Truck advice

Thinking about buying a truck. I'm a truck virgin, never owned one. This will be the fourth vehicle for our family so I don't want anything fancy or new, just want the occasional functionality of a truck, it might see 6-8K miles a year. This is my boss's old truck that he is willing to sell me at book value. My boss is a "car guy", and a friend so I know the truck is in good shape and he is not misrepresenting it. I'm bringing it to my mechanic to take a look at it today. What I don't know is if there are any known issues with this truck/engine/tranny or anything I might need to know about this truck. Thanks.

Could you put a plow on this truck?

It's a 2001 Silverado 1500 LS with the z71 suspension package, 6 ft bed. The engine is a 4.3L v6 with a 5 speed manual and 4WD. Current book value is $3400. Mileage is 133K.

 

Thought you wanted a "truck" that is pretty light duty

 

the short answer is, yes
as long as your are only plowing your own driveway and running it yourself.
plows are notoriously hard on a vehicle.

 

The 4.3 is a good motor, but undersized if you want to do any kind of towing over 4-5K lbs. The short wheelbase will further limit your towing capacity.

If you're just looking for something to haul relatively light stuff (lumber, drywall, firewood) then it could be a good option. If you are looking for a tow rig in a half ton package then you should keep on looking.

Plowing is hard on trucks, especially half ton trucks, and double especially on half ton trucks with tall gears, and triple especially on manual transmission half ton trucks with tall gears. Since this is a short wheelbase, depending on the plow, it might nose dive more than you'd like since there isn't enough "azz" behind the front axle to offset the weight...a lightweight plow might be fine though.

 

Using it for wood? Maybe a little older and at least a 2500/250....

 

You should do fine with this truck. Nice buying a truck you already know the history of.

 

X2
You'll also be lucky to get low-mid teens MPG just bombing around empty.
For a V6 the 4.3 is a gas glutton.

 

Friend of mine loooong time ago put a plow on his '74 Bronco........the original old smaller version.
We'd go plowing in the morning after work. Nose dive is a good description, but it worked quite well.
He wasn't known to be easy on his vehicles.
Prolly need some gooder tires if you get into anything 1/2way deep.

 

Ummm...yeah an occasional use light duty truck...know anything about it?

 

yes would be for light use, my own and maybe a few local relative's drives.

 

I would consider it a nice first truck. If you are planning on hauling a decent sized boat or other heavy trailers, or doing snowplowing for a living I would keep looking. For light trailers, driveway snow plowing, firewood, and the occasional refrigerator or other home appliance/furniture it will be great .

Would not worry about the gas mileage too much if you are only doing 6-8k a year.

JMHO

KaptJaq

 

If everything checks out with the mechanic, I would go for it! I love four-wheel drive. Comes in handy. Did you already agree on price, or would he be willing to take a little less than book value? I always like getting a "deal", plus your boss man won't have to spend more time and energy showing/selling his truck.

 

If that's what you are looking for I say it is a good deal, I was thinking a wood hauler and you said plow so I thought nope

 

Ditto

 

Horse Hockey!!!! Had a '97 S-10 with the 4.3 V-6, with a custom work box on the back, loaded to the gills with farrier equipment. Had extra leaf springs put on the rear to hold the weight. She'd pull 19-20mpg all the time.

 

One thing you'll discover immediately is how light the rear is on slippery roads. Short wheelbases add to that. Weight in the back is very helpful. If you put a plow on the front, which that truck will push, that "light rear end" is even more noticeable. Fisher has some light plows that are worth looking at. Have fun DaveGunter Every one I've ever met who buys a pickup for the first time, says... how did I ever get by without one...

 

I like the sounds of that 1/2 ton truck. The engine is big enough to actually move the truck with a load in it, unlike my S-10 with its 4 banger. Although you might find a 1/2 ton with a little better fuel mileage it would take an awful lot of miles to add up to much money in terms of fuel costs. No way would I want to put much of a plow on a truck that small, and no way on my S-10 either. For clearing your driveway, how about a nice $500 snow blower instead. You could use the pickup to haul it to your relative's house.

 

DaveGunter , My first pick-up was very similar and the light tail does slide. When winter came I put some sand bags in the back of the bed, right against the tailgate. Put a board in the slots so they would not slide forward on hard stops. Made a world of difference. The sand also came in handy several times to get cars that were caught on ice moving again.

I still think it will make a good first truck. After a couple of years you may decide you need more truck. By then you will have some "truck" experience and you will have a better idea what you are looking for....

KaptJaq