Down sizing from 2 vehicles to 1

RRSCOTT · 12-04-2019, 10:49 AM

I have a 2003 Chevy 2500hd and a 2012 Chevy Equinox. Thinking of getting a 2019 or 2020 Chevy 2500 and that will be my only daily driver. I pull a Puma 295bhss, around 34 foot long. Haven't decided diesel or gas. And I see there are a 6 speed and a 10 speed transmissions. Just wondering what others thoughts are on it. Starting to look now, but probably not going to buy until March or so.

NMWildcat · 12-04-2019, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RRSCOTT

I have a 2003 Chevy 2500hd and a 2012 Chevy Equinox. Thinking of getting a 2019 or 2020 Chevy 2500 and that will be my only daily driver. I pull a Puma 295bhss, around 34 foot long. Haven't decided diesel or gas. And I see there are a 6 speed and a 10 speed transmissions. Just wondering what others thoughts are on it. Starting to look now, but probably not going to buy until March or so.

Your situation is similar to ours. We have a 2007 Duramax that was our daily driver until a few months ago. We recently decided to buy an newish Equinox for daily driving and save miles on our truck and fuel costs. I would definitely love a newer Duramax, but ours is still very reliable, and I have it outfitted/modded exactly as I want it. So can't make a case for a new one.

But, if I was going to buy a newer 2500, I would definitely stick with the tried and true transmissions (I will also always stick to diesel). The 6 speed Allison for the Duramax is the best transmission out there and has an excellent and long history.

The 10 speed transmission is brand new, built by GM/Ford. Not Allison. I have been driving my Dad's 2019 F150 a lot lately (medical type trips). It has the new 10 speed. I thought I would really like it. I do not, much to my surprise. It skips certain gears when starting from a stop, depending on if you get on it (1,2,4..) or ease up to speed (1,3,4)..
It will also occasionally skip higher gears, but I haven't nailed down the circumstances that cause that.
When it skips these gears, there is a slight hesitation, then a surge, that makes you think something is wrong. Not smooth at all. Downshifting when coming to a stop is also not smooth, and if you speed up before coming to a full stop, the transmission frequently has a hard time searching for the right gear and again jerks you around.
Dad took it in several times for Ford to look at it, and they always say it is working perfectly.
At highway speeds, it performs well, but in town, not so much.
I would wait a few years before buying a truck with that 10 speed. Let others help them iron out the quirks

Good luck in your search for a new truck, there are a lot of nice ones out there!!!

RRSCOTT · 12-04-2019, 01:49 PM

My 03 is a 6.0 gas with a 4 speed transmission and 4.10 gears. It only has 71000 miles on it. I bought it new. The new one would probably be my retirement vehicle.

upflying · 12-04-2019, 04:54 PM

If you are retired a big pickup might work as a DD but school, shopping and commuting to work in it gets old.
I have a Subaru Outback for running around Reno.

RRSCOTT · 12-04-2019, 07:20 PM

I drive semi and some have a 10 or 12 speed automatic transmission. And they do that what you said that your Dad's Ford does.

I'm not retired yet. Got 6-7 years to go. If the body don't give up first. Hoping that I would have it mostly paid for by then.

I drive 30 miles around trip for work and if we are camping it's double or more. I do have my Gold Wing to ride too. Not good in the winter.

Was also wondering what the fuel mileage would be. The 03 gets 8 towing and 10 to 12 otherwise.

Mark Ulmer · 12-05-2019, 01:14 PM

I have a 2019 2500 HD (6L v8 gasser, 4.10 rear end, 6 speed tranny) and have been very happy with it. I do use it as my daily driver. The unloaded ride is very nice (for an HD pickup)--better than my previous F150. Gas mileage towing is 8-9. Not towing I get overall 12-13, 14-15 sometimes on the highway. It's nice that it's a FlexFuel engine. During towing season I use regular 87 gas, but now in the winter I shift up to the 15% ethanol blends--saves me a couple bucks per fill and gas mileage is not noticeably different. You can also use E85 which is cheaper yet, but I've read it cuts your mileage pretty significantly. I haven't tried E85 yet.

jd50i · 12-05-2019, 01:46 PM

always have a spare vehicle, even if buying new. I wish I had not gone from 2 to 1.

RRSCOTT · 12-05-2019, 07:27 PM

There is another vehicle and a Gold Wing trike plus my sister has an extra one too. I thinking about cutting costs. The pickup sits a lot and only 2000 to 3500 miles a year. A couple of years it only just over 1000 miles. And because of it sitting had to have brake work all rusted. And there is insurance and plates on both vehicles.

CGK · 12-05-2019, 08:05 PM

We have a 2018 GMC Acadia for daily driving, and the 2500 Yukon XL is backup to that and handles the towing duties. Both vehicles live in the garage most of the time now that we are both retired, but I take the Yukon out at least once a week to give it a run and keep it happy. It's a 2005, and has only 111k miles on it, so I'm hoping it goes a lot longer. Don't think I'd want to have only one vehicle since we live in the country and there is no viable alternative transportation.

