Which one?

[Warren Allison]

Found a truck I might get for Zeke. 2009 Chevy 2500 HD, 4wd, regular cab. 83k miles and he is asking $6900. The truck has a 360hp, 6L V8 gas motor. I haven't fooled with Chevy/GMC hardly any at all since the Powerstrokes came out in '95 ( I think). I remember the old 350's were pretty dang good motors. What are y'all's opinions about the this 6 litre? The old truck is pretty straight and clean. Old farmer has it and all he did was drive it around to check on his row crops., haul seed or fertilizer out to the equipment, etc. Had it serviced, oil changed, etc regularly at the dealership. I don't even know if that is a good deal, or too high or about right. It has power windows and locks, but manual transfer case, and rubber mats. I think it has auto hubs, though, I forgot to look. I told Scott the last time I was down, that we need to get Zeke his own truck titled to him, and his own insurance....too risky, him driving Scott's vehicles. I wanted one less than $10k, because I will just write Zeke a liability-only policy at the state required limits. Anyone had a truck like this, about that model, and with that motor?

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

6.0L is a good motor. Chevy/gmc don't have hubs at all in the front. They use a central axle disconnect with the passenger side axle being 2 pieces with a sliding collar. So the CV axles spin all the time. The front axle is still controlled by a little electric motor.

 

[Atimm693]

Found a truck I might get for Zeke. 2009 Chevy 2500 HD, 4wd, regular cab. 83k miles and he is asking $6900. The truck has a 360hp, 6L V8 gas motor. I haven't fooled with Chevy/GMC hardly any at all since the Powerstrokes came out in '95 ( I think). I remember the old 350's were pretty dang good motors. What are y'all's opinions about the this 6 litre? The old truck is pretty straight and clean. Old farmer has it and all he did was drive it around to check on his row crops., haul seed or fertilizer out to the equipment, etc. Had it serviced, oil changed, etc regularly at the dealership. I don't even know if that is a good deal, or too high or about right. It has power windows and locks, but manual transfer case, and rubber mats. I think it has auto hubs, though, I forgot to look. I told Scott the last time I was down, that we need to get Zeke his own truck titled to him, and his own insurance....too risky, him driving Scott's vehicles. I wanted one less than $10k, because I will just write Zeke a liability-only policy at the state required limits. Anyone had a truck like this, about that model, and with that motor?

The 6.0 is a great engine. Arguably one of, if not the best gas engine ever put in a HD pickup. Thirsty and they like to rev, but they'll do about anything you ask of them. Had an almost 20 year production run from 2000-2019 if that tells you anything.

GMs have the weakest front end. Usually only becomes an issue if you start put a heavy flat/bale bed or feeder on them. Fords and Dodges with the straight axle handle the weight a lot better.

Seems like a pretty good price too if it isn't all rotted out, that's another thing GMs are bad about.

As mentioned, GM hasn't used locking hubs since they went to IFS in the late 80s.

 

[Warren Allison]

6.0L is a good motor. Chevy/gmc don't have hubs at all in the front. They use a central axle disconnect with the passenger side axle being 2 pieces with a sliding collar. So the CV axles spin all the time. The front axle is still controlled by a little electric motor.

Thanks, @chevytaHOE5674 . 83k miles on a 16 year old truck, isn't a lot of miles, really. About 450 miles a month. The truck has good tires, too. Pretty aggressive tread, reminds me of the old Co-Op Grip Spurs. but he will be on dirt roads a lot more than he will be on paved. Scott has an off-road front bumper that will fit it, and we gonna put him a winch on front and a toolbox on back, and he will be good to go. And, it has a CD player in it, so Zeke can listen to his Waylon Jennings! Any real problems with that front axel set up you described? I would assume no, because there are so many out there, but just checking.

 

[Warren Allison]

The 6.0 is a great engine. Arguably one of, if not the best gas engine ever put in a HD pickup. Thirsty and they like to rev, but they'll do about anything you ask of them. Had an almost 20 year production run from 2000-2019 if that tells you anything.

