carload4916

The problem with tow mirrors is it will make the truck to wide for my garage. Right now, if I am not careful, I will hit the mirrors.

Where is a good place to buy truck accessories? Would buying online be my best bet or are there stores that has a decent selection of accessories?

Thanks. I got a question about engine oil. On the oil cap, it says to use 5w30. How important is it to use 5w30? Why does it say to use such a thin oil in this type of truck?

I just picked up the truck today and here are the pics. There are a few things I want to do to it pretty soon. I am going to get the bed sprayed with line x, get some mud flaps, maybe some running boards and some new tires. Sometime in the near future, I will have to replace the fuel pump since it drains back into the tank. How big of a deal is it to replace that? Is it easier to remove the bed?

I will be sure to do that once I get it. Yes I am talking about the sticker in the door. I realize the manual isn't vehicle specific but all the GVWR numbers listed in the book are higher than what the sticker shows.

I just wanted to let you guys know that I bought the last truck I posted. If everything goes okay, I should it have by this weekend. I still wonder what the deal is with the GVWR. The VIN sticker shows one number and the manual shows different numbers that are higher than the sticker. What do you go by?

Well according to the manual, it has the 4.10 gearing. We both noticed something else strange in the manual. On the VIN sticker, it shows a GVWR of 9200 but the manual showed numbers higher than that, it did not have a 9200 GVWR listed. Do you go buy the sticker on the door or the manual?

I figured the 6.0 with the 4l80e would be fine. But I am the kind of guy that would rather have the allison and the 8.1 and not need then need it and not have it. But I think in my situation right now, the 2500HD 6.0 will be more than enough truck. The cattle barn is on the farm. We have holstein cows which are milked everyday. Here is the truck I am looking at currently: http://louisville.craigslist.org/cto/3685343719.html According to the owner, it has never pulled any heavy loads, he just pulled a boat with it. There are a couple minor issues like a few of the buttons on the steering wheel does not work. The radio buttons work, just not the info buttons. He said a mechanic told him he would have to replace the whole steering column to fix it. Honestly, I am not too worried about that. He also said there is an issue with the fuel pump. Sometimes when the truck is cold, it will not start. All he has to do is turn the key off and back on and it will start. He says the fuel pump is not making a good seal. Once it is warmed up, it usually doesn't do it. He says he will work with me on price. I am going to take it to my mechanic and see what he says about it. With that low of miles, I am not too concerned. I know the front end has been raised and it has been realigned. How do I find out what type of differential this has? I keep reading about SF and FF differentials. What is the difference and which one is better?

I think he was just talking about 3500's in general, not necessarily from that time frame. I was just curious as to what the differences are between the 2500HD and the non HD 3500. On the new truck I am looking at, the owner says that the buttons on the steering wheel that control the information on the cluster like MPG and other stuff like that do not work. The radio buttons work, just not the info buttons or whatever they are called. How big of a deal is it to fix that? If I decide to buy it, I may try to get him to fix it.

After doing alot of thinking, I am going to go with the 6.0 instead of the 8.1. I just don't think I will need the extra power of the 8.1 in my situation. Now if I was doing alot of over the road hauling, I would consider the 8.1 but since it is just going to be used on the farm, I think I will stick with the 6.0. I would like to have the Allison transmission but there are alot of things I would like to have, sometimes you just have to do without. I found another truck in my area that has the 6.0, it is a 2003 and has only 73000 miles. According to the owner, it has never pulled any heavy loads. It does have the front end raised up to be level with the rearend. I hope to go look at it in the next day or so. I appreciate everybody's help with this. I just hope to get a truck bought sometime soon. I have been looking for a good while. Tell me if this is true. I was just told that a 2500HD is considered the same as a 3500 SRW and a 3500HD is considered a 4500. What are the differences between the 2500HD and the non HD 3500? I am talking years 2007 and earlier.

Well the white truck is sold but the maroon truck is back in the picture. I just don't know about this one. It has been through 4 owners, I would be the 5th, and has been in a wreck, just don't know how serious. And most likely is has been used to tow some heavy loads. Although I am not too concerned about that since that is what these trucks are made for. Before I would even make an offer, I would get it checked out by my mechanic. I contacted the dealer it moved to and they said it was not up to their standards, whatever that means, so they sent it back. So now it is back to the dealer where I first looked at it. A question about the rear axle ratio. Which is better, the 4.10 or the 3.73?

It's not as bad as it sounds. I will just have to start putting money into it as soon as I get it. http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=47172&endYear=2007&modelCode1=CHEVC25&showcaseOwnerId=4672542&startYear=2000&makeCode1=CHEV&sellerTypes=b&numRecords=100&searchRadius=25&maxPrice=20000&bodyStyleCodes=TRUCKS&mmt=[CHEV[CHEVC25[]][]]&listingId=339595483&listingIndex=7&Log=0 The price in that ad says 15,866 but he had it listed for 14,900 when I looked at it so that is the price I would be paying. He says that was a mistake and he is losing money at that price. He says he paid 15,400 for it. I think I am going to pass on this one. Now the maroon truck is back in the picture. When I first looked at the truck, they told me it was being sold to another lot, which it was because I seen it on there website and I talked to them about it and they said it wasn't up to their standards. They said it had some damage and didn't know anything else. This truck has been in an accident where it was hit in the rearend. It looks like everything is fixed but maybe there is frame damage, I don't know. Maybe that is why there has been four owners. So now it is back to the original dealer where I first looked at it. I am going to talk to them about it again and see what the deal is and maybe try to get my mechanic to look at it.

I am still thinking about the white one. I took it to my mechanic and he does a pretty thorough inspection and he did find some problems. The only major problem is the left front ball joint is out and will have to be replaced immediately. There are some minor problems. The spark plugs are the original plugs, never been changed so that is something that will need to be done pretty soon, it will need new tires shortly, the running lights do not work, which is something that I wouldn't be too worried about getting fixed. The rear doors are missing the panel reflectors, again not something I am too worried about. The button for the heated seats pops out when you shut the door, again not too worried about that. The battery is only 550 CCA when it should be 600 CCA but the battery is failry new. I don't know how big of deal the battery is. With all the electronic stuff, should I bother with replacing the battery or just keep using it until it goes bad? It does have a few codes that are in history. Now nothing may ever come of these codes but something could come up and be a fairly expensive fix. All these problems are typical of a 100,000 mile truck. I know all that sounds bad but other than that, it is a good truck. I will have to decide if I want to start putting money into it right away if I buy it. Tires are a $1000 bill, ball joint plus alignment is a $400 bill, I am not sure what spark plugs would cost. Battery would be another $100. The way it sounds, the dealer will not budge on price or fix anything. He says they listed it on the web for less than they paid for it by mistake, he will honor the price just for me. I tend to believe him but I also know how dealers work and may just be saying that to make it sound like a good deal on my end. I am thinking about selling my s-10 myself. The dealer is offering me $2500 with the problems it has but I think I could get $4,000 to $5,000 if I sell it myself even with the problems it has.

I have a problem. Without going into to many details, I need to replace the tailgate on my 98 s-10, it has a pretty good size hole through it, don't ask how it happened. It still opens and closes fine but has a ugly hole through it. Which years will fit on my 98 s-10? I am guessing my best option to replace a tailgate is to go to a junkyard? I am considering trading this truck in and how much do you think the dealer would knock off the trade in value for a bad tailgate?

With the white truck having 109,000 miles, what are some of the typical things I should expect to replace soon?

Well that dealer with the maroon truck that said the truck is being sold to another lot, he may have been telling the truth. It is no longer listed on the website. Even so, I was unable to buy today anyways. That is what I hate about dealers, you don't know whether he is telling the truth or not. I never tend to believe anything dealers say. As of right now, it is either buy the white truck or keep looking. If I do buy this truck, do you think it is better to trade my truck in or try to sell it myself? I think I could get a little more if I sold it myself but then again, I may have trouble selling it with the problems it has.

I couldn't finish writing earlier, had something that I had to take care of. Anyways, both trucks seem to drive real good. I am not to keen on the maroon one now because of the dealer situation. I hate dealing with dealers for this reason. How do you know when they are lieing or telling the truth? On the white one, the shop said it was a tie rod, I believe. Which he said was like a $40 part. If I do buy the white one, I will probably not have the dealer fix it and I will tell you why. I have a 98 s-10 zr2 with about 90,000 miles that I am either going to trade it on or sell myself. The dealer that has the white one said he would give me $2500 for it. Now my s-10 does have a few problems. It needs a new a/c compressor, it leaks a little engine oil but nothing bad, and there is a popping in the rear end on uneven ground, not sure exactly what it is. He said he would buy my truck as it is if I buy his truck with that steering noise. $2500 is more than what the other dealer was going to give me for it. I just don't like the fact that the white one has 109,000 miles on it. If I do buy it or possibly before I buy it, I am going to take it to a shop and have him go through the whole truck. According to the dealer, the maroon one does not have the Allison transmission. If that is true, IMO there is no point in getting the 8.1. If I am going to get an 8.1, I might as well get it with the Ally trans.

