1500 vs 2500

hey guys , i usually hang out in the street bikes forum, but i was planning on getting a new truck this summer, nix my old s-10. i was looking at the 00-02 silverado's, hate the 03+ body style, but cant decide which one to get , 1500, 1500HD , 2500, or 2500 HD. i dont want a double cab, too long , want a short bed extended cab , and dont haul stuff very often at all but dont want something im going to have to worry about breaking or upgrade to prevent such. im a bit of an a$$hole driver , so i abuse my vehicles a bit more.
anyways, i hear the 4l60e isnt really that stout of a trans and doesnt hold up too well to extended mileage, where as the 4l80e is practically bullet proof.
and axles. id been primarilly looking at a 2500\HD for axle sizes and the 80.
but what does the 1500 HD have in it? and how much bigger is the 1500 compared to the 2500?and how bad is the mileage on a 2500 hd with the 6.0?
thanks for any anwsers you guys gimme

From what you've just said, IMO, the 1500 would be the best fit for you.

I would say you're really looking at the 1500. The 2500 is 3/4 ton, so it will take a toll on gas.

I had a '99 from June of '99 to August of '06. Never had any major trouble with her. The biggest problem I had was the fuel pump/pressure regulator both had to be replaced fairly early on. But once that was taken care of no issue with it again.

I drove the hell out of my truck. I never had any tranny or drive-line problems. Pretty much was a mash that gas and go type of driver. And fish tail her quite often. If you find one with low miles you shouldn't have anything to worry about. I'll probably always own Chevy trucks. They've been in my family for years and never had issues.

Good luck.:popcorn:

From what I understand a 1500HD is a 1500 body and drivetrain with a 2500 frame. I have looked for a used 1500HD and have had very little luck in the past because there aren't that many out there to begin with.

with what you said i would go 1500 unless you have plans on doing some plowing or serious towing in the future

thanks very much for all the replies guys, but still just a few more questions. as any gear head would be, im always after more power , which i can figure out fine, but i was thinking super charger, which i can take care of, but the thing id be leary about is the 4l60e, dont want that thing puking its guts out, so what kind of mods are there to do for it? ive heard of the corvette servo mod , and hypertek shift feel improvment, but short of rebuilding the whole trans, does any one sell a real good shift kit or rather who makes the best quality one? i just want the trans to shift real firm , not snap your neck , but let you know its there , and not have the trans crap out with 400-500 horse in front of it. that and lifting it, i hear thos 10 bolts dont hold up too well to 35's

anyways guys , thanks for all the input

thanks very much for all the replies guys, but still just a few more questions. as any gear head would be, im always after more power , which i can figure out fine, but i was thinking super charger, which i can take care of, but the thing id be leary about is the 4l60e, dont want that thing puking its guts out, so what kind of mods are there to do for it? ive heard of the corvette servo mod , and hypertek shift feel improvment, but short of rebuilding the whole trans, does any one sell a real good shift kit or rather who makes the best quality one? i just want the trans to shift real firm , not snap your neck , but let you know its there , and not have the trans crap out with 400-500 horse in front of it. that and lifting it, i hear thos 10 bolts dont hold up too well to 35's

anyways guys , thanks for all the input

Oh, well, if you're going to do expensive mods, buy a 4l80e and stick it in there. All you need is the proper crossmember, and there's a company who makes them.

And you never said anything about 4wd. why supercharge if your going to get a lift on a 4wd?

A 1500hd is really cool truck to have. 6.0L, 4l80e, and 14 bolt rear make for some good times in the mud! I did some work to my buddies(k&N system, headers, custom tune, 100 shot nx kit) and it dropped almost 2 seconds in the 1/4. It was fun as hell to hit the button in the mud as well. :grinyes: We always called the truck project ZEUS........ :lol:

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/12/web/324000-324999/324858_165_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/12/web/324000-324999/324858_167_full.jpg

[QUOTE=Slowprocess]A 1500hd is really cool truck to have. 6.0L, 4l80e, and 14 bolt rear make for some good times in the mud! I did some work to my buddies(k&N system, headers, custom tune, 100 shot nx kit) and it dropped almost 2 seconds in the 1/4. It was fun as hell to hit the button in the mud as well. :grinyes: We always called the truck project ZEUS........ :lol:

so wait a sec....an 02 1500 HD has a 6.0, 4l80e, and a 14 bolt rear? if this is so , i think you may have just sold me....do they make it in a Z71 too? cuz now im gettni excited....and about "why supercharge a 4wd?"....lemme ask you this.....why not? :grinyes:

Remember...a Z71 is only Bilstein shocks in the early 2000's and some other shocks in later years and an engine cover (I forget what you call it) but it covers the bottom of the engine.

The 1500HD Only Has 4x4 option but I still think It has alot of the skid plates a Z71 has but it just has different shocks..also the 1500HD has the "Auto 4wd" selection where the 2500hds just had 4hi/4lo/2hi not really sure why that is. I've owned a 2003 1500HD for a while now and it really is a good truck it weights at around 8600ilbs so its just a hair lighter than the 2500hds and thats probably the difference in frames. It also came with a 4.10rear end which was an option on them and it seems to tow very well and have quite bit of low end torque..just my experiences-
Danny

ah, thought the Z71 was slightly lifted from the factory...but what axles and trans does the 1500 HD have? gear ratio's? and auto 4wd? cant just leave it in 2wd and select 4wd when you want?

Well I got mine with a 4.10 rear end which is a factory option I'm pretty they come stock with the 3.73...Also mine has the 4l80e trans and the Auto 4wd selection but it does sit lower than a Z71 and just a hair lower than a 2500hd 4x4 does. Also I read that 1500hd has a quadrasteer option too when gm still made it

The 1500HD Only Has 4x4 option but I still think It has alot of the skid plates a Z71 has but it just has different shocks..also the 1500HD has the "Auto 4wd" selection where the 2500hds just had 4hi/4lo/2hi not really sure why that is. I've owned a 2003 1500HD for a while now and it really is a good truck it weights at around 8600ilbs so its just a hair lighter than the 2500hds and thats probably the difference in frames. It also came with a 4.10rear end which was an option on them and it seems to tow very well and have quite bit of low end torque..just my experiences-
Danny


So, it weighs nearly twice as much as a regular 1500? Mine weighed around 4400 lbs last time I went to the dump.

As for Z71's sitting higher its because of the bigger tires. 265/70 R 17 on the Z, opposed to the 245/70 R16's on the HD's. But your always just a little crank away from fitting 33's easy, especially on factory wheels with the damn near 6" backspacing. Auto 4wd is awesome, yes you can put it in 2wd, but you lose no real power going in auto, especially if you live in the land of snow and ice. The 1500hd is totally worth it just for the 14b sf out back and the 4l80e. I wanna a 4l80e, especially when I have the turbo added on.

So, it weighs nearly twice as much as a regular 1500? Mine weighed around 4400 lbs last time I went to the dump.

Yeah Sorry I Wrote That Wrong..the curb weight is 5500lbs for a 1500hd crew cab and the GVWR written on the door label is 8600lbs

Another option for some of you guys wanting a 4l80e would be a 4l65e. They seem to be holding up alot better than the 4l60e, and can be bought for alot less than the 4l80e. FLT makes a 4l65e that is just about bullet proof. The 4l80e is a power robbing beast.
FWIW......I'll be going to a turbo 400 if I ever lose this 6th built 4l60e. :grinyes: