Jump to content

So I'm having a $ debate

tthomass

Recommended Posts

tthomass Enthusiast

tthomass

Posted
Posted

I currently have a 02 Chevy 2500hd 4.10 for my landscape business and plan to purchase a 4500 or 5500 14' dump this early early spring/late winter (depending on promotions etc possibly earlier).

 

Okay first I was all about the 5500 for not really the higher GW but the heavier Allison for fear of overworking the 4500 Allison since its whats in the 2500 and 3500. Only then I learned this tranny was in mid sized trucks long before the 2500 and 3500 that are out today. So with that point I am leaning back on the 4500 as a real option.

 

Second is the engine. Drove my first Duramax and thought it was great. I drove a 8.1L 4500 at a company I once worked for over 2 1/2yrs ago and remember it being fine also but I need to test drive one for a comparison since its been a while. So here I was all over the Duramax until I saw it was about $7,000 more than going 8.1L gas. I just don't know if I can justify spending that much more just so I have the Duramax. Yes the mpg is better but come one, think about how long it would take to spend $7,000 difference in gas...........years upon years. Power yeah, its more but $7,000 more?

 

Guess I just want some feedback as I'm stuck but not yet in a pinch where I am buying asap. Especially like to hear from 4500 & 5500 drivers. Thanks!

Roofer Senior Enthusiast

Roofer

Posted
Posted

We have a F550, similar, but not really. I would definitely get the diesel. Your truck will haul and tow heavy loads and it will be worth it. As for the gvwr, check it out before you buy. We have a hydraulic system and 10 yard dumpsters on our F550 and it weighs in at about 12K empty. It only can carry about 3 yards of dirt and it is dragging hind end.

For the tranny, our F550 has the same tranny as the F350, so you shouldn't have a problem at all with either of the Allisons. My next trucks will be 3500 Dmax and a 5500 Dmax as now you can get 4x4 in the 5500. If you plan any off-road or snow, get 4wd. The low pro tires don't have much for tread especially the stockers. Also beware they are spendy when you need new tires.

ZZ327 Senior Enthusiast

ZZ327

Posted
Posted

get the 4500 with a duramax. and fill er up with Soy biodiesel if your worried about the price. It will have a lot better TQ than the gas engine

 

I think theyre discontinuing the 8.1 L??

tthomass Enthusiast

tthomass

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Fuel cost really dosn't bother me........I just wanted to kill the mpg discussion as a base for getting the deisel as the mpg difference of X years would be a lot to make up for the $7,000 price tag.

 

YES I want deisel but I don't want to make a business purchase on a want........I want a new Z06 too but I think we get the picture.

 

The business is new/fulltime since May and buying this 2nd truck also means hiring more people.

 

What are ya'lls thoughts on buy'n used? I don't consider buying this type of truck used along the same lines as a used Honda. There is there usage issue and I don't want to get someone elses problem but a used DMAX I can prob get at the same price as a new GAS. Of course then is the getting someone elses problem and just buy the new GAS................dang it, its a truck how difficult some things get sometimes suck. At least I'm not in a rush! :puke:

 

 

 

get the 4500  with a duramax. and fill er up with Soy biodiesel if your worried about the price. It will have a lot better TQ than the gas engine

 

I think theyre discontinuing the 8.1 L??

 

 

 

GetMore Enthusiast

GetMore

Posted
Posted

How long do you plan on keeping the truck? The extra money you spend on the diesel engine will be made back when you sell it.

 

Besides, are you sure it will take too many years to recoup the $7,000 investment in fuel savings?

How many miles are you going to drive it per year?

How many miles per gallon will it get?

How many miles per gallon will the 8.1 get?

 

I'm guessing that at 10,000 miles or so per year you could save the $7,000 in four years.

 

I know you don't really want a used truck, but since you mentioned the price used, with the Duramax, take a look at the price of one used, with the 8.1 and see how much less that is.

