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Newbie, Questions on Buying a 2500

adg016

By adg016
in 2000-2014 Silverado HD & Sierra HD

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adg016 Enthusiast

adg016

Posted
Posted

Looking to buy a truck, thinking 2001-2004. I have a lot of basic questions, so any help would be appreciated. Needed to tow my racecar and trailer and haul. Not going with the diesel due to initial cost. Not needed as daily driver. Some questions guys...

 

I see trucks cross-listed as 2500 and 2500HD. Is there actually a difference?

 

Any of 4 years better than another as far as feature content, changes, problems?

 

Thoughts on 6.0 versus 8.1?

 

What do the various trims add?

 

Do all 6.0-liters come standard with the 4.10 rear end?

 

What are the problem areas for this truck? Things to beware of?

 

Was there ever a tow mirror option? They all look kind of small to me.

 

How is the basic 4-speed auto? Issues?

 

Thanks for the direction. I need it! Oh, and I'm in SoCal if anyone knows a good one to look at. Looking for ext cab, short bed.

dewfpo Senior Enthusiast

dewfpo

Posted
Posted

I'll try to answer some of your questions.....

 

How much weight do you tow (car and trailer)?

 

- there's a 2500(LD) and a 2500HD. The 2500(LD) is a beefed up half ton.

 

- empty the 6.0 gets better mileage. towing the 8.1 will get better mileage. (depends on how much you tow)

 

- LT used to be the highest trim level, recent trucks have different names for the same packages (ex. LT1 vs LT2).

 

- the 6.0's came standard with 4.10's on the HD. Do not know if 3.73 was an option for them. The 8.1's came with 3.73's and 4.10's were an option.

 

- Tow mirrors were an option, a new design came out on the 06's.

 

- The 6.0 comes with the 4L80E and the 8.1 comes with the Allison 5 speed.

 

DEWFPO

mmmikkke Senior Enthusiast

mmmikkke

Posted
Posted

2005+ power locks lock themselves at 8mph and can't be disabled. GM started serious cost cutting in 2003 model year (after the 9/11 attacks in 2001), eliminating some things like the lock on the console box, and the chrome on the back of the outside rear view mirrors. 6.0L engine lost egr in 2003, though, and also in 2003, radio space in dash increased from 1.5 din to 2 din, and dual-zone manual temperature controls replaced single-zone controls for manual a/c equipped trucks. 2004+ trucks have no servicable fuel filter due to more stringent evaporative emissions controls (gasoline powered only). The filter is now in the tank integrated with the fuel pump. All 6.0L engines get 4L80E trans; all 5.3L engines get 4L60E trans.

Truckman031 Senior Enthusiast

Truckman031

Posted
Posted

If I were you, I'd get the 8.1 simply because it comes with the Allsion Auto. The difference in gas mileage between the 8.1 and the 6.0 isn't that much, I mean either engine will get bad mileage.

wht2500hd... Enthusiast

wht2500hd...

Posted
Posted

2500 has a gvw of 8600 lbs. 2500HD has a gvw of 9200 lbs. 3500 has a minimum gvw of 10,000 lbs. mostly, the difference is in payload capacity. a half ton can tow almost as much as a one ton if equipped and not equipped to tow (a one-ton with 6.0 motor won't tow much because a one-ton is heavier than the others and a 6.0 is a weak motor). the 6.0 lacks torque so ordering a 3.72 may not be a good choice.

 

if you only need tow capacity then get a halfton. if you only need to haul then get a oneton, but if you need tow capacity and hauling capacity then consider either a 2500hd (payload 3500 lbs est., 10,000 tow cap +) or a oneton with a big block (payload 4400 lbs, tow cap. 12,000 lbs +). a 2500hd with a big block can tow more than a oneton, but does not have the tongue weight capacity (payload) as a oneton .

 

the reason is a onetone weighs more and that consumes tow capacity.

Roofer Senior Enthusiast

Roofer

Posted
Posted
2500 has a gvw of 8600 lbs. 2500HD has a gvw of 9200 lbs. 3500 has a minimum gvw of 10,000 lbs. mostly, the difference is in payload capacity. a half ton can tow almost as much as a one ton if equipped and not equipped to tow (a one-ton with 6.0 motor won't tow much because a one-ton is heavier than the others and a 6.0 is a weak motor). the 6.0 lacks torque so ordering a 3.72 may not be a good choice.

