Help Me Decide

[Fingers]

In the worst heat of the summer, I hurt the engine on my '04 LLY. I was pulling the trailer in stop and go traffic with steep hills while grossing over 26,000#. A lot like back to back sled pulls with no cool down between. Water temps were not bad, (220-230 max) but the oil pressure dropped to zero at idle and was low when pulling. No where to pull over. Done this pull many times in the past, but never the oil pressure issue. Then the tapping started and has not gone away since. She is still running, but is wounded.

Anyway, I have to decide if I am going to keep the old girl. 20year old truck that has been run hard. If I keep her, she needs a rebuild. I have a short block on the stand but even so. 20 year old truck. There is a hit list of other nuisance issues that also need addressing. Traction bars, hydro boost, more/better heat extraction, new/better instruments, cruise doesn't work (clock spring wire in column), maybe a turbo and so on. And it is still a 20 year old truck when I am done.

Or do I get a new truck. The 10K to freshen up the old girl would go a long way to a new set of wheels.

I just can't decide........

 

[dmax_ty]

I’d fix it. I regret every day getting rid of any of my old trucks, because the new ones don’t really do anything that the old ones didn’t. Learned the lesson, “don‘t know what you got, til it’s gone,” the hard way.

 

[2004LB7]

New truck means new emissions equipment.

If the body is in good shape and transmission, drive train, etc is good. Then it's a no brained to repair. A new truck payment can go a long ways to repairs and maintenance in a used payed off truck. In two or three years of new truck payments you could have enough to fully restore the old truck

 

[Fingers]

Emissions.You don't know me real well, do you.

 

[2004LB7]

Emissions.You don't know me real well, do you.

Haha. Well it's an open forum and others might be watching

 

[68ss]

I really like my LBZ. I know it inside and out. The money for a new one buys a lot of parts for me lol

 

[TheBac]

Same boat. The plans were to find rust-free body parts and do a full on restoration, but the electrical problems have started. Would have to spend about $20K to bring her back to reliable, usable life. Decided to buy a smaller Colorado diesel. Dont really need a large truck any more.

 

[jlawles2]

My 24 just went in the shop last week for charging issues. Put 2 batteries in my 04, turned the key and she fired up first revolution (Air Dog Fuel pump does help).

It's got a couple of minor issues that need addressing, but no where near 20K.

Been hanging on to her simply because it's always been reliable....

 

[Dm23]

New vehicles are really nice, but at the current pricing, I would keep your old truck. Or if you can, would you be able to do both? Get something newer and put money into the old?

 

[malibu795]

My 24 just went in the shop last week for charging issues. Put 2 batteries in my 04, turned the key and she fired up first revolution (Air Dog Fuel pump does help).

It's got a couple of minor issues that need addressing, but no where near 20K.

Been hanging on to her simply because it's always been reliable....

Good thing I didn't take you up on your offer 🫣

I vote Keep it

 

[gassux]

i guess i'm getting old at 39 7/8 but i like the comfort of my L5P. My 06 needs injectors and i dont have 3500 to spend so it will sit for awhile. I say do both

 

[MAXX IT OUT]

What do you use the truck for on the day to day? I am on a similar boat with my 01, the body isnt in good enough shape to spend the money on fixing, but I have too much money in the powertrain to get rid of it. My current thought is to replace it with a new/newer 2500 6.6/10 speed gasser, I tow a lot but only GCVW above 22000lbs+ 2 or 3 times a year. I think I can live with the draw backs of the gasser to miss out on the fun of the new diesel blues. Then I am planning on body swap my 01, make it lighter/simpler and something more fun to drive. I know if I get a new diesel, I will spend big money on doing what I have currently done to my 01 and end back up in the same boat in 10 year.

 

[N2BRK]

BTDT: I sold my LMM. I sat there looking at my bank account... I had enough cash to buy an L5P. I bought an LB7 and put $$ into it. LOL

 

[pl_silverado]

I vote keep it and build it. Nothing will ever be as reliable as 01-10 trucks, even taking their specific generational issues into consideration. Having rebuilt my 2010 from the ground up, I have zero regrets. I could have bought a nice new truck for what I spent on it, but it's never left me stranded. Come to think of, over the years not one single 01-10 truck has ever left me stranded, always made it home.

