What Truck?

[frjeff]

Currently towing my "new" 2013 JayFlight 22FB with my 2001 Chev. Half ton. 4.8l v8 and 3.42 axle. Have 130k on truck.
Planning a three month, 4000+ mile Winter journey through the south. Thinking I ought find a good used, lower mile truck before the trip begins in December.
Or, at least know what I ought to be looking for if the old Chevy gets sick on the upcoming trip.
Believe a diesel might be more than needed on a cost/function basis. Trailer is about 5k lbs loaded. Perhaps a 3/4 ton is not necessary either.
Thoughts on reliable used half ton pickups, engines, axle ratios, etc that I should consider?

[mike837go]

How beat is your 2001? Does it pull the trailer without complaint?

Consider the cost of a newe truck vs. doing the transmission on you current ride.

My '03 F-350 has 135,000 miles on it and I wouldn't hesitate going cross country with it.

[frjeff]

Originally Posted by mike837go

How beat is your 2001? Does it pull the trailer without complaint?

Consider the cost of a newe truck vs. doing the transmission on you current ride.

My '03 F-350 has 135,000 miles on it and I wouldn't hesitate going cross country with it.

My 01 spent its first ten years in central TX, so has no rust. Body has a few dings. Seems to pull my TT with no complaints. Downshifts if on a steep or long grade and mpg takes a hit, but I have not noticed any other complaints from her. Has new brakes, shocks, tires and tune up within last month.
What are you meaning re. "Doing the transmission."?

[need-a-vacation]

Mike meant having the trans rebuilt due to the mileage. Some of this model trans have been known to need rebuilding anywhere from 100k+ miles.

On steep or long grades, can you still maintain speed after the trans downshifts? Or does the truck struggle and gradually lose speed? Just how steep if a grade? If so, and you decide to keep it, maybe regear the truck also (.373 or 4.10's).

If you decide to get a newer truck, if funds allow go for a newer ('09 it started I think) 6spd trans/ 3.42 GM Twin, if you stay with GM. Or any of the newer trucks with a 6spd trans. Suggest depending on brand at least a 3.42/3.55 set of gears.

For your big trip, just how much will you have loaded in the bed of the truck, and how much do all the passengers weigh? Most 1500/150's have about 1500lbs of payload (some Dodge's being on the very low end) per the yellow sticker in the drivers door. Will state "Passengers and cargo not to exceed XXXXlbs". When shopping look for this sticker. If loading up heavy, that is the only reason I could see a need for a 2500, if you take the kitchen sink too! Lol But with maybe 750lbs tw (15% of your estimated 5k lb loaded ft) and 100lbs wdh, you still have an estimated 650lbs for passengers and cargo with 1500 truck that has ~1500lbs payload.

Also verify the truck has the factory installed tow package for the extra cooling (trans/motor) that is included with the package.

If you keep your truck or get a newer GM (-'13 had a round tube), keep an eye on the hitch. Some of those factory round tube hitches have failed. The round tube hitches can "wind up/twist" when the wd bars are latched up also.

Good luck!!!!

[frjeff]

Need-A-Vacation:

The steepest grade I have towed this TT was between Traverse City MI and Kalkaska MI. In that 21 miles the elevation change is 492 feet. Some relatively long steep grades.

On that route, the truck would down shift and I increased RPM. Could hold close to beginning speed, but it would often lose speed (say, from 55 down to 45 at top of hill). If I had reved her more, could have likely maintained the 55 or so speed.

[jasoncw]

Gas engines need to rev (and they are built to do so) on steeper grades while towing heavy. Even my Ford V10 downshifts into 2nd (on a 4-speed trans) on some steeper grades to maintain 60 or so.

[SMS1115]

Agreed, Gas engines need the higher RPM's when loaded, if you look at the torque / horsepower curves, the is where they shine. Mileage suffers, but you will be ok. I've seen many trucks older than yours, presumably with more miles, on the road pulling TT's at highway speeds too. If you feel comfortable and know the maintenance history of the truck, I'd pull with it.

[frjeff]

Lots of good help here my friends. Perhaps I am OK to go with her as is. Was hoping to hold off on a newer tug for a year or so.
Have noted nothing which would indicate trans problems (jerky, slipping, stuck or popping out of gear).
Maybe a good check up, trans flush and new fluid would be in order.

Jeff

Jeff

[Iraqvet05]

The gas engines love to rev but with the 22FB 4100 lbs (dry) it might be a bit too much for the 4.8 especially with the 3.42 gear. As need-a-vacation mentioned, I think that a '09 or newer 5.3 Silverado/Sierra with the 6 speed transmission would be good match for that weight.

[Seann45]

Although I love my diesel you should remember that the interest payments on a new/newer vehicle will be more than the gas savings.. So if the vehicle is still reliable why change?

[djtho1]

I have chosen the older vehicle/no payment route myself, and have no trouble going cross country with my 2000 with 170,000 miles on it. Older trucks can be built up some, and you could change the gearing if need be. Knowing more specifics about where you are heading could help as well. I agree that a transmission flush is a good idea. I run a tranny temp gauge (among others) and will change the fluid if it gets hot (for me, anything over 220, but that is an arbitrary number) so the fluid stays fresh.

I agree with the above. If you are comfortable with the truck and it tows well, I would run with it. Just do a complete maintenance check, change all fluids (everything, even brake and power steering, axle fluid) and you should be good.

[norty1]

Give it a chance. Maybe add a tranny oil cooler and take a few trips.
It may be perfectly adequate.

