Man, I tell ya. I am not so sure these late model GM trucks make for very good work trucks. You know I bought this 2005 2500HD 4x4 dirt cheap this past spring as an ex-work truck that ran around the four corners area (CO, AZ, UT, NM), mostly off-road, with a weed sprayer tank on the back. This company sprayed weeds near all of the natural gas wells.
I absolutely cannot believe how these GM trucks do not hold up when used for work duty. When I first got it the RH engine mount was totally busted and the engine mount bolts were broke off in the frame while one of the two the LH engine mount was broke off. This allowed the engine to fall down and break the exhaust Y-pipe. The battery tray had also cracked all to pieces as well as the ECM mounting brackets. While I was in there I also found numerous sheet metal cracks on the front fenders under the hood where the fenders bolt to the radiator support. I thought I had it all fixed up and still happy with my cheap purchased. Then the front axle seal started leaking, which is common on GM IFS, so in fixing that I found 2 of the 4 front skid plate bolts were broke off too. On top of that the lower bearing assembly in the steering column kept falling out so I had to use a 2” hose clamp to hold it in.
Then last weekend I noticed this annoying pop noise in the RH corner of the cab had gotten worse and sounded like the truck was coming apart. Indeed, it was. The rear RH cab corner mount totally ripped out so a buddy and I ended up welding on a patch panel. I am curious if anybody has seen this on standard cab trucks yet.
If these GMT800 trucks fall apart this easy I hate to see a GMT900 used as a truck being the GMT900’s have a few MIL’s thinner sheet metal. Junk I tell ya. My 2001 2500HD has been great but it is garage queen that never hauls anything more than a sack of groceries, which might be just about the perfect load for a Silverado.
I had plans to purchase a Four Wheel Camper for this white truck but man, I don't know if I trust it to travel around the Southwestern Desert the way it seems to like to fall apart. That new Dodge Power Wagon is looking more and more appealing all the time.
Right rear cab corner mount
