Fellow at my company is selling his truck. I’ve been looking for a long time at what might be optimal for the next vehicle. This opportunity is about seven months earlier than planned May 2022 purchase.

Goals are
1. Can tow rental RV trailers, motorcycle trailer, utility trailers with mulch, etc.
2. Can handle infrequent mountain grades on interstates (like Afton Mountain west of Richmond)
3. Can seat my 6’4” frame comfortably for one day of driving
4. Can hold enough gear that won’t fit in the RV trailer — think Airstream
5. Can be resold with minimal financial penalty

This one is 6.0L L96 Vortec, 4WD, 4.10:1 axle, and many desirable options. It has about 155K miles. I have clean Carfax and also looked up ALL the options from the glovebox decal. Very well set up.

I have owned 1997 F150, 2004 Tundra, 2002 Silverado, 2007 Suburban. I am familiar with the GM engines with AFM (DOD) and the L96 does NOT have this undesirable feature. My company techs are well-versed in maintaining GM trucks and transmissions. This HD vehicle has a six speed HD transmission, and the Z71 off-road package.

I am in favor of white exterior, but not black interior. However, this does have a moonroof, which could minimize the claustrophobic black.

I don’t want to start RV life with a diesel dually, but with something that would allow us to explore the options. I can’t afford the present new trucks, given the recent home renovation with furniture purchases.

I’m excited, for some reason. I feel like this is something that has Providentially been placed in front of me.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 4MUL8R,

How much $$ and what's the maintenance history? 155k or roughly 20k miles a year is a lot of miles, in my opinion.

I like the Denali's and think it would be perfect for you. The main thing is the price, it's a horrible time to buy a used truck. If the price is good, do it before someone else does.

6.0 is not going to be the best for fuel economy. As a plus it does not have AFM and the associated failures with camshaft and lifters. I think GM finally got the exhaust manifold bolt breakage cured.

IMO the mileage is not a negative, a lot of those LS series engines have 250k and up on them.

All depends on the price.

The 6.0 is a good, long running, reliable engine, I wouldn't worry about the mileage, especially if it has good mx history. And with 4.10's it is a decent puller.

I have a '13 Denali HD (Duramax) and love the truck and comforts. Find it comfortable, have no issues with long trips (driven it Ohio to Idaho multiple times). I'm 6'5"

I've had a 6.0 in that body style too (2008). Mine had 3.73's and would have preferred the 4.10's. Gas mileage wasn't the best towing, but then again, the mileage on my current Duramax is nothing to write home about (especially with the price of diesel). Got a pretty standard 13 MPG around town, 8-10 towing a 8K 5th wheel.

If the price is right, go for it.

I have a 2013 1500 Sierra and it’s been really good to the family sine I got it with 74 miles.

It’s the 5.3 with (now deleted) AFM, so I can’t really speak to the powertrain in the prospective one, but places I’d check bodywise are the cab corners, wheelwell arches, the crossmember just forward of the fuel tank, the rear bumper brackets, and the inside of the rear bumper. That’s where road crap seems to accumulate on mine. The driver rear brake line and the fuel lines run along the top of the frame rail driverside- if you can check them with a scope and make sure they’re solid that wouldn’t hurt.

Interiors are similar enough to comment on-the window switches on my driver door and passenger rear door wore out- but I’m a window-fidgeter, I always have one or two cracked and constantly adjust for wind noise. $30 to rock auto and 10 minutes to change. The dashes tend to crack on the passenger side at the airbag corners, known issue, reportedly just cosmetic.

It’s a solid line of trucks and should serve you well for 80-100k more miles easily. If the price is good, I wouldn’t hesitate to say “go for it”.

Seller brought truck to work today for a review. I drove it, and inspected it fairly thoroughly. I see many small cosmetic issues, none of which concern me. It has great options, including a Retrax bed cover, a B&W gooseneck hitch, a B&W drawbar, a Line-X spray in bedliner, and all the Denali interior features. The interior headliner is light grey, as are the side window posts, so dark claustrophobia is minimized. Leather is in great condition. All switches work. All switches are in good condition, with no fading or decay so common to the 2007 era. No leaks, no signs of leaks. Brakes are strong (unknown pad thickness). Transmission shifts as expected. LT tires have at least a few months of life left.

I can't see a reason to reject this truck.

That's a great truck. I have it's older brother a 98 2500hd with 4.10 gears and 454.
Mine gets better mileage r
Than most with the smaller motor. Because it's not working hard.

