6.6L gas or Duramax for upcoming purchase?

[yzf1999]

Go to a dealer and see for yourself.

 

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[john151ama]

I agree with a lot of these posts. If large towing was common need diesel all day. But I tow a large trailer about twice a year but my need was payload. I never want a 5.5’ bed again, almost worthless to me. Having the 6 and 3/4’ makes a big hauling difference when it comes to debris, gravel, bark dust etc. I wanted the longer bed and to be able to fill completely with gravel and rock and not be bottomed out. I had to fly from Oregon to Texas to get my gasser but it was worth it. Also has higher payload than diesel due to the lighter engine. To me great power, lower initial cost and lower ongoing cost. Out in Oregon diesel is almost always a dollar or greater more than gas. Just got done with 2,700 mile road trip pulling a 30’ travel trailer and never wished for more power. It did great and averaged 10-12mpg. But the long bed and payload made me switch from half ton to 3/4 ton.

The pedal commander really peps up the gas. The programming can make it feel sluggish but that is just the gas pedal timing. With the pedal commander I can hit the gas and burn out any time I want. Still the same 400hp, but adjusting throttle response is what makes most people “feel” a vehicle is fast or slow.

 

[Viking Truck]

I agree with a lot of these posts. If large towing was common need diesel all day. But I tow a large trailer about twice a year but my need was payload. I never want a 5.5’ bed again, almost worthless to me. Having the 6 and 3/4’ makes a big hauling difference when it comes to debris, gravel, bark dust etc. I wanted the longer bed and to be able to fill completely with gravel and rock and not be bottomed out. I had to fly from Oregon to Texas to get my gasser but it was worth it. Also has higher payload than diesel due to the lighter engine. To me great power, lower initial cost and lower ongoing cost. Out in Oregon diesel is almost always a dollar or greater more than gas. Just got done with 2,700 mile road trip pulling a 30’ travel trailer and never wished for more power. It did great and averaged 10-12mpg. But the long bed and payload made me switch from half ton to 3/4 ton.

The pedal commander really peps up the gas. The programming can make it feel sluggish but that is just the gas pedal timing. With the pedal commander I can hit the gas and burn out any time I want. Still the same 400hp, but adjusting throttle response is what makes most people “feel” a vehicle is fast or slow.

I have to consider the pedal commander for the truck. I have not heard much about it for the trucks but know they have it. I put it in my Jeep and helped a lot.

 

[gemarsh]

Go to a dealer and see for yourself.

Unless the dealer has numbers that don't agree with gm, it's just a mind fuk.

The 1500 and 2500/3500 are the same to the tenth of an inch... Unless setting in the back seat.

 

[Viking Truck]

Unless the dealer has numbers that don't agree with gm, it's just a mind fuk.

The 1500 and 2500/3500 are the same to the tenth of an inch... Unless setting in the back seat.

View attachment 9209

Maybe drove a double cab 1500 and crew 2500? But I dont think they make the double in an AT4.

 

[gemarsh]

Maybe drove a double cab 1500 and crew 2500? But I dont think they make the double in an AT4.

You are correct, only WT/Pro and SLE in single/double cabs. I would love a single cab AT4/Denali trim package truck.

 

[Johnv76]

Whoooooooo a single cab at4x AEV!! that would be awesome. However I am spoiled with all the extra room in these crew cabs, but would be awesome for off roading and tight trails.

 

[xOperator]

I agree with a lot of these posts. If large towing was common need diesel all day. But I tow a large trailer about twice a year but my need was payload. I never want a 5.5’ bed again, almost worthless to me. Having the 6 and 3/4’ makes a big hauling difference when it comes to debris, gravel, bark dust etc. I wanted the longer bed and to be able to fill completely with gravel and rock and not be bottomed out. I had to fly from Oregon to Texas to get my gasser but it was worth it. Also has higher payload than diesel due to the lighter engine. To me great power, lower initial cost and lower ongoing cost. Out in Oregon diesel is almost always a dollar or greater more than gas. Just got done with 2,700 mile road trip pulling a 30’ travel trailer and never wished for more power. It did great and averaged 10-12mpg. But the long bed and payload made me switch from half ton to 3/4 ton.

