Why Would I Want A 2500ld Vs 1500

djc122984 · November 24, 2009

As you guys probably know I have been market for a truck since I got back from Iraq this January. I happen to come across a 2004 2500 with 82000 miles on it. It is owned by an elderly couple. Great people. Has the 6.0 and 4 speed tranny. Link with more info below.

My question why would I want to buy a 2500LD over a regular 1500. I mean the only reason I can think of is because I want the selectable 4x4 and 6.0.

Please chime in and let me know your thoughts. Thanks

2004 2500

02bbcummins · November 24, 2009

As you guys probably know I have been market for a truck since I got back from Iraq this January. I happen to come across a 2004 2500 with 82000 miles on it. It is owned by an elderly couple. Great people. Has the 6.0 and 4 speed tranny. Link with more info below.

My question why would I want to buy a 2500LD over a regular 1500. I mean the only reason I can think of is because I want the selectable 4x4 and 6.0.

Please chime in and let me know your thoughts. Thanks

2004 2500

if all u want is a truck and u dont plan on towing a lot with it dont waste the extra money on a 2500.. it will be a waste in fuel money too. that 6.0 dont get nearly as good fuel mileage as they 5.3 or even the 4.8. if u dont care about that then get the 6.0 cuz more power is always better.. and as for the selectable 4wd.. what do u mean selectable? u mean like electronic [push button]? cuz thats pretty much standard on the newer trucks.

02bbcummins · November 24, 2009

and thanx for ur service too.

shocktrp · November 24, 2009

As you guys probably know I have been market for a truck since I got back from Iraq this January. I happen to come across a 2004 2500 with 82000 miles on it. It is owned by an elderly couple. Great people. Has the 6.0 and 4 speed tranny. Link with more info below.

My question why would I want to buy a 2500LD over a regular 1500. I mean the only reason I can think of is because I want the selectable 4x4 and 6.0.

Please chime in and let me know your thoughts. Thanks

2004 2500

That is a 2500HD with the LT trim package.

As well as getting the bigger motor, the 2500 gets bigger brakes, bigger axles, stronger suspension, tranny cooler, etc.

The 2500 is a more capable truck and as such it will also retain more of it's value - there will always be a small business (or snow plow company, etc) looking for it.

djc122984 · November 24, 2009

As you guys probably know I have been market for a truck since I got back from Iraq this January. I happen to come across a 2004 2500 with 82000 miles on it. It is owned by an elderly couple. Great people. Has the 6.0 and 4 speed tranny. Link with more info below.

My question why would I want to buy a 2500LD over a regular 1500. I mean the only reason I can think of is because I want the selectable 4x4 and 6.0.

Please chime in and let me know your thoughts. Thanks

2004 2500

That is a 2500HD with the LT trim package.

As well as getting the bigger motor, the 2500 gets bigger brakes, bigger axles, stronger suspension, tranny cooler, etc.

The 2500 is a more capable truck and as such it will also retain more of it's value - there will always be a small business (or snow plow company, etc) looking for it.

I forgot to mention in the original post that they only want 14K for it not including TTL. According to KBB it is worth 15200 is good condition. The guy told me over the phone that is was a regular 2500. If it was an HD, it would have the allison transmission correct? Also be selectable, yes I mean push button. I am buying a truck so gas mileage really isn't an issue. I was looking at a denali earlier because I want the 6.0.

Green_Monster · November 24, 2009

As you guys probably know I have been market for a truck since I got back from Iraq this January. I happen to come across a 2004 2500 with 82000 miles on it. It is owned by an elderly couple. Great people. Has the 6.0 and 4 speed tranny. Link with more info below.

My question why would I want to buy a 2500LD over a regular 1500. I mean the only reason I can think of is because I want the selectable 4x4 and 6.0.

Please chime in and let me know your thoughts. Thanks

2004 2500

Search for a VMax if you want the 6.0 without as much of a fuel penalty. Here are a couple examples from around the country. You could also look up the 1500HD. Some of those came with 6.0 ( I think some came with the 5.3 also ) and more load carrying capacity.

VMax #1

VMax #2

wpgmachoman · November 24, 2009

.... If it was an HD, it would have the allison transmission correct? Also be selectable, yes I mean push button. I am buying a truck so gas mileage really isn't an issue. I was looking at a denali earlier because I want the 6.0...

No, the 6.0 did not have the alli transmission..that was/is only available with the 8.1 gas or the 6.6 Duramax Diesel engine. A 2005 would have been a 5 speed alli, but this truck is a 4 speed....not near as capable as the alli. The rear end should have 4:10 gears..and for occasional towing, shorter trips and reasonable sized ttl or 5th wheels, is good enough..but nothing over 8000lbs or milage goes south VERY quickly, and going up hills becomes, well, problematic.

