The next time a person tells me their 1/2 ton gasser tows great..

[Gozar]

I am gonna tell them bullshit to their face. I towed our boat with our 3/4 ton 6 liter Suburban today and it felt pathetic compared to my Duramax truck. Sure it trailed fine and braking was more than adequate but there is no freaking comparing the two. They don't even belong in the same sentence.

[Cobra4B]

My 1/2 ton gasser tows great... just towed 9 hours each way from VB to Road Atlanta an back this weekend. Averaged 11 mpg and had cruise control on 75 most of the way.

[Gozar]

Originally Posted by Cobra4B

Compared to a Prius my 1/2 ton gasser tows great... just towed 9 hours each way from VB to Road Atlanta an back this weekend. Averaged 11 mph and had cruise control on 75 most of the way.

Fixed

[C5Nate]

Gozar, might as well give it up.

Its like buying a set of tires for the Corvette.

They may ride like square stones but by golly, they paid their $2500. for them and they will never admit they ride like square stones.

[Cobra4B]

Not sure what point you're trying to make... Sure a diesel will get up to speed a little easier and a dually will tow massive loads, but my truck is also my DD. I don't want to be riding around in a super stiff 3/4 ton truck every day. I don't want to pay the increased cost of diesel fuel, and don't want to pay the increased maintenance costs either. If you pull a trailer for a living or you only use the truck to pull then sure get a diesel. However, for me a 1/2 ton gasser fits the bill perfectly.

2008 Titan has great power for a gasser and a 5-speed auto with tow/haul mode standard. I put Firestone bags on it to prevent any sagging when towing with the bed loaded too and I use an Equalizer hitch from when I used to tow with a GMC Canyon. I can cruise at 80+ w/o issue if I want. I've towed my buddy's 22' enclosed and my father's 24' w/o issue. Doesn't like going much over 75 (pulling an enclosed), but tows along at 72 in 4th gear w/o having to downshift to 3rd up hills.

[clutchdust]

All depends on what you're talking about. Years back, I bought a GMC 5.3 with the tow package. Towed my vette and trailer just fine. My boat (25' Carver) not so much. I also have a 99 GMC with the 6.5. It's not a duramax but it will out tow the 1/2 ton, it just won't break 70 doing it, and gets suckier mileage.

[Gozar]

The Duramax will pull my boat (about 6k lbs) with ease and get 14mpg doing it. (less in the hills)

It gets up to speed with ease. Not a little easier, A LOT easier. It also rides just fine as my daily driver and I have owned 5 different 1/2 ton trucks in my day.

I guess my point is that so many people think their trucks pull fine really haven't experienced a real towing vehicle.

[Cobra4B]

Originally Posted by Gozar

I guess my point is that so many people think their trucks pull fine really haven't experienced a real towing vehicle.

I've experienced diesels of all brands... you said pull fine. Not pulls the best. A properly setup 1/2 ton gasser will pull most anything just fine. Sure a diesel will pull it better, but that doesn't necessarily mean any safer. I can merge onto the highway and get up to speed in a hurry... not like my truck is struggling... it has 5 gears for a reason.

[C5Nate]

Originally Posted by Cobra4B

Not sure what point you're trying to make... Sure a diesel will get up to speed a little easier and a dually will tow massive loads, but my truck is also my DD. I don't want to be riding around in a super stiff 3/4 ton truck every day. I don't want to pay the increased cost of diesel fuel, and don't want to pay the increased maintenance costs either. If you pull a trailer for a living or you only use the truck to pull then sure get a diesel. However, for me a 1/2 ton gasser fits the bill perfectly.

2008 Titan has great power for a gasser and a 5-speed auto with tow/haul mode standard. I put Firestone bags on it to prevent any sagging when towing with the bed loaded too and I use an Equalizer hitch from when I used to tow with a GMC Canyon. I can cruise at 80+ w/o issue if I want. I've towed my buddy's 22' enclosed and my father's 24' w/o issue. Doesn't like going much over 75 (pulling an enclosed), but tows along at 72 in 4th gear w/o having to downshift to 3rd up hills.

There is NO increase in maint cost for a diesel. In fact they are cheaper.

Now that my diesel is finally broke in, (160k) its getting better fuel mileage every day.

My 3/4 ton 4x4 IFS rides great.

23.4 mpg, mostly highway.

I can run bio diesel, used vegetable oil and even make my own fuel if needed.

No need for any silly bags.

No need for Equalizer bars.

[Cobra4B]

Originally Posted by C5Nate

There is NO increase in maint cost for a diesel. In fact they are cheaper.

Now that my diesel is finally broke in, (160k) its getting better fuel mileage every day.

My 3/4 ton 4x4 IFS rides great.

23.4 mpg, mostly highway.

I can run bio diesel, used vegetable oil and even make my own fuel if needed.

No need for any silly bags.

No need for Equalizer bars.

How much oil does that sucker hold? Diesel oil changes are measured in gallons vs. quarts.

Glad you truck rides great... I'm sure mine rides better since it's not sprung to tow 20,000 lbs.

23.4 mpg is great... I assume it's been tuned to get that type of mileage.

I have no problem putting bags on a truck... stiff when I want it, nice and soft when I don't. Nissan sprung this truck soft for ride. In stock form it sagged way more than my Dad's f-150, but it rides better. Bags fixed it all. Picked up $3k worth of tile from The Tile Shop the other day and the guys didn't think the truck would handle it... I showed them the bags and leveled the truck with 50 psi.... they all thought it was really trick and had never seen air springs before.