The pedal commander really peps up the gas. The programming can make it feel sluggish but that is just the gas pedal timing. With the pedal commander I can hit the gas and burn out any time I want. Still the same 400hp, but adjusting throttle response is what makes most people “feel” a vehicle is fast or slow.

Do you remove the Pedal Commander when taking your truck to a dealership for service?

 

[john151ama]

Do you remove the Pedal Commander when taking your truck to a dealership for service?

I only got one free oil change with purchase of the truck so I do my own oil change and service. But if something broke down I would probably unplug the pedal commander. Just unplugs from gas pedal connector, super simple.

 

[Cohaagen]

Also the front doors. You can't slap on a set of HD tow mirrors on a 1500.

Is this for all Sierra 1500? I ordered them on my 2020 AT4 1500.

I loosely considered another 1500 before ordering 2500. GMC would not allow me to add tow mirrors, but the Silverado ZR2 1500 would.

 

[yzf1999]

Trust me…get in a new HD crew cab and it seems way bigger inside.

 

[gemarsh]

Is this for all Sierra 1500? I ordered them on my 2020 AT4 1500.

I loosely considered another 1500 before ordering 2500. GMC would not allow me to add tow mirrors, but the Silverado ZR2 1500 would.

Yes. The tow mirror mounts are different on the 1500 and HD's. The door skin is different.

 

[Sdakota24]

Hello all, I am looking hard at a new 2500 as they are by far the baddest trucks on the planet. Do I need a 3/4 ton? No. Do I want one, hell yes. So, in saying that, I don't tow anything, and my hauling is a typical trip to Lowe's or Home Depot, and maybe helping out my Italian wife's crazy family with stuff haha. Therefore, since my daily drive to work is 20 minutes highway each way, is that enough to work the Duramax and keep things like the DPF happy? Or is the obvious choice the gasser? I am an old military guy and have always had a love for diesels since I drove many variants in the Army. Therefore, the smell, sound, and now HP and Torque is intoxicating. Btw, neither variant will fit into my garage and will be parked in my driveway. So, the upstate winters come into place as well? I haven't owned a diesel in a long time, so please educate me on what I would be looking at under my operating conditions. Thanks all!

I was faced with the same tough decision as you. I had been waiting for GMC to make a bad ass truck with the new interior and finally pulled the trigger. I did test drive a diesel and it sounds bad ass, is bad ass however for $10k extra I went with the gas. I’m from SD and we get extremely cold here a couple times a year and didn’t want to mess with diesel additives etc. I pull a few things a year and I feel the gas will be capable of that. Gas engines are more capable than ever. Diesel guys are probably going to say diesel and I can’t blame them. Spending an extra $10k on an already expensive truck I didn’t need wasn’t in the cards for me.

 

[Cohaagen]

I have owned both. This topic goes on an on and on, but the easiest thing is to first throw away 2 ideas:

1. Some buyers are going to buy what they want, no natter what, and not care. Nothing wrong with that.
2. The extra 10k up front is a complete non-factor, so long as the buyer can afford it. You pay 10 more up front, but your truck is always worth that much more, or close, than the gas counterpart.

So if you make the decision based upon needs, then you can hone in on the attributes of each. I really loved my 2015 Denali Duramax 2500. Loved the sound, loved the torque. Did not like worrying about DEF, regens, idling, and sensors. Had the normal diesel warranty items under warranty - bad sensors, faulty DEF tank heater, etc. If I towed heavy trailers, or towed very frequently, then the worries are less of a concern, and just part of owning a diesel.

I currently have a ZR2 2500 on order. 6.6L gas. I do not tow frequently. When I do tow, my travel trailer is 7k fully loaded. I might have a 12k flat trailer a few times a year for construction deliveries. So despite loving the Duramax, and being able to afford the 10k, I chose the gas.

I guess a final consideration is warranty and how long you will have the truck. If you are going to dump it before warranty is up, choose what you really want. But do so knowing that if you buy a diesel and never work it, you will run into problems. Warranty will cover you, so it is just the inconvenience of extra service trips.

 

[yzf1999]

Another factor in my choosing gas over diesel was the stupid long wait times to get my last truck (2014 F250 6.7 diesel) in for service. Apparently diesel techs are like Gold and dealerships only have one basically. Also the auto mechanic field is basically dying so I decided this go around I’m going back to the basics.