Been on the forum awhile now and just saw this thread. Enjoyed reading through the posts. I am a huge fan now of the 99-06 style since I stumbled on the newer trucks in 2009.
I had been driving classics and working on them while working out of them. I am a deck builder who used to enjoy working on the trucks myself with help from friends in the truck club. It was getting old not getting good mileage and having to constantly change out parts. I moved out of the city in 2005 so the miles started racking up and I was beginning to eye the 5.3/4l60e combo for my 1970 Chevy truck when I landed a huge job 60 miles from the house. I went into overdrive looking for a replacement truck having no time to do a swap.
I found my current truck right away....2005 GMC Sierra 4x4 SLE Z71 RCSB. After a couple of days in the financing rodeo, I drove it home. It had 95k on the clock. It now has over 315k and I have replaced very few things....2 sets of U-joints [i haul a lot], 2 sets of brakes, front hubs, AC condenser, 2 water pumps, disc brake master cylinder and two sets of tires. Amazingly, I have not replaced plugs or wires since changing them the day I bought it. I do have the check engine light going on and off with the 4 sensor codes.
It has been Black Bear tuned and I added a K&N style air cleaner. I'd love to swap in a 6.0/4l80e when it's time if I have the cash to buy one. Got a good friend who is an SAE certified mechanic...he'll be doing to the swap on a trade out for me building his deck and cover. Going to paint it black soon, have another friend and a nother trade deal with him. He is one of the top 10 painters in the US [he's painting the PPG show truck this year].
I plan on keeping this truck for a very long time. I will break my own record of 6 years this year outlasting the last cool weekend ride I had [78 ELCamino SS]. I just don't like the newest body styles of any truck and I hate payments.