 

if you only need tow capacity then get a halfton. if you only need to haul then get a oneton, but if you need tow capacity and hauling capacity then consider either a 2500hd (payload 3500 lbs est., 10,000 tow cap +) or a oneton with a big block (payload 4400 lbs, tow cap. 12,000 lbs +). a 2500hd with a big block can tow more than a oneton, but does not have the tongue weight capacity (payload) as a oneton .

 

the reason is a onetone weighs more and that consumes tow capacity.

 

 

 

 

This is all true, but the bigger truck will always handle the load and/or trailer better. Plus the 6.0 comes with 4.10 gears on the bigger trucks. The resale on a one ton with a 6.0 would not be good. It shouldn't even be an option, not sure if it even is. If you plan on a towing truck get a 2500HD 8.1 or a diesel.

wht2500hd... Enthusiast

wht2500hd...

Posted
Posted
Towing is NOT only going, it is also stopping.  The brakes are much bigger on the heavy trucks vs 1/2 ton.

 

 

 

 

This is an important consideration - bigger brakes. But don't ignore the fact that trailers must have their own brakes. Going from a 2500HD (9200lbs brakes) to a oneton gives you brakes for only 10,000 gvw, only an 800 lb increase. Those brakes will mostly stop payload. You could tow a 4,000 lb trailer without trailer brakes with an empty oneton. You couldn't do it with a halfton. But because a halfton weighs under 5,000 lbs (4400) you can tow more than you think if it's equipped with enough power (engines determine tow capacity, not brakes.)

 

Payload or hauling capacity is determined by the axle weight capacity, brakes, tires and springs and to some extent engine cooling capacity.

 

"This is all true, but the bigger truck will always handle the load and/or trailer better. " [Roofer] yea, very important. But what would you want to go thru the mountains - a 2500HD/diesel or a 3500/diesel towing say only 10,000 lbs ?

 

Once I overloaded my truck with topsoil - full to the rim. I had about 4,000 lbs of dirt and I felt it in the brakes.

 

The truck that tows the most is the 2500HD with diesel because it's lighter than a oneton and has the same engine. But don't ignore high tongue weights, that's what a dually is for.

Trouttrooper Enthusiast

Trouttrooper

Posted
Posted
Looking to buy a truck, thinking 2001-2004.  I have a lot of basic questions, so any help would be appreciated.  Needed to tow my racecar and trailer and haul.  Not going with the diesel due to initial cost.  Not needed as daily driver.  Some questions guys...

 

I see trucks cross-listed as 2500 and 2500HD.  Is there actually a difference?

 

YUP, 2500 IS IT'S OWN FRAME, AXLES, BRAKES.  2500HD SHARES A LOT OF COMPONENTS WITH THE 3500

 

Any of 4 years better than another as far as feature content, changes, problems?

 

NO MAJOR PROBLEMS

 

Thoughts on 6.0 versus 8.1?

 

BOTH ENGINES ARE GOOD.  LOOKS TO ME LIKE YOU'D BE BETTER WITH THE 8.1

 

What do the various trims add?

 

DIFFERENT RIMS, CD/CASSETTE, MORE CROME, POWER SEATS, MORE CONTROL BUTTONS

 

Do all 6.0-liters come standard with the 4.10 rear end?

 

THE 2500 CAME WITH 3.73 STANDARD.  2500HD CAME WITH 4.10 STANDARD

 

What are the problem areas for this truck?  Things to beware of?

 

FUEL GUAGE SENDING UNIT STOPS WORKING

 

Was there ever a tow mirror option?  They all look kind of small to me.

 

2 STYLES. MANUAL ADJUST/EXTEND (EBAY FOR $70).  ELECTRIC ADJUST/EXTEND.  ALL MIRROR STYLES WILL BOLT RIGHT IN PLACE, WON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE ELECTRONIC CAPABILITY.

 

How is the basic 4-speed auto?  Issues?

 

4L80E IS A VERY RELIABLE AND STOUT TRANNY (6.0 ENGINE)

ALLISON IS IN A CLASS OF IT'S OWN (8.1 ENGINE) A+++

 

Thanks for the direction.  I need it!  Oh, and I'm in SoCal if anyone knows a good one to look at.  Looking for ext cab, short bed.

 

 

 

linda Enthusiast

linda

Posted
Posted

you also have a returnless fuel system in 2004 and the HP rating of the 8.1L went down from 340hp to 325 or 330hp and the torque rating went down a little too. Nothing internal changed, so its probably just a tuning thing. Some say the 8.1L burns a little more oil than they like, but I have not experienced this. And if the only thing different was the Allison transmission, that would be enough for me....you cant beat the Allison for towing or hauling. it shifts like a beast whether its umpty or full.

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