2004 chevy 2500 6.0L

[bdhsfz6]

FWIW, I had a 2003 Chevy 2500HD with 6.0L gas engine. I pulled a 10K dump trailer and an 8K boat with it 2 or 3 times per week. I also used it daily to commute and plow my 1.25 mile private road in Winter. I put 90K miles on it in 10 years with not one visit to the shop.

It was the best truck I've owned so far.

 

[rankrank1]

As follow-up to my earlier post I do still have a 2005 2500 hd with the 6.0 that I bought from Craigslist for not much money. No plans to ever get rid of it.

 

[Kioti Dave]

Have a 2002 1500HD with the 6.0. Tow a 10k 5th wheel. While it works pretty hard on some hills in the mountains, it has always got me from A to B. No complaints.

 

[Gord Baker]

By now, any Hydraulic Lifter problems should have been fixed. There is more to life than MPG!
Enjoy. Life is short.

 

[stoshu312]

are these trucks reliable looking to buy one to tow 6-8000 lb?

I have a 2006 Ford Excursion that I haul up to 12,000 lbs with.
I paid $16,500 for it with 116,00 miles on it.
The 6.0L engine blew a head gasket at 130,000 miles ($9,000)
The emergency brakes did not work when I bought it, got them fixed ($1,500)
The factory hitch had rusted out but not where you could see it and fortunatly fell off the truck while still in the yard ($800)
Fuel tank had to be removed to install new hitch, filler neck rotted out ($500)
I am currenly having rocker panels and bottoms of doors being replaced ($5,000)
Many other smaller items repaired.
I have $35,000 in a SUV (truck) that is 17 years old with 140,000 miles on it.

My reason for posting this reply is if you buy a FORD 6.0L engine make sure that you can see head STUDS not bolt heads.
This means that the engine has already been rebuilt at least once. 6.0L is a strong great engine after it has been fixed and you change the oil every 5,000 miles.
If you have never had a diesel before stay away from them unless you are a quick learner and don't mind paying more for fuel.
How often will you pull 8,000 lbs? If not often stay with what you know in trucks.

Good luck!!

 

[iptman]

I have 2 2500 Suburbans (2003/2004), one has the 6.0 and the other 8.1. The 8.1 is far and away better for towing if that's mostly what the truck will be used for. As long as you're not commuting with it that's what I'd get. Either engine will get you 300k+ miles if taken care of properly. The 8.1 in the GMT800 pickups will get you the Allison 1000 transmission which is a nice bonus.

 

[KingBubba]

I have a Chevy Suburban 2003 2wd with a 350ci V8. It is a 1500 model. It will tow 8000lbs like nothing is being towed. Suburbans are the top towing vehicle made in the US. One of the reasons they tow so well is that they have more weight over the rear wheels than a typical car or pickup. I towed a large boat every year for 15 years and never once did it ever slip on the worst ramp in the area.

It also will hold 4X8 sheets of plywood inside, nice and dry. It has been the most wonderful vehicle I've ever owned second only to my 2005 Toyota Camry, which ha 274,000 miles on it with nary a big problem in it's history.

 

[stso9d]

are these trucks reliable looking to buy one to tow 6-8000 lb?

anyone else having Google highjack the thread when reading post?

 

[MossRoad]

I have a Chevy Suburban 2003 2wd with a 350ci V8. It is a 1500 model. It will tow 8000lbs like nothing is being towed. Suburbans are the top towing vehicle made in the US. One of the reasons they tow so well is that they have more weight over the rear wheels than a typical car or pickup. I towed a large boat every year for 15 years and never once did it ever slip on the worst ramp in the area.

It also will hold 4X8 sheets of plywood inside, nice and dry. It has been the most wonderful vehicle I've ever owned second only to my 2005 Toyota Camry, which ha 274,000 miles on it with nary a big problem in it's history.

I also have a 2003 Suburban 1500, with the 5.3. We've had it for about 9 months, now. I really like it.

The only engines offered in 2003 Suburbans were 5.3., 6.0 and 8.1. A 350 is 5.7. They dropped those in 2000, except in Mexico, when they dropped in 2002. A 5.3 is about 25 cubic inches smaller than a 350. Doesn't seem to matter. It's a completely different engine, and much better, in my opinion.

So unless there was an engine change or model year mixup, you might want to check that out.

 

[MossRoad]

anyone else having Google highjack the thread when reading post?

no

 

[IH2424]

are these trucks reliable looking to buy one to tow 6-8000 lb?

I had a 2001 and loved it! But the electronics were a weak point. The power seat quit moving, a power window quit working. Everything rotted away under neath by 2015, but thats more an issue with New York state salt on the roads. I thought the engine and tranny would last forever. I would have bought a new one in 2017 if I could have afforded it.

Tim

 

[MossRoad]

My 1993 Suburban engine and tranny are just fine. The body is Swiss (Make that American) cheese with rust. Even that didn't stop me from driving it. But the frame is now rotting and the left front lower control arm snapped in half when I had to slam the brakes to avoid a head-on in my lane. They don't make that lower control arm anymore, and all of the junk yard ones have a bazillion miles. Scrapper will give me $400 for it.

