3/4 ton truck pulling

[1stindoor]

I'm on my second 2500 HD....and looking to trade it on my third. The 1500 series will tow my boat just fine...the 2500 doesn't even know it's there. Plus the cab is spacious. I don't mind the cost...what else am I going to do with the money?...give it to my kids?

[gehol]

I'm on my second 2500 HD....and looking to trade it on my third. The 1500 series will tow my boat just fine...the 2500 doesn't even know it's there. Plus the cab is spacious. I don't mind the cost...what else am I going to do with the money?...give it to my kids?

I don't think anybody would disagree with you on this. But, remember the OP was about towing a bass boat. Clearlake introduces a 5000 pound camper. which is both heavier and a higher profile (catches more air). Of course there are scenarios where a 3/4 ton is needed. If you NEED a 3/4 ton then of course. If you don't NEED one but, just want one then that too is great. But, for those claiming to NEED a 3/4 ton for the typical bass boat I just disagree. A half ton, Chevy, towing package, 3.42 gear and a rig under 4K pounds and you are good to go. This is even more true with a post 2014 year model.
And yes, just like with a 3/4 ton, you will know it is back there when towing with a 1/2 ton.

[1stindoor]

I missed the 5k camper....thanks.

[CJ1]

What do the 3/4 diesel guys do when they have to haul a 12,000lbs load? Trade it in for an F450 so it "feels like the load isn't even back there"??
My 2014 GMC 5.3 can burn the back tires off it with the boat hooked up; power is not an issue. Do I know it's back there at 65mph; of course I can. Same as you can with a 3/4 ton.
My truck in a 3/4 ton diesel would have been another $20k minimum. That $20k is in the bank. I don't need to spend that kind of money so "I can feel the load a little less when towing".

Oh, now you are trying to talk common Sense on the internet. You know that doesn't work! Sad when I hook my f250 to my tilt trailer I am "legally" overloaded because it is older and only rated to tow 10k. That's a joke as it does this with ease at 14k. The truck used to pull a 3 axle gooseneck with 16k on it. Now I have to go and buy a f350 to "legally" pull what I need. The DOT never had a issue oking it before but now because of the lack of common Sense we have to have laws to protect the ingnorant. I do know when I hook a 136000lb gravel train behind a 22000lb tractor I feel it. So what is the answer for that? Like you I don't understand some of the thinking? Cj

[transamz9]

What do the 3/4 diesel guys do when they have to haul a 12,000lbs load? Trade it in for an F450 so it "feels like the load isn't even back there"??
My 2014 GMC 5.3 can burn the back tires off it with the boat hooked up; power is not an issue. Do I know it's back there at 65mph; of course I can. Same as you can with a 3/4 ton.
My truck in a 3/4 ton diesel would have been another $20k minimum. That $20k is in the bank. I don't need to spend that kind of money so "I can feel the load a little less when towing".

I don't know where you shop but a diesel is only 10k more than a gas and around here the half tons are pretty close to the same price as the 3/4 tons

[Nova Kaw 650]

I don't know where you shop but a diesel is only 10k more than a gas and around here the half tons are pretty close to the same price as the 3/4 tons

The diesel option is 12k here, and 1/2 ton to 3/4 ton is another 6k minimum, so 18k more.

[transamz9]

The diesel option is 12k here, and 1/2 ton to 3/4 ton is another 10k minimum.

I can buy a crew cab 2500 Ram Cummins well optioned for 43k I can't buy a crew cab 1500 with a v8 for 23k.

https://www.glennfreedomchryslerdodg...ur5cl4jg302891

[transamz9]

Gas 3/4 ton

https://www.glennfreedomchryslerdodg...ur5cj4jg356979

[Nova Kaw 650]

Not many non-commercial buyers would be satisfied owning the "work truck" package.
But I will stand corrected:
I did the build-and-price (based on a GMC, here in Canada); the difference was closer to 14k for an SLT package, 4x4. I added no options other than what came with the SLT package, but judging by the prices on the site, they were charging more for those options on the diesel 3/4 ton.

[transamz9]

I just built a Ram 1500 Laramie and a 2500 Laramie under my zip code. I added a V8 to the 1500 and tow package because someone towing a bass boat would want it. The 2500 comes standard with a bigger V8 and tow package. The 1500 is 49,700 and the 2500 is 50,900. $1,200 difference. MSRP. Changed the 2500 to diesel and the price goes to 59,720. $10,000 difference between 1500 V8 gas and 2500 diesel.

