Half-Ton vs HD: Which Chevy Truck Should You Buy?
We explore all the pros and cons of both half-ton and heavy duty trucks so you can make an informed choice.
Along with the relentless arguments of V6 vs V8 and 2WD vs 4wd, the half-ton vs HD debate ranks as one of the hottest topics among truck owners. And it’s likely a choice that you’ve found yourself pondering at least once in your life. But there’s a lot of misinformation out there regarding both options. Which is exactly why popular YouTube channel The Fast Lane Truck produced this highly informative clip addressing the hot topic.
For prospective Chevy buyers, choices boil down to one of three Silverado options: the 1500, 2500HD, or 3500HD. TFLT just so happened to have both a 2017 Chevy 2500HD and a 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 on hand. So why not compare and contrast the two?
First up: engine options. You simply get more choices with a half-ton pickup. In the case of the 1500, you get to choose between one V6 engine and two different V8 options. With the HD, you only get a choice of either a gas V8 or a diesel engine.
Despite the lack of a half-ton diesel option, you obviously get a much better power to weight ratio in the lighter 1500 than in the heavier HD. That makes acceleration off the line and overall handling a bit better. Plus, opting for the 6.2 liter V8 in the 1500 gives you a whopping 60 more hp and 80 more lb-ft of torque than the 6.0 liter V8 in the HD model.
Despite that power increase, TFLT found that fuel economy goes to the half-ton as well. After a week of tooling around in the Chevy HD, they saw about 14 combined mpg’s. The Sierra, on the other hand, returned around 17 mpg’s combined. This is obviously due to the noticeable difference in size and weight between the two. The 1500’s lesser girth also means that it drives more like a car. It’s more maneuverable, has easier ingress/egress, and is much easier to park.
So why the heck would anybody buy an HD? Towing, obviously. Despite being down on power, the 2500HD is rated for 3,500 pounds of payload and 14,500 pounds of towing capacity. Plus, the beefy frame, larger body, and bigger brakes better support those heavy loads. So if you plan on towing more than the 1500’s rating of 10,000 pounds or exceeding the 2,000 pound payload capacity, you need an HD.
That extra beef will run you around $6,000 more in base cost, however. But keep in mind, that difference also shows up in resale/trade in value, much like opting for four wheel drive. So ultimately, choosing an HD pickup over a half-ton boils down to whether or not you need to tow heavy loads. And whether you’re willing to spend the extra cash up front and deal with the added difficulties of driving a larger truck as well.
