations about buying one of these because of the 6 speed tranny. This truck and drive train are overkill for what I'm going to pull with it so I can't see any reason why this truck won't be great for me and my family. Down side is the interior is not as nice as my Ram 1500 but I'd hardly call it crappy. It's still plenty nice for a truck. So I've got the dealer doing a build and price for me today. I'm hoping he says they can make the order and get it fairly soon. He did warn me that there could be issues do to the chip shortage. My order is

2021 Silverado HD 3500 CCSB 4x4 6.6 gas

Northsky Blue

Z71 Sport package (this package is great and gets you step bars, spray in bed liner, color matched bumpers, LED lights)

All Star edition (this is automatically selected with the Z71 sport and the safety features hear could cause order issues)

Convenience package

Safety package

Off road package

Cab lights, bed lights, bucket seats, Autotrac transfer case, sunroof

Anyways long story short, if the price is right and I can actually order it with these options we are planning to do so. I think we will be very happy

Edited May 25, 2021 by finn5033

THE YETI · June 10, 2021

I just want to add to this topic for anyone reading it in the future. I have been a Duramax guy for a long time but recently sold my 15 LML and got in to this new 2021 6.6L gasjob. Anybody comparing a Ram ecodiesel to ANY Chev HD gas truck is in a different ball park. I've owned classic body 2006 6.0L 4 speeds which wasn't the best for pulling my 36ft cargo trailer but got the job done , I've also had a 2015 6.0L along with my 2006 LBZ diramax(that ones a keeper) and a 2015 Duramax and now 2021 6.6L. The diesels obviously are much better but can't use them to compare to the gas units. Anyway. Eco diesels are built strictly for mileage in my opinion. They are nutless and I'd rather tow with a 5.3 Chevy Halfton. So far this new 6.6L seems like it'll do much better with this 6 speed. I've heard good things first hand from people known to me and am not disappointed as of yet. Time will tell I've only got 175kms on it

finn5033 · June 11, 2021

19 hours ago, THE YETI said:

I just want to add to this topic for anyone reading it in the future. I have been a Duramax guy for a long time but recently sold my 15 LML and got in to this new 2021 6.6L gasjob. Anybody comparing a Ram ecodiesel to ANY Chev HD gas truck is in a different ball park. I've owned classic body 2006 6.0L 4 speeds which wasn't the best for pulling my 36ft cargo trailer but got the job done , I've also had a 2015 6.0L along with my 2006 LBZ diramax(that ones a keeper) and a 2015 Duramax and now 2021 6.6L. The diesels obviously are much better but can't use them to compare to the gas units. Anyway. Eco diesels are built strictly for mileage in my opinion. They are nutless and I'd rather tow with a 5.3 Chevy Halfton. So far this new 6.6L seems like it'll do much better with this 6 speed. I've heard good things first hand from people known to me and am not disappointed as of yet. Time will tell I've only got 175kms on it

Not to derail this thread but if you think a Chevy half ton with the 5.3 will tow better than a Ram ecodiesel you’ve clearly never done it with both. The Ram ecodiesel drive train is great for towing within its capacity.

and I wasn’t comparing the ecodiesel to the HD Silverado. What I was saying was while my ecodiesel has the power to tow well, the 1500 platform doesn’t have the payload and capacity that I need for my new trailer that’s being built.

rosidian · June 11, 2021

Have you decided on what vehicle to buy, OP?

THE YETI · June 13, 2021

On 6/11/2021 at 9:21 AM, finn5033 said:

Not to derail this thread but if you think a Chevy half ton with the 5.3 will tow better than a Ram ecodiesel you’ve clearly never done it with both. The Ram ecodiesel drive train is great for towing within its capacity.

and I wasn’t comparing the ecodiesel to the HD Silverado. What I was saying was while my ecodiesel has the power to tow well, the 1500 platform doesn’t have the payload and capacity that I need for my new trailer that’s being built.

Understood. BUT, I still stand by my comment that the eco diesel has no power at all . I guess I'm just used to towing large trailers with a Duramax or HD gas rigs maybe. I barely trust passing on the highway driving an eco diesel after driving one of my trucks.