truck info.

[eek]

I am looking at a used 1995 Chevy 3/4 ton truck to pull by boat with. It has the diesel engine with a 4 speed automatic transmission. Also has about 50,000 miles on it.

Does anyone have such a vehicle? If so any comments either good or bad would be appreciated. I am really interested in fuel mileage, and if they have enough power to pull my 3500 lb. rig.

Thanks in advance. eek

[Rodbuilder]

I don't think the truck you speek of is what you want. I used to have a dully chev '95. the 6.5 lt engine uses a ton of fuel mpg is about 6-13 depending on how you drive. Even with fuel prices the way they are I would suggest a gas eng.. Now I have a Silverado with a 5.3 ltr gas, I can pull my big boat which is about 4500-5000#'s, and get 10-13 mpg with the trailer behind me. The gas engine has a different feel to it and usually gets better mpg overall. I also have 35" tires on my truck which should make my towing worse but it dosn't.

[Pops]

EEK,
This may or may not help but here goes.
Father-in-law had a '96 Ford F250 4X4 with the 7.3L Power Stroke. He got 20-25 mpg in the winter and 30-35 summer. He pulled a Lund Baron 2100 Grand Sport and/or a 32' pull type travel trailer and still got decent milage.
I just got a 95 Ford F250 4X4 with the 7.3L Power Stroke and have almost 100 miles on the first 1/4 tank of fuel.
Do not know about the Chevys but I would think that they should get about as good a milage.
Good luck with whatyou get.
Grand Pops
Keep Your Rod Bent !!!

[Magnus]

GM has abandoned that engine entirely. Car & Driver, MotorWeek, MotorTrend and any other auto magazine that you could think of, have always referred to Ford and Dodge for diesel trucks. Until the new GM HD with the Duramax diesel (completely different design) came out, they were never even considered in any conversations about good diesel performance. The Ford diesel powertrain has been the best available 'til now. So, if you're looking for a good used diesel truck, I'd look for a ford. Dodge has the Cummins, which is an awesome motor, but their reputation for transmissions is suspect. If you're looking for a good used GM truck, get a 350 or a 454. Personally, I have a 2000 3/4 ton Silverado with the new 6.0. Average mpg is 12-13. Towing a Lund 1950 Tyee with a 5.7 I/O I get about 10-11. (I believe the boat weight is about 3500)

If money is not an issue, get the new Silverado with the Duramax.

ps. I believe that American General is still using the 6.5 diesel in the Hummer.

[GLG]

Don't know what is wrong with GM products...but out West, it seems like I see a vehicle pulled over with the hood up on every high mountain pass. Yup!...it is ALWAYS a Chevrolet...some new, some old. It is rare to see a Ford pulled over and I have never seen a Dodge with its hood up.

[eek]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the info., diesel power is entirely new to me, I was really hopeing that this truck would have worked out, the price is right, and it really drives good, but seems to be a little short on horsepower, considering that it is almost 400 cubic inch. If not for the reliability issues brought up, I probably would have bought it.

I was trying to upgrade my tow vehicle to one that would pull the boat easier, and cheaper, so I could get away to go fishing more. I live in Northern Illinois, and just about any decent Walleye water is at least 100-150 miles away. I would just love to be able to go to the Dakotas or Minnesota once in a while, in addition to our once a year trip to Lac Seul. Even a trip to Lake Michigan is long pull when the truck has such a hard time.

Thanks again, good fishing to everyone!

[Larry]

I just returned after pulling from Rockford to Ashland, to Polk Co. and back. Chevy 350 EFI C1500 fully loaded and towing an 18' Crestliner ....also loaded! I averaged 11.8 mpg for the entire trip. Towed at 65/70, had the A/C on, and towed in Drive (not O/D) w/ cruise.

[Box]

Something else to consider is that diesels are extremely loud, and they dont really warm up until you have about 30-50 miles on them (I'm told by my buddy who only owns diesels for his business). So for short trips, they aren't good at all. Oil changes may also be a bear. Buddy's Powerstroke is 15 quarts! no kidding.

I really like his truck, but its loud. If you don't need to tow anything over about 7000 lbs, youmight want to stick with a gas truck.

Consider the source though, I have never owned a diesel, so may not be correct in the above. Basically, if you don't know too much about a diesel, you probably don't need one :)

Good fishing,
Box

[Remington 12]

The truck your looking at is not a bad truck. The 6.5TD is a reliable motor and gets better milege than a gas burner. The mileage that you get will be based on how it is geared and how you drive it. The 2500 series 3/4 ton trucks mostly come geared at a 4.10 ratio. At 65mph you should expect to turn 2250 rpms at get approximately 14 to 15 MPGs. If this truck is a 4x4 and you bought two new ring and pinion sets for approximately $150 each, you could gear it with a 3.42 gear ratio and turn 1880 rpms at 65mph and get 20 to 21 MPG. You would pay that off in 15 to 20 thousand miles in saved fuel. 3.42's will do fine on anything under 4,000 pounds. You say that the truck has 50,000 miles. At approximately 120,000 miles, you will probably have to spend $1000-1500 on an injection pump and injectors. I have seen many gas engine that need to be rebuilt at this point. The 4L80E auto tranny is also much more reliable than anything that dodge or ford put out. This truck should be fine for towing a 3500lb boat and everyday driving. If your looking for the ultimate in power and reliability, go with a dogde powered by a cummins TD and get a manual tranny. If you do get a diesel, use an oil that controls soot buildup (eg. Shell Rotella)and your motor should last an awful long time.

Matt B.

[eek]

Thanks for the info. Matt, your post makes sense, this truck is only a 4X2 and appears to be a light duty chassis, ie. it dosent have the axles that go through the brake drums/hubs, like the big time heavy duty ones do, and it turns about 2000 RPMs at 60 MPH, so I am assuming about 3.73 gear ratio with the tires that are on it. The previous owner said that it usually got over 20 MPG during the warm weather, empty. That sounds good to me, as my old GMC, w/the 305 EFI, only ever got 15 mpg at the most and 10-12 pulling the boat. The real problem is that when it comes to a hill, you better be going at least 70-75 mph or you will wind up at 40 mph in 2nd gear wide open.

I have never been a big fan of diesel power, but it seems that a diesel engine would be good at supplying enough torque to pull about anything, and like it. That lousy 305 replaces good torque and horsepower with RPM, and I am sure that it is just pulling its guts out.

I don't really like the idea of the noise, smoke and smell, but if this truck will do the job, I'll buy it. I suppose that the best way to find out if it will work is to try running it somewhere hilly with my boat and trailer behind it. I don't know if I can try this without buying it, but I'll ask.

Thanks again, to everyone, and good fishing.. eek

[bob oh]

Really, where I go out west (Montana) about all I see the farmers driving are Chevies???? Almost never see a Dodge and they have a few Fords for comfort??? They (the farmers) told me - "buy a Chevy to get the work done and a Ford for a soft hiway right, but don't buy a Dodge for anything." ???????? I don't know if they're right or not.

Bob