Kicking Around The Idea

sc4808 · February 2, 2011

I do a lot of heavy towing and thinking about trading my 2008 Silverado LT CCSB 5.3L 3.73 Z71.

The truck that I am looking at is a New 2011 Silverado LT 3500 CCSB Duramax Diesel 4x4 with 3.73 gears, the dealer dropped 10K off the price right off the bat and is giving me a good price for my truck.

My bigest concern is the additional operating cost of the 1 ton truck, things like Fuel Cost, additional cost for servicing, tires, brakes and oil changes all being more expensive.

Now as long as I don't go out and buy a new Fifth Wheel (which I have been giving serious thought to) my half ton, although loaded to capacity (maybe a little over) does fine and handles it well, I know though that the 3500 would not even break a sweat where my 1500 is doing all she can do.

I might even trade in two trucks to get my payments inline with what I have now.

Any Thoughts?

BlackZ71Silverado · February 2, 2011

If you are able to afford it, I say go for it. UNLESS is is your daily driver. With gas prices going in the direction they are, it's going to cost a lot more money for fuel in the near future.

gnet158 · February 2, 2011

Sounds like the need is there. That's a tuff one, man I wish the dealers here in CA would be as giving. They do not, I mean do not budge on price.

sc4808 · February 2, 2011

The other thought would be to just keep my 1500 and maybe pick up an older (late 90's) 1 ton or maybe even a Medium duty truck to tow with, something like a Top Kick or a F-550 Ford, something that cost less than $10K, I see a few on trucktrader that have utility bodies that have less than 120K miles. I could remove the utility body and build like a towing bed like you see on the RV Toters.

Its a lot to think about, lots of options.

I found a great deal on a 2003 Dodge with the HO Cummins, the only thing was the weak Dodge transmissions, I am scared of them.

At least with the new Duramax there would be waranty.

Garrett Street · February 2, 2011

Maybe look into a 3/4 ton Dmax? It's less of a truck to deal with than the 1 ton but a lot more truck than the half ton. Between a trade in and some generous dealer offers I'd say you'll be in the same ballpark as where you are now.

GPGuy · February 2, 2011

Maybe look into a 3/4 ton Dmax? It's less of a truck to deal with than the 1 ton but a lot more truck than the half ton. Between a trade in and some generous dealer offers I'd say you'll be in the same ballpark as where you are now.

What he said. ^^^

tunseeker1 · February 2, 2011

I think that I would go with the 1-ton because everyone else says go used or 3/4 ton.

The 1 ton is new and a d-max so milage daily won't be too bad.

NO ONE IS BUYING 1 TONS!!!! That makes them sometimes cheaper the 3/4 ton trucks.

and you can keep it forever and not have to buy another truck.

sc4808 · February 2, 2011

I stopped by there tonight on the way home:

The sticker on the truck was $51,342.00, its a Silverado 3500 4x4 LT with cloth, it did have the steering wheel controls, climate control and brake controler. It is a Crew Cab short bed.

Trade on the 2008 $22,500 but I still owe 20K so only $2500 equity.

Trade on the 2003 came to $8000 and I own it so $8K equity

With all the discounts and the two trades it came down to me financing $34,000 on the new truck if I wanted it.

At the last minute I decided to keep my trucks and not do the deal, mainly because I don't think I would be happy with a 1 ton for a daily driver, rides too rough and burns too much fuel, plus diesel is 50 cent more per gallon and I cant imagine $120 per fillup.

I think I might look around and find an older truck for towing and keep my baby.

stlavsa · February 2, 2011

I stopped by there tonight on the way home:

The sticker on the truck was $51,342.00, its a Silverado 3500 4x4 LT with cloth, it did have the steering wheel controls, climate control and brake controler. It is a Crew Cab short bed.

Trade on the 2008 $22,500 but I still owe 20K so only $2500 equity.

Trade on the 2003 came to $8000 and I own it so $8K equity

With all the discounts and the two trades it came down to me financing $34,000 on the new truck if I wanted it.

At the last minute I decided to keep my trucks and not do the deal, mainly because I don't think I would be happy with a 1 ton for a daily driver, rides too rough and burns too much fuel, plus diesel is 50 cent more per gallon and I cant imagine $120 per fillup.