This truck would be a good hauler (for stuff in the back) good snow plow truck, etc. The 2500 Crew also has the 6'6" box over the Denali's (1500 crew) 5'5" long box (useless in my mind). Like others said..its more of a 'working' truck, not a run-around like the 1500's would be.

djc122984 · November 24, 2009

So if I want the 6.0 I could always go with a 1500HD. Whats the difference between that and a 2500 non HD? From read really absolutely nothing except that it is bigger. Drive train and options are the same. Anyone think this a good deal.

wpgmachoman · November 24, 2009

So if I want the 6.0 I could always go with a 1500HD. Whats the difference between that and a 2500 non HD? From read really absolutely nothing except that it is bigger. Drive train and options are the same. Anyone think this a good deal.

From what I can remember,the 1500HD is really a 2500 frame with different springs and suspension...(read softer, less load carrying) but mostly everything else is 2500HD... It has the 6'6" bed..crew cab, and you could get the V-max 6.0 (345 HP). Look on GM's website for specs..they might still be present.

Probably a good compromise between the 2500 and the 1500....it will still not fit in a 20" garage! but I seriously considered the 1500HD for myself, until I found my duramax....dream find....

btw..they stopped making the 1500HD in the nbs, only obs. (not past 2007.5).

Ridgerunner30 · November 24, 2009

As you guys probably know I have been market for a truck since I got back from Iraq this January. I happen to come across a 2004 2500 with 82000 miles on it. It is owned by an elderly couple. Great people. Has the 6.0 and 4 speed tranny. Link with more info below.

My question why would I want to buy a 2500LD over a regular 1500. I mean the only reason I can think of is because I want the selectable 4x4 and 6.0.

Please chime in and let me know your thoughts. Thanks

2004 2500

That is a 2500HD with the LT trim package.

As well as getting the bigger motor, the 2500 gets bigger brakes, bigger axles, stronger suspension, tranny cooler, etc.

The 2500 is a more capable truck and as such it will also retain more of it's value - there will always be a small business (or snow plow company, etc) looking for it.

I agree with shocktrp.

This is a good looking truck. If mpg is a non-issue, I would go with a 2500 over a 1500 (which is what I did). The 2500 will typically be econonical to operate after the 1500 is no longer economical to operate (worn out).

I would ask to see the service records on the truck. I would think that a couple that kept the truck in this good of a condition would have detailed service records on the truck.

djc122984 · November 24, 2009

So the 2500 is more of a working truck. I honestly don't know if I should go with it then because I do more driving than hauling. How would the gas mileage compare to a denali with the 6.0. It would probably be worse since it has bigger gears in the back correct.

I am honestly torn as to what I want. I like the denali truck but can't find one that fits my budget. I also like the 2500 because it sits higher and I can get the 6.0L with the push button 4x4 (denali I can't).

If I don't tow or haul much of anything, then I should go with a 1500 unless I want push button 4x4 and the 6.0. (thinking out loud)

djc122984 · November 24, 2009

Also correct me if I am wrong but they made a 2500 non HD and 2500HD in 2004 correct.

rodram · November 24, 2009

you are right.... in 2004 there was both 2500 and 2500HD.....

.. it was a nameplate/badge issue... in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, and 2007 (Old body Style) this very same equipped truck was called 1500HD.... the truck has GVW 8600lbs

.. in my opinion this is a great TRUCK .. it has a 6.5 ft box with the crew cab (CCin the 1500 only has the little shrimpy box less than 6 feet)

.. it has a 6L engine (not the 6L that is in the 2500HD), and has a strong transmission, 8-bolt wheel/axles

.. good choice if you ever intend to haul a travel trailer or 5th wheel trailer once in a while

.. if I were looking this week for a newer truck, I'd buy it!!! ... I think it's a good price..... and it looks like it has been well looked after.

djc122984 · November 24, 2009

thank you for all the comments. I don't attend to haul anything now but you never know what I will get in the future. I am going to test drive it tomorrow after work. I will let you guys know. What size gears did the 2500 non HD come with?

Green_Monster · November 24, 2009

So the 2500 is more of a working truck. I honestly don't know if I should go with it then because I do more driving than hauling. How would the gas mileage compare to a denali with the 6.0. It would probably be worse since it has bigger gears in the back correct.

I am honestly torn as to what I want. I like the denali truck but can't find one that fits my budget. I also like the 2500 because it sits higher and I can get the 6.0L with the push button 4x4 (denali I can't).

If I don't tow or haul much of anything, then I should go with a 1500 unless I want push button 4x4 and the 6.0. (thinking out loud)

The Vmax trucks should have push button 4x4. Correct me if I am wrong fellas.