No More Heavy Duty 1/2 Tons????

rockwood06 · 01-09-2011, 06:06 PM

I heard not long ago that GM is not making any more Heavy Duty 1/2 Tons. is this true? I am told that you can buy a standard 1/2 ton or you have to go to a full 3/4 ton and then up from there.

Timmy · 01-09-2011, 08:44 PM

Thats what i was told

grhodes50 · 01-09-2011, 08:55 PM

It doesn't really surprise me since I haven't noticed too many ½ ton HD GM's or very many of the Fords with the max tow package.

Maybe I just haven't looked hard enough.

rockwood06 · 01-10-2011, 05:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhodes 50

It doesn't really surprise me since I haven't noticed too many ½ ton HD GM's or very many of the Fords with the max tow package.

Maybe I just haven't looked hard enough.

Gary, here is one. Back in the day when Chevy came out with the heavy duty 1/2 ton it was called ( The Heavy Chevy) or (The Heavy 1/2 Ton) and these names were used for a while until the (HD) series came out the name of the (The Heavy 1/2 Ton) was changed to (The 1500 HD) I have only seen one truck with this label on it so i know where you are coming from.
As of 2008 GM changed the name on the (1500 HD) to the (Vortec Max) some times people ask me "What Is That?" and some ask "How Is That Diesel". Well i guess confusion has set in between the (Vortec Max) and the (Duramax).

Someone correct me if i am wrong, there is a difference between the label on the side of the truck....(Duramax) is in chrome with black inlay lettering....(Vortec Max) is in chrome with red inlay lettering, this is how the lettering is on my Vortec Max.

There is a difference between the standard 1/2 ton and the Vortec Max.
The frame is completely different.
The brakes are the same has the 2500 HD.
Heavy Duty Tow package.
6.0 gas engine
Heavy Duty 4 Speed Automatic Transmission.
4:10 Rear.
Tow/Haul Mode
Factory installed Electric Trailer Brake Controller.

grhodes50 · 01-10-2011, 08:53 AM

Nice truck Wade.

Yeah, I haven't seen too many. It seems around here it's either a ½ ton or a ¾ ton and up. But then again, as I mentioned, I haven't really looked for 'em. But it doesn't seem to me that they generate enough sales to warranty making 'em.

rohlingerrv · 01-24-2011, 06:31 PM

It caused a lot of confusion, A 1500HD is the same as a 2500, I found that out later after I bought my 2500 and then found out it was a "light duty" 2500 or the same a a 1500 hd. I never understood why GM did that with the trucks..

3 Happy Campers · 01-24-2011, 06:45 PM

At one time I had a 1975 GMC heavy ½ with three on the tree.
Memories of when gas was $0.50/gal

MtnGuy · 01-24-2011, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3 Happy Campers

At one time I had a 1975 GMC heavy ½ with three on the tree.

It has been a long time since I heard that term. I wonder how many younger members even know what that means.

A friend had a mid 60s Peugeot that 4 on the tree......I never could get the hang of shifting that puppy.

rockwood06 · 01-24-2011, 07:42 PM

I am not one of the younger members but that term brings back memories. I work for a construction company at 19 years old and that is when i drove my first company truck with a stick "Three On a Tree" It was a 1966 Chevy pick up, i was told it had a 9' bed, anyone awear of this?

Now back to the Heavy Duty 1/2 ton, a co-worker has a Ford F-150 i think it is a 2006 he has had nothing but trouble with it. it has been in the shop many times from spark plug problems to wire issues and just put in a new transmission in at 56,000 miles. He has had enough, he has been looking for a Chevy Heavy Duty 1/2 ton like mine and now that GM is not making them any more they are getting harder to find and the ones he has come across the prices are high.

He is not an RV'er but he tows a 24' boat so he still needs towing capacity in a truck. He is going to look at one a 2009 in VA this weekend at a dealers lot.

camper_Lucy · 01-24-2011, 08:40 PM

Chevy discontinued the 1500HD in 06/7, BTW it never was the same as a 2500hd it did not have the same breaks, tranny, or cooling systems, it only had a stiffer frame so the gross load was higher than a std 1/2 ton, at one time there was a larger engine option but that went away even earlier then 06/7.

lbrjet · 01-24-2011, 08:56 PM

The Ford max tow PLUS max payload would be considered a F150HD, but not without the max payload package. Personally I would just buy the F250, which I did about a year ago and don't regret it for second.

slides · 01-24-2011, 09:00 PM

rockwood06
I worked with a guy one time that had the 9' foot bed but on the side it said camper special. That was the first and only time I ever even heard or seen one. If you looked at the underside of the bed you could see where they cut the front off and added the extra foot.