GMs have the weakest front end. Usually only becomes an issue if you start put a heavy flat/bale bed or feeder on them. Fords and Dodges with the straight axle handle the weight a lot better.

Seems like a pretty good price too if it isn't all rotted out, that's another thing GMs are bad about.

As mentioned, GM hasn't used locking hubs since they went to IFS in the late 80s.

Thanks, @Atimm693. No, this truck is in great shape.. no dents and very little scratches except in the bed. The old man runs it through the car wash about every time he goes to town, and keeps the interior spotless. Zeke will haul hay bales, feed, and firewood with it, but nothing he couldn't do with a 1/2 ton, or mid-sized even. Probably won't even pull any trailers with it. I think I am just going to go buy it when I go down there Friday to move some cattle around. I called the man and asked him to hold it til this weekend ,and we'd bring him cash money. I started to ask him if he'd take $6500 ( I can't help it... it is just something I have to do), but he said: " Yes, sir, I will hold it for y'all, I am glad for that boy to be getting it. He is a good boy and a hard worker, and I know he will take good care of it". So I Just kept my mouth shut and told him thank you.

 

[Brute 23]

I have to check exact year but my son has one around same year. It's a good truck but gets about 10mpg no matter what you do. The 4wd will be a push button unless it is bare bones and then it might have a shifter on the floor.

I have not had that experience with the front ends running oilfields roads and pastures. My 3/4 Chevy got tie rods and maybe some I&P arms around 180-200k. That's 35x12 nitto mts on it it's whole life also.

We had a fleet of ford and tm 3/4 for gauging trucks at work and I would say they did about the same. They are on O&G roads in STX and WTX.

I can not believe Dodge would even be in a discussion on front ends. The one Dodge 3/4 I owned had more front end problems by 80k miles than my gm has ever had. That and other things is why it got bounced early in life. They don't even come up as an option for a fleet truck for gaugers because of it.

 

[Warren Allison]

I have to check exact year but my son has one around same year. It's a good truck but gets about 10mpg no matter what you do. The 4wd will be a push button unless it is bare bones and then it might have a shifter on the floor.

I have not had that experience with the front ends running oilfields roads and pastures. My 3/4 Chevy got tie rods and maybe some I&P arms around 180-200k. That's 35x12 nitto mts on it it's whole life also.

We had a fleet of ford and tm 3/4 for gauging trucks at work and I would say they did about the same. They are on O&G roads in STX and WTX.

I can not believe Dodge would even be in a discussion on front ends. The one Dodge 3/4 I owned had more front end problems by 80k miles than my gm has ever had. That and other things is why it got bounced early in life. They don't even come up as an option for a fleet truck for gaugers because of it.

This one has a shifter in the floor, but it isn't a WT model. I think it said L or LE or something. Gold colored body. It has pdl and power windows, bucket seats but rubber mat. The man may have ordered it that way. Or had the dealer replace the carpet with mats. And yep, the man said the truck never passed a gas station that it didn't won't to stop at!!!

 

[Travlr]

This one has a shifter in the floor, but it isn't a WT model. I think it said L or LE or something. Gold colored body. It has pdl and power windows, bucket seats but rubber mat. The man may have ordered it that way. Or had the dealer replace the carpet with mats. And yep, he said the truck never passed a gas station that it didn't won't to stop at!!!

Yeah, I had one. Loved the truck. Smooth riding and could pull stumps. My milage was around 16/18 but I have a pretty light foot. Towing around 10 which is better than my hemi Dodge did with similar highway milage. I put a front wheel bearing on it at 170K miles. But I bought it as something to beat at 148K and don't know the pre-history. Sounds like the price is right.

 

[Brute 23]

This one has a shifter in the floor, but it isn't a WT model. I think it said L or LE or something. Gold colored body. It has pdl and power windows, bucket seats but rubber mat. The man may have ordered it that way. Or had the dealer replace the carpet with mats. And yep, the man said the truck never passed a gas station that it didn't won't to stop at!!!

