[jimmyn]

I've been reading, watching and waiting. I have a 1/2 ton Silverado that is now ten years old, I am going to need a new truck to pull my boat (when she is finished restoration and diesel conversion) total package wet should be around 8-8500lbs. I love the thought of a 25mpg diesel, kinda like the old days (so I'm told). I can wait another few months.
My truck is my daily driver, I put around 10,000 miles/yr. friends tell me I should buy a couple year old 3/4 ton diesel or even gas burner because I don't commute much anymore, I can buy a two year old 3/4 diesel for about the same price as the ED and get much more truck but fuel burn is high the gas equivalent is much cheaper. I keep hearing that diesels don't like short trips, they need ample warm up time? what about all the small diesels running around Europe? is an 8500lb package pulling up the launch ramp and 60 miles down the road three or four times a month too much for the ED?

 

[mattyj724]

NO i dont think it is. Just make sure you equpip it right. 8500 is on the edge of the rated tow limit, but i know the truck can handle more than this.

 

[Haulin]

NO i dont think it is. Just make sure you equpip it right. 8500 is on the edge of the rated tow limit, but i know the truck can handle more than this.

Around how much more do you think it can handle?

 

[mattyj724]

Im not an engineer, but there have been towing test done with the other "big three' trucks that were towing 10K. Ram has built some strong trucks. The quad cab 4x2 has a max towing of 9k with the 3.92. and 8k with the 3.55 rear end. Like i said, towing an extra 500lbs shouldnt matter to the truck,

 

[DieselDawg]

It is about the GVWR of the vehicle as much as it is about GCWR. Doesn't matter how much weight you can pull if the GVWR is maxed out with payload, hitch and tongue weight. I would bet for about the same price you could get a 3/4 ton Cummins to do the job right. It is also about the BRAKES and what the vehicle is built to STOP.

 

[Accused]

i wouldnt go near the limits. 2500...

 

[Katoom250SX]

I am still confused as to why the exact same half ton with a hemi has a large increase in both payload and towing. Same brakes, same frame, same tranny, same rear end (don't think you can get the 3.55 ratio in the hemi) & same suspension.....the absolute only difference is the engine and exhaust. Granted the ecodiesel is down on h.p., but makes more torque (not to mention more useable torque). I'm not saying those that are saying 3/4 ton are wrong, but it doesn't make sense to me why the ratings are lower. Heck a hemi set up the same as my ecodiesel only difference is gear ratio ( I have 3.55 / hemi set up with 3.21) has a better max towing and payload. Now the only thing I haven't found so far is weight differences between the engines.

If it were me towing that much weight that often, I'd probably go bigger truck as well. Simply put, for my needs the capacities of the 1500 work fine.