Buying First Truck

Bernard Arnest · April 5, 2009

I am a college senior. I work with stone, some iron, plaster, just general hauling stuff around.

On a day to day basis, I commute <10 miles between home and school, another 30 to work on weekends.

Practically speaking, every other week I might have a load of a half ton. And perhaps five times a year, I have a load of more like 1-2 tons in solid blocks of marble, even 4 tons once (with a trailer hitched also). So it IS to be a commuter vehicle 85% of the time.

But those few times, I've had to hire someone off craigslist, rent a trailer at high cost.

How big a truck do I need? Will a 1500 cut it, or would 2500 be better?

What's the difference between the sierra and silverado brands?

Diesel or gasoline? I hear diesel gets better mileage, does it make up for the higher per-gallon price? I probably won't need the extra torque from diesel, not often anyway? Just the 11000# down the 20-degree slope, just the once :-)

Dually/dulley? I think the point is to have more payload, but I was confused when I saw a 1-ton dually pickup listed on craigslist... when there are 1.5-ton non dulleys out there. I assume that it cuts mileage, and costs another $300 in tires every 50k miles.

8' bed? I have had to pickup 10' long frames, and plywood time to time (but not regularly), so could be handy. But harder to park, poorer turning radius. What is your opinion?

New or used? Questions of warranty, if something costly and unforeseen might break on a shady 2nd-hand truck.

I've already decided against a full, 4-door cab; or leather seats, or fancy sound systems etc. This is mostly just for me and my heavy, dirty marble and machinery when it has to be moved.

On when/how to buy, and the best price:

In part, my father is finally pissed off enough at me for using the family trailblazer to move dirty construction supplies around, that I should simply get a truck soon.

But also, is now getting to be the time to buy? If GM declares chapter 11 in 55 days, will dealers be liquidating trucks at prices that my student's wallet can better afford? Will waiting a bit save more?

Is there a part of the country where more dealers are emptying lots, or owners selling vehicles more cheaply? I earn $8/hr... If it means saving an additional $1000, it'd be easily worth my time to take a road trip to even multiple states away to drive back a cheaper truck.

thanks for the advice, and apologies for the long questions! This'll be the largest purchase I've ever made in my life, short of college; so I figure it deserves some thought. And I don't have many friends who even need a pickup, and none who have really dealt with serious rigging. So I'm asking here.

Shaners · April 5, 2009

In my opinion you can never have enough truck!

But in your circumstances it appears that other than a half dozen times a year you could easily get by with a 1/2 ton 1500 truck. The few times when you are hauling those giant loads you could do it in two trips or pull a trailer.

On the used or new market a 1/2 ton pickup will be significantly less expensive to purchase. Fuel economy will also be much better which will also save you some money.

As far as GMC vs Chevy the biggest difference is in which one looks better to you. The drive train is the same. GMC may have a few more standard items but the trucks are basically identical.

If you are not planning on carrying alot of passengers then a straight cab longbed 1500 would be a great work truck.

ak63 · April 5, 2009

What Shaners says, plus get gas. You are not going to get the benefit from a diesel. Also a diesel engine is heavier so the truck payload will be less than the equivalent gas engine.

gave20 · April 5, 2009

I have a 2500, 'course they don't make them anymore you'd have to get the 2500HD but I would never, ever own a 1500 again. It's worth it's wait in gold when I have to haul stuff and it was awesome knowing I could put 3 ton in the bed and not have any worries.

Get the 2500HD with the 6.0, you'll have no regrets.

robertbick · April 5, 2009

On the used or new market a 1/2 ton pickup will be significantly less expensive to purchase.

Wrong, at least in the new market. There is not a big difference in price between the 1500 & 2500HD.

chakis24 · April 5, 2009

i think half tons will be cheaper used, simply because there are many more of them. the only people who really buy 3/4 and 1 tons are the ones who actually use them, 1/2 tons were the new family sedan for awhile there.

i think the dually is more for towing stability than payload (though im not sure which one has a higher payload/towing capacity)

id go with the 8 foot bed too, its only an extra foot and a half, its not really that much harder to park and it is nice to have when you need it, although you will have a slightly lighter payload.

VMax2007 · April 5, 2009

On the used or new market a 1/2 ton pickup will be significantly less expensive to purchase.