So, I bought it 14 years ago for $5K and have a total of $7K in it for 14 years. That's $500 per year for transportation. That's less than one average monthly new truck payment. Insurance, plates, and taxes was dirt cheap on it as well. It is without a doubt hands-down the most economical vehicle I've ever owned.

 

[iptman]

Man...you guys got to start using WoolWax or FluidFilm on the regular.

I would agree the electronics are a weak point. I had to replace the drivers window/mirror switch and that set me back $180 just for the part. Also, why can't GM engineer a button (radio, steering wheel, doors) that the picture/icon doesn't rub off after 5 years. It's ridiculous and looks terrible.

 

[4570Man]

Man...you guys got to start using WoolWax or FluidFilm on the regular.

I would agree the electronics are a weak point. I had to replace the drivers window/mirror switch and that set me back $180 just for the part. Also, why can't GM engineer a button (radio, steering wheel, doors) that the picture/icon doesn't rub off after 5 years. It's ridiculous and looks terrible.

I’d say if it made it 30 years before it rotted out he got his money’s worth out of it.

 

[iptman]

That's certainly a valid perspective but there are plenty of 90s era Toyota trucks (for example) running around with 250+k miles and not rotting away. My 97 Land Cruiser isn't quite 30 years but I fully expect it to last beyond my lifetime. Shoot, my 77 Land Cruiser is 45 years old and even with the rust it does have I plan on leaving it to my 10 year old daughter who loves to wrench on it with me. Which is good b/c I don't suppose there will be many mechanics around in 20 years who'll know how to wrench on it. Parts availability.... that's a different story and one even the OP should consider. I had to replace the radiator in my 8.1 Suburban and I found the only GM/AC Delco OE radiator available for it in Mississippi. Since I was in there I replaced the water pump and apparently it's discontinued. Thankfully I found one on the shelf at a small GM dealer in SW Virginia and they agreed to ship it to me. Obviously the LQ4/LQ9 is an LS-based engine so there's plenty of quality aftermarket support.

 

[4570Man]

That's certainly a valid perspective but there are plenty of 90s era Toyota trucks (for example) running around with 250+k miles and not rotting away. My 97 Land Cruiser isn't quite 30 years but I fully expect it to last beyond my lifetime. Shoot, my 77 Land Cruiser is 45 years old and even with the rust it does have I plan on leaving it to my 10 year old daughter who loves to wrench on it with me. Which is good b/c I don't suppose there will be many mechanics around in 20 years who'll know how to wrench on it. Parts availability.... that's a different story and one even the OP should consider. I had to replace the radiator in my 8.1 Suburban and I found the only GM/AC Delco OE radiator available for it in Mississippi. Since I was in there I replaced the water pump and apparently it's discontinued. Thankfully I found one on the shelf at a little dealer in SW Virginia and they agreed to ship it to me. Obviously the LQ4/LQ9 is an LS-based engine so there's plenty of quality aftermarket support.

I have a 90s Chevy with zero rust but I live in TN and Moss lives in Indiana.

 

[MossRoad]

I have a 90s Chevy with zero rust but I live in TN and Moss lives in Indiana.

Yep. We got the salt! If you keep the vehicles washed, and touch up all paint chips ASAP, it's not so bad. But my '93 already had the crud when we got it 14 years ago. Time for the scrapper.

One of our kids lives in OK. Her employer closed for a snow day, but they asked her that since she's from Indiana, and is used to driving in snow, would she mind driving in and check things at work? Kid said they had about an inch of snow!

 

[crashz]

I had a 2004 GMC 1500 that had the same body issues. Electronics were a bit of a problem, but even Dorman has that figured out now. I started Fluid Film treatments early on and that truck had no rust at nearly 200k when I traded it for my 2012. The 12 is a 2500 with 6.0 and has been trouble free and a beautiful truck.

Downside - they are thirsty!

 

[clay4700]

are these trucks reliable looking to buy one to tow 6-8000 lb?

I’ve owned several and driven many of the 2001 to 2007 hd2500 6.0 trucks when they were fairly new and the company I work for had a whole fleet of them from the time they were new up to a few years ago when they were finally wore out from daily beatings on road and construction sites. Most of these trucks were in the 200,000 plus mileage before they had any problems at all . The most common problem they had was the dash board . The speedometer and or other gauges would act up or quit working but the the rest of the truck was as reliable as they come . Most of them would have ran longer if the bodies would have held up . Very good trucks if maintained. I had a 2004 hd2500 leased to that same company from 04 to 10 that regularly weighed in over 8,000 pounds with tools and a fuel tank that was on a job site every day it’s first 6 years of life and all I did was keep it serviced regularly. It never needed anything except a hydraulic brake booster replaced once in 140,000 miles . They only bad thing I can think of that they were known for was the earlier ones up to around 2005 had a tendency to break off exhaust manifold bolts . Not a huge deal but it could cause you problems with the head manifold surface if you pull them hard with the broken bolts not fixed .

 

[Hay Dude]

Do yourself a favor. If you live where theres salt, try to install a hot water hose bib to your driveway. After a few drives in the salt or brine, rinse off the undersides of your vehicle with a sharp stream of hot water. Youll be surprised at what washes off.
I live in the rust (salt) belt. I dont have rusty cars or trucks. Even my early 2000’s Chevy Silverado was sold 3 years ago with zero rust.