I'm looking at trucks for my soon to be 16 year old son and am torn between two totally different trucks for about the same price.


Truck #1-- 1999 Silvarado 1500, 4x4, 4.8L, 110,000 miles(mostly highway). Belongs to my brother-in-law(bought it new), serviced regularly, Has had no mechanical problems. $10,000.


Truck #2-- 1996 Dodge Cummins 2500 SLT 4x4 Automatic, 191,000 miles(lots of short trips). Belongs to a near neighbor of mine when it had 75,000 miles on it. Oil change every 4000 miles, fuel filter every 8000 miles, tranny fluid every 15,000 miles. Never pulled any heavy loads. He has had no mechanical problems with it. $10,500.


Any input will be greatly appreciated!Edited by: Grey Ghost

Cummins Cummins Cummins, put a straight pipe on it, and show up all the other high school kids with their "Big Bad" Chevy 350's. The old 12 valve engines are rock solid with minimal problems.

Thank you 496.. We will take that into consideration...


One of the things i am concerned about on the Dodge is the drive transmission and drive train.. with 191,000 miles on it how well do you think these will hold up?


I am pretty sure on both vehicles that they will each need a different transmission soon. Neither of them have problems yet but i am sure they will occur.


please let us know your thoughts/opnions are on this matter.


Thanks againEdited by: Grey Ghost

The first things I would ask the owner is if the motor sounds and runs strong, it should if it was taken care of, the cummins is rated 350000 before an overhaul at the minimum. as far as the tranny, at 191000, most likely it has been rebuilt. a stock cummins tranny lasting that long is rare, most likely the tranny was rebuilt, if it was, good. ask them if it shifts good and hard, or maybe even a test drive? You shouldnt have a problem with the drive train, with the exception of U-joints, the dana is a good system. also see if it is stock, or turned up at all.

I've heard the truck run and it sounds great. He said he hasn't had anything done to the tranny since he got it (at 75k miles) except change the fluid every 15k miles. The tranny is the biggest thing that is shying my away from it. He said he has replaced the front U-joints. I don't know if it has been turned up. I forgot to ask him the other day. This guy does all his own maintenance/service work. He has built/raced race cars and currently does body/mechanical work for a local body shop and custom bales about 2500 round bales a year. I know him personally and he is very meticulous about proper PM. All his equipment is John Deere and is in great shape. I will probably test drive it this week. He said I can come over and get it anytime.

go with the cummins, it will be a better investment, with the chevy your looking at rebuliding the tranny and the motor not to long after you buy it, as the cummins you probably will not have to even touch the motor for as long as your son has it, but even if you do have to rebulid the tranny it will still be a better investment,


i would go with the cummins, straight pipe and a leveling kit on 35"s , and turn your son lose in it and he will never want a gas motor again.