thinkin about buying a gmc sierra 1500

[Randy99]

A lot of people worry so much about the "is this enough power to pull my car factor" but fail to forget, "will this be able to stop and handle well"...1/2 ton pick-ups are basically worthless as far as towing goes...they're great for boats and small landscape trailers ect...don't get my wrong you can tow w/a 1/2 ton truck...just remember its not going to handle or stop like a 3/4-1 ton truck...I'd recomend 3/4 ton leafs or at least some helper springs in the rear, it will make a drastic difference...also an external trans cooler and a good electronic brake controller (preferable one with "hard" and "soft" adjustment dials)...also take some time to check your tounge weight, too much or too little tounge weight can lead to a mess trying to tow down the highway...

Good Luck!

[heavy_chevy29]

well i just go back from the dealer. over all its in decent shape for its age. the body has one dent at the top of the bed on the pass side(i could live with that). but there are alot of little scratches all over the place. on the diver side bed panel around the wheel well it looks like someone scraped it. i could get i would say about 85-90% of the scratches out with some compound and a buffer. the interior was perfect. very clean. no rips in the seats, no stains, and wasnt faded or anything like that. i was very impressed by the inside. here is some more about it:

Options
All Wheel Drive
Am/Fm/Cd In Dash
Cruise Control

Seats
Quantity: Bench Rear Seat
Front Seat Type: Split-Bench Front Seats

Towing and Hauling
Ground Clearance: 8.50 Inches
Max Gross Vehicle Weight: 6400.00 Pounds
towing package

Engine
Engine Description: 5.3L V8
Engine Displacement: 5.30 Liters
Engine Block Configuration: V
Cylinder Quantity: 8
Fuel Type: Gas

Convenience
Steering Power: Power Steering
Steering Adjustment: Tilt-Adjustable

DriveTrain
Drive Train Type: 4WD
Transmission type: Automatic
Transmission speed: 4
Transmission: 4-Speed Automatic

Safety
Driver and Passenger Airbag
ABS
Anti Theft System: Anti-Theft System
Infant Child Safety Seat: N
Headlights Dusksensor: Dusk Sensing
Daytime Running Light: Daytime Running Lights


now for all the service that it needs.
-from what i could see it either needs rear brakes or it will be due soon
-needs an alignment
-needs four tires
-needs a coolant flush(still has dexcool in it. im not a fan of dex)
-trans fluid looked preety good and didnt smell bad, but i would still do a service to it.
-also could use a brake flush
-i would also do all the driveline fluids just because i dont know if they have ever been done before.(front/rear diff and transfer case)


it doesnt look like it has ever been in an accident before. the sales guy didnt seem to know that much about the truck. he ran my credit for me and said that i you be approved for the loan. they wouldnt talk about the price to much with me because i wasnt ready to finalize any deals right then and there. he asked me if i had a number in my head and i told him 11-12 thousand. he said that they could work with me but he wasnt that sure about that price. so im up in the air on this one right now. i understand that its not a brand new truck. i know that anything that is in my price range will need some work. the good thing is that i am a mechanic so i wont have to pay for any labor, just parts. check out the pics on their web site. let me know what you think.

http://www.auction123.com/showroom/p...le/101259.html

[maroman88]

i like it

[BigAls87Z28]

You are looking at a good 1500-2k in repairs to the vehicle between brakes, tires, alignment, and other maint. things.
What's wrong with DexCool?
And a personal thing, never let them run credit unless you are ready to deal.

[heavy_chevy29]

i dont think it would be that much in repairs. i dont have to do everything right away. i would do the important things first. i could do everything during luch and after work so that would save me the labor cost. i went back this afternoon with my dad and looked at it with him. he seemed to like it alot(which kinda supprised me). im going to go back monday or tuesday and test drive it. if i can get them down to the 12k-13k price range ill buy it. it think its got alot of potential.

as far as dex goes, im just not a very big fan of it. im sure this discussion will start an arguement but ill tell you why. the earlier stuff was complete ****. the newer stuff is better because they started sealing the coolant systems better. ive had to pull intakes on alot of gm vehicles due to dexcool. as soon as you pull the manifold you inspect the coolant passages. they are usually loaded with a white sludge type substance, ive actually seen the passages be completely and partially blocked off due to the use of dex. like i said the newer stuff is alot better. i just rather have convetial green coolant in my vehicle.

[BigAls87Z28]

I do know a lot of the 3.1/3.4's that had intake problems, but I always thought it was due to the intake coolant passage design and poor gasket material, on top of the higher corrosive properties, but outside of that I have yet to run across a major problem with it at work.
As for costs...
Figure that the tires and align are gunna cost you 500-700 bucks, depending on the quality of tire and price of alignments. If you are gunna tow and do hard work, investing in an LT tire instead of a P-metric tire might benifit you due to the added load capacity and heavier carcas.
Brakes, if you do it yourself, will save you a lot of money.

As for the actual cost...you could always use that figure to fight with the dealer to get the price down more.

[GP99GT]

the dealer should have to guarantee itll pass inspection....so if the tires and brakes are that bad, make them do them

[heavy_chevy29]

well, i went to the dealer today to test drive it and work out some numbers. they pretty much wont budge. the lowest the will go is $14,077. all said and done, im looking at about $15,500. i offered them $13k and he said that they wouldnt even take $13,500. that sucks because it drove great and i really like it. i told him no thanks, but he said to think about it and let him know by the end of the week. ill have to think about it, but ill most likely pass it up.

[BigAls87Z28]

Tell him 13,500, you will cut him a check today (if you can do so) and you will walk away with a truck, and he will walk away with the sale.

[heavy_chevy29]

thats the thing. i cant right him a check. i need to get a loan to pay for it. i found some 2500s with the 6.0l engine in them that im thinking about going to look at. the are little under 20k. but the have about 30k miles on them(just alittle under). i think they would be better for what i plan on doing. my boss said that he has a guy at a chevy dealer that might be able to get me a better deal on a truck. so ill have him call that guy and see if he can find me something nice.

[BonzoHansen]

Randy is right about the heavier trucks having better suspensions & brakes for towing.

[BigAls87Z28]

Best bet is to find a 1500HD. Much bigger brakes, stiffer chassis, HD suspension parts, but in a 1500 body.
2500 HD might be a lot easier to find.

[Anti_Rice_Guy]

You should definitely be able to tow the camaro and open trailer no problem. I mean my mom's 1/2 ton 4x4 suburban can tow like 8k pounds.

[trashman01]

i picked up my 01 ram sport for 12.5 it has the 5.9L i had the bed full of wood and it didnt budge the suspension. its rated for 7,100 lbs towing. on the GMs u gotta look at for the backing plates and fuel/brake lines. if it was me, id get a dodge, my 5.9L getrs bout 14-15 in the hills and prob 20 on the open road. i have 4.10 gears and a LSD with 33" AT/S
and the best part bout this truck, it sits high like a truck, not low like a car/suv(aka the GM trucks)

[jimmyboy8301]

you can tow what the vehicle weighs is the rule with 1/2 ton trucks.

[84HOtransam]

ive used 2 trucks to tow my 16' trailer and 84 bird..my dads new 2500hd 6.0l,..tows like a dream...and our old plow truck which most of you have seen- maroon 86 k20 4 speed 350...i even use the bumper hitch on the old truck....its not the safest thing but it gets the job done...definatly set up the electric brakes trans cooler and springs if the truck sags with the weight...also keep the car about centered on the trailer..you want the tounge to weight about 10-15% of total trailer weight...

keep looking around for trucks..there are alot more out there..a friend of mine just pickup up a truck simular to what you showed for under 13k...also go to AAA and try to get a loan from them..i heard they have better rates..

[heavy_chevy29]

i really hate dealers. i found the exact truck that i was looking for. it was a 2004 gmc 2500hd 4x4, 6.0l automatic, extended cab, and short bed. you name it, it had it. 27k miles and the price was $19,991. i emailed the place on wednesday to tell them im interested and i wanted to know if it was still there. the emailed back saying that it was still there. i called them early on friday and set up an appiontment for saturday. so i show up today and the sales guy came out, i showed him the print out of the truck that i had. he said that he would go get the keys. he comes back and guess what, they wholesaled the truck last night. i guess a phone call telling me that they sold it was too much for them to do. ****ing A man. sorry for my venting but someones gotta listen. looks like on back to searching again.

[BigAls87Z28]

Wow...effing dealers.
Im also looking for a 2500 HD with a 6.0...but wrecked, favorably in the rear...