I think I might look around and find an older truck for towing and keep my baby.

Sell the 2003 for 10,000 and take the money and buy a tow rig with it.. I wouldnt do the 3500 for a daily

sc4808 · February 2, 2011

I stopped by there tonight on the way home:

The sticker on the truck was $51,342.00, its a Silverado 3500 4x4 LT with cloth, it did have the steering wheel controls, climate control and brake controler. It is a Crew Cab short bed.

Trade on the 2008 $22,500 but I still owe 20K so only $2500 equity.

Trade on the 2003 came to $8000 and I own it so $8K equity

With all the discounts and the two trades it came down to me financing $34,000 on the new truck if I wanted it.

At the last minute I decided to keep my trucks and not do the deal, mainly because I don't think I would be happy with a 1 ton for a daily driver, rides too rough and burns too much fuel, plus diesel is 50 cent more per gallon and I cant imagine $120 per fillup.

I think I might look around and find an older truck for towing and keep my baby.

Sell the 2003 for 10,000 and take the money and buy a tow rig with it.. I wouldnt do the 3500 for a daily

That what I am thinking, not to mention the whole Urea Injection on the new diesels, that scares me a bit too.

It is a nice truck but so is my 08.

Thanks for the advice everone.

SouthCo · February 2, 2011

Seems like it boils down to if your 1500 can tow what you need to tow. It's hard to compare a 3500 to a 1500 for strictly towing. YOu said you do a lot if heavy towing so a 3500 might be necessary.

sc4808 · February 2, 2011

Seems like it boils down to if your 1500 can tow what you need to tow. It's hard to compare a 3500 to a 1500 for strictly towing. YOu said you do a lot if heavy towing so a 3500 might be necessary.

What I tow right now is a little heavy for a 1/2 ton but it handles it, usually around 8000 lbs or so. The problem is that I am considering buying a new Fifth Wheel Trailer that has a gross weight of 16000 and is 38' long, if I do that, then I will have to buy something to tow it with, 16000 lbs is actually in the 1 ton range.

The other option is that I might look into Motorhomes and just tow my 1500 behind it.

Thanks for all of the input.

Pyggy · February 2, 2011

What I tow right now is a little heavy for a 1/2 ton but it handles it, usually around 8000 lbs or so. The problem is that I am considering buying a new Fifth Wheel Trailer that has a gross weight of 16000 and is 38' long, if I do that, then I will have to buy something to tow it with, 16000 lbs is actually in the 1 ton range.

The other option is that I might look into Motorhomes and just tow my 1500 behind it.

If you decide to go with the 5th wheel, you'll need a new truck regardless - a 1500 Crew Cab Short Box bed is too small for a 5th wheel coupling.

http://www.gmc.com/sierra/1500/specsCapabilities.jsp

sc4808 · February 2, 2011

What I tow right now is a little heavy for a 1/2 ton but it handles it, usually around 8000 lbs or so. The problem is that I am considering buying a new Fifth Wheel Trailer that has a gross weight of 16000 and is 38' long, if I do that, then I will have to buy something to tow it with, 16000 lbs is actually in the 1 ton range.

The other option is that I might look into Motorhomes and just tow my 1500 behind it.

If you decide to go with the 5th wheel, you'll need a new truck regardless - a 1500 Crew Cab Short Box bed is too small for a 5th wheel coupling.

http://www.gmc.com/sierra/1500/specsCapabilities.jsp

Exactly, thats why I was shopping.

f0st3r · February 2, 2011

At the last minute I decided to keep my trucks and not do the deal, mainly because I don't think I would be happy with a 1 ton for a daily driver, rides too rough and burns too much fuel, plus diesel is 50 cent more per gallon and I cant imagine $120 per fillup.

You wouldn't if you drove a lot probably, my old boss bought a 2008 3500 with Dmax for his daily driver, just to pull a camper better a few times a year. He kept it for a year and traded it in on a 2009 Z71.

He said the Dmax was awesome, but he hated the ride, expensive oil changes, and $150 fill ups(he couldn't even do because most stations cut his card off at $100 or less!!!)