And what has been the reliability and fuel mileage?
Currently have my eye on an 03 crew 4wd w/ 70,000 miles.
It's really clean too which is a plus and loaded. I may hold out for a 1500 configured the same way.
I really don't need the 2500 and 6.0 but it won't be driven all that much and we have talked about pulling a camper with it someday.
I know a 1500 won't do that so well.
Looking for fhe with this truck.
Typically, 3/4 ton trucks hold their value better. If it's a deal, go for it. Better than trying to find one later on when you decide to pull a camper. Not to mention, 1/2 ton trucks are nothing more that cars with a box on the back.... if you want to haul anything like lumber, you'd be better off with the 3/4 ton.
Quote from: Rev. Millertime on June 10, 2010, 04:13:38 PM
Typically, 3/4 ton trucks hold their value better. If it's a deal, go for it. Better than trying to find one later on when you decide to pull a camper. Not to mention, 1/2 ton trucks are nothing more that cars with a box on the back.... if you want to haul anything like lumber, you'd be better off with the 3/4 ton.
While I agree wholeheartedly that if one is going to get a fullsize you might as well get a 3/4 ton, I disagree with lesser trucks being compared to cars. A lot of truck owners barely use their trucks to their capacity, i use my little S-10 to haul more than I see most people seeming to put in their 3/4s. The suspension doesn't seem to like much more than 40 cement blocks though, the back sits a bit low at that point. [laugh]
Now if I had a 3/4 ton, it would be a pallet or two at a time. [thumbsup]
Quote from: Rev. Millertime on June 10, 2010, 04:13:38 PM
Typically, 3/4 ton trucks hold their value better. If it's a deal, go for it. Better than trying to find one later on when you decide to pull a camper. Not to mention, 1/2 ton trucks are nothing more that cars with a box on the back.... if you want to haul anything like lumber, you'd be better off with the 3/4 ton.
I have to disagree about the 1/2 ton being a car with a box...
I haul a ton of pellets easily with my 1/2 ton
don't you mean "chevrolet" truck?
A friend of mine had essentially the truck you're looking at, ML. He loved everything but the gas mileage. I think he was lucky to see double digits most of the time (mix of city/hwy driving).
I read conflicting mpg reports on this.
Near as I can tell it's 10mpg towing damn near anything, 12 around town unloaded and 14-15mpg unloaded on the slab.
I read a post from one owner that was getting 19 :o
I have no idea where these folks were when getting those numbers or how aggressively the drove.
I had a Dodge Ram 2500 long box extended cab with a 360. The thing I LOVED about that truck was that no matter what whether driving city or highway pulling a 27 foot travel trailer or unloaded, it ALWAYS got 15mpg.
No FHE with the Chevrolet though.
I have an '08 Chevy 1500... or as it has been called, a car with a box on the back. [laugh] I love it. I couldn't justify the extra $$$$ for a diesel engine because I don't do heavy hauling. Just pulling small trailers (compressors) and about 1000-1500lbs of product in the back.
^
5.3 or 6.0?
Just out of curiousity, what's the weight of the camper you'll be towing?
On our side of the pond pretty much everyone tows with a turbo diesel engine these days.
No guarantee well ever get a camper.
I need a truck to get bikes to the track, haul wood and misc stuff, pull my tractor (that I'll have to buy to with my land we just contracted on)
I can certainly get by with a 1500 but the numbers are right on this, it's equipped the way I want and it's damn near rust free.
Still on the fence.
Quote from: Monsterlover on June 11, 2010, 12:55:16 PM
No guarantee well ever get a camper.
I need a truck to get bikes to the track, haul wood and misc stuff, pull my tractor (that I'll have to buy to with my land we just contracted on)
I can certainly get by with a 1500 but the numbers are right on this, it's equipped the way I want and it's damn near rust free.
Still on the fence.
Sounds like it's what you want.
buy it for the fahm... ;D
I had a Z71 with the 5.3 and ran it 128,000 before being sold with NO issues. My entire family has had nothing by Chevy including the 6.0. If you take care of them they will do the same IMO. I would seriously consider a diesel though, especially for hauling and that Alison transmission kicks ass.
Quote from: Randimus Maximus on June 10, 2010, 05:20:22 PM
don't you mean "chevrolet" truck?
I guess this means they are gonna abandon "GMC" and start branding their stuff "General Motors Corporation" can you picture that in the middle of a Sierra's or Denali's grill......
Quote from: Monsterlover on June 11, 2010, 12:29:04 PM
^
5.3 or 6.0?
5.3L It is a Z71 and has the flex fuel, though Ive never used it. I wish I would have gotten the 6.0 but to tell you the truth, I havent needed it. The 5.3 has enough power for me. Ive put a 6" lift with 35" tires on it too.
How about a pic of that thing
Quote from: Monsterlover on June 11, 2010, 07:26:49 PM
How about a pic of that thing
Here's one of it out at the salt flats about a month ago.
(http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1297/4692063931_d1fb376686_b.jpg)
Quote from: ctrain on June 11, 2010, 08:56:44 AM
I have an '08 Chevy 1500... or as it has been called, a car with a box on the back. [laugh] I love it. I couldn't justify the extra $$$$ for a diesel engine because I don't do heavy hauling. Just pulling small trailers (compressors) and about 1000-1500lbs of product in the back.
They do have a squishy, gushy Cadillac style ride in stock form. At least compared to the Fords.
Ive thought about lifting and re-wheeling my Avalanche Z-71. How is the ride now compared to stock?
What lift/shocks do you have on?
Nice looking truck!
+1!
Thanks!
