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Random Quote: If it weren't for lack of money I'd be a rich man.
The search continues for an adequate tow vehicle. Found two more candidates. Both are Chevy diesels.
Vehicle 1; 1995 Chevy 2500 4x4 Silverado Short Bed Extended Cab 240,000 miles. Looks very clean. Asking $6,500.00.
Vehicle 2; 1994 Chevy 3500 4x2 Silverado Crew Cab Long Bed 140,000 miles. Looks very clean, not as much as #1, asking $7,500.00.
Questions;
1. How good are these Chevy diesels?
2. Long bed vs. short bed for towing. Long bed should be better, right?
3. Dually vs. single. I know dually is better, but is it that much better?
4. What things should I look for and listen to in diesels? I don't know diddly about diesels and this is one of the things that puts me off by them.
5. 4x4, never had an issue pulling my boat out with a 4x2, but 4x4 would be nice, you never know. I know there are more things to break, maintain, is it worth it?
I am guessing my boat and trailer loaded are close to 9,000lbs. My Expedition's transmission is feeling funny. The motor is willing but I think the chassis and transmission are saying no.
Any help would be appreciated, and personal experiences with these model trucks would be great, thanks!
__________________ 2004 Trophy 2902 WA with Merc 225 EFIs
Sucks gas and hauls ass!
One step ahead and you are a genius, two steps ahead and you are a misfit.
90's chevy trucks have lousy brakes and weak transmissions unless you get the allison. your ford is a better tow vehicle. if your tranny is weak, get it fixed. It'l be cheaper than buying a new truck.
I bought my sister a 1994 Chevy 2500 long bed ext cab 4x4 6.5 diesel to pull her horses around with. We got it with 180k, it now has 230k. I replaced the PMD with a remote mount one about a year ago and thats it. PMD is a pump mounted driver that is a very commen failure on these trucks. Hers has the 4.10 gears and gets about 17mpg at 70mph, and about 10-11mpg at 60 towing the trailer and it is a way oversized trailer. Everyone dogs the 6.5, but if you know the commen weak points it is a reliable inexpensive diesel that will tow much better than most gas engines. BTW, i paid $7500 including ttt about 3 years ago.
I had a 1997 chevy 2500 Silverado 4x4 extended cab short-bed with the 6.5 and the 5-sp manual. In its 100,000 miles, it has pulled a 22' bay boat, a 25' Sea Ray WA with twin 150s, a 27' Trophy WA with twin 150s, and others. Almost 40,000 miles of its life have been spent towing. The electronic fuel control module was replaced under the extended warranty/recall from Chevy. The truck averages almost 18 mpg on the higway unloaded, and as low as 10 mpg depending upon what boat is behind it. I repaired the A/C compressor at about 90,000 miles, and new front brakes at 72,000 miles. It isn't a Duramax, but the sucker has been amazingly reliable, and just goes down the road without problem or complaint. I gave it to my son when he bought the Trophy WA this past spring. A friend had a 1993 (that year didn't have the problem electronic module on the FI) that had 260,000 miles when he upgraded to a Duramax with the Allison. If the control module has been replaced, $7K for another one would be a pretty good deal. I had the same engine with the auto in a 1994 Suburban, and it was similarly rugged and reliable. Gosh, what I'd give for a Suburban with the Duramax.......
hey weatherman....I saw a company that makes duramax suburbans and sells them on ebay. You can get one for around $80k....(didn't mean to derail the thread HenryJ)
No problem rharris, weatherman, how did the transmission hold up? The 95 is very clean and is more indicative of 60,000 miles, not 240,000. Whenever I shop for used cars, the first thing I look at is the interior. The interior is indicative of how the vehicle was maintained mechanically, for the most part.
Not sure what the basis for the tranny comment was, but GM has some of the best trannies in the industry. The 4L80 behind the 6.5 is a great package that neer complains on a downshift and holds the gears long to keep the engine in the power band. We have a 2000 3500 GMC crew cab 4x4 with about 135k miles on it that we use for a shop truck. We bought it brand new and about 80% of its life has been pulling a load, everything from little bay boats up to 35 Scarabs and 29 Coastals. The truck runs great and pulls much better than the 454 Suburban I had, and the fuel mileage is infinately better. Common problems for these engines are the harmonic balancers tend to go bad. They are cheap to buy and can be replaced with simple hand tools in about an hour. The turbos only go bad when you put in a K&N type air filter and the oil blows through the intake and creates sludge in front of the compressor housing on the turbo. The dirt that collects there will erode the compressor wheel and render the turbo uselss. I would probably go for the 3500 as the dual wheels help tremendously to stabilize the load at highway speeds and the long wheelbase will eliminate any trailer sway. Plus the other truck you list has a LOT of miles!
I have a 96 6.5 GMC 2500 diesel with 135k on it. The only problem I have had is the electronic driver module on the injection pump. I did replace the exhaust system with a larger and straight pipe and removed the cat converter. Some folks just rod the catalyst out of them. I also had the ECM re flashed by Heath diesel and the truck.
The best thing to do with them is get a heatsink with the driver mounted on it from Heath Diesel and he warranties them I believe for 7 years.
With the above changes it will due quite well and give you around 18mpg around town/highway combination driving. You will also need to make sure it has a 3.73 rear end. a 4.10 will keep you at the gas station all the time.
I live 300 mi from the NC coast and have towed my 25' Carolina Classic back and forth several times. The boat weighs 8500 lbs plus the tripple axle trailer. I have also pulled my 7500 travel trailer up Black Mountain on I 40 on the way to Asheville and that ain't no easy job.
As on person said it's no Duramax but it has gotten the Job done for me. You don't want to buy a 97 or newer 6.5 as they have had problems with cracking block due to drilling holes in the mains for a oil squirter to cool the pistons.
My son also has a 95' 6.6 4 x 4 with about 185k on it and it runs fine.
The 90's 6-5 diesel is not as good diesel. You would be better off with that year powerstroke or even better yet cummins. If you have your heart set on chevy get the Duramax. I know allot of people who had problems with the 6.5.
6.5 Turbo Diesel Chevy 
