so some of you guys might know, my dad is looking to purchase a gmc/chevy 2500 HD...

my question is for u folks...

is it worth extra $1200 to get Allision 5 speed auto trans? or should we just settle for a 4 speed?

whats so great about a Allision trans except that it has one more gear?

 

get it. for 2 reasons.
#1. My best buddy had a Chevy 2500 HD 4x4 with the big gas 8.1 liter motor. he pulls campers and farms like myself. He got the cheap transmission(GM built transmission) it nuked in like 20,000 miles. and again at 45,000 miles finally they bought it back from him and gave him one with a Allison in it.
#2. Allison transmission will automatically kick out overdrive if you have a large load on it. My grandpa(which i farm with) we use his truck to take loads of grain and hogs to town with it. He has an 02 Duramax GMC 2500 HD 4x4. Plus the tranny never slips a bit we've had 15 ton behind it before.
Grandpa we figured usually gets 25 mpg with his Sierra.
Now about Allison transmissions.
Allison transmissions are used in dump trucks, semis, school buses and fire trucks.(being a firefighter it's the the perfered transmission in fire trucks). usually with as heavy as dump trucks,fire trucks and school buses are they have problems holding together automatic transmissions. Allison has been around since the 50s or 60s(i don't know the exact year). it rarely you hear of an Allison tranny going bad unless you try to blow it up. Put it this way I know a guy he has a dump truck with an Allison in it with 1 million miles on it and the orginally Allison is still in it. They put heavier dust barriers and made for off road conditions better.

 

best auto out there

 

i'll agree to that. I used to have a 95 Dodge with the Cummins in it. that damn thing ate transmissions worst than you guys CLs and TLs it went through 5-6 trannys. plus when i had a load on it. it was shifting ALL THE TIME if i was headed up hills. I occassionally drive my grandpa's Duramax/Allison combo. I put it in Drive and you can't even feel it shift.

 

really!?


we got a quote of $33,000 for a fully loaded Chevy 2500HD LT with everyoption, including 8.1L and allison tran~~~


Good deal??

 

I just know allison transmission are used in our City Bus. =P

 

couple things to look at:
#1. is it extended or crew cab.
#2. I always use the "20 percent rule."(unless it's new and hot cars and they're flying off the lots). that means you take MSRP take 20% off that and that's what I'd say you should pay if the dealer not an butt.
however if you're really good.(like i was when I helped my dad get his 02 Tundra new. I said okay you pay Taxes and title and plates.(which was an extra 2 grand). they did it. the reason I feel they did it was Tundras are uncommon in regular cabs. which what dad wanted. everyone wants 4 doors or extended cabs. well he had like 5 or 6 regular cabs on the lot. I think he wanted to unload those to get extended cabs or 4 door Tundras in. So the nice thing about getting regular cabs is dealers (at least IMO) are more willing to work with you.
Don't get me wrong I like extended and crew cab trucks but it seems like the dealers around here they say here's the price on them and say either pay it or go home.

 

1. its a extended cab...

2. the MSRP is at $42,500 and the invoice is listed @ $38,000


now...the $33,000 is with all the rebates...but if we take the spacial interest, the price for the turck will be about $36,800~

 

why on earth would you get the gas one???

buy the Duramax!!!

I have an 03 2500HD Silverado LT Crew Cab. i it. the Tranny rocks, the truck rocks. it's amazing. I have towed 13,000lbs over the rockies both ways and it wasn't even an issue!

Derek, there's no fucking way you had 15 Ton behind your truck. that's 30,000pounds, and almost double the trucks rated capacity. check your numbers on that one bud

 

I dunno. Recently on Trucks they did some mild mods to a dually Dodge Ram diesel (OK, maybe it WAS a chevy) 4x4 and they SHOWED a commericial backhow attached it saying it was a 100,000 pounds, and though all wheels slipped a little on the gravel, it sure did pull it.

 

I didn't say we went fast.
It didn't sound good on the truck. but hey it pulled it.
what it was was a 500 bushel of corn wagon. It was loaded to the max. which the corn alone weighed 14 ton then 1 ton(at least) for the wagon. we pulled it at like 10-15 mph.
thank goodness Grandpa has a Bank's chip and exhaust on it. we had the chip cranked clear up. so we we're putting down 425-450 hp.