Who knows GM trucks?

[VincentVega]

Lots of truck threads here lately, hopefully the well isnt dry. I really like my 99 silverado, first of the GMT800 platform. I really like the 5.3l, 4wd works, trans is good, really like the truck. Except its rusting to pieces. My POR 15 treatment of the rockers a few years ago did nothing but hide real cancer so I'm looking at newer truck.

I prefer to stick with GM since Im familiar with maintenance and repairs but I'm really not interested in dropping $$ on something thats going to rust away in a few years. Does the GMT900 solve the body rust issues? What about brake lines? Is the rust just the counter to a solid drivetrain?

Thanks

[legion]

My 2007 Silverado is just starting to rust.

And, as I found out last week, the "secondary latch" for the spare tire rusts closed within the first few years of ownership.

Other than that, it's been a solid truck. Just normal maintenance stuff. If you are in a salty climate, the air bag sensors will fail.

[fastfredracing]

If the GMT is the next body design after your old classic, I think they fair slightly better, but my body who is a body man says he is still always putting outer rockers cab corners, and bedsides on them.
The fuel/and brake lines are coated from the factory, so they don't rust . As fast.
I don't like them as much. They feel cheaper overall.
The frames on your old truck are also really weak. The shock and fuel tank crosmembers rust through all the time, and the rails behind the cab are paper thin from the factory .

[VincentVega]

Thanks, good info.

Yep, GMT800 is first one with a 5.3. Strange enough my old 95 2500 was an ugly pick but not rusty. I kind of expect some rust underneath but these things take it to a new level. I've already gone through brake lines, fuel line, spare tire is frozen, rockers are worse than swiss cheese. I have a habit of overloading and appreciate the helper springs in the rear.

I plan to go back to a 2500, maybe I need to find one out west? Crazy to me, they make great motors but the bodies...

[onewhippedpuppy]

Plane tickets are cheap, find one somewhere down South or West where rust isn't an issue. Shop nationally, have it inspected for about $150 from a company like Lemonsquad, then fly out and drive it home. Or pay to have it shipped, still cheaper than buying a rust bucket.

[speeder]

You guys are reminding me why I pay more to live where I do. That and the snow and ice pictures already coming from MN.

If I did have to live in a rusty place, I’d follow Matt’s advice. Used PU trucks are a dime-a-dozen everywhere. There is no reason to buy one pre-rusted.

[speeder]

And Chevy trucks are great.

[Scott Douglas]

My brother was trying to sell his dually and had no takers. Its paint is falling off but it's strong as an ox being a 6.5 turbo diesel. At 100k it's just getting broken in. He changed the front end for one he liked better than stock and put Alcoa's all around. He decided maybe he should keep it until after he moves as it'll come in handy having two trucks instead of just one.

[Scott Douglas]

Here ya go:

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/cto/d/2003-gmc-sierra-2500hd-4x4/6747305987.html

or didn't you want a crew cab?

[VincentVega]

Thank you again, I need to be set straight once in a while and this is the place for it.

I've never gone farther than NY for a vehicle, that was a train ride to bring home a 911. Never really thought I would have to go far to get a pickup but it seems the rust issues I was trying to avoid are location based and not something GM solved.

I had a 6.5 before, not sure I'm up for it again. Although, once sorted they do the job.

I picked NM first, no real reason other than I've always wanted to see it. Some good examples. Good link for OC, thank you! I need to figure out how picky I want to be. Wishlist, 2500, 4wd, long bed, extended cab, mid trim level. No need for leather, sunroof but also not really looking for bench seat and a beat up landscape truck.

This could be more fun than I expected, figure out where they arent rusty, but not too sun baked.... did I just leave with more questions than I started with??

[Mr. Merk]

I'm a huge GMT800 fan after working at a GMC dealership from 2008-2017 and managing the service department the last three years there.

I sought out and found a 2005 2wd SLT crew cab with no sunroof. I've been daily driving it the past 7 years or so. Lots of little OEM+ upgrades and a few subtle modifications. When the transmission let go a couple years ago I had it built and added a huge cooler. LOVE this truck.

At some point I'll do a 6.0 based engine swap and plan to add rear helper bags soon now that it occasionally tows our camper.



a couple other "phases" through the years

[onewhippedpuppy]

As Denis said, you can find trucks anywhere. Fortunately a lot of the dry places are also prime locations to go truck shopping, people in the SW love their trucks! Picking a city that you've always wanted to visit and targeting that area is a fun approach, good way to justify a vacation. I've personally had really good luck finding bargains in Dallas. Trucks are the vehicle of choice and it's a nice dry climate, plus it's easy and cheap to fly there.

[Black968]

If you are in the rust belt, spend the money and get your vehicle Rust Checked. I had a 2000 Chev Step side full load. It was a beautiful truck but got tired. The Rockers went and the transfer case clip wore a hole through the case among other things. There are better trucks out there now IMO for less money than Chev.

[Brian 162]

^^^^^ What he said. I get my 06 Tahoe sprayed every year (Krown). The body has no rust, just a little surface rust on the frame. I purchased it in North Carolina in 2010.

[speeder]

The Carolinas have really clean vehicles, same w Virginia below the rust belt. A good 60-75% of the country is rust-free.

[JackDidley]

If a Chevy truck has no rust after 5 years they recall it and put rust on it.. I think a perfect truck would be an F150 with a Chevy powertrain.

[cabmandone]

My Brother's 06 3500 has stood up pretty well to the salt in Ohio and it has over 400K (duramax) on it. OTOH his 06 Avalanche has rust on the rocker panels really bad. Interesting thing about brake lines, the lines one both one day after the other. He called me to come get his Avalanche and the next day pulled in with his 3500 because the lines went on it. Now THAT is bad luck

[Venetian]

I have a 2007 extended cab 5.3L Silverado. Have had it since new and it is just starting to rust on driver rear fender. I will get fender panel replaced for $1500. Pretty well all chev trucks of this series are rusted in this far north country so I guess I am doing OK. Otherwise the truck is in good shape and has been very dependable.

[Brian 162]

Oh I forgot to mention my spare tire mechanism works perfectly. I removed the spare today before the oil spray.

[DanielDudley]

The 07 and up Chevy is a better truck. The transmission works better, and the frame is a box section which holds up much better. I did no rustproofing to my 07 which I got new in 06, and it took 10 years to see rust come through the rear wheel arches. They are easy to maintain in general, and they got rid of the defective cylinder head castings sometime after 08. (The Castech heads can let antifreeze into the sump.)

There are three holes in the inner rear wheel arch. Plastic liners are readily available. They keep making these trucks higher, and it adversely effects handling. The so called Classic body style flat out handles better. I think the Toyota is probably a better overall truck, but I like the GMC. I recently bought a CLEAN '13 Sierra SLE to replace my 07 with 250K. It will be rustrproofed and linered.

The 07 is running too well to sell right now. My 02 Sierra was my favorite truck of all time. The 07 is a better truck. yes, the interior is a bit plasticky. But it still looks like new after 11 years.

I just did the back axles and bearings, and I go through front wheel bearings about every 90K. They are solid trucks. I tried to find a solid Classic, but they are hard to find in upstate NY and expensive. You really have to put them on a lift and look at the inner frame, as the C section frame rails collect a lot of crap.