Ok truck guys....

[lungdeflator]

I will be purchasing an 2008 or newer GMC/Chev pickup sometime in September. I was dead set on the 1500 Silverado until I thought about the future....There is a 99% chance I will be pulling a horse trailer with 2 horses 3-4 times a year starting in the next few years. Will the 1500 be enough and not cause to much wear on the truck? Or would it be worth it to get the 2500? After thinking about it I dont know if 3-4 times a year would be worth the loss in gas mileage the rest of the time. I think Ive read the 2500HD averages around 15MPG? And the 1500 around 17MPG?

Thanks for the help

[K_Josh87]

being one who tows several times a week, I have gone to a 1 ton diesel... I wouldn't go back to a half ton any day with any amount of towing...

That being said, occasional towing, with the proper trailer and half ton combo and two hay burners in the trailer, I don't think that would be to hard on the truck, especially shorter distances...

I'm a ford guy, so not sure on the mileage. I don't drive a truck to get prius mileage... I drive a truck because it gets the job done I need it to do.

I do believe the guys I have known running 3/4 ton dirtymaxs are running around 20 MPG averages... So maybe something to look into... It may be closer to a wash to a 15-17 MPG gasser... with a lot longer run time...

Not sure how the newer chevys are doing now with the emissions talk the feds keep tossing down to the vehicle companys...

Good Luck in your searches!

[PurpleFloyd]

The 1500 will be fine pulling a trailer a few times a year and if you are going to stay with gas you will be just fine. I was a chevy guy for a long time and still have no problem with them and think a Silverado would be a fine choice.

But if you want pulling power and good mileage then a Diesel is a great choice too. You can get a truck in that year range for a good price if you take a little time.

I went from a 1/2 tom Ram with a 5.9 that got 11-12 MPG empty and 10-11 pulling a 6x12 foot enclosed trailer to a Ram HD with the Cummins that gets over 20 HWY and 14-16 pulling a 8.5x20' enclosed trailer.I believe a Chevy with a Duramax may do as well or a bit better. Ford probably not.

We just got back from a 2700 mile trip to Yellowstone and I averaged 20.1 on the trip hand calculated.

If I had known 10 years ago how much better the mileage was with Diesel,even with the price premium I would have had one then.

[CAMAN]

For sure get a tranny cooler if it doesn't have one already, and maybe even upgrade the brakes if the truck doesn't seem to stop the way you want with the trailer.

[K_Josh87]

I would add, with ANY trailer, MAINTAIN the brakes... The trailer really should be doing its share of the stopping... but even with good brakes my 16' enclosed tool trailer would warp the rotors on my 2000 150... My 06 1 ton i just replaced the pads at 120,000 for the first time, and the rotors where ok yet.... and I now have added a 16', 21,000 GVW dump trailer and have pulled a fair amount of heavy loads with it... so i am not sure what can be done on a half ton to upgrade brakes and what not and so forth... but I think you still should be OK with the correct trailer and truck combo... a small steel trailer, or an aluminum trailer should be no problem...

[Scott K]

With my half ton truck, I used to haul a 28' enclosed trailer with 7 4x4 ATV's in it. The truck was over matched for sure, but it pulled it. After installing a stabilizer on the truck, it pulled it much better. The trailer brakes I just adjusted up so the trailer would brake its share, and I just accelerated slowly, and it worked fine for several years of regular trips to Wisconsin and back. I couldnt justify spending the money on a bigger truck just to pull ATV's.

Although, one time, going through the metro on 35w I needed to slow down for traffic, on a corner when it was raining out, and the trailer brakes locked a little, and started to slide, that was the only scary moment, that I wished I had a bigger truck. Luckily with my ninja like driving skillz, I maneuvered my way through it with no issues, other then my heart beating very fast, and I think a quick trip to empty my shorts out.

My point of the story, as long as you arent over loading, and using it for pulling all the time, a half ton truck will work, just take it easier. If you are going to be pulling a large trailer a lot, I would go with the 1 ton for safety reasons.

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

Not to start a brand war, but take a look at the F150 w/ the Ecoboost if you decide to stick with a 1/2 ton. You'll get incredible torque and towing capacity and excellent mileage while empty.

