Hello: Looking to buy a 1996-2000 kc3500 series dually to pull a 2 horse gooseneck trailer. Can only afford one in the $15000 range. Most there have about 80,000 miles or so on them. any advice what to look for? and when is life of the 350 motor over?
Thanks,
Katie
There is nothing wrong with a 350 motor and it is a proven strudy engine. It basic design dates back to 50's and it is a good design for no inherent weaknesses. When it lacks in towing it is because of vehicle axle ratio, not because it is a 350. If you get a 350, you want atl east a 4.10 axle ratio which is a GT3 option could. If you can find one with a HC4 option code (a 4.56), it wil, tow really well with even a bigger trailer. As far as serive life of engine, if it has had regualr lube changes every 3K miles or so it should last a couple hundred K miles even towing if it is kept cool. The best setup would be a 454 with a GT5 or a 350 with a HC4 as so equipped, it will tow anything you are ever likley to tow behind it. Also 100K miles of towing on a 454 is nothing really if it has been properly maintained. I would stay away for a used one with a 350 if it has towed a heavy load a lot ( 3 ton and more)and it only has a GT5 axle in it. Also lok for trucks that do not have 5th wheel hitches on them now so you know they have nmot been worked too hard. Stay away from trucks with GT4 axle code as it is not good for a 350 to two with and it is kinda marginal for serious towing with a 454. You should be able to find a nice truck for around 10 grand or less as 15K is way too much to pay for even a used 2000 unless it is very low mileage and clean. 88 to
2000 GM dualies were some of the best trucks of their type GM every made and I find them to be sturdier and more trouble free long term than the newer Silverado ones. You want a 96 to 200 modle as they were of the VorTec design and have more mid range and upper RPM power than the 95 and earlier TBI models. BTW, I have a 89 4x4 suburban that I bought new with over 180K miles on its 350 and it is still going strong and using no oil and runs better than ever. It has also seen more than a dozen cross country trips across and through rockies and has been in 25 states and counting.----------------- TheSnoMan.com
Thank you snoman.....one last question...im in upstate ny, what is a good tire for a dually when it snows?
Katie
On Wed, 16 May 2007 10:19:15 -0400, snipped-for-privacy@webtv.net wrote:
Being that you are in a snowy area, I would get as agressive a tread as possible on a 215/16 85 tire. If you have the money, a extra set of rims for rear with studded tires would help A LOT as dualies tend to be kinda worthelss in 2wd in snow and ice unless you have a go bit of weight in rear. For what it is worth, I run a couple of snow plow trucks here and have for many years and I have extra rims for them so that I can used studded tires on them in winter. SOme consider this extreme but I go out in the worst of couditions and I have never had any "whilte knuckle" experiances in the winter using them. I put them on the rear of my wife 2000 2wd Cherokee too and it outperforms 4x4 versions without them in snow and especailly on ice. You will get no suddentendacy to trade ends with them on. Years ago I used to run on a wholesale show circuit with some friends selling electronic hardware and supplies year round and we used to run studded tires on their tow vehicles towing big heavy trailers in nasty weather and never came close to loosing them. AOme other people doing the circuit without them were not so lucky. BTW, I have a 2000 K3500 SRW (single rear wheel) with a 350 in it that I also bought new as shares the 88 to 99 body style (there were no 2000 1 ton new style Silverados made). It is stock with a GT5 axle ratio (4.10) and it does a good job with what ever i ask it to do. I would have gotten it with 4.56's (HC4) if i could of but it was only a option of DRW models. If you never plan to tow more than a 2 horse goose neck, do not rule out a 3500 SRW as it is quite up to the task too as would good sturdy 2500 too. Also, be advised that 88 thru 99 2500 have stronger rear springs than the newer
2500HD's do (because they were not trying to push a softer ride on them) and they will handle the hitch weight better than a new 2500 HD will. (this is contrary to GVW ratings but my "old 3500 has same GVW rating as the "new" 2500HD but my old 3500 has a lot more beef in rear suspension than 2500HD and even a old 2500 has more beef back there too). One more thing, I used to trailer horses for many years. We used to just do some hard core trail riding (never did any shows) and used to haul my horses all over with a old 3/4 Jeep truck for many years. I got out of them about 12 years ago as it was either get 3 more horse and a bigger trailer or quit them. I miss riding them sometimes and "might" take it up again when kids are out of college. . We had App's and there were great rides with great horse sense on the trail and very sure footed. (I used to ride with a infant in my lap for a while even on rugged trails as my horse was that trustworthy). I had them trained to where they would load and unload from trailer on command. I had a nice big Circle J trailer most of the time I had them. Do not skimp on stall space/size when selecting a trailer like some do as it helps the horses trailer better for longer periods of time if they can move a round a bit. Keeps them a bit cooler too in hot weather. If you by a used trailer, check condition of floor because some do not use heavy matts in them and the animal waste weaks the floor planks. You want a oak floor too. Sorry if I got on my soap box a bit.----------------- TheSnoMan.com
You can probably buy an '01 Chevy/GMC Duramax Diesel dually for that kind of money. I had an '01 Chevy 3500 Crew Cab Longbed Duramax with the Allison transmission and pulled a 35' 5th wheel with it. I doubt you would hardly know a two horse trailer was back there. You will get better mileage with the diesel than you will with a gasoline engine. I drove my '01 59,000+ miles solo averaging 17.58 miles per gallon and 36,500+ miles towing averaging 9.65 miles per gallon. My 5th wheel weighed about 14,000 pounds and your two horse trailer will weight much less so your towing mileage would be much higher.