[frjeff]

I am looking, but not in a hurry to drop multi-thousands.
Have tranny cooler, new tires (Cooper A/T3), new shocks, new brakes and complete tune-up last month. Brake controller also.
She pulls quite fine. I'm just a worry wart and like peace of mind. Thus, a 6 speed tranny (instead of 4) and perhaps a larger V8 and different axle ratio (from the current 3.42) would be sweet.
But perhaps a tran. flush and new fluids would do the trick for this season.

Pondering the options......

[frjeff]

GMC dealership sales manager is a best friend. He has a dozen plus of new 2014 Sierra's with the 5.3 and varying axle ratios that they are blowing out at pretty nice prices. Tempting.

[DocBrown]

Originally Posted by frjeff

GMC dealership sales manager is a best friend. He has a dozen plus of new 2014 Sierra's with the 5.3 and varying axle ratios that they are blowing out at pretty nice prices. Tempting.

"Pretty nice prices" can still translate into a $400+ a month payment. There's a lot to be said for not having payments.

That said, in 2005 we did a cross country trip from Milwaukee to Monterrey, CA, doing a circle through Las Vegas and coming home north via Yellowstone. Nearly 6k miles towing a 3500# trailer with a '95 Suburban that had 123k on when we started. The transmission was rebuilt the year before. Only trouble on the trip was a failed alternator, one that I had replaced with new from NAPA (not rebuilt) only 4 months before the trip. You can't control everything. My dad now has that 'Burb and regularly tows his '77 Jayco 20' TT. The truck now has almost 200k on it.

Seriously, just have your truck gone over by a shop you trust and make sure you have no rusted brake or transmission lines, or other potential "gothchas". Have you trans fluid changed with Dex VI, not Dex III. Dex VI is the replacement that GM recommends and is backward compatible. It's a synthetic blend that runs cooler than Dex III.

[frjeff]

Indeed! I love no payment plans!

[mike837go]

Originally Posted by frjeff

Indeed! I love no payment plans!

Grumble...Grumble... 25 payments made. 23 to go.... Then I'll own a 150,000 mile car.

[need-a-vacation]

Originally Posted by frjeff

GMC dealership sales manager is a best friend. He has a dozen plus of new 2014 Sierra's with the 5.3 and varying axle ratios that they are blowing out at pretty nice prices. Tempting.

IF you go this route, go for the 3.42 gears, unless he has a Max Tow 3.73 truck!!! The new 1500's have more power than our old '10-1500 5.3/6spd/3.42 4x4 CCSB, and I never FELT I needed more towing ~7200lbs here in Mi. Even just north of West Branch which is a slow, continuous climb. Dropped into 3rd, and could have accelerated to what I wanted. 4th just wasn't enough to hold 65-67mph. Ever slow slightly was dropping speed.

I missed you are in Mi also!!!

[frjeff]

Originally Posted by need-a-vacation

IF you go this route, go for the 3.42 gears, unless he has a Max Tow 3.73 truck!!! The new 1500's have more power than our old '10-1500 5.3/6spd/3.42 4x4 CCSB, and I never FELT I needed more towing ~7200lbs here in Mi. Even just north of West Branch which is a slow, continuous climb. Dropped into 3rd, and could have accelerated to what I wanted. 4th just wasn't enough to hold 65-67mph. Ever slow slightly was dropping speed.

I missed you are in Mi also!!!

Need-A-Vacation --

Yes we are in Oscoda on Lake Huron. I'm pretty familiar with the West Branch climb. My friend did suggest staying with the 3.42 also. Do not know if he has any of the Max Tow 3.73's around. Waiting for his return call.
My current oldie is the 3.42, but paired with the 4.8L engine and the tranny is a 4 speed. Have to believe the 5.3/6spd/3.42 would be a much better Tug.

[need-a-vacation]

Originally Posted by frjeff

Need-A-Vacation --

Yes we are in Oscoda on Lake Huron. I'm pretty familiar with the West Branch climb. My friend did suggest staying with the 3.42 also. Do not know if he has any of the Max Tow 3.73's around. Waiting for his return call.
My current oldie is the 3.42, but paired with the 4.8L engine and the tranny is a 4 speed. Have to believe the 5.3/6spd/3.42 would be a much better Tug.

I missed your location! Lol When you posted about Kalkaska & TC, I noticed it. TC is awesome!!! One of these days we will camp again in TC. Last time was in a tent summer of '02 before the boys were born.

We had a 2k Chevy ECSB 4x4 4.8/4spd/3.73, and while the '10 5.3 had a fair amount more hp & tq, the difference was very noticable! Merging on the e-way with ~7200lbs in tow (our last tt) wasn't to bad at all!

Here is a chart comparing the GM 4spd and 6spd trans, made by Music over on GM-Trucks.com. Not sure if the new '14/'15 trans is the same gearing, but this was for the GMT 900 ('07-'13). I would think it is at least very close. As you can see, the 6spd/3.42 combo is more comparable to a 4spd/4.10 combo.

The new '14/'15 5.3's have even more hp & tq, with better fuel mileage!

IF you keep the truck, you will probably be very happy with the A/T3's!!! I would be surprised if you aren't. I had a set on our '10, and in the winter was very impressed with them. We snowmobile in the Caddy area, as well as the Soo area in Ontario, Canada. Plus my in-laws live in BC. Only reason I don't have a set yet on the 2500HD is I can't decide on what size to get. And the darn price!

Good luck deciding!!!!