Need some quick advise on a Chevy PU! Please

[rlambs]

I've been searching the threads looking for info on the 6.L engine in the Chey 2500HD with a 4.10 rear end. We want to buy a Classic 31 --7500lbs dry and today I found a 2002 Silverado 2500HD for $17,500. It has 87,000 miles on it but no 5th wheel has been attached no sign of previous electric breaks and the truck looks new. I would buy the thing tomorrow if you all think the 6L with a 4.10 is enough truck. We live in hill country and never having pulled a trailer wet 8500lbs with the afore mentioned set up I don't know about it's suitability. I have been looking for the same set up with the 8.1 L engine just haven't found one and the price looks good on this 6L I just need the benifit of your experience and knowledge.

Thank all

[overlander64]

Greetings rlambs!

Welcome to the Fourms!

I hesitated to respond since my experience is with the older generation of GM motors. My K2500 Suburban was purposely ordered in 1998 with the 7400 VORTEC because I was dissatisfied with the performance of my 1995 K1500 Club Cab pickup (5.7 Liter/3.73 differentials) when towing my '64 Overlander with a 6,100 pound Gross Weight. The 5.7 was underpowered and had difficulty with the grade on I-57 between the Lick Creek Road and Goreville Road interchanges when towing the Overlander - - convinced me that I needed at least 7.4 Liters to be happy with towing performance. In actuality, my solo mileage is less than 1 mpg different both city and highway - - and my towing fuel economy is better with the larger engine (90% of my towing can be done in overdrive). The larger motor has eliminated any "white-knuckle" experience wondering whether that long grade in the Rocky Mountains will be too much for the tow vhecile/trailer combination that I have, and has resulted in far more pleasant towing everywhere as the 7400 VORTEC lopes along at 2,500 RPM where the 5.7 was screaming along at 3,500 RPM. What I can say, is that if I were ordering a new tow vehicle today, it would be another Suburban with the 8.1 liter motor. My Suburban, however, is just passing 135,000 miles so I have at least another 165,000 miles before a replacement is considered. I will admit to being unwilling to accept as adequate, for my purposes, a tow vehicle that is constantly being pushed to its limits and err on the side of more horsepower/torque than is absolutely necessary for a particular towing assignment.

Good luck with your investigation and search process!

Kevin

[rlambs]

Overlander 64, thanks for the insights, I see you are in Anna I worked there in the 60's at the State Hospital, and I know the Lick Creek Road well. I too would want to error on the HD side and more rather than less HP and thats why I have been looking for a 3/4 HD with a 8.1 L. I currently have two 1/2 ton trucks, the 03 Avalanche is my every day truck and I know it's not enough truck for the AS my wife wants. The truck I will use to tow with will sit 90% of the time and is a second truck so I didn't want to spend the price of a new truck and let it sit. As you probably know trying to find a good used 3/4 ton in our area is near impossable. I came upon this 2500HD 6.0L 4.10 today it show no sign of abuse and has the 87,000. miles put on it in a little over two years and I can buy it for 17,500.

From you reply I think you are telling me the 6.0 is probably not enough truck and I should keep looking. If that is what you are saying, thank you because I have no way to know and have to decide tomorrow. Please just confirm for me that is what you are suggesting.

Thanks again

rlambs in Cape Girardeau, Mo.

[overlander64]

Greetings rlambs!

From you reply I think you are telling me the 6.0 is probably not enough truck and I should keep looking. If that is what you are saying, thank you because I have no way to know and have to decide tomorrow. Please just confirm for me that is what you are suggesting.

The GM numbers would say that the truck in question is adequate for the suggested purpose. Based upon my experience with the earlier generation GM V8s, I wouldn't want to tow more than 7,000 pounds with a 6.0 Liter V8. Much of my towing is in the Rocky Mountains and points West, and after having my '95 K1500 thoroughly disappoint me on its first (and only) trip to Colorado when it was just barely able to make the Eisenhower Tunnel in 1st gear at about 35 MPH - - I have been in the "it needs to be a 7.0 liter+ big block V8" camp for my Overlander towing needs. Wish that I could be more optimistic about the 6.0 Liter for the 8,500 pound Classic, but my experiences say that it would likely be somewhat challenged on long grades. I know what a problem it can be to find quality used vehicles in Southeast Missouri/Southern Illinois.

Good luck with your decision!