What do you mean by cranked up? Are you saying it has had engine work done to it? How can you tell? I did drive both trucks today and I liked both of them. The only thing I noticed on the maroon one is the gear display wasn't working. He said he would have that fixed if I bought it. The maroon one may be out of the question. According to the dealer, it is being sold to another lot today since it has sat there for too long. That means the price will be higher. According to him, I would have to buy it today. Since I would have to have someone cosign for the loan, I would not be able to do it today, nobody is available to cosign today. Of course he could just be saying that to get me to buy the truck today. On the white one, I noticed there is a noise in the front end when you turn the steering wheel when sitting still. According to a shop I took it to, it was a inexpensive fix.

Hopefully I will get to go tomorrow to look at them and try to find out what these trucks were used for. Are you sure both trucks can pull the same amount? It looks like the maroon one has a heavy duty trailering package and heavier springs and the white one does not have that according to the specs. The heavy duty trailering package was another thing I liked. One thing that concerns me is the maroon one was in an accident according to carfax. It looks like it just had damage to the right rear. One thing I don't understand. Why are some carfax reports free and others you have to pay for? I found another truck I am interested in. http://louisville.craigslist.org/ctd/3639796374.html This one does have a few more miles but is also a little cheaper. Is there a big difference between Chevy and GMC?

I was thinking the exact same thing. I don't know what it is but the white color does not do it for me, just to plain. Hopefully I will go test drive them tomorrow and find out more details.

Thanks for all the help, guys. Here are the two trucks I am interested in right now. I hope to test drive them in the next day or two. http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=47172&endYear=2007&modelCode1=CHEVC25&showcaseOwnerId=4672542&startYear=1999&makeCode1=CHEV&sellerTypes=b&searchRadius=10&maxPrice=22000&bodyStyleCodes=TRUCKS&mmt=[CHEV[CHEVC25[]][]]&listingId=339595483&listingIndex=3&Log=0 http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=47172&endYear=2007&modelCode1=CHEVC25&showcaseOwnerId=4672542&startYear=2000&makeCode1=CHEV&sellerTypes=b&numRecords=100&searchRadius=100&maxPrice=20000&bodyStyleCodes=TRUCKS&mmt=[CHEV[CHEVC25[]][]]&listingId=338397459&Log=0 Both of these trucks are close to identical. The first one has the 6.0 and the second one has the 8.1. Both are CCSB and the first truck is 2 years newer with a few more miles.

That deal with using oil, is it something that can be fixed? Willie, where is the link you are talking about?

You can get the Ally trans with the 8.1. I was kind of thinking along the same lines. I would rather have it and not need it then need it and not have it. This is just one of those things that I need to decide on myself. 8.1HD/Allison, the truck I am looking at with the 8.1 looks identical to yours, even the color. What does CCLB stand for?

What is the deal with these engines using motor oil? Is it all the Vortec engines or just these two? Why would you go 8.1 if earlier than 2007? I am looking at a truck in the range of 2000 to 2007. I do not want the new style, just don't like the looks of them and plus I wouldn't be able to afford it. I guess I am trying to decide if the Ally transmission is worth it. From the little bit or research I have done, the 8.1 would have way to much power for my situation. I do plan on keeping this truck for a while. I am just worried that if I buy the 8.1, 3 or 4 years down the road, I will regret it because of the gas mileage. If buying a new truck, can you get the Ally trans with the 6.0 if you custom ordered a truck? I am not going to buy new, just curious why they don't offer the Ally trans with the 6.0.

I am looking at buying a used Chevy 2500hd and debating on which engine to get. This truck will get used on a farm as a work truck so it will do some towing from time to time but also as a run around vehicle. I wouldn't say really heavy towing. I would say the heaviest towing it would do is hauling a livestock trailer load of 4 cows. But again, that will not be everyday. It will get driven empty more than loaded. It will also be hauling firewood as well. I heard many places the 8.1 is worse on gas mileage. To me, I am not to worried about gas mileage since I don't have to drive it to work everyday. And since I am currently driving an s-10 zr2 model, I am used to bad gas mileage. I have also heard that the 8.1 uses a little oil. How much does it use? Is it bad enough to have to add oil in between changes? The only reason I am considering the 8.1 is because of the Allison transmission. I just don't know if the 8.1 would be way to much truck for me. Is there no chance of getting the Allison with the 6.0? What about the axle ratio? How much of a difference does that make? Which one is the more desireable ratio, 4.10 or 3.73? I am not going to get a diesel just for the fact that it will not get driven everyday and when it is driven, it will be short trips. That is just to hard on diesels. Sorry if this has already been discussed before.