Thoughts on this truck

[Grit dog]

I had a 2001 1500 Ram set up the same way. Fleet package with HD everything.

Ram never made a 2nd gen “1500” 8 lug or a crew cab.

 

[TotalyHucked]

I'd say 5k is about right, I'd wanna be more around 4500 considering the condition. 1500HD is a great truck. It'll have a 4L80 in it, check the RPO codes for gear ratio. GT4 is 3.73, GT5 is 4.10, hopefully it's got 4.10s

 

[Grit dog]

Its a 1500HD, its got 3/4 ton suspension, frame, and axles factory,

Why GM made a non HD 2500 in this package, i dont know

Basically, yes but lighter springs and not a full floater iirc. And of course no Allison or 8.1 diesel or manual trans option.

 

[Frankenchevy]

I agree, seems somewhat rough. Also, may sound nit picky, but I cannot stand when someone is selling something and they dont bother to clean it up at all. Unless it’s a 50 year old project with parts on the front seat.

One thing I’ll mention here that may be helpful. My BIL and sister have a vortec max with a 6.2 in a 1500. Their travel trailer is fairly light at under 5k empty. That truck really struggles on the grades out here. I have to slow down when we travel together and I’m almost exclusively towing our TT with my 2004 cummins/nv5600 now. Not exaclty a powerhouse by today’s standards. Then again, you may be towing something lighter and/or over flatter terrain than the Sierras and Inyos.

If it were me and I was only using it for those types of trips, I’d find something 8.1 if you wanted to stick with GM gas from that era. The mileage towing will be pretty close. If you need a “full” crew cab, a 3rd gen cummins can be a good family hauler. Not sure about the market for those out there though. If a regular extended cab is okay, a later 12v is pretty tough to beat.

Or a big block suburban squarebody or gmt400. I’m sure you can find one of those for $5-6k.

 

[bucket]

Basically, yes but lighter springs and not a full floater iirc. And of course no Allison or 8.1 diesel or manual trans option.

The light duty 2500's didn't get the full floater either.

The truck is essentially a light duty 2500 and I have always assumed with a spring package more suited to the average 1/2 ton buyer, hence the "1500HD" model name. Soon after, GM began offering crew cab 1500's with the extra short bed, which made the 1500HD obsolete.

 

[Vbb199]

For what its worth theres a 03 2500 4x4 8.1 yukon listed up for 4k near me also. Im waiting on him to get me RPO codes so I can see if its an Allison or a 4L80e

Im kinda on the fence between the two

 

[bucket]

For what its worth theres a 03 2500 4x4 8.1 yukon listed up for 4k near me also. Im waiting on him to get me RPO codes so I can see if its an Allison or a 4L80e

Im kinda on the fence between the two

A Yukon XL will have the 4L80E. They never got the Allison.

 

[Vbb199]

A Yukon XL will have the 4L80E. They never got the Allison.

What would you buy? The yukon or 1500hd

 

[Vbb199]

Couple pics

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[TotalyHucked]

I'd much rather have the Yukon with the 8.1 over the 1500HD with the 6.0 personally. Both leaf spring, both semi-floater, both potentially 4.10. The 8.1 is a torque monster, it'll eat the 6.0s lunch every day

 

[Vbb199]

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3rd row seat

 

[TotalyHucked]

It's pretty nasty inside but if it runs good and has no major mechanical or electrical issues, I'd go Yukon for 4k all day long. The nastiness can be fixed fairly easily

 

[Vbb199]

I gotta sleep on it for another day or two, but I believe im leaning more towards that 8.1 myself to be honest. Plus the 3rd row seat... cant beat that

 

[Grit dog]

8.1 ftw for towing of course. Both, especially if 4.1s behind the 6.0 will smoke a squarebody burb with a 350, towing.
But the power for towing is “good” not great, by standards of what was available 20 years ago.
With that in mind and assuming your budget limited to the $4-5k range, I’d pick the one that appears to have been better maintained and/or has verifiably had more worn out parts replaced.

All this said, I’m not in the same geographical boat as you or many on this forum.
Have been spoiled with plentiful clean rust free older vehicles when one is needed since moving to the PNW 15+ years ago.
FWIW, I also expand my search geographically when looking for something in particular.
Opens more doors searching a larger area.

 

[bucket]

I'd much rather have the Yukon with the 8.1 over the 1500HD with the 6.0 personally. Both leaf spring, both semi-floater, both potentially 4.10. The 8.1 is a torque monster, it'll eat the 6.0s lunch every day

8.1 Burbs did get the 10.5" full float rear. They were kind of a half breed between a light 2500 and a 2500HD. Oddly enough, an 8.1 2500 HD would have got the 11.5" diff.