Hey All,

Maybe I am over thinking this whole thing but here goes......

I am in the market for my next truck as my current lease is coming up in March. I want to get back into something I can modify, tune, adjust to my liking. I tow a camper (5-7k lbs) 1-2 times per month during the summer months (about 6-8 months out of the year) and also want something semi fun to drive so I am looking at the following options:

2010-2013 GMT900 6.2 ~ 15-18k (80-100k miles) ~ $330/month for 5 years
2014-2016 K2xx 5.3 ~ 18-20k (50-100k miles) ~ $360/month for 5 years
2014-2015 K2xx 6.2 ~ 25k (100-130k miles) ~ $450/month for 5 years

Each model has pros and cons to the point where when I finally think I have made a choice I think of another con and it throws me back into wondering if its the right choice. I am considering cost vs stock power vs power potential vs ease of modifying vs resistance to rusting (I live in Michigan) vs etc........

Please let me know what you would pick for a good all around tow / street / fun / dependable truck. I am more interested in the reliability and "fun" potential of the truck as opposed to looks or creature comforts.

Thanks!

 

Why do those payment seem so high?

Are you putting nothing down at all? I mean I'm paying like $280 a month on a 4 year loan for my 2016.

With factoring in rust if you bought a northern truck, I'd steer clear of the GMT-900's. They rust in the rear wheel wells pretty bad and the bottoms of the doors. But if it was a southern truck that you went down to buy, then it would be more ideal because you can do rust proofing before hand.

The K2 truck with the 5.3 was a big step over the previous 2012 5.3 truck I owned. Both were crew cabs and the new engine had more power from the get go and is just overall better to drive in my opinion. A 6.2 wasn't in the cards at the time of buying because of the price jump but I would have really liked one of those. Swapping in an engine at a later date can always be done lol.

Tuning knowledge needs to be much greater on a K2 truck as well, they are much more complicated than the previous gen trucks.

 

Damn! Where did you get a 2016 for $13500 with 0% interest? I would love to get a 2016+ as I like the grill/headlights much better than the 14/15 but they are closer to $25k for a decent mileage 5.3 from what I have seen.

For the sake of the comparison I just did $0 down calculation with my credit union interest rate based on the year of the truck. Really my question is if the K2 is a better option for the money over the GMT900......so is a K2 5.3 worth $30 more per month (probably would cover that in fuel savings alone but base performance may not be quite as good)? Is a K2 6.2 worth $120 more per month (maybe some fuel savings over the GMT900 but still probably looking at $100+ extra cost per month)?

In all honesty your last sentence is the only thing making me look at GMT900's. I like nearly everything about the K2's better BUT I am worried I wont have the capabilities to "piddle" on a K2 as much as I would on a GMT900. I want to do more than just bolt-ons eventually.....

 

My total loan was only 12-13k on a ~$25,000 truck. I put money down to make my payment less and my interest rate is only like 3.7%. I bought mine in September/October of 2018, it was a one owner with 96,000 highway miles. Some business guy or someone with a long work commute, either way it was a deal and the mileage didn't scare me at all.

The K2 was worth it to me as I wanted a newer truck with no rust and the better interior/styling that they offered. The bonus was having more power and better fuel mileage than the 2012 5.3 truck I had. It's an easy 2-3mpg gain on the freeway with this truck and my driving style.

Modding the previous trucks is a tad cheaper but still a decent chunk of money and the older computers are easier to tune with in my opinion.

 

This is great info. I didn't know about the wheel wells rusting on the older ones but I'm in Texas so doesn't matter. If I were going to mod one extensively I still like the older models for damn sure. The later models run way way stronger stock. I wish I had a pre 14 and I would be much faster by now. Ls over Lt for sure at least boosted.

 

The tuning is my biggest hang up with the K2......I would like to do my own but don't see myself ever getting knowledgeable enough to deal with direct injection and AFM and VVT......

I am also worried about the 8 speed transmission issues. My current lease is a 2018 Canyon Denali with the smaller 8 speed, same converter shudder problem as the bigger 8 speed though. Was at the dealer for 2-3k miles of my lease to get the issue fixed completely. However, I assume if I get a K2 with some miles on it a lot of those types of issues should have already come up if they were going to.....

This is my main pro for the GMT900. I like everything better about the K2 EXCEPT my ability to tune it and modify it on my own. Also, I still have my LSX TRK plate off my old truck and that just wouldn't go on an LT powered K2

Damn, the poll is now 50/50 lol. Thanks for all the help (or lack there of ) guys!

 

i think 5.3 should be deleted from your list then, being in Michigan id just go for the newest so your dealing with the less rust or travel south and get a clean older truck if your not wanting to deal with the learning curve

 

Yeah I hear you. The only reason I was considering the 5.3 is because there are 100 to 1 vs the 6.2 so much easier and cheaper to get the exact same truck otherwise. I hear you on the rust part too. That is another big pro for the K2 is they are supposed to have better rust protection so I have read.

It is tough though......I am looking at a K2 LTZ 6.2 for with 92k miles for $23,500 and then a GMT900 LTZ 6.2 with 85k miles for $17,500. I just can't see the $6k difference in price between the trucks except for the K2 gets better mpg (which may be moot depending on mods) and the K2 may hold up better to rust. I assume the K2 has a bit quieter cabin but have read the suspension/frame is the same as GMT900 so I am assuming the ride is relatively the same.

I am really leaning towards the GMT900......I could do some fun stuff to that truck for the $6k difference. The only question is how will it hold up to rust.......

 

when i made a game plan to get another gmt800 rcsb for a daily and toy around with it like you rust was the main issue, i really didnt care what engine or trans was in the truck in the back of my mind i knew id swap it out at some point so i was more concerned about the body and interior after looking for a few months locally (chicago area) seamed like all the truck that looked nice in pics was bondo heaven in person got so fed up starting looking out of town long story short my current truck is out of Huston TX all original unmolested 04 silverado

as for pricing dont be afraid to make an offer even if its on the low side (you can always make a higher offer) you might be surprised dealers pay peanuts for trade ins they all will tell you from the start "we cant we have to much in it" or "there no room" about 6 month ago one of my son found a 19 ram 1500 classic on the dealers lot for $29.5k sales guys wouldnt budget much (works on commissions) so i went over his head to the used car sales manager told him im a buyer today if we work a deal after all the normal BS they tell you i cant, i have to much in it, we over paid we finally signed paperwork for $25k, its a game! have your game face on never show them how much you want it put it across your ready to walk if the numbers are not to your liking and if the trucks been on the lot for a little while they will deal to move it, 6.2 around here sit more then the 5.3's not every one is willing to give up mpg for the power

 

Well decided to go GMT900. Found a good deal, I think, on a 6.2 LTZ about an hour from me and am signing the paperwork now. First mod.....remove 2” lift blocks!