Wrong, at least in the new market. There is not a big difference in price between the 1500 & 2500HD.

Unless you get a Duramax.

Bernard Arnest · April 6, 2009

Hi!

Alright, sounds good, so:

2500(hd)

gasoline, not diesel

not dually

straight cab, long bed

silverado/sierra makes no difference.

A good final question then,

is there an enormous difference between 2500 and 2500 heavy duty?

Are there key years to watch out for, when enormous improvements were made?

I'm definitely still browsing the 2nd-hand market, namely craigslist but I'll check out whomever else you recommend looking at. I'm just seeing strings of numbers, 1999, 2003, 2005, 1985, etc. etc.

If I should specifically get 2003 and later, or 2002 and later, for example; I should know to look for that.

Anything else I should think about?

I'm assuming 4wd is a good idea.

gave20 · April 6, 2009

There's not a big difference between the 250 and 2500 HD 8600 vs. 9200 GVWR. The HD has a full floating rear but most everything else is identical. The 2500 was also 1500HD depending on the model year and most years was only available as a crew cab. I'd look for a 2004-2006 model year, all the bugs are out of the engine and I've had little issues with my 04.

TyeeMan · April 6, 2009

If you can stay in the 2000 on up years you would be good. Nothing at all wrong with the 90's years but I think you will like the engines and the better transmission control of the 2000+. 1999 is a transition year so you might want to go a few years newer. Just a thought here, if you purchase a used truck with say 70,000 miles on it a lot of times the little gremlins that can pop up in the first few thousand miles will likely have been dealt with.

You would probably do fine with a 1/2 ton but I think you would really like a 1500HD/2500 with a suspension that is made for heavier loads, bigger transmission, oil cooler, tranny cooler, etc, etc.

Just do your self this favor, if you find a truck you like get a CarFax of the vehicle, if possible ask to see a maintenance schedule, and bring a piece of cardboard along when you look at the truck, use the cardboard to slide under neath the truck and look for any bad leaks around differentials, trannys/transfer case, and engine. If you see "badness" and you like the truck use the "badness" as a barganing chip but remember you will have to have it fixed sooner or later.

Oh, and if it's a 1999 or newer, make sure all the d*** exhaust manifold bolts are present, it can cost upwards of $1100.00 to have it fixed especially if it's a stud right by the fire wall.

Good Luck!

ATMINF · April 6, 2009

The frames on the 2500HD are also "thicker" than the 2500/1500HD. The rear difference is just more than a semi vs. full floater, the semi is smaller at 9 1/2 vs 10 1/2 full floater(6,0L) and 11 1/2 (big block/D-max). Just remember the extra capablity is what the 2500HD gets you at some cost in fuel milage and ride. But the 2500HD really shines when you need to haul the heavy loads etc. I know there is always the 1/2 ton guys that say that they tow 10,000 pds and haul "way over" the truck specs, and its fine, but those are the truck that I would not want to buy used. The real issue with the 2500HD is that getting a used one that is not beat is going to be hit or miss. I could have gotten away with a 1/2 ton but the deal for my 2500HD was hard to walk away from. In my case I liked knowing that my truck was far more capable of doing things that I would most likely never do to it. I have got a 2006 and I have had no problems, but I also had a 2001 3/4ton suburban and that thing also had no problems. So like the other posts have said get a later 2004-2006 or (2007 classic) and you will do fine. One last note and food for though is that the "new" 2007+ truck in the HD class share the same plateform as the older GMT800 HD stuff. From what I have read except for the improved 6 speed(6L90) and updated 6.0L most of the same stuff (frame, suspension, brakes, etc, but not the body) is on the new HD trucks as the older ones(2000-2006). So you can't really go bad with the newer HD's also.

cfeiring · April 7, 2009

I would go with a gas 2500hd extended cab long bed and you will be happy.

If you can afford the diesel then I would grab one if you can find one.

the duramax truck will do everything that you would need it to do safely.

the gas truck will get poor fuel mileage vs the diesel but the maintenance would be little cheaper in the gas truck.

I have a 08 crew cab long bed and it does every thing I need it to do but city driving / parking is a chore. But I drive firetrucks and ambulances at work so to me its no big deal.

Take a look at whats out there and test drive the truck in the environment that you will be using to get a feel for what is right for you and your needs and constraints that you may have that way you can make an informed decision as to what you want to buy.