It's a Tough Country lift. I wish I would have upgraded the shocks on it though. The ride is stiff but not unbearable by any means. I would like a shock that has better response to it. I think I will end up upgrading them eventually, but for now I'll leave it. The tires rub a little but not too bad. This next time around Im going to put a less aggressive tire on. The tire hum when driving on the freeway is a LOT louder than I thought it would be. Loud enough that I dont want to drive with the windows down. [laugh] Between that and the flowmaster exhaust, people get pissed when I drive next to them. [evil]
Compared to other trucks, my father has a Ford F-250 (stock) and the ride in his truck is a LOT stiffer than mine. Ive been trying to convince him to put bigger tires on it. I think it looks like the truck is riding on bicycle tires. As for re-wheeling your avalanche, I suggest doing it. IMO Tires/rims can make a truck look 100% better. Although I still need to figure out what the difference is between my current setup is vs old. I think my speedo is about 10-12% off.
I'm against making any truck I intend to use for work purposes taller.
You shlep cinderblocks into a 4' high bed all day and see how you like it.
If ya don't haul much, have fun ;)
if you are going to tow anything over about 3000 lbs. you need the 3/4. not for the pulling power, but for the larger brakes that come standard on a 3/4. Having worked as a rental yard mechanic for 20 years i can tell you that any of the major companies (Sunbelt, Ring Rent, or United) won't even talk to you if you show up with a 1/2 ton and want to rent, say a two axle trailer and a Bobcat.
We used a 2001 3/4 ton Ford 4WD with a 4.6 liter V8 gas as our shop truck. It had enough power to pull the load and barely enough brakes to stop it. And average 19 mpg overall. it had over 160,000 when they traded it on a 2008 with the big Turbo Diesel.
I know some of the newer 1/2 tons are rated to tow 10,000 but the insurance companies won't allow it.
I think 10k with a half ton is more than a little far fetched.
I drove the 2500 6.0 today and liked it. It has some minor things wrong with it but I suspect the dealer will not have a problem taking care of them.
I reset the mpg meter and we went for our ride. 55-60 mph, some stop and go and a huge hill that we went down and back up.
The meter ended up at 16. My old 05 was 1 mpg low on the meter so if that's the same here then we were at 15 which I'm fine with. I know it's likely to change with more than a few miles of driving but this at least gets me close.
Gonna see if I can make a deal on Monday.
:D
I owned a Chev Suburban as a family vehicle/farm truck for about 10 years. We had seven people in our home for several years so we needed the seating. Ok, here is the deal with anything under a 3/4 ton vehicle. If you pull a trailer you will eat brakes. I hauled trailers up and down 1-5 for years using the suburban and went thru brakes twice a year. The 1500's brakes are smalller than the 2500's.
I drive a one ton quad cab v10 Ford for my work as a gardener at the moment and fricking love this truck. I like chevrolet, but this Ford has power beyond power. I put two yards of gravel in the bed and go. Handles great, stops great, runs great, but it only has 30k on the clock. My suburban had 210k when I sold it and was a 5.7 auto. complete with bilsteins and body damage. Loved the chev, did me well for 10 years.
If you are gonna pull a trailer get a 3/4 ton and make sure that your towed vehicle has electric brakes than run off yours or shunts.
I have had a CDL with doubles/triples/hazmat for 20 years and have hundred of thousands,if not millions of miles under my belt. At least doubles every day sometimes triples.I know something about towing and trailers..........just sayin.
ML
I have an 05 Crew cab Z71 with the 5.3 . I am good for 14.5 or so around town and 16.5-20 on the highway.
I do have a heavy foot so it tends to be more towards the 16.5 mark [evil] . I also have a toneau cover on it.
Right now the new trucks are priced just a little too tempting right now. they are taking 5000 off and 0% finanacing. I know you just bought a piece of property but it might be at least a good idea to kick some tires. ;D
Ctrain - what are you getting for MPG with the lift? I want to lift my truck but don't want to kill the MPG. Did you do the gears?
I had an 04 Sierra Denali pickup that had the 6.0L engine for 4 years (79K miles). I averaged just under 14 mpg over that span. I live in suburbia so it was about a 50/50 mix city/slab driving. Never had a mechanical issue over that time. I hauled plenty of lumber, trees, rock etc since I was renovating house and land at the time. I only used it to tow a couple of times but it wasn't anything large.
As family grew I traded it and replaced it with an 06 Yukon with the same 6.0 engine. 32k miles so far and I'm averaging 13.1 mpg in the same mix with zero mechanical issues. The engine to date - knock on wood - has been bulletproof.
Hope that helps.
Gonna see about making a deal on this thing tomorrow.
:)
Quote from: Got Duc on June 14, 2010, 12:46:54 PM
Ctrain - what are you getting for MPG with the lift? I want to lift my truck but don't want to kill the MPG. Did you do the gears?
I average about 10mpg city and about 14-17 highway. It definitely kills the gas milage for the truck. But then again, I've got my bike if I'm worried about saving gas. I havent regeared the truck. It's on my long list of things to do when I find extra money.
ML - How's the deal coming along?
Quite well.
Actually better than I had expected.
Details to come.
[popcorn]
We're $500 apart on the deal. . .
I'll know more tomorrow.
:)
Deal fell through.
They wouldn't fix anything or move on the price.
I walked.
The search continues...
We ended up finding a nice 1500 for the right $$$
some of you saw it at Dimby
for the rest...
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/Truck/cc01f3d4.jpg)
I got 16mpg in it with two bikes in the back and a lot of our stuff in the cab (all in all about 1000 lbs)
I'm good with that.
Congrats on the purchase! [thumbsup]
Nice rig!
Z71?
Probably. It's an LT
don't you have the same truck?
Mines an 04
yup
'cept mine is a 05
I have roughly 75,000 miles on her with no complaints.
I'm closing in on 90k
hardly broken in as far as Lethe ic concerned [laugh]