Hello,
I am just curious about all the problems you had with the truck. I understand that sometimes a truck/car can be a lemon, no matter what brand it is, but with the list of things you mentioned, I have to wonder what you were doing with it also.
I think the problem with chevy's is that they are not meant to do the same things as bigger f450's and what not do, but its a problem these days because everyone uses these as a 'standard' for what a mason dump should do.
One thing that bothers me is that the items you mentioned sound like they may not have been the trucks fault persay. For example, having to replace batteries, replace alternators, and having front end problems could be a problem in many plow trucks. Were there any wacky electrical set-ups on the truck, like 10 lights, radios, flashers, beacons, electric plow pump, etc. that may have caused reoccuring problems? Did the truck have the heavy duty alternator/dual batteries? Also, what size plow is on it? Personally, the biggest I feel that should be on a chevy front end is a 8 ft, but see a lot of 9's on them, and yes, they squat low with that. To make matters worse, they have a 9ft and a loaded v-box in the back, which is what I would call past the trucks design.
Was wondering if most of this work was under warranty also. With only 42k and 4 years old, I'd imagine most of it occuring during the warranty period. Did the dealer give you a hard time fixing it saying it was abuse and not workmanship?
As for the fuel pumps, I believe chevy had a recall on them and was replacing them. Not sure for gas models, but my friends 96 6.5 diesel had two replaced also, and that was free of charge. I guess I will admit that chevy screwed up there. Also, will admit that sometimes chevy have the paint peel, especially around the wheel wells and off of the 'plastic' fender extensions. Been a problem for a while that they have had for awhile.
With the front end, all I can is its a chevy front end. A compromise of ride quality over strength. All I can is, if you really want to work the front end of a truck, then stick with the fords.
I can't blame you for buying a different truck, but just am interested in what was so wrong with the truck that made you hate it. I've heard many people say that there truck sucks and breaks all the time, but then again they fail to mention that they were hauling around 3 yards of topsoil, pulling a 20 ft trailer, and a 10k machine around with it all day on unpaved backroads doing 65mph.
steveair
[Edited by steveair on 01-17-2001 at 05:14 PM]