FS: 2002 Chevrolet Silverado Tow Vehicle...

[Ben Carufel]

Folks,

Now that I've sold my trailer, the tow vehicle is up for sale as well. Here's the info:

It's an '02 Chevy Silverado 1500HD. The 1500HD is unique, as you may or may not know, because it got the 8-lug axles from the 2500 (for increased payload and towing capacity) and the 6.0L Vortec motor from the 2500, without the bumpy suspension and 8' long bed of the 2500. So, it's still small enough to not be a complete pain to drive around town, yet it has much more power than the regular 1500 which only had a 5.3L engine at best. This truck also has the 3.73 rear differential. With this gear ratio, the tow rating is almost 9,000lbs. Swap the gears to a 4.10 ratio (this was a factory option), and your tow rating bumps to 10,500lbs.

If you'd like to CarFax it, the VIN# is: 1GCGC13U72F107475.

It's 2WD (no 4WD transfer case to replace!). 107,000 miles. Condition is nearly perfect. There are a few small dings in the rear bumper, a few small scratches here and there (no long key marks, they're literally small scratches), and a few cracks in the leather on the drivers armrest.

I'm the 2nd owner. I bought it last year from the first owner in Los Angeles. It's never spent any time in the snow, so no rust at all. The previous owner never even towed with it, though it's got the factory tow package. To that I've added a Tekonsha Prodigy brake controller ($150) and a set of CIPA clip on extended width towing mirrors ($75). I'm also including two 3" drop-downs, one with a 2" ball and one with a 2 5/16" ball (about $30 each).

I have *all records* for the truck since new. April '09 it got a set of spark plugs and new spark plug wires as well as a fuel filter and air filter (at 85,884 miles) for a total of just over $500. In January '10 it got a full dealer inspection and service with another new fuel and air filter (just as preventive maintenance), tire rotation, and the $100 passenger compartment air filter replaced. That service was just over $300. Then I installed four new Bilstein shocks and struts (cost of about $300, I did the labor). Also in January it got new Polk Audio speakers all round (front and rear doors), for a total of $150 (I installed these myself). Then in March the truck got a Peripheral brand iPod connection unit, which installed inside the dash and allows the iPod/iPhone to plug in and charge as well as play digitally through the stock stereo. That was another $150, with me doing the installation.

Finally, in August of this year, with 105,800 miles on the truck, I had the water pump, thermostat, upper & lower hoses, and both belts replaced. The cooling system was refilled with Extended Life GM Coolant. At the same time, the shop drained and refilled the rear differential with high end fully synthetic Motul 75W90 differential fluid. Also, they replaced the automatic transmission filter and refilled the transmission with fully synthetic Motul transmission fluid, for a total bill of $700. Then last week, I had a Line-X bedliner sprayed into the bed at a cost of $565.

I just paid the registration last week; It's valid through September 23, 2011. That was $325.

The truck has full leather (see the attached photo of the window sticker) and the front seats are fully power, 6-way with seat heaters. The leather is in great shape, with only the small cracks on the drivers seat armrest to detratct from it being "perfect". Also, the rear seats fold fully flat to create an extremely useful storage space behind the driver and passenger, so that valuable equipment can be left in the truck and the not-so-valuable stuff can be left in the bed when stopping.

Essentially, it needs nothing. I planned to keep this truck indefinitely and always serviced/treated it with that in mind, but since I've sold the trailer I have no need for a truck -- my every day car is a station wagon and I can carry what I need to carry in that just fine.

I'm asking $13,750 OBO for the truck.

I will of course have it smogged before the sale, and I'm planning to give it a good polishing (I did professional car detailing a few years ago and still have quite a bit of equipment and supplies) before any new owner picks it up.

Oh, and I'm happy to deliver this anywhere in the Continental US for the cost of gas and a plane ticket home.

Attached are a handful of pictures I snapped this morning. If you're looking for any particular photos, please let me know.

I can be reached at bencarufel at gmail dot com. If you'd like to chat about the truck on the phone, email me a contact number and I'll call you.

[rede30]

I tow with a 5.3 Yukon and it does well, I imagine you don't even feel a load behind you with this. Good luck with the sale.

[Ben Carufel]

I tow with a 5.3 Yukon and it does well, I imagine you don't even feel a load behind you with this. Good luck with the sale.

With an enclosed trailer like the one I just sold, you definitely feel it, but the truck doesn't seem to mind. With an open trailer, it's like there's nothing there. It's an awesome truck.

[Ben Carufel]

Bump.

[call me jack]

it being a half ton, how much does it squat from unbalanced trailer? how much have you towed with it?