Tall frog · 12-05-2019, 09:49 PM

We have a 2018 2500 gmc duramax with the Allison 6 spd,love it as a daily driver and hauling a 14,000 5th wheel. We have about 52,000 miles and no problems, the 2020 hd duramax is using a 10 spd Allison, the gas gets the other 10 spd. The new 2020 also has up graded axels, and drive shaft to handle the extra load. I would up to the 2020 but DW has a lot to say on that, no,no,no, ect.

RRSCOTT · 12-29-2019, 08:48 PM

I think it's going to be a 2020 Silverado 2500HD with the 6.6L gas. Can't come up with the money for the diesel and 10 speed tranny.

Lins · 12-29-2019, 09:06 PM

For the amount you tow and being your DD I think that’s a good choice. The new gassers are becoming quite capable.

RRSCOTT · 12-29-2019, 09:56 PM

2003 6.0L has 300hp. Not sure of the torque. 2020 6.6L has 401hp and 435lbs torque. Going from 4.10 years to 3.73 years. Gas mileage should be better. 03 got 10 mpg average and 8 mpg towing. I have gotten 15 mpg on interstate not towing.

Reprise · 12-29-2019, 11:01 PM

I think the 300hp versions of the 6.0L (LQ4) have about 375tq, iirc. I have the same one in my truck.

The new 6.6L is pretty much an overbore & stroke of the old motor (so it should retain the rep that the old one has for being bulletproof).

FWIW, the new 'Allison' 10-speed -- really isn't. GM added the 4 extra gears on their own, with no input from Allison. Not sure how they got Allison to allow branding it as such; I wouldn't want my company's stellar rep riding on someone else's engineering.

joelabq · 12-29-2019, 11:10 PM

I recently went from a tuned LBZ to the 2020 Duramax 10 speed and have no regrets. People will nay say anything they don't experience themselves, it's a strong combo. I'm a car guy, traded my daily sports car and sold my beloved LBZ for this, and love it. It does not skip gears during hard accelerations, and towing is smooth as butter and feels good even compared to the tried and true Allison 6 speed. The only gear it skips is first when not in tow/haul. Only complaint is the lack of a gear displa, fixed that the banks iDash.

MR.M · 01-01-2020, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RRSCOTT

My 03 is a 6.0 gas with a 4 speed transmission and 4.10 gears. It only has 71000 miles on it. I bought it new. The new one would probably be my retirement vehicle.

71000 is nothing . did just sell my 03 6.0 only 206000 . towed my 33' Th cross country at least 10 times no issues great truck if the body is in good shape i would keep it awhile . i did just replace with a 2019 6.0 6speed a bit more hp and tq . drove the new 2020 and wasn't that impressed . stuck with the tried and true 6.0 i know will give me many trouble free miles

RRSCOTT · 01-01-2020, 10:07 AM

The body wasn't bad. But it was starting to have little problems and didn't want to be nickel and dime

Minthillbill · 01-01-2020, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NMWildcat

Your situation is similar to ours. We have a 2007 Duramax that was our daily driver until a few months ago. We recently decided to buy an newish Equinox for daily driving and save miles on our truck and fuel costs. I would definitely love a newer Duramax, but ours is still very reliable, and I have it outfitted/modded exactly as I want it. So can't make a case for a new one.

But, if I was going to buy a newer 2500, I would definitely stick with the tried and true transmissions (I will also always stick to diesel). The 6 speed Allison for the Duramax is the best transmission out there and has an excellent and long history.

The 10 speed transmission is brand new, built by GM/Ford. Not Allison. I have been driving my Dad's 2019 F150 a lot lately (medical type trips). It has the new 10 speed. I thought I would really like it. I do not, much to my surprise. It skips certain gears when starting from a stop, depending on if you get on it (1,2,4..) or ease up to speed (1,3,4)..
It will also occasionally skip higher gears, but I haven't nailed down the circumstances that cause that.
When it skips these gears, there is a slight hesitation, then a surge, that makes you think something is wrong. Not smooth at all. Downshifting when coming to a stop is also not smooth, and if you speed up before coming to a full stop, the transmission frequently has a hard time searching for the right gear and again jerks you around.
Dad took it in several times for Ford to look at it, and they always say it is working perfectly.
At highway speeds, it performs well, but in town, not so much.
I would wait a few years before buying a truck with that 10 speed. Let others help them iron out the quirks

Good luck in your search for a new truck, there are a lot of nice ones out there!!!

My ‘18 f150 10 spd is great, never feel it shift up or down.

RRSCOTT · 01-05-2020, 07:34 AM

Will I did buy a 2020 Silverado 2500HD LT gas crewcab, standard bed. Now I need to get my hitch adapted in to the pucks or buy a new hitch. My Puma 295BHSSOK has the Sidewinder pin box, so I don't need a slider hitch. I have a Reese Pro15K right now. Having a hard time, looking at hitches not truck not listed. The 8 ft box is. Are the pucks different?

You may also like: