I'm looking to buy, what should I be looking at?

[krue]

I'm gonna spend about $10k on a later model 3/4 ton (preferably 4wd) truck and I need to know what the trouble spots are. What do I need to be looking at and what to beware of. I'm looking for a 6.0l truck but would buy a duramax if I find a good deal on one.

[JohnC]

You will be hard pressed to find a Duramax in good condition for that price. Not saying it is impossible, just will be hard.

Are you wanting a regular cab, ext cab, or crew cab?

I have a 03 Sierra 1500HD crew cab 4x4 with the 6.0. I really like it. There isn't really a lot to look for on these trucks. They hold up really well, and go forever. Some of the trucks around the 03-04 range had some gauge cluster issues, and then the intermediate shaft issues. Both of which are easy fixes.

Good luck on the search.

[ybnaford]

The one thing I, my family and friends have experienced with the 01-06 models 1500 and 2500HD 4x4's is the front wheel bearing assemblies. Depending on the mileage of the one you may be looking at, is to check both front wheel bearing assemblies. Or ask if and/or when those units where replaced. What we found is that around 80-90k the left front was worn out with varying degrees of notification/noise. Then not long after that was the right front. This will vary between the two but it is something to check for. The bearings take anywhere from 1.75-3 hours depending on how much the bolts are sticking. Cost runs from around $159.00 for a one year warranty(This was NAPA), to $199.00 for a 2 year warranty (This was Pepboys) and $239.00 for a limited life time warranty.(This was a Timken model). Other than that, everything else seems to holdup pretty well on these trucks. Good Luck with your search.

[krue]

I'm looking for crew cab or maybe extended cab. For what I need a Duramax is overkill which is why I'm not really looking for one. I just want a truck that will pull whatever I hook to without me worrying about it. Right now my tractor is all I have to pull, but there will be a camper sometime in the not too distant future.

[doaner70]

A 1500 chevy will pull anything you throw at it. Well at least my 00 1500 ext cab z71 with a 5.3 will.Pulled cars all over the place tractors and even big farm trucks and it has 250,000 miles on it. Best truck I have ever owned thought about getting a new one but then I'm like why it still runs and pulls great. I'm scrap on the side and pull at least 3-6 cars or trucks to the junk yard a week with it. biggest load was 6 and a half ton I have pulled to date with it pulled fine just didnt want to stop.

[1990SSchevy65]

ybnaford and JohnC are right. I have a 2003 1500 HD CCSB 4x4, and have replaced the gauge cluster, left and right wheel bearing. I bought the truck with 100k miles and it now has about 130k miles.

I haven't had any issues with the intermediate shaft yet.

[JohnC]

I did forget about the wheel bearings. They aren't that bad, except for the expense to replace them. Over all I am really happy with my 1500HD. It doesn't pull as easy as our Duramax does, but it holds it's own. Since I don't pull with it all the time the difference in cost of fuel the rest of the time makes up for it.

[andrewmp6]

If you want a diesel bad for that price a ford or dodge would be easier to find.