Ron
On Wed, 16 May 2007 11:46:07 -0500, "Ron Recer" wrote:
I was wondering with a diesel freak would weigh in. Do not forget to tell her that diesels are not for every one, can stink at times, be a pain in the arse in really cold weather and cost a fortune to fix out of warranty. Least not forget the low sulpher fuels effect on fuel susytem because of reduced lubrication properties of fuel. (GM is really tight lipped on this) Also except for last few weeks, gas has been 50 cents to as much as a buck cheaper a gallon than diesel. I have a freind that bought a new 05 Dmax and it was his first and after the honey moon was over and he did the numbers and fuel costs soared and gotten a few tanks or bad diesel with water in it (from searching for cheapest fuel) and it finaily sunk it that he should have bought the cheaper gas one instead and he would have been money and debit ahead of the game today. He wants to get rid of it but he still owes more that he can get for it. She would be FAR safer and get more value fore her money with a used gas truck than a used 2001 Dmax. BTW, my 89 4x4 burb averages a over 17 MPG trips using A/C and it is 18 years old now with 180K miles and it has NEVER left me stranded or failed to start even at more than 40 below. I remeber a trip I took in 90's across the dakotas in the dead of winter with 3 young children. It started out at 15 below and it was 30 below 400 miles later after crossing states in near blizzard conditons with gusts over 50 MPH at times. It never missed a beat and never stopped for fuel either durring that 400 mile (darn good thing because it was darn cold) and its dual heaters kept us warm too. Same truck still runs today and it can sit for weeks at a time in zero degree weather and start on demand.(try that with a 18 year old diesel) BTW, I have seen around 18 on long trips and it has a 40 gallon tank so when I fill up after 600 miles it is a real good indicator of MPG. Burb is stock with stock sized 50 PSI "C" range tires with street tread and feed by 93 octane in summer and 89 in winter. MPG on it was 14 at best in summer with 87 and it was a slug on it too when new. Higher octane fuel really woke it up.
----------------- TheSnoMan.com
Do you really think anyone believes you anymore?
Ron
As you are going to be pulling a large trailer with a lot of weight, I would recommend, just as Ron Racer did that you look into a diesel vice the gas engine. Most that do not just flat out hate diesels (Like Snojob does) woud agree that this would be a much better choise. If you really look into what most use for the purpose you mention, not too many use a gasser anymore.
Yes a diesel can my a little louder, but that is mostly outside. Yes, they can "stink" a little but again, outside. You didn't plan on running along side it did you? :)
FYI please heed the words Snojob spews with great caution as he is famous for giving information to unknowing persons as yourself that is dangerous and in some cases deadly.
As to your tires, being from Buffalo myself, get something that would provide a good lug pattern, self cleaning abilities and is M&S (mud snow) rated. Sorry I can not recommend a specific brand as it has been many years since I have looked into dually tires. Bridgestone/ Firestone makes some and I would at least recommend their line.
a well taken care of 350 can easily go 190,000 miles and often more. old john
Hello, snipped-for-privacy@webtv.net! You wrote on Wed, 16 May 2007 08:01:03 -0400:
L> Thanks,
With best regards, snipped-for-privacy@comcast.net. E-mail: snipped-for-privacy@comcast.net
First... We have 3 350 trucks we are using right now. One has over 250,000 and still runs great only thing ever done to it was valve seals at about
Thanks guys! I did mean the gas 454 motor not the 350, sorry, I would not be towing to far, just to local shows, with my 2 appaloosa's. Is tranny or oil cooler things neccesary?
Katie
I have never and will never dispute that fact. Hell my 5.3l has 200k on it and running strong. All I was say is that for the purposes she plans on using the truck for, a diesel is a much better choise of vehicle.
Not necessary, but it would be HIGHLY recommended. This is a case of much better safe than sorry.
if you are going to pull a trailer use a diesel they have much more power than a gas duramax is a very good diesel also dodge with a cummins is very good also. now the advice snowman gave you about snowtires with using studs in the tires i dont know what state he is in but you use studs here in wisconsin and they catch you it is a very big fine it chews up the roads they may use them in other states but not here you will hafto check with your state to see if they are allowed
I think NY State may allow for studs in certain areas of the state, but you are correct it is best to check the local laws. Besides, stud would require you to have two sets of tires, one for winter and one for other seasons. I personally would not rec'd studded tires, a good M&S rate tire that is mildly agressive will do you well 98% of the time in Upstate NY.
NY allows studs statewide from October 16 - April 30 Chains are required during a designated snow emergency.
I can count about 15 days I actually needed studded tires on a personal vehicle over the past 20 years. They only work well on ICE and the rest of the time they are just noisy and because your actually riding on the studs you have less traction on bare roads.
It should already have these things on a 1 ton dualie with a 454. My SRW 1 ton of that era has them.
----------------- TheSnoMan.com
This is very subjective. Properly geared a 454 will pull ANYTHING a diesel will and quietly too. I get so tired on "you have to have a
1000lbs plus diesel motor " to be able to tow anything well. THat is what automakers would like you to beleive too and tend to gear gas trucks stock so they do not do their best and make the high profit oil burners more attracktive but this can be overcome.----------------- TheSnoMan.com
Studs are legal here from Nov 15 till April 15 and anyone that tells you that regualy M+S tires are as good as studded tires 98% of the time has never lived with them and is realy quite clueless on the subject.
----------------- TheSnoMan.com
They work pretty good in packed snow too. The noise is a draw back but traction loose in minmal on dry/wet pavement and I have NEVER had a vechicle try to trade ends on a icy overpass with them but I have many times in the past without them. It is very cheap insurance. Even if you need then 5 or 10% of the time, the 5 or 10% can be a killer at times especailly towing.
----------------- TheSnoMan.com
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