Worth upgrading to GMT800?

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OutlawDrifter

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Just thought I'd ask for some 2 cents on this.

We have a 98 Tahoe with about 120k miles that's getting a bit old (drivetrain great, seats, body, little plastic things not so much).

We bought it to tow a light trailer, but now we have a larger 18ft tent trailer - (2k empty/3500lbs max) and that plus the kids, gear etc - it's still great for local camping, but we are planning on some longer trips, so I was thinking of getting something newer/fresher and with a longer wheelbase.

The catch is I don't want to spend too much as we don't use the truck that often.

I was looking at at 2006 Crew Cab GMT800 Sierra with the 4.8, and a Crew Cab 2010 2WD Sierra GMT900.

Is it worth upgrading to a longer wheelbase GMT800 or GMT900 Suburban or Sierra/Silverado Crew Cab? Is the 4.8 good enough for our needs?

I also was looking at a 2006 Ford F-150 with the 5.4 Triton, but I don't know Fords as well and I've read some less than rave reviews about that motor.


Stay away from the 5.4...too many issues that WILL happen. (I have owned one)

You are on a GMT400 site, 97% of the people here will tell you to stay with the 400.

Having owned everything from a squarebody to a GMT900, I'll give you my 2 pennies.

If it doesn't see much mileage, keep the 400. The seat can be recovered, the paint can be fixed, and you can add air bags or helper springs to the back. A weight distributing hitch and 10 ply tires will make it more stable towing.

The debate between the 5.7l and 5.3l towing is a wash. The 5.7 has low end grunt because the torque curve starts sooner, the 5.3l needs higher rpm to get into its curve. Took me a while to realize the 6.0l I was driving needed some rpm and couldn't be "lugged". Interior, I prefer the GMT400 looks, but my GMT800 Vortec Max is very comfortable to travel in, but cheap looking. Brakes...here is the one place the GMT400 CAN NOT (in stock form) touch the GMT800! GMT400 brakes (non hydroboost) suck, period, GM engineers will even admit that!

In the end, it's your money, do with it what you please. I've got 3 out of 4 kids left in the house, when I'm down to 1 or 2, I'll pull the drivetrain out of the Vortec Max and put it in a RCSB 2WD Sierra....
 

billy bee

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Well, I did it. I have not sold my '96 K1500, but I did buy this '01 2500HD CCSB:

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Again, not intending to hijack this thread, but I am wondering if there is a decent GMT800 forum. I have been searching and have not found anything as good as this GMT400 forum. That's one good reason to stick with a GMT400...

bb
 

scottydl

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Well, I did it. I have not sold my '96 K1500, but I did buy this '01 2500HD CCSB:

Again, not intending to hijack this thread, but I am wondering if there is a decent GMT800 forum. I have been searching and have not found anything as good as this GMT400 forum. That's one good reason to stick with a GMT400...

I'd love to hear more about your perspective between the two generations, and heavy towing. Feel free to put them in this thread I started: https://www.gmt400.com/threads/when-my-gmt400-isnt-enough.45567/
 

drive135mph

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My 2 cents, I'm a mechanic and at least among my customers both 400 and 800 trucks seem to hang in there really well. the interiors are cheap in both truck but the big difference comes down to parts cost. SBC parts are almost free and they are really easy to work on so the bills tend to be a little smaller. the LS trucks are much more efficient and modern and respond better to upgrades. The trade off for the efficiency is that the small displacement LS motors feel like a 2 stroke next to the 5.7 and the 7.4 when towing. It's not a big deal they still get the job done but they just have to get on cam to do it.

I know the 5.4 gets bad rap. Some of that is well deserved, but if they're well maintained they do hang in there. They are not my platform of choice but i regularly work on fleet examples with over 300k on them and occasionally see examples with close to 500k. I still don't recommend them but I'll still take a well maintained, full paperwork 5.4 over a used and abused 5.7.

My personal rig is 94 burb with a 7.4. It's ugly but it never lets me down and it rarely costs much to maintain. I definitely prefer how the 7.4 feels compared the 6.0 and compared to the 4 valve 5.4 in my navigator. I also like that I can use the truck with the confidence that if i do break something it's not going to be a real financial hit and i'm not going not find myself upside down on a car loan. one lat point is that the gmt 400 doesn't depreciate so when you go to sell it you literally get all you money back. the same can't really be said of the gmt 800
 

ShawnN

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I have a 99 K3500 DRW CCLB 7.4 and an 01 K2500 ECSB 6.0. I much prefer the interior and comfort features and factory tow mode of the 01 even though both are leather, and COP vs distributor. However, even though the 99 is 7.4 with 4:56 gears and the 01 is 6.0/3:73, the 01 doesn't get any better mpg and gives up a lot in towing capability. If I EVER get the dually out of the shop (16 months and counting) I plan to sell the 01.
 

letitsnow

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I have a 99 K3500 DRW CCLB 7.4 and an 01 K2500 ECSB 6.0. I much prefer the interior and comfort features and factory tow mode of the 01 even though both are leather, and COP vs distributor. However, even though the 99 is 7.4 with 4:56 gears and the 01 is 6.0/3:73, the 01 doesn't get any better mpg and gives up a lot in towing capability. If I EVER get the dually out of the shop (16 months and counting) I plan to sell the 01.

Hopefully the 6.0 lovers don't try to tear you apart. There is nothing better than actual experience to go off of.
 

ShawnN

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Hopefully the 6.0 lovers don't try to tear you apart. There is nothing better than actual experience to go off of.

LOL, I ain't scared! I love the 6.0 motor, I have it in my 2013 Express 3500 as well. With the 6 speed and hwy gears the van gets 14-15 mpg running 80 - 85 while full of passengers. The K2500 though it runs great SUCKS gas.
 

RDF1

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That is going to be a decision you have to make.
I just bought a 2004 2500HD 4x4 6.0/4L80E 4.10s with 245k miles on it for $2000 the other day. Needs heater core and water pump.
I put a tune on it and it tows good. It will be getting a 70mm turbo on it this spring cause i like towing with boost.

Tuned my brothers 2000 C3500 with 7.4/4L80E and it wasn't nothing special. It still has to down shift on the same hills as his 2006 2500HD 6.0 and the 7.4 drinks about the same amount of fuel.

I do agree the 5.7 has more TQ off idle and in the lower rpms.

I say write it all down what your current truck needs and figure out if its going to be worth it money and time wise to upgrade.
And keep some money ready incase you run across a good deal.
 
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