Roofer Senior Enthusiast

Roofer

Posted
Posted

Why try to justify the price issue. The power will more than make up any difference. The diesel is made for work. I am glad I have the Duramax every time I hook up a trailer and every time I drive past a gas station.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Latest Articles

  • Posts

    • Grumpy Bear
      Wow I'm in a pickle. (Broke down truck) and a story.

      By Grumpy Bear · Posted

      You are winning more than battles. You're winning the war!  Nice. 
    • Atlas
      Wow I'm in a pickle. (Broke down truck) and a story.

      By Atlas · Posted

      Blazer is all put back together. Another hard-won battle. The 4.3 is not easy to work on in such an archaic and narrow chassis originally designed for an inline 4.   My baffle issue is solved. I returned to the OG junkyard but was ready for a fight. The Blazer I had picked from was stacked on another vehicle so I had no idea how the heck I was going to get myself to working height to pull the front end apart. I had seen an S10 pickup on the ground so I was hoping the part would be the same, AND, I couldn't remember if the S10 still had a front end or not. But I didn't need to worry because it turned out to be my lucky day. The yard had just taken in a '98 Blazer, sitting right up front, on the ground, with room to work around it, and the front end hadn't been hit. The baffle and all the clips were factory perfect. I also scored another good handful of odds/ends and the whole shebang only cost me $20.   Got everything back together and it fired right off, sounds good, runs good. I've got a little coolant drip from a lower water pump bolt (D'OH!!). I did the right thing and snugged it down a little bit, and of course that didn't fix it. Yet again, I will have to soak everything in coolant to drain it down to the water pump, remove the bolt, and attempt to re-seal it. Nothing is easy on this truck. Nothing. But now all the radiator plastics are correct, snug, and fully functional. No more rubbing on the cooling fan. It runs, drives (took it for a 30 mile drive last night), no Check Engine lights, EGR is working, no vacuum leaks. We're getting closer...   The replacement wiper motor arrived yesterday. The tailgate was already disassembled and waiting, so I threw that in. It works! Sort of. Two new issues on the list. While the motor is strong enough and the gears aren't stripped, the wiper is hanging up on the bottom of the rear glass. This is the old style where the lower half folds down like a truck tailgate, and the glass swings up, and they meet in the middle when closed. The glass isn't sitting flush with the tailgate, now that I look at it. No rubber bumpers that I can see for adjusting, so I'll have to look at the hinge adjustment to see if I can correct it. Also, the washer/squirter just dumps fluid underneath the truck. The lines actually run inside on the floor so I'm guessing the tailgate is soaked at the rear trim and the line is disconnected. There's also a drain there....probably for this reason.   The leaky water pump bolt was really disappointing. JUST STOP LEAKING...OMG!!   Replacing the window motor and a rear door speaker are still to do, and then everything will work. I want this to feel like a "good" vehicle worthy of dropping $600 for new tires before I do. That means no leaking first. I hurt, and I'm kind of cranky, so I'll probably take a day of rest and do the water pump again tomorrow.
    • KARNUT
      Slate Electric Truck

      By KARNUT · Posted

      Just saw on Jay Leno the new Scout. That’s the way it should be done.
    • Atlas
      Slate Electric Truck

      By Atlas · Posted

      EV's have their nuances too. Best to operate the current type of lithium batteries between 20-80% charge. No real need to charge until you hit around 20%. Occasionally charge to 100% when needed. Longer term storage, battery should be 50-60%. At least those are the guidelines for our iX. We've been exceptionally good to the battery in that car...easy to do when you can charge at home like we can.   EV's lack so many of the rituals and so much of the visceral feeling ICE vehicles provide, which is why I think they're hard to accept for a lot of gearheads. They're fun in different ways, though.
    • diyer2
      Winter Returned

      By diyer2 · Posted

      We have got a lot of rain lately, we needed it. Storms/lightning took out a floor fan. Dirt roads badly rutted from run off.   Power here is sketchy, whole house surge protector in the service panel and all electronics plugged into surge protectors. My biggest concern is my stereo, I've been an audio nut for years. $25 k in equipment. Stereo is on it's own special surge protector.

  • GM-Trucks.com Clubs

  • Popular Contributors

×
×
  • Create New...