We are buying a new tow vehicle and I wanted to upgrade to a 1 ton extended cab diesel,  we currently drive a 3/4 HD extended cab gas.  But apparantly GM does not make a 1 ton pickup extended cab pick up with a 6ft bed,  they only have 8ft beds.

The reason I wanted to go with a 1 ton is the our new LQ trailer that weighs about 7600 pounds was REALLY heavy on our 3/4 ton springs.  (but bear in mind the spring had about 100,000 miles of towing with our old trailer)  We installed airbags and that has really smoothed out the ride so our 3/4 HD is dooable for now.

Assuming we get a 3/4 HD diesel,  would one of those shock absorbing gooseneck hitches help save signicant wear and tear on a new truck and its springs?

There are a few different kinds out there, personally I have never used one.  As I have stated before I use and sell star performance hitches and I know they help a lot taking the jerk out of pulling a heavy trailer (can't even feel your trailer behind you when you hit bumps or rail road crossings). 

I don't know that one of those couplers would help make your truck last long cause yous still have all the wieght and pressure of the trailer on your springs and bearings and everything else.  Only thing it would do would probably make for some what of a smoother ride.

Maybe Im wrong and Mr Truck can clarify. but I believe both Ford and GM have not built any new trucks since Dec 31st. Both have engines that need to meet the 2010 emission. Ford will introduce their 2011 truck in March or April and I hear that GM's updated Duramax will go back into production around May.

So if you want a new truck, you have to buy something off the lot that was built at the factory prior to Dec 31st or you have to wait until Ford or GM start the production lines back up. I know several folks who have ordered the new trucks, so I suspect there is already some what of back log for the factories to catch up on when they start production again. so any special orders you place now will probably deliver in May or June.

In a year when dealers don't have a lot of profit, most are not carrying as big of inventory on the lots, which are now getting picked over since no new trucks have not been arriving.