That being said, I did just add an L5P to the mix. Multiple trucks is really the only acceptable answer, lol.

 

[gmduramax]

If you’re still going to tow heavy as much as I hate to say it. Get a newer truck. I loved driving The Limo but if I was towing 10k lbs I would take my dad’s 18 L5P. The 20+ is even better towing. But I also refuse to buy a newer truck because they keep making them bigger.

 

[1FastBrick]

I like my 05LLY, but I want to LBZ swap it...

in the last 2 weeks, I have killed both rear window regulators, a front door latch, the drive side master widow and lock switch is intermittent.

Took the panel off to replace the master switch and the screw hold down broke trying to remove it. So I epoxied that back together and got everything back together and now the damn steps won't come down. It recognizes being opened

The passenger side switch is not recognizing when its open so that needs replaced.

 

[Fingers]

To those claiming that a 20 yr old truck is more reliable towing 26,000#, get real. Once you crack the 100,000 mile mark, you are chasing one issue or another. I have not traveled any distance in the truck in the last 5 years because it is NOT reliable any more. All little shit too. until the engine tap... As long as it would pull the trailer locally, I was content. Loved working on it when it was new and reasonably clean. Now grease dirt and rusty bolts.

Test drove a '25. Nice truck. love the 10 speed and ride. Good adequate power in stock form. I'm a fan of the built in trailer controller. Despise the hood. Thought the '04 was high. You couldn't see my other half walking in front of the truck. Too much soccer mom crap in the one I drove. Peeked at a WT trim and think it fits me better. Still has the turning radius of a school bus.

New problem. Losing prime on the fuel line. No visible leaks. Pumps up fine but I think I am sucking air bubbles.

 

[1FastBrick]

To those claiming that a 20 yr old truck is more reliable towing 26,000#, get real. Once you crack the 100,000 mile mark, you are chasing one issue or another. I have not traveled any distance in the truck in the last 5 years because it is NOT reliable any more. All little shit too. until the engine tap... As long as it would pull the trailer locally, I was content. Loved working on it when it was new and reasonably clean. Now grease dirt and rusty bolts.

Test drove a '25. Nice truck. love the 10 speed and ride. Good adequate power in stock form. I'm a fan of the built in trailer controller. Despise the hood. Thought the '04 was high. You couldn't see my other half walking in front of the truck. Too much soccer mom crap in the one I drove. Peeked at a WT trim and think it fits me better. Still has the turning radius of a school bus.

New problem. Losing prime on the fuel line. No visible leaks. Pumps up fine but I think I am sucking air bubbles.

Just had that happen on the fuel pump primer. I had to rebuild it on my 05

 

[2004LB7]

To those claiming that a 20 yr old truck is more reliable towing 26,000#, get real. Once you crack the 100,000 mile mark, you are chasing one issue or another. I have not traveled any distance in the truck in the last 5 years because it is NOT reliable any more. All little shit too. until the engine tap... As long as it would pull the trailer locally, I was content. Loved working on it when it was new and reasonably clean. Now grease dirt and rusty bolts.

Test drove a '25. Nice truck. love the 10 speed and ride. Good adequate power in stock form. I'm a fan of the built in trailer controller. Despise the hood. Thought the '04 was high. You couldn't see my other half walking in front of the truck. Too much soccer mom crap in the one I drove. Peeked at a WT trim and think it fits me better. Still has the turning radius of a school bus.

New problem. Losing prime on the fuel line. No visible leaks. Pumps up fine but I think I am sucking air bubbles.

Lift pump for the win

My LLY is about 15k from 300k miles. No problem trusting it other then the transmission. It's not built so I always have in the back of my mind that if I push it too hard it will limp. But other than that it's in great shape. WT trim so no too much electronics to go wrong

 

[SoCalMike]

I say buy a new truck for towing and keep the old truck.