re: If you had to buy a 2025 3/4 ton pickup

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3/4 ton gassers are great. 3/4 ton diesels have a narrow usable margin, even the newer ones with over 10k GVWR.

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Supposedly the 6.6L gas engine will be available in the half ton GM trucks starting in 2027. And I'm guessing it will be the high end models only but I'd absolutely go for it if it were an option.

Trump neutering the IIHS/EPA's ability to regulate fuel economy is bringing the concept of "heavy half ton" back. That's something we haven't really seen from anybody since the T800 generation half ton GM trucks 20 years ago. And it's fantastic for people who have a heavier boat or trailer to haul but don't need the harsh ride and heavy payload capacity of a 3/4 ton or 1 ton truck.

They'll have a 5.7L V8 that will still be overkill for most half ton truck buyers. Supposedly port and direct injection.

Unfortunately I think they will expand availability of the 2.7L Turbomax engine to take over the market that used to be covered by the 5.3L V8. It's a solid engine with very few warranty claims despite coming standard with a 100k mile coverage. But it's a big displacement 4 pot and it sounds like an overboosted 4 cylinder because it is.

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And it's fantastic for people who have a heavier boat or trailer to haul but don't need the harsh ride and heavy payload capacity of a 3/4 ton or 1 ton truck.

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This is where they get you.

Most of your current V8 half ton trucks have a payload capacity of 1400-1800 lbs. Throwing a bigger motor in it isn't going to make things better at all, the opposite actually.

Payload is the limiting factor, not the motor. The max towing package on the current ram 1500s will pull 13k lbs, but is limited by payload.