Laramie is a middle grade trim level.

[Triton420]

3/4 ton is overkill for a bass boat. These newer 1/2 ton trucks can pull a lot and have big brakes. Hell, my 2wd 07 F150 5.4 with 330K and 2.55 gear pulls my 19ft Triton at 80mph down the highway keeping around 2,300-2,500 rpm's.. Stops it just fine without having trailer brakes too

[peteV]

Just got out of a 2014 Sierra 1500 and into a 2018 silverado 2500 hd/diesel. My boat is a 19 ft. ranger fisherman. Its overkill sure, but that is the point.

[plki]

I had a 2000 gmc 1500 with a 4.8 ,never had a issue with towing single axle trailers. I hooked up a friends 521 tandem axle and the truck struggled with that boat . Hills were really bad.

Hills were bad because it wasn't a good old 5.4L triton, was a weak ass 4.8L GM

[rockmike]

Just got out of a 2014 Sierra 1500 and into a 2018 silverado 2500 hd/diesel. My boat is a 19 ft. ranger fisherman. Its overkill sure, but that is the point.

I pull the same boat with a Ford 2500 diesel. I also like the overkill.

[StevenMCC]

The only reason to get a 2500 over a 1500 for pulling a bass boat is to be awesome!

[berudd]

It’s not the pulling, it’s the stopping.
When your 21ft tandem axle trailer’s master cylinder takes a crap 300 miles from home and perhaps you have never bled the brake fluid on your truck and some clueless idiot pulls out right in front of you on the highway that’s when you suddenly wish you had a safety margin.

Its enough safety margin for stopping as well. Nothing is 100% going to prevent the unexpected. Someone can always pull out in front of you and depending on when they do it, nothing will prevent a collision. A 21 Ranger is about half of what the least capable 1/2 tons are rated for. Saying you’re trailer brakes MIGHT go out and your truck’s brakes MIGHT need bleeding and someone MIGHT pull out in front of you and that MIGHT all happen at the same time is not real justification for a bigger truck. It just sound like someone trying to justify it.

[berudd]

The newer 5.3 is a different animal. Admittedly the '08 would be a little anemic with insufficient low rpm torque but, thousands of bass boats have been towed hundreds of thousands of miles just fine with older 5.3's. Starting in '14 or '15 the mid range torque was increased and improved again in '17. The newer 1/2 ton will easily tow up to 4-4.5K pounds. Of course you will know it is back there. If you can justify the cost and can tolerate the rougher ride by all means go 3/4. Seems like a lot of money to spend on the outside chance the trailer brakes might fail. Frankly, if you can not get a 4K pound boat and trailer home safely without trailer brakes pulling with a 1/2 ton, you might be better served getting some towing instruction.
To say you NEED a 3/4 ton is just not true. Certainly nothing wrong with a 3/4, just not needed. I think many here just trying to justify the extra $10-20K they spent to get the 3/4 ton.

I have both an 08 and 18 with the 5.3 and if anything I would say the 08 pulls harder. But, it also has lower gears so I will admit that could be the cause.

As far as ride, have you been in a new GM 3/4 ton? They ride great IMO.

And anytime I hear someone say “I don’t know its back there” pulling a bass boat I think they either are BSing for some reason or just clueless about what is going on.

[berudd]

I'm on my second 2500 HD....and looking to trade it on my third. The 1500 series will tow my boat just fine...the 2500 doesn't even know it's there. Plus the cab is spacious. I don't mind the cost...what else am I going to do with the money?...give it to my kids?

I believe that interior dimensions are the same when comparing like models.

[muddogs]

I believe that interior dimensions are the same when comparing like models.

Came out of a 2009 Toyota Tundra 5.7,pulling 20ft loaded out Basscat getting 10 miles to gallon no have 1500 dodge eco diesel pulling same boat getting 19 mpg. Pulls as good as the tundra and has plenty stopping power.

[slonezp]

Went from a 2008 5.7 Tundra to a 2017 6.2 SuperDuty. It's like night and day. Some of that might be from just 10 years of technological advancements. Gas mileage is identical. The Ford tows like the boat isn't even there. It tows at a lower rpm than the Toyota, it shifts smoother, and the electronic locking differential prevents any wheel spin at the ramp.