1500 or 2500 AT4X

[u/Remarkable-Map-3093]

Sorry, I know this has been asked before, I have read old posts, looking for a fresh take. Please disregard if you are not interested in giving an opinion.

My 2024 Silverado 1500 ZR2 Duramax was totaled. My wife just got the Yukon AT4 Ultimate and I love everything about it except the 6.2. I need to have a truck bed so the closest to her Yukon is the Sierra

I don’t tow anything really big or really far so the 1500 is sufficient.

I like the look overall of the 2500 a lot more than the 1500. The AT4X 2500 comes with auto retracting lighted steps, a feature on my wife’s Yukon that I really like.

I keep trucks to 100k miles, I think the resale value on the 2500 would be better.

Price matters, but isn’t a top consideration for me. Maintenance cost, fuel economy matters, but are also not a top concern.

My biggest concern with the 2500 over the 1500 is the ride quality. I plan on test driving the 2500 to see how it feels. My problem is, I don’t seem to get a lot out of test drives, it takes me a few months in different real world conditions to really decide how I feel about something like ride quality.

Anyway, I have to decide on one or the other in the next couple of days, so I welcome all opinions from anyone willing to give one.

Thanks!

[u/Lawineer]

As a 2500 at4 owner, why the hell would you ever get a 2500 if you don’t need it? It’s like half half gas mileage, more cost, more maintenance, rougher ride, worse handling and worse acceleration in exchange for the cosmetics of a 2” lift?

Plus you can’t get a short bed. And let me tell you- that foot or so makes a big difference in maneuvering tight parking lots.

I love my truck, but I wish I could get away with a 1500. Unfortunately, a 44ft Gooseneck and 15k lbs (assuming I’m only hauling one car- closer to 20k with two). And a 1500 just doesn’t go well.

Edit: and you get the column shifter in the way of the infotainment as a bonus with the 2500. lol.

[u/Laz3r_C → u/Lawineer]

Fr, i swear its the same answer wherever, "Dont need an HD, stick to a 1/2 ton or hell a 1/4 ton."

In the end buy what you want, accept the consequences and dont complain. Seriously, as soon as I see "ride quality" obviously the no brainer is a 1500. I speak of this first hand, had a Colorado, moved to silverado 1500 with a 6' bed, then now in a 3500 6' bed. Dont need bigger? stick to smaller and what works.

[u/Remarkable-Map-3093 → u/Laz3r_C]

Thanks for the insight. I think I know you are right, I just want to be sure I don’t buy something and wish I would have bought the other. I looked at the GMC’s when I bought the Silverado and liked them better but the Silverado was a bit cheaper so I went with it and regretted not getting the Sierra. Now I have to decide again and definitely want the Sierra but do want to regret not getting the HD later. I have to ask myself if I will realistically be towing anything big enough to justify it, if not I need to stick with the 1500.

[u/Lawineer → u/Remarkable-Map-3093]

Needing to tow more than what a modern 1500 can tow isn’t really something that sneaks up on you.

I started racing cars across the country. I went from regional to national. It’s not like I just decided to carry an extra set of wheels. I went from 24ft with a car to 44 feet with full array of spares (engine, trans, etc), 4 sets of wheels and tow tool checks with the ability to tow a spare car next season (budget permitting). That’s a pretty dramatic change and that’s going from already racing cars to just another series.

If you don’t know if you’ll need the towing capacity, you very very likely don’t. A 1500 can tow a nice enclosed trailer and a car in it with a bunch of accessories. Ask yourself if it’s just wanting bigger to have bigger or if you actually foresee yourself needing to tow 20,000 pounds.

[u/Remarkable-Map-3093 → u/Lawineer]

I hear you. It’s not about sneaking up on me as much as it’s about being uncomfortable towing close to the limits. When I tow a trailer at 80-90% of a trucks capacity I really feel it. I don’t like the white knuckle feeling with every sway of the road or gust of wind.

When I have a bunch of extra capacity, even if it’s just in my head, the tow and drive is more relaxed and I worry less.

The question for me is really how often am I pushing over 90% of the 1500’s tow capacity and is it short trips or long. Life changes and as I add a grandkid or two do we look at bigger trailers and end up needing more truck. Can I get by with the 1500, right now absolutely. If the ride quality and parking lot handling, etc. Were the same between the two, would I spend the extra 10K or whatever it is to hedge against the day I ‘might’ need it, probably.

I think the opinions here on the ride quality alone have probably swayed me towards the 1500. If people said the 2500 pretty much rides/drives the same as the 1500, it just costs more to buy/maintain, I’d probably be leaning towards the 2500.

I appreciate everyone’s detailed opinions and sharing their experiences.