cheaper to fill up right now with the way gas prices are.

 

I've got a 2002 Z71 w/ the 5.3 and it's an excellent 1/2 ton. I've lifted in 9" and run 36x14.50 Super Swamper TSL Radials and tow my boat, bikes, quads, you name it. Like someone said, if you've got the 4.3 right now and it suits you fine, go w/ the 5.3 for your next truck.

 

The Z/71 pickups really hold their value well. A 3/4 ton would probably be a little overkill. A diesel would really be overkill, but very cool. Not all of us can afford to pay for cool.

I have a standard '99 1/2 ton 4x4 with the 5.3. I really like it. I get 17mpg at 70mph, and it's a comfortable cruiser around town.

 

The 2500 HD diesel with or without a load around 15 mpg country driving. Get out on the highway without a load jumps up to about 22 mpg. I like the truck a lot. But dont think you need the 2500 HD for what your use is.

 

Just wanted to chime in and say that a diesel is never overkill

 

Compared to the 5.7 the 5.3 is a piece. I dont know about you, but I dont like having to rev to the moon to get my hp. You lose a lot of USEABLE torque with the 5.3 over the 5.7. Damn corvette engine designers.

But, the 5.3 is a much better engine than the 4.3 V6 for just about everything. Gas mileage is a lot closer to 15-17 with a lot of highway on the 5.3.

 

I bought a 2002 2500HD 4x4 extended cab short bed this past January. I love the truck. It has the 6.0 and a 5 speed manual shift. It has awesome power, I love the quick take off with that 4.10 rear. We took it on a 4 hour trip and got 17mpg, I get about 14mpg around town. If you are talking used, the price of a 2500 isnt that much higher than a 1500. I can tell you this, its the first 2500 Ive owned and after pulling my trailer with it, I will never go back to a 1500.

 

thats pretty much how I feel about it,,,,,,,,And I dont even have near the truck you do (96, 3/4 ton, 350)

 

Oh how I wish i had a 3/4 ton. 1 ton would be nice too, but It would have to have a longer wheelbase to make up for the suspension stiffness. My 1/2 tonner is a reg cab longbox. Thats another thing I will never go back to, a short box. Those things are useless to me now.

 

Don't just buy the truck you need today, plan for the next five years.

Today you tow up to 5000 lbs. If you buy a toy trailer in two or three years, then that 1/2 ton won't do. And even in a 3/4 ton HD that 6.0 might not do.

So I say plan ahead. I drive a 3/4 ton 4x4 now but am already planning my next truck, in say 4-5 years, turbo diesel 4x4 is the way to go for my next unit. Maybe even a one ton.