Dogshooter,
Our mowing company has bought two Chevy 3/4 ton trucks in the past year. The first one we bought was a 2003 2500 HD 4x4 Crew cab short box, Had the gas 6.0, Auto tranny, push button 4x4. All the standard stuff, Power locks, windows... Also had the towing package. We paid right at $29,000 cash out right for it. WELL we being two 25-year-old guys, we got the idea that it would look SOOOO much cooler with a lift kit and bigger tires, and it did. BUT when you pull an 18,000 (truck, trailer and mowers) load all day, the coolness goes away with the gas. We only got around 9 MPG with that set up. That was no good on the pocket book, The 6.0 got around 13 in stock formation. Would have done us well that way.
So we did a lot of thinking and decided to get a duramax diesel. (Like I wanted to in the first place) We sold the original truck outright for about the same as we paid for it. Went to the dealer and picked up the same truck with the Duramax and Allison tranny for $32,500. This truck is in basically stock formation, we did switch out the 245/75R16 street tires for a heavier off road type tire in 265/75R16 (about 1" taller) It gave the truck a lil better ride (not that it really needed that) and it just looks much better like this. We had a after market exhaust put on, and some do-dads to make it look cool. (Remember we are 25, anything to catch the girls eyes :grin: ) With the truck as it is now, pulling the 18,000 or not we get 16-17 MPG. I have no fear of hooking on to anything with this truck.
If I was to go out today and get myself a new Chevy it would no doubt be a 3/4-ton with the duramax, yeah it cost a lil more, but man is it worth it. :grin:
Just my 2 cents,
IATRKYHNTR
(Nathan)