Should be a good truck if it's been taken care of, which it sounds like it has. Just be aware, that 6.0 is a fuel hog. I have an '01 2500HD with the 6.0 and 4.10s (although my 6.0 is the older LQ4). It averages about 10mpg, whether you're pulling anything or not. If you do have to pull a trailer, though, it does a pretty good job of it.

The 8.1 big block was still available in my model year, and frankly I wish I had that instead. It purportedly got about the same fuel economy as the 6.0, but makes a lot more power.

13,000 lbs tow capable is a lot of extra barbecue and cheesecake for your next wilderness jaunt.

The trucks do seem to last. Over the weekend a friend acquired a 2002 Silverado Extended cab 144" WB 4x4 with 80k. It has the same 4.8L V8 L20 engine and 4L60-E 4-speed transmission as my 2013 Sierra. Runs as new.

Black leather can be good. *Think* no coffee staining. I've got mocha steel metallic over "light cashmere" [tan] for the open look but with a regular cab, it is a small 'living' space for 2,400 mile drives.

For others: This GM VIN Decoder works on everything but the glove box tab service parts numbers:
https://chevroletforum.com/forum/vindecoder.php

what is the price? Been asked several times and unless I missed it, don't see it. It is the essential bit of info for feedback. GM's are not the greatest for longevity without issue's. But generally are decent or better trucks.

quote:

Originally posted by 4MUL8R:
My company techs are well-versed in maintaining GM trucks and transmissions.

With a Lepelletier gearbox! Nice feature! But your own shop techs is as nice.

Price is irrelevant [within reason] if you are getting what you want. Not too many HD 2013 Denali's for comparison, but I'd guess anything under $35k is a great price. 155k miles = a bit of highway driving. Dividing engine hours into mileage would confirm but if the truck is in relatively unblemished interior condition, multiple in-and-out / city wear-n-tear might be ruled out.

quote:

5. Can be resold with minimal financial penalty

I think it depends not just on what you pay but also on how long you are going to keep it and how much you are going to drive it.

155K miles would not be a deal-breaker if it's been maintained and checks out. However, 200K is the cut-off for a lot of people for re-sale. Of course, if you buy it cheap enough, intend to keep it, and don't drive it a lot it may be a great deal. As long as it runs and drives, it's worth something. The question is how much?

There is no way in hell I would pay anywhere close to $35k for such a vehicle. That is nutz.

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
what is the price? Been asked several times and unless I missed it, don't see it. It is the essential bit of info for feedback. GM's are not the greatest for longevity without issue's. But generally are decent or better trucks.

I guess maybe he, like you with the lengthy thread on purchasing your used Dodge Cummins pickup, prefers not to divulge the price.

quote:

GM's are not the greatest for longevity without issue's.

I've got a 20 year old silverado with 220k and an 18 year old suburban with 406k that both beg to differ. Both running original motors, and that Suburban doesn't even use oil. The truck he's looking at doesn't have the stupid Active Fuel Management BS, either, which is really the only problem with the new LS motor.

feather up your ass move a little arf? Probably a good idea to leave it there.

I did not ask "to talk me into it or out it". Nice try though.

quote:

Originally posted by 92fstech:

quote:

GM's are not the greatest for longevity without issue's.

I've got a 20 year old silverado with 220k and an 18 year old suburban with 406k that both beg to differ. Both running original motors, and that Suburban doesn't even use oil. The truck he's looking at doesn't have the stupid Active Fuel Management BS, either, which is really the only problem with the new LS motor.

GM today is not the GM of 20 years ago. A HD from 20 years ago, sure 250K miles. Anything after a 2015 I would, from experience, put a hard pass on. This 2013, if the price is right then I'd do it in your circumstance.

quote:

Originally posted by ChuckFinley:

quote:

Originally posted by 92fstech:

quote:

GM's are not the greatest for longevity without issue's.

I've got a 20 year old silverado with 220k and an 18 year old suburban with 406k that both beg to differ. Both running original motors, and that Suburban doesn't even use oil. The truck he's looking at doesn't have the stupid Active Fuel Management BS, either, which is really the only problem with the new LS motor.

GM today is not the GM of 20 years ago. A HD from 20 years ago, sure 250K miles. Anything after a 2015 I would, from experience, put a hard pass on. This 2013, if the price is right then I'd do it in your circumstance.

I think the 2013 should still be ok. Doesn't have the problematic AFM, and I don't think I heard about electronic issues until they put all the new tech in with the 2014 refresh.

quote:

Originally posted by Perception:I don't think I heard about electronic issues until they put all the new tech in with the 2014 refresh.

My 2013 has had one issue, the evaporator temperature switch. A $22 part, hard to diagnose, hard to access. That was it for issues knock wood.