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my pick-up needs to grow up

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freebird3535

RVF Newbee
Joined
May 27, 2026
Messages
4
Location
Grand Island, NE.
RV Year
2026
RV Make
Brinkley
RV Model
I-275
RV Length
31 ft
TOW/TOAD
2025 GMC Denali Ultimate 1500
Fulltimer
No
I have a 2025 gmc 1500 Denali ultimate and a new Brinkley I 275 and running it over a cat scale I'm 800 pounds short of being maxed out on gvwr so I need to a least move to a 3/4 or 1 ton pick-up. I would like to stay with gas due to not running to many miles at this time, I am a gmc fan boy but I'm not sure the 6.6 is up to snuff. I'm looking at Ford f-250 or 350 with 7.3 or ram 2500-3500 with 6.4 hemi, I'm leaning towards the ford but the ram might be a little cheaper everything is paid off and do not want to spend a lot of extra cash to swap so looking at a lariat trimmed ford or ram Laramie. my gut says the 1 ton for future trailer upgrades but the other half talks ride quality for everyday driving, any thoughts?
 
I have a f250 with the tremor package and love it. Rides a little nicer than a standard f250 but no HD ford will ever ride as nice as a Denali..

I have the 6.7L Diesel and it is a beast. I know maintenance is more but the 14.6mpg towing compared to 8 or 9mpg kind of pays off in the long run
Also the engine braking is a game changer when towing in the mountains.

I know I have not answered any of your questions but you know us ford drivers, we got to get our opinion in 😉

20260218_122336.jpg
 
I have a f250 with the tremor package and love it. Rides a little nicer than a standard f250 but no HD ford will ever ride as nice as a Denali..

I have the 6.7L Diesel and it is a beast. I know maintenance is more but the 14.6mpg towing compared to 8 or 9mpg kind of pays off in the long run
Also the engine braking is a game changer when towing in the mountains.

I know I have not answered any of your questions but you know us ford drivers, we got to get our opinion in 😉

View attachment 32359
I would love to have the tremor package but I'm not sure it will fit in my garage they say it tops out at 83 inches tall and it would be so close to fitting but my opening is close 84 inches with a little lip of concrete at the entrance, I would hate to scratch the roof of a truck that nice
 
Another Ford F-250 (diesel) owner here and I can certainly vouch for the towing power of these guys. My ride is pretty smooth, and I even have the 10800# GVWR package on mine. Specs show it as capable of towing 20,000 conventional towing and 22,800 fifth wheel or gooseneck, far more than my fifth wheel weighs.

Trade In value is far greater for a diesel as well - so I consider mine an investment (when compared to a gas engine) a well as transportation. And, I get 12-15 mpg while towing our fifth wheel.
 
I had a Ram 3500 with 8 ft bed that rode pretty nice loaded. I had no problems with the 6.4 and consider it the best motor I ever owned. I had the older transmission(2014) and I think it would be even better with the newer ones. Maintenance was simple and affordable. Plus mine was 4 wheel drive so that hurt mileage.
 
There will be individuals stating they have great experiences with the newer motors, no problems, etc. and that could be very well true. But with anything mass produced, especially newer, it can be hit or miss. No problem if you are in a school of fish and a few others are always getting picked off....but if you drew the wrong number in it, then, well, not. Could be very costly to you in many different ways.

Remember, there's a reason why that horse is in the "sale barn" as I was once told. Older trucks, very low mileage, great shape....low price? All combined means "do your research first."

Going off your post, you aren't rich and/or don't want to finance a depreciating item 7 years, so considering cost too.

You're a flatlander, nice area though. So I'll keep it to gassers as that's what you alluded to.

