A. T

in november 09 i bought my 99 Z71 1500 for $3500. it had a cap on it and "vault" drawers in the bed. it had 175k when i bought it. the only problems with the truck was the 4x4 switch, window regulator on the right side (both bought new on ebay), and blower motor resistor (rock auto). then i sold the cap for $400 and the "vault" for $200 to a marine officer that needed it for locking his guns/rifles because on base they have to be double locked. i now have about $6300 into it. i don't have any pics yet because i haven't got new rims and tires yet for it. i finished 2 weeks ago a 6in rough county lift, moog sway bar bushings, ball joints, tie rods, pitman arm, idler arm and bracket, timken hubs (lift $1085 shipped, parts $825 shipped). also bought a g80 rear end and leaf springs for $750 with 20k on it, k&n, intake gaskets, heater control, new front calipers, stainless steel brake lines, painted the frame when it was stripped. the truck looks like new under it (except for the rust hole on the driver cab corner and the passenger rust bubbles across it).

as far as that 05 hd goes, i wouldn't pay that. i don't think it matters what year it is, it's got a ton of miles on it. you should be able to find a 99-04 with the same or less miles for a lesser price. but do you really need the hd package? my dad's stock 03 1500 4x4 with about 91k tow's great with a car trailer and a 3300lb car (total of about 5300lbs). it has a 4.8 regular cab, long bed, 3:73 gears. what helps the truck real good is the timbren rubber springs (replaces rear bump stops), after about 300lbs the rubber springs touch the rear end and you don't notice the wieght on the truck and saves the leaf springs.

Jeff Segan

I do not think the "HD" package in necessarily needed, but on the other hand if you have it you may not need to stiffen or reinforce the rear springs for extra weight carrying capacity.

From personal experience I can say that there is a very noticeable difference towing an enclosed car hauler with a car on-board, between using a 1500 or a 2500.

I have pulled the same car hauler with a 2008 1500 CC and a 2005 2500HD CC. Far more stable on the highway and easier to control using the 2500. You could "feel" the trailer pulling it with the 1500 and 5.3 - using the 2500 with the 6.0 you don't even know the trailer is back there...

Another significant difference is the transmission. The 1500 will most likely have the 4L60e and the 2500 will most likely have the 4L80e.

There are reasons that the 2500 cost more than the 1500 both new and used.

A. T

the timbren rubber springs are an easy add-on so that the truck won't be sagging so much with weight.
what is the weight you'll be towing and how often for what type of distance?
with the setup in my dad's 03 i tow about 300 miles round trip to the nearest drag strip (epping, nh). my dad's 08 on the other hand is worse (both have 4.8 motors, 03 has 3:73 gears and the 08 has 3:42 gears). the 2 trucks you used might have had different gears.
my dad's friend that i used to work for has a 2000 silverado z71 regular cab short bed fleet side, one owner with 110k for $7k. it is a very clean truck. it has 245/65/16 tires with 4:10 gears and g80 option. the owner of the truck was **** about the upkeep with the truck. it has ebc brakes, mobil 1 oil, synthetic fluids in the transmission, transfer case, and differentials.
those 4:10's would help on the highway with power.