I pulled my '93 271 with a 3/4 ton Suburban with an 8.1 gas motor and best mileage was 8 MPG on the way to LOTO. Bought a 3/4 ton Silverado with a D-max and Alli trans and stepped up to 15 mpg towing the same boat.

I now pull my 292 Fastech and consistently get over 12-14 mpg and have much better acceraltion on the highway and pull up the steeper ramps with ease.

Go diesel, you won't regret it.

Actually for the early D-Maxes, say around 2001, the big block matched it in torque, w/ more HP I believe. A new D-max or modded one will be stouter though.

A V10 Ford or 8.1 L GM (w/ allison tranny) would be good choices for towing heavy.

You will love a diesel! 7.3 powerstrokes are nice. I would not get any gas ford, not enough power. No V10 either.

I love my Cummins dodge.

Gas 2500 and 3500 chevys are great.

Gas 2500 and 3500 hemi's in the heavy duty dodge tow great especially with a 6 speed manual trans. Personal expierence towing with my girlfriends 08 2500 hemi 6 speed. Pulled my boat awesome and my 53' gooseneck weighing 20,000lbs! Yes a gas will tow slower with worse fuel mileage.

Yes 4 low will help on steep ramps

Good luck shopping and enjoy your new truck!

I've had several different diesel and gas-burning trucks. I'll never task a gas-burner with towing my boat again.....

Once you go diesel.......

Diesel.

Never own any diesel truck off warranty.....something goes wrong LOOK OUT!

162K miles on my 03 GMC so far and here was the list:

1st 100K miles, nothing other than batteries at 74K (warranty under delco parts 5 yr/75K)
106K- waterpump
125K- both batteries (1st set I had to actually buy)
132K- one front wheel bearing (I did both and brakes at the same time)
145K- injectors, changed all 8 paid for by GM
162+++I just changed the windshield wipers again this week.

Nit pick stuff: I re-did the bottom of the drivers seat twice due to a tear. I repainted the front spoiler once due to road debris and one fog light is burned out. This truck has about 6700 hours on the motor and is driven daily mostly in city traffic. On a normal day it is started over 20 times a day.

I am thinking I may replace it at the 200K-250K mark, but since it has been paid for (4 years now) it is just hard to look at the payment book on a new one when this one runs so good!

dude put the down, ive owned many diesel trucks with both cat and cummings engines with over 1.5 million miles on them before rebuild (inframe) overhauls, drop the oil pan every 4-500,000 put new rod and main bearings in and run them, those are class 8 trucks, but i think with all the new diesel technology the littler diesel's can't be to far behind

You're paying for it one way or the other.

My truck is out of warranty and the dealership has gotten $0.00 from me.

I have a 00 Excursion V10 and 08 350 diesel. I like the Excursion for practicality. But it doesnt even compare to my 350 for pulling the boat or the skid steer. Now I wouldnt have anything but a diesel.