Chevy or GMC 2500HD

[BJMarshall]

I have no brand loyalty. Period! To me anyone who vehemently defends any brand does so out of brand loyalty or in some cases simply because of buyers remorse. All of them have their share of problems.
I drive Dodge diesels for 2 simple reasons. One is that I prefer to drive used, high mileage vehicles because they are cheaper. I have been able to get more truck for my money buying a Dodge than a Ford or Chevy. Around here, the Dodges don't have as much resale value as the others so I can get a good truck for less money. The other reason is the ease of maintenance and repair. If you're going to drive a high mileage truck, you're going to have to do some work to it. Having worked on all three, I have found the Dodges much easier to maintain. The engine bay is less cramped. The engine and transmissions are less complicated. Swapping things like injectors and turbos is a simple 2 hour job rather than an all day affair and you don't have to disassemble the truck to do it.
Just my 2 cents.

 

[WVanHemert]

I tell you I have owned many a truck, currently have an 01 3500/6speed, cause I got it for a good deal, but in my opinion my favourite truck ever for general get around town, hook up and tow the sleds to mountain was my 95 GMC 350, 1/2 ton. It never failed me, yes it had a bad alternator over it life, leaking PS hoses, but when I sold it it had 396K KM on it.

Now when I am towing my Bobcat or my holiday trailer there is nothing like the power of the cummins for that job.

 

[J Shocik]

DTangstrom, you have to ask yourself some questions. Do you need the diesel engine?? Granted, they work better & get better mpg's, but does the additional cost outweigh the benefits?? A new Duramax engine option is about $8600 extra total (GM now breaks up thr engine & transmission combo & charges sepeately). You can buy a gasser for less $$ and upgrade the truck to some extent. Example that I ran across- I found at my local dealer a leftover '06 Duramax Chevy w/ LT2 option package for $41. 3K. He also had a leftover '06 chevy gasser w/ LT3 option package (LOADED!) for $39. 5K What do you do??



I ended up looking on eBay & found my present Chevy in NH. An '04 with only 10,700 on it, fairly loaded. I only hope I have as much luck with this one as I've had with my '97 CTD, & I've had good luck with the '97.

 

[scootergmc]

I have no brand loyalty. Period! To me anyone who vehemently defends any brand does so out of brand loyalty or in some cases simply because of buyers remorse. All of them have their share of problems.

I agree. The only thing I am remotely loyal to is Japanese sportbikes, although I currently have Ducati Multistrada on my list... . I bought my Dodge knowing full well the truck would fall apart around the engine yet the only letdown I've had has been a cracked #4 fuel supply line which left me on the side of the road. That's what I get for babying it.



We have a 2003 Chevy Gasser truck here at work which has been a great truck. No problems at all. My last truck was a 99 Chevy 1/2t 4x4 Z-71. It was a good truck, no problems other than that stupid clunking steering shaft. I've owned Toyotas, Hondas, Mazdas, Infinitys, Chevys and a Dodge. The only one that's ever let me down is the Dodge. Yet I still love it.



BTW, my Japanese vehicles have never had a single issue. Brand Loyalty? It's a farce.

 

[Yo Hoot]

Had one of each... 01 Dmax and now 04 Dodge.

Get the third gen Dodge Cummins!

 

[WWildbore]

I love my GMC



wayne

 

[Diesel Dually]

I believe you said you don't tow very often. If thats the case and you don't go over 10K when you do tow, you may want to consider the 5. 3L engine if your definately going with GM. Nothing wrong with their trucks, you just need to buy a truck that fits your needs... The 5. 3 has good throttle response and quite a bit better fuel economy than the 6. 0L. We have a few 5. 3's at work and they are getting between 15 and 17mpg. The 6. 0's are getting about 12mpg. A friend had the 8. 1L(?) and best ever was 11 so he got rid of it. You will notice a huge difference in the 5. 3 the second you put a trailer behind it. It becomes a dog, and the fuel economy drops way off. Definately stay with the 2500 or 3500, a 1500 is way to light duty now. Just my opinion, good luck which ever way you go!!

 

[mholje]

Our company fleet consists of various trucks from Toyota Tacoma's, Dodge Dakota's and over 40 Silverado 1500's + 2 Silverado 2500 6. 0's which have been used for towing the rest of the fleet vehicles from office to office. I just incorporated a 06 Dodge 2500 5. 9 Cummins to take over the towing duties and there is no comparison. On the same route from Idaho Falls, ID to Three Forks MT pulling the same weight, the Chevy averaged 6. 8 MPG and had to pull Monida pass in 2nd. The Dodge got 13. 5 MPG with only 4000 miles on the OD and pulled the same pass in 6th. (G56) Chevy has 4. 10's with 4L80 transmission, Dodge has 3. 73's. We looked at many options (including the new Tundra, great for a 1/2 ton, but we needed a real truck) and the Dodge fit the bill the best for the money. Over all the Silverado's have been good trucks but they have their issues (over 30% of ours have needed new instrument clusters at $600. 00 a pop) and quite a few of them have the infamous knock. (check out GM Piston Slap -- Like a Knock) I bought the Dodge last August and with employee pricing and rebates, I paid less than a gas Silverado would cost. My daily driver has been a 1500 silverado with the 5. 3 and it's been a great truck, but I don't tow a thing with it. So, like everyone else has said, what fits your needs. This is just some of my experience, but after seeing real world results, for heavy work, one would be hard pressed to beat the Cummins.

 

[Grizzly]

I'll be positive and say one good thing for chevy/gmc, there better then furd.

 

['strokeThis_'07]

I'll be positive and say one good thing for chevy/gmc, there better then furd.

HaHa a couple years ago I would have disagreed with you (before 6. 0) but the more I see from Ford the more I dislike them... and not just trucks!!