Kevin

[john hd]

rlambs

i have a silverado with a 6.0 and 4.10 gears, i tow a 1992 29 foot excella AND i put my 1955 harley davidson in the bed. (just for some fun when i arrive at my destination)

the truck has performed very well in all kinds of terrain including some long hills out west.

am i gonna be able to beat a duramax to the top of a grade? no! but then i live in a cold climate and cannot always have a place to plug a diesel in. thats why i went with a gasser.

remember a '02 6.0 is rated for 325 horsepower thats 25 more than i have in my '00!

john

[rlambs]

Hi John

My reason for looking for gas is this tow vehicle will sit in a garage 90+ % of the time. May go over a month between start ups and it gets pretty cold here from time to time as well. I think I would have fule problems with the deisel so I was looking for a 8.1 when I came upon the Silverado with the 6L. This is a truck with 87,000 miles but it looks like they were all highway with no evidence of prior trailer towing. It's a 2002 2500HD for $17500. and I am real tempted because from what I have seen around here if it didn't work out I think I could sell it and not loose anything.

Thanks for the opinion on the 6.0L and 4.10 set up, I don't know why the 31 Dinette is so heavy at 7500 dry but it's good to hear you think the 6.o might handle it.

Rick

[john hd]

rick

sounds like a good price considering mine was 35K new.

fwiw, my buddy rickstream tows his '74 excella 31 footer with a '02 silverado that he bought used with about the same miles as the one you are looking at.

he also has the 6.0 with 4.10 gears, his truck performs well also. (coincidently, he also seems to find a harley in the back of his truck from time to time)

john

[wingfoot321]

[QUOTE=rlambs]I've been searching the threads looking for info on the 6.L engine in the Chey 2500HD with a 4.10 rear end. We want to buy a Classic 31 --7500lbs dry and today I found a 2002 Silverado 2500HD for $17,500. It has 87,000 miles on it but no 5th wheel has been attached no sign of previous electric breaks and the truck looks new. I would buy the thing tomorrow if you all think the 6L with a 4.10 is enough truck.

Rick, The 6.0 with the 4.1 rear will pull that trailer just fine. The 7500 dry will be very close to 9000 loaded when you count gear in the truck, bed cover, ladder, table, bicycles, generator, etc. My truck is the 2003 GMC Sierra 2500hd 4.1 4wd ext cab short bed pulling a 29' Sovereign at 6800. It is rated for 9200 lbs. My friend has the Suburban with 6.0 & 4.1 and pulls a 92 35' Excella just fine. They will come out of OD on long hills and I don't push mine beyound about 2800rpm so I pull down to 45-50 on long hills in Tenn. If I were pulling a lot or full timing, I would probably think about going to 8.1 or diesel.

You didn't say what is on the truck or wheel base? Prices are really good on new trucks right now. The cost per mile on new will be less than the price you are talking about. I think a 6.0,2500hd,4.1,Ext cab, 4wd, w/tow pack will come in at about $24500 new.

Have you checked the truck close for piston clatter on cold start, trans shifting cold & hot, etc.

[wahoonc]

Originally Posted by wingfoot1

You didn't say what is on the truck or wheel base? Prices are really good on new trucks right now. The cost per mile on new will be less than the price you are talking about. I think a 6.0,2500hd,4.1,Ext cab, 4wd, w/tow pack will come in at about $24500 new.

Is that the base model? I was pricing out '05's 2500HD GMC 4x2 plus cab, long bed, minimal options and the best we could get on bid was around $26k The local dealers are claiming price increases due to fuel costs and steel price increases. Premium for the Duramax was about $5k and crewcabs added another $1k to the price.

Aaron

[rlambs]

The truck is a base mdl. I think but it's kind of confusing. It's a 2500HD Crew Cab no LS or LT logo and it has cloth seats. It also has 4speed automatic, CD/AM/FM, elect windows doors mirrors ect and since it has the 4 speed and trany cooler I am assuming it has the tow pkg. It looks great, no blim, dents or scraches, and I ran a car fax on it which said it is a 1 owner bought 4/4/02 no accidents no Speedo Role Backs. It needs tires, and has never had a bed liner so the bed is a little scrached up so it needs a liner. If it were detailed it would look new but it has 87,000 miles on it. I drove it about 5 minutes, did hear a little clatter at start up but it quict quickly and I thought it might be lifters could not hear it at idle when I returned. I didn't know to check the diferential bolt count for 14 bolt count I can do that this morning.

I'm kind of pickey and if I were to buy it I will put new tires (What do you recomend for ride and wear) bed liner and get it detailed might even put leather seats in it because I like them so I could end up with another 2000.00 in it.

So what do you think buy it or keep looking for a bigger engine, Lt, lower miles just as clean for 19,500.?

I have to let him know this morning or the guy is going to put tires on it and detail and put it on his lot for 21,500.

Thanks for all the help and advice.

Rick

[Over59]

Since you don't have the trailer yet you can wait for what you want. If this guy is a used car dealer talk to him about watching for what you want at the auctions he goes to. If you are a buyer (have the cash) he (she) will likly hestitate but when he knows you will hold out he will help you. After all a little profit is better than no sale.

