You buy a **GM** 3/4 ton because:
Wheel bearings are stronger
Brakes are larger
Stock E load range tires and shock/spring tuning for same
HIGHER PAYLOAD RATING -- better control carrying your overlanding gear
Stronger transmission, transfer case, u-joints, shafts, etc
Full-floating rear axle is better than semi-float, especially if you've ever had one break on the trail
14 bolt G80 locker is bulletproof, the 1/2 ton G80 locker is called "gov bomb" for a reason
ENGINES DO NOT HAVE PROBLEMATIC DoD/AFM - -the GM Gen IV 6.0L is bulletproof, and powerful
Better axle gearing, typically 3.73 or 4.10 versus 3.23 or 3.42... helps with intended taller tires
Fuel mileage is similar if you're laden. By the time you run 33"-35" tires, lift to clear them, regear for them, and add the stuff you want to carry... the delta between a 1/2 ton 5.3L pickup and a 3/4 ton 6.0L pickup might disappear completely. In fact, in my experience the larger 6.0L can get better fuel economy at the ~7,000-9,000 total weight range. Ride at that point will also be better, as the 1/2 ton will be at the bumpstops and generally not well controlled.
Just my opinion, having owned about a dozen of these things
I have a 2005 Silverado 1500 ECSB, with just about 170k miles on. It would be at least 175k by now, but I'm working from home like everybody else lately. I'm the third owner and got the truck at 110k, second was my father in law who got it at 88k (does like 5-8k miles a year), first was an older gent who traded it in on a new truck in 2013.
- One wheel bearing failed at 105k. The other was fine, but the one that failed was NOT OEM, and that side CV axle isn't either, so we suspect a minor accident got them changed prematurely. So chalk that one up to chance.
- The brakes are FINE
- You can buy whatever tires you want, I have E load BFG ATs, and they have 65k miles on them and will probably make it to 90k at least. Rotated every other oil change (~11k miles)
- My 4L60 is perfect (I put a Corvette 1-2 shift servo in since it was super cheap and does make a big difference), my Autotrac transfer case doesnt have the pump rub issues like all the HD cases have, and have never had to change a single u-joint, CV, etc. The newer 1/2 ton trucks have the 6 speed which is way better too.
- My stock 10 bolt and G80 both function well. The locker is a little weird to engage off road sometimes but I can modulate it. I run 285/70-17s, only reason I didnt go bigger is because my truck has 3.42 gears.
- I'll give you that. AFM is an issue, but easily avoided by simply avoiding earlier trucks; and most trucks have either never had/will have it, or were fixed already. The early problematic GMT900s are old now.
- Already addressed gearing, but you can look and find taller 1/2 ton geared trucks anyway.
My truck is and has been used to tow smallish boats and trailers (1500-5500lbs), loaded up with yard waste, camping gear, furniture to move myself and family multiple times, off road on the beach and offroad in places it really didn't belong, to commute and of course and I've given it a hard right foot plenty of times on road and off, keeping in mind where the weak points of the truck are. If you treat an old 1/2 ton like an F350, it's going to ******** out on you. If you want a
WORK truck, you need a 3/4 ton. If you want a lifestyle pickup, there is no need. My buddy's 2004 DCSB Silverado 2500 6.0 struggles to get 14 on the highway with 285/75-17s (it maybe got 15 with smaller tires), it gets 7-8 around town, and even less towing a trailer. A new 2500 wont get much better. I get 14 on my commute, 19 on long highway trips.
I had to do my front end (minus the hubs, theyre still ok with 65k on em) at 165k, but so did my buddy with his 2500 at the same exact mileage. He also had to get a new transfer case because of pump rub, and his front end parts are more expensive. His truck also has a lower payload and tow capacity than a modern 1/2 ton truck.
The point is, if you want a pick up to drive around with family and friends, to the beach, to the mountains, etc; a 1/2 ton is all you need. Going bigger because "things wear out less and are bigger" is just swinging dicks. New trucks are amazingly capable. You dont need to be able to tow 16,500lbs and have a 2800lb payload "just in case." 15 years ago a 1/2 ton that got worked everyday was beat to ******** by 100k miles. Not the case anymore. And if you take care of it, it'll outlast you. Plenty of beat GMT800 Suburbans rolling around with 300k+ on original everything except the transmission. That should say enough.