Jump on it.

I'm waiting for my son to get out of college and get a job. He will get that new truck itch. I want his for a feed/ ranch truck.

 

[Silver]

I have to check exact year but my son has one around same year. It's a good truck but gets about 10mpg no matter what you do. The 4wd will be a push button unless it is bare bones and then it might have a shifter on the floor.

I have not had that experience with the front ends running oilfields roads and pastures. My 3/4 Chevy got tie rods and maybe some I&P arms around 180-200k. That's 35x12 nitto mts on it it's whole life also.

We had a fleet of ford and tm 3/4 for gauging trucks at work and I would say they did about the same. They are on O&G roads in STX and WTX.

I can not believe Dodge would even be in a discussion on front ends. The one Dodge 3/4 I owned had more front end problems by 80k miles than my gm has ever had. That and other things is why it got bounced early in life. They don't even come up as an option for a fleet truck for gaugers because of it.

I think Dodge is famous far and wide for their weak front ends. I had a 2010 one ton diesel that spent its life on oilpatch roads and in front end shops. Even brand new out of the box they pull to the shoulder because for some reason Dodge uses a negative camber which if nothing else is irritating as all he!!.

 

[Lucky]

I think the Dodge frontends got allot better around 2012. They still rode terrible though. My 2019 F350 had the death wobble so bad you couldn't drive it over 55mph some days. Ford tried to fix it twice but it kept coming back. I finally put an aftermarket Fox stabilizer on it and fixed the issue.

 

[Warren Allison]

Well, it is raining down there today, so Scott took Zeke to go get it. The man had some after market steps on it, not nerf bars, just steps. Zeke don't need them, or want them, so Scott showed him how to take them off in the man's garage, and he gave them back to the guy., He is going to put them on his new truck. They drove straight over to Scott's cousin's muffler shop, and put some duals on it. It is just a little bit louder and a fuller sound, so that tickled Zeke. They went back to Scott's tractor shop, and are putting the front bumper and winch on it right now. There is no GN ball in the bed, but we aren't worried about that now. Might do that later, but right now with Zeke and his buddy hauling fire wood , it would just be in the way. I am bringing him a tool box that sits in the bed flush with the top rail, and it has just one big lid as big as the box. I am bringing him a floor jack, a trailer buddy, a 4-way, 3 drop hitches, 1 & 7'8", 2" and 2 & 5/16" . And one with no ball on it, but a C clevis ( for tow ropes etc). Got him a 30' nylon tow strap too. and gonna put a come-along, two bucking dogs, and a set of 4 HD tie downs in it. He will still have plenty of room for his chain saw, post driver, wire stretcher, and any thing else he might need. I got Zeke his own insurance in his name, and tomorrow that wi go get him a tag and change the title over to him. He feels so grown up and proud, but me and Scott are about as excited as he is.

Now this has nothing to do with trucks, but everyday, we feel more and more that he is gonna be ok after we are gone. If this current cattle operation lasts, and we make what we have this year on them, we will have his trust fund at the 7-figure mark in 3 more years. We didn't touch a penny of it to get that truck. Scott and I have set up a regular account at the local credit union. It is his account but Scott or I are the only ones that can write checks on it. Between Zeke's little SS check, his produce stand, and the fire wood, and the pulpwood, he was able to buy that truck straight out cash money. When he helps Joe or Lisa, they pay him some cash, and that is his pocket money. Actually, the boy is probably in better shape financially, than me and Scott both! I guess I should have put this on the "Update" thread.

 

[Atimm693]

We used to have a K3500 Silverado SRW with a Bessler hay bed and a trip hopper. Upper control arms would last about a year, lower ball joints maybe two years. Torsion bars were all sagged out from the weight.

We replaced it with a Ram 2500, I replaced the track bar and all the steering components once in 6 years. Has the same bed and feeder on it. The rest of the truck is a pile of crap, but the engine and front end have held up pretty well.