So on that note:

I did an autotrader search in your area, me being me, looking at older vehicles. Then researched some of what I found. Great deal in OK on a dodge 'hemi' (lol).
the 'new and improved hemi...:
"I have a 2016 2500 6.4 hemi with 42000 miles on it at the dealership with what they are saying major problems . They are telling me it has to be torn down or engine swapped , there is a high misfire count in cylinders 2 and 6 most likely caused by piston slap ."
My 2014 6.4L HEMI had piston slap from almost the day I bought it. I took it in to the dealer for diagnosis and they performed a series of tests as recommended from RAM.

"There was a TSB for a narrow range of engine serial numbers (2014 production) that had been assembled with undersized wrist pins hence the piston slap issues.
My engine was replaced at around 1800 miles."

Great deal in OK on a 3/4 gmc, vortec. But is it?
Again, do your research and don't rely on a few people stating their personal experience:

Here's one I would look at. It's a small block, though don't know if that would be an issue with you. I have a SB in my trucks and it works for me as I no longer haul loads in the mountains nor drive 100-200 miles a day.

2010 Ford F250 XLT AWD/4WD, 65K miles, $16K.

Want big boy capacity, there's a 2002 f350 v10 in wahoo, DRW, 2wd 74k miles for 17k. Multiple owners. Don't know if you need that capacity though, that's your call. This motor is early enough to avoid the latter govt restrictions on what us serfs can own, so it'll be better. And there's more metal there to get that performance out of, vs smaller motors being pushed to the extreme.

Good luck and do your research.
 
I have a 2025 gmc 1500 Denali ultimate and a new Brinkley I 275 and running it over a cat scale I'm 800 pounds short of being maxed out on gvwr so I need to a least move to a 3/4 or 1 ton pick-up. I would like to stay with gas due to not running to many miles at this time, I am a gmc fan boy but I'm not sure the 6.6 is up to snuff. I'm looking at Ford f-250 or 350 with 7.3 or ram 2500-3500 with 6.4 hemi, I'm leaning towards the ford but the ram might be a little cheaper everything is paid off and do not want to spend a lot of extra cash to swap so looking at a lariat trimmed ford or ram Laramie. my gut says the 1 ton for future trailer upgrades but the other half talks ride quality for everyday driving, any thoughts?
I don't see why you think the 6.6 gas isn't up to snuff, especially since it got the 10 speed transmission in 2024.

GM also has independent front suspension. There are fixes for the death wobble that some of the Fords can exhibit but I imagine it would be disconcerting to suddenly discover you need to implement them while you're driving on the highway.

If it were me, I would test drive the GM and the Ford and go with whichever one you like better. I still don't trust Ram/Stellantis, though they allegedly do have nice interiors.
 
I have a 2025 gmc 1500 Denali ultimate and a new Brinkley I 275 and running it over a cat scale I'm 800 pounds short of being maxed out on gvwr so I need to a least move to a 3/4 or 1 ton pick-up. I would like to stay with gas due to not running to many miles at this time, I am a gmc fan boy but I'm not sure the 6.6 is up to snuff. I'm looking at Ford f-250 or 350 with 7.3 or ram 2500-3500 with 6.4 hemi, I'm leaning towards the ford but the ram might be a little cheaper everything is paid off and do not want to spend a lot of extra cash to swap so looking at a lariat trimmed ford or ram Laramie. my gut says the 1 ton for future trailer upgrades but the other half talks ride quality for everyday driving, any thoughts?
If you are really a GM Fan Boy, the 2500 with the 6.6L is a game changer over the 1500. The 1500 is a sports-economy drive line that has a lot of power, so it sort of gets the towing job done. Rear brakes are there for parking and stability only, the 2500 gets real brakes back there. The axle ratio is suitable for towing, and the engine is designed for low RPM work. If the only stress for your 1500 is the ratings the 2500 towing will make the upgrade worthwhile.
 
The ford 7.3L godzilla is a very strong motor and many love it. I just can't stomach the fuel economy empty or towing.

Plus with the diesel I added a 60gal tank in place of the stock 36gal and can sneak in to Cali and back out without having to buy fuel.

I would not consider anything with wheels in this category to be a good investment
Even a diesel. You have to pay to play.
 

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