Truck doesn't need equalizer bars, but I already owned the hitch... plus sway control is just added insurance.... nice to have when I want to tow fast or I'm passing a semi pushing serious cross-wind when I'm towing an enclosed.

It's all about intended use... I tow 6000-7000lbs of race car crap 6-8x a year... the rest of the time it's my daily YMMV.

[Gozar]

Originally Posted by Cobra4B

I've experienced diesels of all brands... you said pull fine. Not pulls the best. A properly setup 1/2 ton gasser will pull most anything just fine. Sure a diesel will pull it better, but that doesn't necessarily mean any safer. I can merge onto the highway and get up to speed in a hurry... not like my truck is struggling... it has 5 gears for a reason.

Come try and pull my boat and then we can talk.

These are the conversations that frustrate me. 1/2 ton owners will defend their decision to the death. I have owned both, I have a gasser and a diesel and like I said, there is no comparing the two.

Oh and it holds 10 quarts of oil.

[Cobra4B]

Originally Posted by Gozar

Come try and pull my boat and then we can talk.

These are the conversations that frustrate me. 1/2 ton owners will defend their decision to the death. I have owned both, I have a gasser and a diesel and like I said, there is no comparing the two.

Why are you frustrated? You said a 1/2 ton gasser can't tow "fine"... they can tow just fine so long as you're not a moron. I'm sure your diesel will yank shit around better, but I'm not towing your boat on the daily and don't want to drive your huge truck day in and day out... navigating my office parking garage wouldn't be much fun in a bigger truck.

If your boat is the one in that picture I know I'd have no problems yanking it around... I've towed a fully loaded 24' enclosed around 8000lbs w/o any issue. My truck is rated to tow 9400lbs

[polarbear]

Originally Posted by Gozar

I am gonna tell them bullshit to their face. I towed our boat with our 3/4 ton 6 liter Suburban today and it felt pathetic compared to my Duramax truck. Sure it trailed fine and braking was more than adequate but there is no freaking comparing the two. They don't even belong in the same sentence.

Unless you've towed with a diesel, you wouldn't have a clue. My F150 can tow a car on a trailer just fine- but that's only about 4500 lbs. Roughly half what I used to tow into the Coast Range with the F350.

[Gozar]

Originally Posted by Cobra4B

Why are you frustrated? You said a 1/2 ton gasser can't tow "fine"... they can tow just fine so long as you're not a moron. I'm sure your diesel will yank shit around better, but I'm not towing your boat on the daily and don't want to drive your huge truck day in and day out... navigating my office parking garage wouldn't be much fun in a bigger truck.

If your boat is the one in that picture I know I'd have no problems yanking it around... I've towed a fully loaded 24' enclosed around 8000lbs w/o any issue. My truck is rated to tow 9400lbs

If you say so. Then your truck must have twice the power of my Suburban.

[Cobra4B]

Originally Posted by Gozar

If you say so. Then your truck must have twice the power of my Suburban.

Japs know how to build a boss V8. This thing will dog my father's '06 F-150 and I raced my buddy's '10 Hemi Ram and was door to door with him. Jap truck is only rated at 330 horse and like 385 torque, but on the forums they typically lay down 310-315 rwhp and 360+ tq, plus the torque curve is very fat for a gasser.

Again... some of us have no need for a diesel... I could have bought one, but didn't for all the reasons I've mentioned and my truck tows my load just fine. I intend to buy an enclosed trailer next year and still bought the gasser.

[C5Nate]

Originally Posted by Cobra4B

How much oil does that sucker hold? Diesel oil changes are measured in gallons vs. quarts.

Glad you truck rides great... I'm sure mine rides better since it's not sprung to tow 20,000 lbs.

23.4 mpg is great... I assume it's been tuned to get that type of mileage.

10 quarts but I can go 10,000 miles between changes.

Its tuned for more HP and torque, mileage came up about 0.5 with the tune.

[polarbear]

Originally Posted by Cobra4B

Japs know how to build a boss V8. This thing will dog my father's '06 F-150 and I raced my buddy's '10 Hemi Ram and was door to door with him. Jap truck is only rated at 330 horse and like 385 torque, but on the forums they typically lay down 310-315 rwhp and 360+ tq, plus the torque curve is very fat for a gasser.

Again... some of us have no need for a diesel... I could have bought one, but didn't for all the reasons I've mentioned and my truck tows my load just fine. I intend to buy an enclosed trailer next year and still bought the gasser.

Of course it will- it weighs about 1,000- 2,000 lbs. less than the other trucks you mentioned.

[Barn Babe]

I've got an '03 3/4 ton Suburban and it tows pretty effortlessly. I've never even driven a Duramax but I honestly have never had it balk. I'm not sure what things weigh, but I've towed a 32' travel trailer loaded with junk 'cause we were moving, a 2-horse horse trailer full of horses and this:
[IMG][/IMG]

I have also towed an 18' ski boat with a Dodge van conversion running on 4 cylinders and didn't even know it was back there. I can't imagine a boat being much of a challenge, how heavy is your boat?

[carlton_fritz]

You all should just go for it and get a Cummins diesel.

[NB2K]

Originally Posted by carlton_fritz

You all should just go for it and get a Cummins diesel.

I'd buy a Tundra waaaay before I'd buy a Dodge.