 

[cfpinz]

I have a 2005 5.9 with a nice big inspection window in the side of the block that allows me to see the condition of the connecting rods. From what I can see one connecting rod is in pretty rough shape. But it has 175K miles on it

A buddy of mine has a 2003 that did the same thing last year on New Year's Day, and it had less than 150k on it. He's meticulous about maintenance and had just checked the oil the day prior, kinda makes you wonder, doesn't it?

 

[Brute 23]

We used to have a K3500 Silverado SRW with a Bessler hay bed and a trip hopper. Upper control arms would last about a year, lower ball joints maybe two years. Torsion bars were all sagged out from the weight.

We replaced it with a Ram 2500, I replaced the track bar and all the steering components once in 6 years. Has the same bed and feeder on it. The rest of the truck is a pile of crap, but the engine and front end have held up pretty well.

Some thing else was wrong and causing that, not the weight. If the torsion bars were wore out it could have been stressing the rest of the system. They are the backbone of the it all.
What year model truck was this, early 90s? Yall bought in new? Had torsion bars been messed with before?

The problem with front ends is if one this is worn its effecting some thing else and causing it wear prematurely. My biggest pet peeve is not replacing shocks on an IFS trucks.

 

[Atimm693]

Some thing else was wrong and causing that, not the weight. If the torsion bars were wore out it could have been stressing the rest of the system. They are the backbone of the it all.
What year model truck was this, early 90s? Yall bought in new? Had torsion bars been messed with before?

The problem with front ends is if one this is worn its effecting some thing else and causing it wear prematurely. My biggest pet peeve is not replacing shocks on an IFS trucks.

That T&S trip hopper weighs about 600lbs empty, which it never was, and the hay bed weighs about 1800lbs. All combined you had a truck that was running not too far from the max payload constantly through pastures and down rough gravel roads its whole life. I disagree that the weight had nothing to do with it. The torsion bars were adjusted to max height and it still never sat level. It wasn't new when we got it, but close to it.

That truck was a 96 or 97 3500 SRW. We've got a pretty similar 95 K3500 dually now with just a basic flat bed, the front end on it has been holding up pretty well.

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

One thing would have been to check the code on the torsion bars. There is multiple different spring rates of them. Switching to heavier rate bars helps a lot in those situations. UP here its not bale beds but snow plows and salt spreaders. Have upgraded more torsion bars than I can remember.

 

[Brute 23]

That T&S trip hopper weighs about 600lbs empty, which it never was, and the hay bed weighs about 1800lbs. All combined you had a truck that was running not too far from the max payload constantly through pastures and down rough gravel roads its whole life. I disagree that the weight had nothing to do with it. The torsion bars were adjusted to max height and it still never sat level. It wasn't new when we got it, but close to it.

That truck was a 96 or 97 3500 SRW. We've got a pretty similar 95 K3500 dually now with just a basic flat bed, the front end on it has been holding up pretty well.

Cranking on those torsion bars is really bad for front ends. It's causes more problems than it fixes.

 

[Atimm693]

Cranking on those torsion bars is really bad for front ends. It's causes more problems than it fixes.

I agree if you are trying to get more ride height out of it, puts the axles and ball joints at a lot more severe angle. We were just trying to get it to sit back at factory ride height, or close to it. Also forgot to mention it had a ranch hand style bumper and a winch, which certainly didn't help things.

One thing would have been to check the code on the torsion bars. There is multiple different spring rates of them. Switching to heavier rate bars helps a lot in those situations. UP here its not bale beds but snow plows and salt spreaders. Have upgraded more torsion bars than I can remember.

Yeah, I have no clue what bars were in it. Truck got sold several years ago and eventually went to the crusher, it's probably been melted down into a new Kia by now.

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

Cranking them up to compensate for extra weight is the wrong move. It just wears them out faster. Need to replace them with stiffer bars.