First time posting on the forum, great site. Looking for a used work truck for my business, it is a seasonal business here in the northeast, so about 8 months or so, all local, so I wouldn't be driving that many miles per year. I run across late 90s, early 2000s Chevy/GMC 3500/3500HDs for sale in good condition with relatively low miles. I'd be looking at gas engines (7.4 and 8.1).I think with the 3500HD, it was the GMT400 platform until 2002 when it was discontinued.

As I have been doing some research on specs and seeing what is out there, I read about lack of parts availability. When I look at say Rock Auto, I still see many parts available, but I'm not looking at everything.

Is this a major issue with these trucks? I like the 3500HD with the 15k GVWR, I could use the extra load capacity. I figure I could save at least $10k buying one of these trucks vs a newer model, given about the same miles and condition. But I know these trucks are older, and if parts availability is an issue, then maybe not the way to go. Any repair parts that are hard to find or not available?

 

I have a 1996 C1500 with 202,000 miles on it that I still drive, and the biggest issue I see with parts are interior components for inside the cab. I find a lot of body parts on websites like carparts.com, and mechanical parts on rockauto.com. I really like my 1996, and while not my daily driver, I am working towards addressing a list of mechanical things, mostly maintenance, things like O2 sensors, etc.

So far I've found anything I looked for, OTHER than seat covers and foam, for my 1996. A lot of that is because I have an unusual 60/40 split bench without a folding armrest in the front of the extended cab, and they only put that in about 5% of the ones they built, versus bucket seat or a split bench with a folding armrest in the middle.

Odds are anything you cannot find new, you can find at a salvage yard.