[Ben Carufel]

With a 9,000lb trailer it had some good squat to it...however, the load distribution hitch solved that problem. The 1500HD has some serious rear springs. It's got quite a bit of rake when it's empty, for that reason. The 1500HD got quite a few parts from the 2500HD. Here's a quote from a review:

"Unlike most Silverados, the 1500HD comes in only one body style -- a crew cab, short box -- giving Chevrolet a half-ton truck with four fullsize doors and true six-passenger seating capacity, something sorely needed in order to compete with Dodge's new Ram Quad Cab and Ford's F-150 SuperCrew. Intended as a truck for recreational use rather than hard-core work duty, the crew cab configuration provides a spacious passenger cabin without the harsh ride typical of most workhorse crew cabs.

In addition to its unique body style, the 1500HD also gets drivetrain components previously unavailable in a Silverado half-ton. Under the hood rests a 6.0-liter Vortec V8 rated at 300 horsepower and 360 pound-feet of torque. Handling all that power is one of GM's sturdiest light-truck automatic transmissions, the 4L80-E. With overdrive and a tow/haul mode that adjusts shift points for better performance under load, this transmission/engine combo allows the 1500HD to tow up to 10,300 pounds. Larger four-wheel disc brakes borrowed from the three-quarter-ton lineup assure that you'll be able to haul the load down to speed as quickly as the burly Vortec engine gets it going.

There are only two trim levels available: LS and LT. Well-equipped LS models include cruise control, keyless entry, an AM/FM/CD stereo, air conditioning and a driver message center that monitors 18 different vehicle systems. LT models add leather seating surfaces, power-adjustable driver and passenger seats and the OnStar communications system.

With its stout drivetrain, spacious interior and numerous standard features, the Silverado 1500HD would make a great tow vehicle for those who pull a good-sized boat or horse trailer on a regular basis, but don't want the harsh-riding suspension of most heavy-duty pickups. Its four full-sized doors allow it to serve as a great family vehicle, as well, making the Silverado 1500HD one of the most versatile and capable models in the Chevy truck lineup."

To answer your question, I've towed 10,200lbs once before, about 1200 miles round trip, and it performed flawlessly. The 4.10 gears would have helped get up to speed, but I didn't miss them too much.

[mrsleeve]

1/2 ton HD's were sold for only 1-2 years. And were the replacement for the standard 2500's (most 3/4 tons were HD's any way) that did not sell that well, so they were rebadged as 1/2 ton HD's and still didnt sell well. So Gm dropped that inbetween truck.

the good thing is that you get the 4l80E trans that is very very hard to kill.

Nice looking rig ben, too bad its not 4wd, i have a buddy looking for a good lower mileage well taken care of early GMT800 CC/SB 3/4 ton in that Grey color, We have to have 4wd

[UNHCLL]

If it was 4wd, I'd be sending you Lootcakes tomorrow!

Good luck Ben.

[Ben Carufel]

1/2 ton HD's were sold for only 1-2 years. And were the replacement for the standard 2500's (most 3/4 tons were HD's any way) that did not sell that well, so they were rebadged as 1/2 ton HD's and still didnt sell well. So Gm dropped that inbetween truck.

the good thing is that you get the 4l80E trans that is very very hard to kill.

Nice looking rig ben, too bad its not 4wd, i have a buddy looking for a good lower mileage well taken care of early GMT800 CC/SB 3/4 ton in that Grey color, We have to have 4wd

Yep, the 4L80-E is damn near bulletproof.

I sometimes wish it was 4WD, but I've only ever driven it in the snow once (towing, believe it or not) and I knew when I bought it that 4WD was just another thing to break given how little I would ever use the 4WD.

[Ben Carufel]

If it was 4wd, I'd be sending you Lootcakes tomorrow!

Good luck Ben.

Thanks. Here are some pictures to illustrate the squat when towing:

Here it is with 7,000lbs of trailer and another 800lbs in the bed:




And here it is two different times with an 1800lb. open steel trailer and a 2500lb. or so car. Notice that there's zero squat in the back...it's actually still got rake:






Here's the truck in the same configuration as the snowy picture, but before I got to the snowy part of the country. 7,000lbs of trailer and 800lbs in the bed. Notice no squat in the truck and a well-leveled trailer with the Valley weight distribution hitch:




And lastly, 2,500lbs in the bed and another 500lbs on the cargo platform:

[mrsleeve]

really that does not squat that bad.

[Ben Carufel]

really that does not squat that bad.

Yep, doesn't squat much at all.

[Ben Carufel]

Bump.

[Ben Carufel]

Bump.

[Ben Carufel]

Bump.