3/4 Ton Truck

You're definitely out of the power band with those tires, 4.88 rear gear would bring it back in. But it still wouldn't compare to a diesel as far as power.

Could also do a supercharger on the 5.7, would be cheaper than a diesel and you don't need any emissions add ons.

 

If I was getting a GMC I would want an AT4 like he started with. The problem is they are even more expensive than the Denali's. I really don’t like chrome, I wish GMC did a chrome-less version of the SLT. The Duramax/Allison combo might be the most durable of my 3/4 ton options.

 

i just did a build on the gmc web site.....mine came out to around $75k. Ouuuuuuuuuuuch.

did you ever think about just keeping the tundra and buying a dedicated tow pig?

 

Since I am on a company vehicle allowance program there is an age limit on my truck. Will be required to get a new one by the end of 2022 so I wouldn’t want to put much more money into my current Tundra. Last year at this time we were planning to buy a small vacation cabin, might have handled things differently if I knew I was getting a trailer instead. I might need to get new tires before I get a new rig, considering downsize to help the towing.

 

Yeah the AT4 is pricy, haven’t seen one marked down much yet. Maybe better deals next year once the newness wears off. I can get a Ram 2500 Big Horn Night Edition for $53k and add Katzskin leather. Not as nice as an AT4 but that is a big savings.

Part of being on the company vehicle program is that I get a gas card for work and personal use. It’s a big perk, I would have to pay for gas/diesel if my tow rig wasn’t my company vehicle.

 

that makes a big difference.

 

NO SIR YOU CAN'T BE IN TRUCK GANG WITH THAT.

 

I am running the same size tires on a 3/1 lift. I installed 5.29 gears back in Feburary/March with the plan of moving up to 35s or 37s next. I pull a Jayco 264BH. Truck only downshifts to 3rd if on a steep incline, it used to downshift to 2nd before gears and would be losing speed. I feel more comfortable towing the trailer now thru the hill country.

 

It'll put me in the sports car gang! But seriously, car looks ridiculous but the specs look great.

 

Thanks for the heads up about the painted caps, I know people used to wrap the chrome but it doesn’t hold up. GMC is looking strong with poll so far.

 

I test drove all the major three brands of diesels before I decided on getting my GMC. I loved the Dodge interior but didn’t like the way the truck felt on the roads. I liked the style of the Ford but I didn’t care for the dealerships. My GMC has been a great truck and I’m very happy with the truck as a whole. The power and torque on a diesel is very nice! My local GMC was offering $4,500 off the new 2020 2500 HD models. Best of luck in your search.

 

+1 on Maintenance. The GMC's are in and out in no time in our shop. Our mechanics don't want to waste too much of their time doing PM's for the Project Managers and owners trucks. Their time needs to be spent on dump trucks and large Caterpillar and Komatsu equipment. GM's are really easy to service.

Fuel pumps and injectors are the main culprit in the Ford's from what we see. They are ridiculously expensive to get to and you literally have to take the whole body off the frame depending on year and which pump. I would say that is the major weakness I see. Along with ring gears in the rear ends going out. And the AC compressors going out. And the ball joints needing replaced. I could go on and on......

GM gets a bad rap years ago about how the IFS is not strong enough compared to others. It has held up much better than the Ford front ends.

I can tell you 100% that in December when it comes time to replace a couple of the 2014 it will hands down be Duramax/Allison. They have been much cheaper to run in what we are doing.

 

Yep, but like I mentioned earlier our F450 to F750 are pretty good with not too many problems. 2 we have had to replace fuel pumps on and random stuff, but to be fair they have been pretty good and worked hard every day.

We also bought 2 Used 2016 Tacoma's last year. Our surveyors use them and drives all over the place. They are base models with 4x4 and that is about it. They both have caps on the beds and they are absolutely loaded down with surveying equipment, wooden stakes, etc..... We have put about 60k on each one and absolutely nothing besides 1 blown fuse and AC would not work one day. $2 fuse later and it was blowing cold air and has been fine ever since. Only tires, filters have been changed out. The guys love them also. Everyone complains about the 3.6 but they say it is fine and love them. One went and bought a Tacoma since he liked driving ours so much. To each his own.

