Share Pics of People Hauling or Towing Something Wrong

[duramaxsky]

Clean a small hole in the windshield, so you can see while you're driving.

Or just wash it. Maybe put it on a trailer to get it home.

 

[goeduck]

How long has it been sitting there?
I would be checking the frame and other parts underneath first. After setting outside it's highly likely that brakes, brake lines, and a lot of other parts are in worse shape than if it had been used all along.

Tabs are 2018. I moved here in 2016 and I only recall seeing it moved a few times. So I am guessing it has been sitting 5 years.

 

[goeduck]

I had a hard time deciding in 2003 between the Duramax and the 8.1. I chose the Duramax but was never sure it was the best choice. Both have the Allison transmission and a lot of power. The additional maintenance and initial cost of the diesel was more than the fuel savings. So I am still not sure I made the right choice. How is the interior? Those trucks are not known to be leakers. Mine doesn't leak into the cab at all and it's an extended cab like that. So hopefully the interior is good. The metal brakes lines were bad on those and rusted. There are several stainless kits that include braided stainless flex hoses. I put one on mine before they went bad. I don't drive mine much anymore but I still have it. I bought a 2020 1500 Trail Boss with a 6.2 for a daily driver. It gets about the same fuel mileage empty and premium fuel it takes is still cheaper than diesel. We use the old truck for towing our RV because it gets much better mileage towing although there is no noticeable power difference towing. Both pull it effortlessly. The 1500 just uses a lot more fuel. Also I have a canopy I put on the Duramax for all our stuff when we travel. Other than that we just use it to haul heavy stuff or pull trailers with loads that exceed the wimpy hitch rating on the 1500. Also I drive it when it snows so the little lady can drive the 1500 instead of her car. The 1500 is great in snow because it has the auto 4WD. That works much better than normal 4WD on snow and ice. As long as it's in auto not 4WD anyway. Plus she can just leave it in auto when on clear roads where the old truck needs to be switched in and out of 4WD. So I have good reasons to keep the old truck but I would have anyway because I have always really liked that truck. If you fix that truck up I think you will really like it. The one other thing you might want to change is the trailer hitch. They were really weak and the same hitch as the 1500s had. I put a draw time class 5 2" on mine so it can tow to capacity with a bumper pull. The stock hitch is not rated even close to the trucks rated towing capacity and the pin hole elongated in it anyway.

Interior is dry. I did not know that the 8.1 had an Allison, good to know. Car fax says it came from WI and was there until sold at auction in 2006, then out here in WA.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

What is holding the front of this tanker up? Is there something not visible in this picture? Or is it just the way the balance point worked out with the rear axles?

There is another sling on the other side of the boom, you just can't see it from the angle of the camera's perspective at the moment.

 

[goeduck]

Had time today to open the hood of the GMC2500 8.1 gasser. Not as bad as I expected. Pulled the battery and put it on a maintainer. I will vacuum out the squirrel debris tomorrow and may just keep it as a farm/tow truck if there are no big surprises. Not sure what the cable in the last picture is. Air filter, top and bottom were clean. I did not see evidence of chewing to any extent, which surprised me.

 

[duramaxsky]

It's a ground strap to the hood. They always break on the hood end. Mine is broken right now. I should fix that.

 

[duramaxsky]

That truck looks really nice inside. They hold up well. Mine looks new inside for the most part. And it has 270,000 plus miles on it. It does and always has lived in a garage though.

 

[cqaigy2]

Looks pretty good, how is the wiring?

 

[duramaxsky]

It looks like it has fabric seats and a center console. That must be a GMC only option. On Chevrolet trucks that year the console was only available with leather seats to the best of my knowledge. That's the set up I wanted but with fabric seats the 40 20 40 was the only option. Although you do get seating for one more person and it has a fold down back/ console in the middle. Still not as nice as what that truck has. Looks like the same seats just a different center option.

 

[goeduck]

Looks pretty good, how is the wiring?

I did not see any chewing under the hood, but there certainly could be some. Owner says the dasboard was intermittent when it last ran so, could very well be. The glovebox did have some papers shredded in it, so I am thinking mice in the HVAC vents. The maintainer has the 10 year old battery at 75%, we will see how far it gets. I could pull a tractor battery to start it if need be. Any GM people recommend an easier way than pulling the plugs so I can crank it over without firing it up to get lubrication (prior to attempt starting)? Air filter was clean on both sides, so no debris ingestion concerns. Look forward to towing something with a 496 cu. in. big block gasser.