[lungdeflator]

I thought about the ecoboost and really considered it. But I dont think I can find one for around 25-28,000$. I appreciate all the input, I think the 1500 will do just fine for what I need

[Capt. H (Ret.)]

I've thought about the mileage thing too. I've had several several Tahoes with the 5.7 and it pulled great. I currently have 2011 Silverado crew cab with the 5.3 liter. It also pulls great but there is some down shifting up and down hills. I have no idea what a couple of hay burners weight but I do know that a trip to Vermilion put my mileage at about 14 mpg which I was pleased with. I was pulling an 18 foot Alumacraft with a cover on it. I almost bought a 6.0 liter but I am glad I didn't because I don't pull a lot with the boat. May'be a 6.0 liter would fit your needs better. It all depends on how much you pull a horse trailer. I hope I did't offend you by calling your horses hay burners because I am sure they are like family.

Hope this helps.

Mike

[Jeremy airjer W]

Why not compare the chev specs with an 08 tundra? You might be surprised!

[GSP4ME]

figure at least 1200 pounds a horse plus your trailer. I have the dodge one ton with the cummings and would never look back. The Ecoboost is nice but when you are pulling you take a huge hit on the milleae. What you have to look at as well is the tranny and as mentioned te brakes. I pull a trailer with two horses and half a dozen dogs at least 4 days a week. Wear and tear on the half ton is tough but if you have one of the newer aluminum trailers you can do it

[gooty]

I think you need a Ferd 15,000.

[rundrave]

I thought about the ecoboost and really considered it. But I dont think I can find one for around 25-28,000$.

[Whoaru99]

No way in heck you're going to be money ahead (or even money even) by buying a big diesel for that sort of towing. That's not a very big load in the first place, let alone just a few times per year.

I looked at a towing rating chart from a 2008 magazine article and the 1500 with 5.3L engine ranged between 6,500 and 8,900 lbs towing capacity depending on axle ratio and type of truck (extended cab, regular, 2wd, 4wd, long box, short box, etc.). But 6,500lbs was the minimum I saw for any 1500 with 5.3L engine. So, you're not going to be putting too much wear on the truck since your load sounds like 1/2 as much, give or take, of the lowest towing rating.

[Glock]

Why not compare the chev specs with an 08 tundra? You might be surprised!

I second this suggestion. When getting ready to purchase my latest truck, my wife suggested I stop by to "just see" what a Toyota was like. Being a life long Chevy owner I laughed when pulling in the dealers lot with my chevy but left the lot driving a tundra.

Glock

[lungdeflator]

Haha I call em hayburners myself, and a few other names sometimes...

They are the girlfriends, I like riding 4wheelers better, but will do certain things to make her happy. She says the horses weigh around 800 and 900 lbs. So 1700 lbs of horse in a good trailer, shouldnt be very close to 6500 lbs I dont think.

[K_Josh87]

a steel trailer you will be a lot closer than you think... My truck trailer empty weight is 15,500... much heavier trailer, and probably a similar amount of steel in my dump bed as a steel horse trailer around 16'.... not 100% but I think the trailer makes up around 5,000 of this weight.... but i have never weighed the truck without the trailer, so not positive...

[Whoaru99]

A bit more online research seemed to indicate the "typical" 2-horse trailer weighs between ~2600lbs and 3300lbs. So, I probably underestimated the total weight on the trailer side but even then you're still well under the towing capacity. My opinion remains the same, for just a few times per year I think a big, heavy-duty rig isn't needed.

I dragged a 7x16 enclosed trailer (w/electric trailer brakes), ~6,000lbs loaded, up and down the Interstates for a few years with a 94 Chev K-1500 Ext Cab without any issues at all. Granted, the truck had a 5.7L engine but not near the power rating of even the 5.3L. I believe that truck tow rating was 6,600lbs.

Bought that truck from the company many years ago and still have it, although it doesn't get used much anymore due to gas prices and seldom taking my boat out anymore. But, drivetrain-wise it's just fine at 220K miles.

[K_Josh87]

i agree a half ton will suit the needs in this situation, especially if one takes it easy... the half tons these days are getting pretty beefy in the towing capabilities... and a few not terribly expensive add ons such as air bags in the rear suspension, or a load leveler/stabilizer system. but mostly just common sense when towing is the best think one could handle! Don't want to get the Nags into a wreck you know!!! ;-)