Gentlemen,

**Disclaimer – just returning from Iraq, so forgive my ramblings and TMI.**

I will be returning back to the “Good Ole USA” next week (12 Feb 09) and need your advice!


Got the “gotta have it bug” and you know how that is, to buy a Truck to pull 5th wheel (10,000 lbs or less). I have two kids still at home, another one in the Navy, and another one that just finished college. So I need the 4 door, and want the 4X4.

Don’t want to buy new, can’t afford it, so I have been looking/researching the 2001 and newer 2500 HD Chevy/GMC Trucks.

I have found a 2002 Chevy Silverado LT 2500 HD. Crew cab, long bed. Spray on bed liner, leather, power everything, push-button 4 wheel drive, Duramax diesel.

The problem? It is getting close to 200k miles. They are asking around $13k.

Should or Shouldn’t I?

If I do go kick the tires, what do I need to ask, and look at?

What would you offer?

If I should stay away, what would you recommend?

My budget needs to stay under $15k

I know, I know. I probably have had too much sun, heat (many 130 degree days), plus Blackhawk rides.

Very Respectfully,

R Floyd

First off.......Thank you, and welcome home.

Now to the truck.....I would say that 13 K is a bit too much for an '02 approaching 200K. If it's real clean I would say maybe 10-11 at best. You'll want to find out if the injectors have been done, and if so, how long ago. Read on and you'll see those are definitley a weak link on the '01-'04's. Also with that many miles, ask about the water pump, and the T-case pump rub. I love my '01, and all the years of the dmax's have their issues, but If I were to buy another one, it would be an "04.5 or newer. Although, the LLY engines have some overheating issues from what I hear, and since you want to pull a fiver.......I know others will chime in here soon, while your waiting cruise through some threads on here. I learned a lot here.

Thanks for serving.:saluteusa: Welcome home!:beerchug:

I wouldn't pay that much. I gave 5k for an 02 reg cab/long bed with 200k. It ran like a top. In a blink 5 months later I got about 5 gallons of oil/diesel in the engine. I picked up a set of GM injectors sealed for $1300 with gaskets, washers and a tube of Isuzu sealant. Its in the drive waiting on the sun to warm things up a bit before I get back to changing injectors. If you need injectors after you buy it and its over 200k in mileage then the injectors come out of your pocket. Injectors can cost you 3-4k to have changed at the dealer. I'd call your local stealer and ask what they charge to install new injectors and try to get that off the price, then sit that dough to the side and wait for it or get yourself an EFI LIve, man if I had the dough, I'd get one. Great performance tool along with a lot of useful abilities to help diagnose problems.

Check around here too, hard times has a lot of guys/members selling off their toys, I mean trucks.

Funny thing is I keep reading more and more members selling off their newer model trucks and coming back to the LB7 trucks.

I too would like to say Thank you and welcome home

I bought my 04 4 door extended cab short box for 12k it had 130,000 on it. Granted it need tires, brakes, wheel bearing, injectors(coverd my GM). So with that said I ended up paying 13k or so after parts (did the repairs myself). I too agree that 13k is a bit much for 200k miles. Not sure if this helped much but was trying to tell you that you can get better deals out there, if the goto have jones doesnt get you 1st.
Rice Farm

Welcome Home! And thanks for putting it on the line to protect us at home (SOME of us actually do appreciate it!)

I would steer you away from an LB7 Diesel. That would put you to 2004.5 and up and probably out of your $$ budget. Have you thought about a 6.0 gas or even an 8.1 gas truck? The overall operating cost of those will be lower than the diesel and the purchase price will also be lower. The load you are talking about dragging around does not really NEED the diesel. Sure, it would be better but it comes with a cost. Also injectors are $2000 to replace as a DIY taking 15-20 hours and $4000 to have done. Probably every 100,000 miles if what is written here is correct.

jb

Welcome Back and thanks for protecting our country.

My 2001 had 86,000 miles on it when I bought it. It was listed for $17k but my autobody teacher knew the owner of the dealership really well so I got it for $11k. Mine is the single cab long bed 4x4 so I dont know how that would be vs the 4 door on price but 200k miles for $13k is a bit rediculous. Tell him that it is not worth $13k. Offer him $7k - $8k and tell him its because you will have to do some maintenence on it to make sure that the truck will last and your money wont be wasted. If he takes it then great. Use the other $6k - $7k you were going to drop on it and do some upgrades or just buy a new or lower mile engine and swap it in. That way, you spend the same amount of money but you know that the truck will last. If he doesn't take the offer, tell him you have found a better deal somewhere else and you are taking cash over there to get it right now. I would be willing to bet he would snatch your arm off trying to get the cash.

Also, thanks for serving. I would be over there with yall right now if I could but I cant because of college and my parents weren't too keen on the idea because their parents were in the military so I will serve my country the best I can by supporting our troops. I am proud of all of yall over there and we are behind yall 100% :saluteusa:

I bought an 04 crew cab 4x4 with all the bells and whistles with 120k on it for 14,900. I love my truck and I'm not as scared of the lb7 as most. True the lb7 has some downfalls but it is still an excellent engine and a fine truck. Thank You for your dedication to our country.

Id say stay away from the 2001 because the injectors arent covered anymore. Unless you like the body style like me. Also have the truck checked out. My buddy bought an 02 and it ran great for about 2 months. Now its just an electrical and injector nightmare. Since the computer has a tune on it and is locked he doesnt want to take it in.

Thanks for all you do for us at home. As far as the truck I have an 03 and love it. Only problems i have had is the water pump went out and thats it. I also believe that the LB7 have the best fuel milage out of all the motors. Somebody correct me if i'm wrong but that is what I have notice with mine compared to my buddies. I would definitley think that you could get it cheaper than that especially with the hard times many people are going through. Thanks again.

If you have 15K to spend...keep looking. You could easily find an 04.5 or newer, CCSB with todays economic conditions and what not for that price. With these older LB7, sure there are more and more core injectors out there to get rebuilt but they are out there for a reason. Even if you change out the injectors, its not if its going to happen again but when. If you spend the time and look and find an LLY or LBZ you'll be a lot happier in the long run IMO.

Thank you for serving our country!

I have an 03 LB7 and never have had good fuel mileage. I don't know the reason and the dealer has no answers. I am only getting 14.5 on average. Any ideas?

keep the air filter clean and check your MAF sensor.keep the tire pressure up to. see my sig for mods but stock i was still getting good mileage