Thought about asking a general question and opinions on a future decision. Wife and I currently own a 2003 Silverado extended cab 2500 2WD 6.0 nearing 200k mi. It's a solid truck and tows what we need it to (open steel car trailer for a C5 and a 2 horse bumper pull trailer) at a frequency of maybe once a month on trips at most 2-3 hours. End game is a 24-26' enclosed car trailer and a 2 horse gooseneck with a small tack room or living quarters up front.
Once we kill a good amount of debt, we will look to retire this truck and get a newer one. I can't justify a NEW truck. Money no object would be a 2020 GMC 2500 4x4 Denali...but $70-$80K and factoring in depreciation that's a tough pill to swallow. EVEN though the next truck would be THE truck for the unforeseeable future and not be sold.
To the question, realistically we would be in the 2015-2018 Silverado/Sierra 2500 4 door 4x4 range (before you ask, no we don't like Ford or Dodge trucks...but that's not the point here). Diesel is the obvious choice for towing but I'm skeptical (read scared) of diesel maintenance and not knowing jack sh!t about diesels. Enter option 2...a 6.0l gas with a custom turbo setup to get some HP/TQ bump functional for towing....around 500 mark seems reliable and realistic. It will NEVER be raced nor am I looking to push the limits. It's a tow truck that needs to remain functional while offering some amenities and "just works".
A friend of mine owns a local speed shop for LS motors and a turbo setup is extremely doable to be done correctly without breaking the bank. So it got me thinking. I would do all gas motor maintenance, anything outside my ability will go to my buddies shop.
Given the options, what would you do? I don't care much for towing gas mileage since I accept it to be terrible either way....pay to play with these hobbies lol. I know a "modded" 6.0 would have inherent weaker points than a 100% stock diesel truck (I have no interest to mod a diesel or "delete" it for more HP/TQ than it would offer stock).
I figure a gas truck is at least $5k-$10k cheaper than a diesel truck of similar condition so the money "saved" could be used to toss a turbo on it and gain some towing "efficiency".
Thoughts? Opinions?
Thanks!
Once we kill a good amount of debt, we will look to retire this truck and get a newer one. I can't justify a NEW truck. Money no object would be a 2020 GMC 2500 4x4 Denali...but $70-$80K and factoring in depreciation that's a tough pill to swallow. EVEN though the next truck would be THE truck for the unforeseeable future and not be sold.
To the question, realistically we would be in the 2015-2018 Silverado/Sierra 2500 4 door 4x4 range (before you ask, no we don't like Ford or Dodge trucks...but that's not the point here). Diesel is the obvious choice for towing but I'm skeptical (read scared) of diesel maintenance and not knowing jack sh!t about diesels. Enter option 2...a 6.0l gas with a custom turbo setup to get some HP/TQ bump functional for towing....around 500 mark seems reliable and realistic. It will NEVER be raced nor am I looking to push the limits. It's a tow truck that needs to remain functional while offering some amenities and "just works".
A friend of mine owns a local speed shop for LS motors and a turbo setup is extremely doable to be done correctly without breaking the bank. So it got me thinking. I would do all gas motor maintenance, anything outside my ability will go to my buddies shop.
Given the options, what would you do? I don't care much for towing gas mileage since I accept it to be terrible either way....pay to play with these hobbies lol. I know a "modded" 6.0 would have inherent weaker points than a 100% stock diesel truck (I have no interest to mod a diesel or "delete" it for more HP/TQ than it would offer stock).
I figure a gas truck is at least $5k-$10k cheaper than a diesel truck of similar condition so the money "saved" could be used to toss a turbo on it and gain some towing "efficiency".
Thoughts? Opinions?
Thanks!