KAC · 01-25-2011, 12:43 AM

I have a 2009 1/2 HD and it hauls very well. It has the Max Package and it is a 3/4t truck in a 1/2 t body. 6 speed auto transmission, 6.0 l engine. Tows 11500 pounds and does well over the mountains.

rockwood06 · 01-25-2011, 05:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camper_Lucy

Chevy discontinued the 1500HD in 06/7, BTW it never was the same as a 2500hd it did not have the same breaks, tranny, or cooling systems, it only had a stiffer frame so the gross load was higher than a std 1/2 ton, at one time there was a larger engine option but that went away even earlier then 06/7.

Actually on my 2008 with the truck equip with the heavy duty tow package it has four wheel disc brakes and they are the same brakes that are on the 2500HD. The engine in my truck was up graded to the newer 6.0, the older 6.0 was rated at 300 hp the newer one which is in my truck is rated at 367 hp, as far as the cooling system if the 6.0 is in a 1/2 ton or a 3/4 ton is the capacity the same?
The transmission in the standard 1/2 ton is a 4-speed automatic in the heavy duty 1/2ton with heavy duty tow package it comes with the heavy duty 4-speed automatic transmission.

With this change GM is using the 6.2 gas engine with a 6-speed transmission and using a 3:73 rear......I have the 6.0 engine with the heavy duty 4-speed transmission and a 4:10 rear, it looks like they are doing away with the 4:10 rear in 1/2tons of any kind.

rockwood06 · 01-25-2011, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slides

rockwood 06
I worked with a guy one time that had the 9' foot bed but on the side it said camper special. That was the first and only time I ever even heard or seen one. If you looked at the underside of the bed you could see where they cut the front off and added the extra foot.

thanks for the reply this confirms that i am not crazy and i still remember what i was told when i was 19...

rockwood06 · 01-25-2011, 05:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KAC

I have a 2009 1/2 HD and it hauls very well. It has the Max Package and it is a 3/4t truck in a 1/2 t body. 6 speed auto transmission, 6.0 l engine. Tows 11500 pounds and does well over the mountains.

KAC,

to the forum. I will pass this on to my co-worker he is looking into a 2009. He was have trouble with the saleman on getting info on the truck and since the truck was on the dealers web site i pulled the V.I.N. number and call the parts department and a had the info before the saleman got back to my co-worker. The truck is loaded the only thing it doesn't have is the sun/moon roof and the factory installed brake controller, the truck is an LTZ.

**Bama Rambler** · 01-25-2011, 08:21 AM

The discontinuance of the HD designation has to do with the exemption of those units from the C.A.F.E. Trucks designated as HD were exempt so that's why they made them. They are now not exempt, and they don't sell enough of them to continue making them so they stopped production.

hunt4240dw · 01-25-2011, 02:58 PM

Rockwood6,
I would also look for any GMC Sierra Denali after 2007. The Denali package included the 6.0 engine. I may be doing this also if diesel remains so high. Once CNG is more available to the public, the GMC 6.x can be converted with a kit.

David

dimurrrw · 01-25-2011, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtnguy

It has been a long time since I heard that term. I wonder how many younger members even know what that means.

A friend had a mid 60s Peugeot that 4 on the tree......I never could get the hang of shifting that puppy.

And who can forget the old 4 on the floor and a 5th under the seat!

rockwood06 · 01-25-2011, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hunt4240dw

Rockwood6,
I would also look for any GMC Sierra Denali after 2007. The Denali package included the 6.0 engine. I may be doing this also if diesel remains so high. Once CNG is more available to the public, the GMC 6.x can be converted with a kit.

David

David, i have been watching the price of diesel for some time now and i don't see it dropping below the price of regular gas as it was. When the price of gas go's up diesel will do the same.
My co-worker is still talking about the LTZ that i had mention earlier and he plans on taking a trip to look at it. I just learn to day that GM 6.2 requires high test gas and it is rated at 18 mpg on the highway and it is rated at 400 HP but the price of high test is close to the diesel price.

From what i understand with my truck 2008 it was in the middle of a model change, and mine is the new model or body style the one before the change is called the "Classic" the frame and the engine was changed as well.

The 2007 model year had a 6.0 but i believe it was rated at 300 HP, in the middle of 2008 when the changes were made the 6.0 was increased to 367 HP......Check the HP rating on the 2007 Denali.

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