I currently have a 1999 GMC Sierra 1500 with a 5.3L v8 and factory tow package, and I'm hauling a 16' gooseneck steel stock trailer, with one small horse and enough gear for a weekend.  The truck labors up long steep hills (I have to slow down not to go over 3k on the tach) but other than that it does fine.

The trailer, however, is for sale.  Once it sells, I'll be shopping for a used 2h GN slant-load trailer, hopefully aluminum-skin with a steel frame and wood floor.  (The overall length cannot be more than the current trailer... 6' nose plus 16' floor.)  I've been told that this will weigh about the same as what I'm replacing, but it certainly won't weigh LESS.

Due to an accident, I will be replacing the truck at essentially the same time.  I'll be shopping for a GMC/Chevy truck in the 2004-2007 range.  (I haven't decided between 1/2- and 3/4-ton... this decision will affect how new the truck will be.)

As much as it's un-cool to admit it, gas mileage HAS to factor into my decision about my next truck.  This is our family's second commuter vehicle and it gets a fair number of miles every week.  Around town, in my current truck, I get 16mpg.  Hauling... I don't even want to guess.  Maybe 8-10mpg?  It seems as if a 2004 (or so) 3/4-ton GMC/Chevy only gets 10-12mpg around town, but would get about the same while towing, because it wouldn't be working very hard.  (And no, I'm not currently considering a diesel engine b/c of the increased purchase price and the fact that diesel is currently so much more expensive than gas.  We don't have alternative fuels around here.)

So my first question is this... I know that GMC/Chevy improved their trucks significantly between 1999 and 2006... but did they improve the 1500 enough to significantly impact its performance in towing?  If it tows a lot more weight in an easier fashion, maybe I can get away with just the 1500 as long as it's got the factory tow package.

My second question is can you hook up a gooseneck with a 6' overbed length to a truck with only a 5.5' bed??  Most of the 3/4-tonners I'm finding are crew cabs, and most have a shorter bed to compensate.

My third question is how difficult is it to find a 2h GN slant??  My local used trailer dealer says it's a needle in a haystack, but I'm wondering if that's just regional.  (I CAN'T go with a 3h b/c of the increased turning radius, cost, and space needed to park it.)

Thanks everyone, sorry about the long post!

-Sharon L. in Maine

Just pulled up 2 horse GN trailers in HTW. There were 446 for sale. Not all will be slant load, some will be straight.

Gard

Well, yes, but given my location (Maine) it's difficult to find any used trailers, let alone something as specific as I want.  I was really just asking a general question, looking for answers like "I live in VA and they're the most common trailer around here" or whatever.  That question was the least important of all three, more venting than anything else.  ;)

Oh OK, maybe it's only the half-ton crew-cabs that have a 5.5' bed. Thanks.
It's likely that I will NOT be able to find a GN trailer with a tapered nose.  I've yet to see one in my price range.

1.  Why in the world are you worried about running over 3000 rpm? (did I understand that right?)  That 5.3 needs to rev to make its power.  My Duramax redlines at 3200 and I do not think twice about running it almost that high to climb a hill, IIRC the 5.3 redlines a good bit higher than 3200.....4800?? 

I suspect the 5.3 you have now has plenty of power if you let it turn in the power band probably a little over 4000.

2.  Most CC short beds are 6.5' long, should be no problem.

3.  Not very hard.

Two words.... my husband.  The long answer is, he tells me if the engine sounds like it's gonna blow up, I have to slow down.  He never lets me get anywhere near redlining when he's in the cab (not that he often is).  Never made any sense to me, if I slow down the truck shifts back up a gear and I lose power.  I just can't convince him on my own merits, you know?  I need professional truck expert sitting there backing me up, and then I STILL need a notorized statement from my mechanic.  LOL

OK, but some of them ARE shorter, I've seen 'em myself (although I can't find that particular spec online anywhere).  Can a bed that short be used with a 6' gooseneck?  If so, does it have to be a specific KIND of gooseneck?

I don't think you will see that much difference between a 1/2 ton and a 3/4 ton in fuel mileage if you have them set up with the same engine, tranny, and gear ratio.  When running empty both trucks should be close. Maybe a 1 mpg difference for the slightly heavier truck.  Now you will see a difference if you get the 3/4 ton with the bigger engine. I had a 97 F250 and got the same mileage as my nieghbors 97 F150 that had the same V8 gas engine.  At least with the 3/4 you get the next size larger brakes and probably jump up one tire range.

you may want to look at diesels. With the housing crash, many involved in the building business are having to sell their assets to stay alive. Since no builders are making any money this year, nobody is buying those kind of trucks.(new or used). Couple that with the higher price of diesel and the resale of those trucks is much lower than in past years. If you are not paying a $4000 premium for a diesel, it may be the better deal.  When my F350 is empty it is pretty easy to get 18-20 mpg on the hiway. Where as my wife's Ford Explorer with a gas V-6 gets 17 in town and 19 on the hiway.  But if you do a lot of traffic driving, Stop and Start all city driving, the diesel will be a 14 mpg truck.

Yes, absolutely.  :)  So... let me get this straight, you're all saying I should ignore it when it sounds like it's going to blow up?

OK, I'll consider a 2500 with 5.3L engine.  Best of both worlds... better gas mileage and stronger brakes/suspension.

I'd CONSIDER a diesel but around here it's $.90/gal more to buy diesel than gas.  And I do put most of the miles on commuting from home to work (not a lot of stop-n-go but it's not highway either) so unless the truck itself was cheaper it would be hard to justify.

One more question for you... how do I figure out the gear ratio on my truck?

Thanks for your thoughts everyone, keep 'em coming! 

Yes, absolutely.  :)  So... let me get this straight, you're all saying I should ignore it when it sounds like it's going to blow up?

What we're saying is that  gas engines can run under a load, at rpms in the 4k region without hurting anything. They develop their HP and torque at a higher RPM than a diesel motor, so you need this engine speed to develop the necessary power. Your red line is probably another 1k or 1 1/2k higher than your working RPM.

Gard

You can't get a 5.3 in a 2500HD, only the 6.0 and the Duramax. If you can find a regular, used 2500, (not the HD truck) something like a 2001-2002 then you may find one with the 5.3 engine.

Your 1500 probably has 3.42 gears, most 1500's do. It may have 3.73's since it's a "99" with the tow package, check inside of glove box for a sticker with the trucks build codes. Do you still have the original window sticker? The axle ratio should be on it.

Never mind that last question, I called the local dealer and actually got someone to talk to me.  LOL  He explained several things so that they finally make sense to me, including the gear ratio thing.  ANNNNNNNNNND he agreed with you all about letting the truck rev higher than 3k when towing... said it's just getting started when it does that.  Now I just have to convince hubby...

hi there,

too bad you live so far away, i have a really nice 2-horse slant all aluminum gn fo sale on HTW. i need a 3 horse gn.('06 Classic Monarch)good luck on your search