I've been needing and planning on buying a truck for a couple of years now, and I think I'm a couple months away now. I'm going to spend somewhere between $.01 and $6500 on a 2000+ Silverado/GMC 4x4 V8 extended cab. I won't be using it as a DD very much, but it will see some of that and will be towing cars (sometimes 500+ miles) from time to time. I'm going to put a TBSS intake, mildish cam and full exhaust on it soon after buying it.


So after reading plenty, I still can't make a few major decisions...

1. Am I looking for a 1500 with a 5.3, or a 2500 with a 6.0? Or buy a 1500 and swap the 6.0/80e? Is that the best of both worlds?

2. What year should I be looking for ideally?

3. What else should I be looking for? Towing package for sure, no?

 

Do you want a cable throttle body or Drive by wire setup?

99-02 was cable and 03+ is all DBW.

Interior upgrades happend in 2003, if that matter to you. I prefer the 03+ dash and radio/hvac controls myself. Of course outside styling was changed too, kinda up to you on which you like though.

Almost anything 4x4 has a tow package of sorts, so a reciever/hitch and helper spring/block because it's 4x4.

Otherwise common issue are literally all the same from 99-06, 03+ has a few that are their own and same with the older years.

 

Hmmm durka durka durka.

I don't have a preference on the TB, I'm fine with either. Thanks for the tip on the interior, I somewhat prefer the 99-02 front end but I'll probably focus on a 03+ now.


This is going to be my first truck so my knowledge of them is somewhat minimal. I'm excited to get one though and start modding it. I've already got the TBSS intake rails and injectors and some infinity kappas for the doors to put in it


Is there any reason for me not to get a 2500 other then it's a pig and gets no mileage? How bad are they, if I have a 2500 6.0 4x4 with intake/exhaust can I still get 20mpg highway?

 

20 mpg? No. I could see 17. Most were optioned with 373s or 410s.

 

Our shop truck at work is a 1500 HD so basically a 2500, has 6.0 4X4 with 4.10's and barely gets 13-14 on the freeway and gets 10 in the winter. It's a heavy slow *** gutless pig in stock form. Modding it would be fun but would make mpgs worse.

I'd just get a regular 1500. Most have 3.73's as the popular gear choice.