I bought my 2001 2500 4x4 Suburban with the 8.1L engine on ebay. It had 36000 miles on it and I paid $20,000.00 for it. I received the original widow sticker and the list was $45.796.00. It is in near perfect condition. I tow a 31" Sovereign and you can hardly tell it's back there. We love it. It's absolutely the best vehicle we've ever owned. I was originally looking at the Ford F250 6.0 Diesel but even a few years old I would have had to pay a lot more. Plus the wife said NO pick-up trucks. When shes happy I'm Happy.

[rlambs]

This thing looks new in every respect and drives out great. Turns out it is a LS, black truck black LS logo and I just didn't see it. Needs tires and I looked at the Michlien X Radial LT today at Sams, it is a E (10 Ply) and looks great just chocking on the $169.99 plus tax per tire.

Thanks for all the help and suggestions.

Rick

[wingfoot321]

Originally Posted by wahoonc

Is that the base model? I was pricing out '05's 2500HD GMC 4x2 plus cab, long bed, minimal options and the best we could get on bid was around $26k The local dealers are claiming price increases due to fuel costs and steel price increases. Premium for the Duramax was about $5k and crewcabs added another $1k to the price.

Aaron

Wahoonc,

I was basing my estimate on my March 15, 2003 purchase and just looking at the ads locally and rebates.
Mine was $35,340 list with 6.0, 4x4, 2500hd, ext cab, 4spd auto, short bed, bed liner, radio w/cd, DIC w/steering wheel controls, cloth bucket seats with center seat, not floor console, power mirrors with turn signals, tow package, & bed liner, & suspension for snow blade.
Dealer took truck to $29,999 and then $3500 rebates or $26,500. I haven't paid close attention but, I thought rebates were up to $5000 or more.
You are right about steel jumping but, prices are starting to turn according to my stock market sources.
I would want 15% off list plus all rebates and might wait if steel has moved prices too much.

Sorry folks, didn't mean to hijack the prior discussion.

[hmsteader]

A 6L engine is not very big for this size of truck; just a hair over 360CI. If I had to make a guess, it would about 7100lbs with the 4:10 rear end. A good rule of thumb is to use the "Rocky Mtn Fudge Factor" which is not to exceed more than 80% of the manufacturer's maximum rating. This may sound strange, but I've found it very helpful over the years. Example: If a truck is rated at 10,000 Lbs, then one should not exceed a total of 8,000 Lbs for a loaded trailer. (I think most manufacturer's rate their trucks for flat land towing and ideal weather).

[overlander64]

Greetings Rick!

Originally Posted by rlambs

This thing looks new in every respect and drives out great. Turns out it is a LS, black truck black LS logo and I just didn't see it. Needs tires and I looked at the Michlien X Radial LT today at Sams, it is a E (10 Ply) and looks great just chocking on the $169.99 plus tax per tire.

Thanks for all the help and suggestions.

Rick

Congratulations on the acquisition! Based on your earlier description, I thought that the truck was likely an LS. I wouldn't be overly alarmed by the price for the Michelin LTX tires - - in my experience on my Suburban one set will last as long as two sets of the Good Year Workhorse Radials that I had used in the past. I put my first set of Michelin LTX tires on the Suburban at 40,000 miles - - I just recently replaced them at 128,000 miles (they still had enough tread left for 6,000 to 9,000 miles but the sidewalls were beginning to weathercheck) - - went with the same Michelin LTX tires. Two things that I have learned with these tires is that they are very senesitive to vehicle alignment (wander was a problem with my Suburban until I was able to find a shop capable of doing top-notch alignments), and to get maximum treadlife I had the tires rotated at every-other oil change (6,000 mile interval).

Good luck with your truck!

Kevin

[rlambs]

Sams has a Mich. labeled X Radial, I have read this is the same tire as the MS and the tread looks very musch the same with sight differences. The 265 R 75 16 are 169.95 for the 10 ply. Initial impression aired at 65lbs is the are pretty stiff. I know the will loosten up some with use but don't expect them to ride like the typical 4 ply Mich.

Thanks again for all the help.

Rick

[john hd]

rick

check your door sticker for the correct air pressure.

try 55 front, 55 to 80 rear depending on load.

john

[Pick]

My truck rode like a Caddy when I first bought it. When I hooked the A/S up to it for the first time and the tires mashed half way down, I found the "stealer" only had 25 PSI in all 4 tires! So much for "Dealer Prep" Must be a marketing gimmick to show prospective customers how smooth trucks ride.

[john hd]

pick

yeah i remember that also, mine had 35 psi in the tires right from the dealer.

so much for dealer prep fee!

john