 

I remember when I got my 2004 LB7 and if I remember correctly it was 310/520. Crazy to think it is double now. That thing felt like a rocket at those numbers. I know those years had injector problems but mine had no problems and got rid of it at about 170k mikes. Really wish I still had the truck.

 

Aren't those pickups de-tuned in the first few gears to prevent various drivetrain components from flying apart? Most of the buses and medium duty trucks I've driven seem to have about half the engine output numbers of what the pickups get.

 

Out of all the diesel owners I know, all the ones with newer trucks prefer the chevies. Isuzu designed diesel, good trans, and less electrical nightmares than the dodges

 

But to Me the only diesels I’ll own are first gen rams and ol ford 7.3s

 

MOAR POWAH!!!

 

I've been a little all over the place with trucks in the past 2-3 years. Went from a 2015 Silverado 1500 that the trans went out @ 44k miles to a 2016 Chevy 2500 Duramax High Country. I will say, I love my Tundra but that High Country was probably my favorite truck I've ever driven/owned. It had more power than I will ever need (stock not deleted) and the Allison trans was something I still dream about and was a super comfortable truck to take on trips. I just couldn't justify keeping a 3/4 ton truck and trying to maneuver it in a tight parking garage everyday and my fiancee and I were living 5 hours apart (I was out of town on a job for 18 months and she was in school) and my diesel bill each month commuting back and forth was almost as much as my payment. That being said, if I was to ever rid my Tundra I would go back to a Duramax hands down. The new L5Ps have even more power than my LML had, which is mind blowing. I will say though, all these new 3/4 ton diesels are very nice trucks and you probably can't go wrong with any of the newer models of each but just based off my experience, my vote is for Chevy/GMC. However, i probably will never own another 1/2 ton Chevy or GMC due to their Active Fuel Management systems and awful shifting 8 speed transmissions - it just doesn't pair well. Maybe the new 10 speeds are better.

 

Everybody on the GM forum I'm on says the 10 speed is butter smooth but they tend to be homers over there and there have been a handful of 10 speeds that have had seal leaks or early failures.

 

This is the issue with USED Rams. They are great for the farm where no one gives 2 shits about the condition of the body, or the interior. All they want is for it to do the work; looks and comfort be damned. For most of the population, looks and comfort are a concern. Yes, the Cummins will outlast the truck, but I'd like to buy a complete truck and not a Cummins in a self propelled, disposable shipping container. There are good examples of USED Rams now, but I loathe when people are all "Git the Cummings it will last a lifetime." Those good examples are still 3/4 the price of a new one. In the case of Ram, or any diesel at this point, new with warranty is best. Let the high school kids get put into financial ruination. Let them have the clapped out expensive used shit.

 

I've heard nothing but great things about the new 10-speeds in the Duramax. If it's got an Allison name on it I wouldn't worry about it. But yes, I agree with the homer statement. Maybe I am a bit biased as well but my dad has Duramax trucks all my life growing up and pulled our 38' fifth wheel camper with it with no issues. I've always had a soft spot for them because it's what I grew up around

 

I wouldn't touch any of the new diesels with a 10 foot pole. The EPA has ruined them with aggressive EGRs and DEF requirements. The days of the ever-living diesel engines are a thing of the past, and that includes the big ones that used to be bulletproof. When I was running CDL trucks the ones with DEF were eating EGR sensors and having constant DEF problems well before 100k miles.

If you are bound and determined to get a diesel, I'd avoid the GMs unless they have moved the DEF tank. Last I saw, they had the DEF tank hanging below the frame right behind the passenger front tire. Just asking to rip a hole in it. Also, I think Ford is the only one that has the DEF fill point in the fuel door. Ram and GMs have it under the hood, I think.

 

Hence my caveats.