Small vs Big Diesel Truck: Which Tows Better AND Cost Less at The Pump?

Credits:
Ian Chisholm
Gavin Faulkner
Kase Van Rees
Andre Smirnov

Watch more videos from TFL Studios:

TFL Podcasts:

0:00 Intro
1:20 Fill Up
2:35 Begin the Denver 100 Loop
3:35 Under the Hood
4:48 Mirrors & Ride
8:02 Weigh Safe Hitches & Trailers
10:22 Half-way Update
12:35 Payload & Towing Specs
14:22 Finish the Loop
15:17 Fill Up & Results
18:08 Verdict
19:25 Price Comparison

#duramax #hd #heavyduty #gmc #chevy #chevrolet #denver100 #denver

[matthewbannister]

Bought a used 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 with a 3.0 diesel in September. Haven’t done a ton of towing with it yet, but I’ve gotten some crazy fuel mileage (according to the computer) on some of my longer trips. Best number so far is 35.8 mpg!

[franciscochavez]

I have a 2024 Silverado Trail Boss Lt with the 3.0 Duramax and love it ! My family and I tow a travel trailer that weighs about 6k lbs loaded and we took it about 1k miles recently…bad winds up hill all sorts of stuff and we still averaged about 12mpg. When conditions were more ideal 14+ towing. And still plenty of power going up hill. Absolutely great buy if you’re in the market.

[Whatisthis]

Love that yall have a 2500 Chevy. Thinking about getting one in spring, hopefully lots of videos to come!

[johnkoko]

I just bought a High Country 1500 with the Duramax 3.0. I'm impressed so far. My first Chevy in 30 years

[scottw]

Love your content. Now do a 3.0 Duramax vs 3.5 Ecoboost pulling same trailer on same loop. Even better if you can include Tundra 3.5 and Ram 3.0 Hurricane.

[erineopenaloza]

I have a huge crush on that 3.0, since I don’t need a huge 6.6/6.7l truck. I’m a ford guy that may have to consider a GMC 1500 in the future

[scottyellis]

I'm glad TFL bought the new Chevy 3/4 ton. It's a nice truck.

Casey's 2nd Gen Cummins would still be my personal pick, LOL.
Best truck channel by far on YouTube today, TFL.

[Jeffbob]

Just as a yard stick. My old 2000 7.3 TD F350 2WD 4dr lariat with 3.73 gears, over 215k of commercial hauling a goose neck trailer with one or two cars on it most of the time unless deadheading, averaged 12.4 mpg. not a huge amount of power but with no deff and only tires, brakes, oil change's and a pinon seal in all that time I was happy with it. Thanks for another great test guys!

[CTECH-REVIEW]

Great video comparing the two diesels towing.

[lonecrusaider]

Got a 2020 Silverado 3.0 and the mpg is incredible. Locally I get 26 to 28 and hwy best is betweem 30 and 38. Love this truck.

[davelindgren]

The 3 liter is really impressive. I'm looking at 2025 Tahoe's with it in it for a highway cruiser.
This was a really good test.

[hughhead]

Spot on. I learned the hard way with towing trailers that you should just get the HD and be done with it. A smart spec of the Chevy 2500 HD with max tow is 3 times the truck capability for similar money. Buy the gas HD if you tow less than 10Klbs with campers to enjoy the long-haul stability and HD braking advantages.

[rockie]

Ive learned when it comes to 1/2 ton vs heavy duty trucks. Half tons are always easier to drive more comfortable, better off road better turning radius. Buy enough truck, but don't buy way to much either. The heavy duty trucks will hold up better to abuse especially the solid axle fords but if you can get by with the 1/2 ton without going past 75 percent of its payload or towing capacity go that route. If you will go over 75% often you need a bigger truck.

[RPO]

I picked up a 2019 Midnight 2500HD, 2 days ago in Australia .
I drove it 1400 kms, Cairns to Bundaberg .
I’m enjoying TFL vidz, thanks . From 👍🏻🇦🇺😎

[cmilesx]

If you tow and do truck things with your truck get the 2500. If you buy a truck to put a lift & giant tires on it only to drive it as a car like most truck buyers today, get the 1500.

[alexsmba]

When I bought my 6.6 Duramax, it was getting around 13-14mpg until it had a few thousand miles on it. Then it was easy to get around 19-21. So even with both trucks not run in, I’d still invalidate the test until both of them are.

[jimb]

I like this video where they are testing the exact same payload. For people who are trying to decide if they need HD.

But I also really want to see a capacity comparison. Both trucks run the loop towing 90% of their individual max tow weight.

[Highaltitude]

New truck engine is still breaking in, it's over fueling itself, come back and try the loop again in 10, 000 miles

It would be interesting to measure the amount of DEF used as well by both trucks. It would also be interesting to add another 3-4, 000 pounds in the trailer to put the 1500 closer to its towing limit and determine if the LD would perform as well.

[rjhein]

I purchased a new 2022 1500 Z71 with LM2 engine 2 years ago. Only had a max tow rating of 8900lbs and payload of 1679lb - Ended up trading it on a 2019 3500HD 6.6 Dmax because we ended up going with a bigger travel trailer (9200lb GVW); Normally I wouldn't have sold it, but we also were travelling through the mountains with 6 people in the cab (4 adults) thus blowing past our payload by a fairly wide margin. In flat towing (with the LM2) I would get about 14mpg (Similar to what you got with the LZ0); and I get about 10.5-11mpg with the 6.6L towing through the mountains out west - and about 12.5mpg flat towing. All numbers hand calculated using 30second method every time. Not bad at all I'd say, especially with the older 6spd Allison.