I have an '80 GMC 3/4 Ton with a 350, and an '85 Chevy 1 Ton with 454. Both have the old turbo 400 trany. Both have pulled my old steel horse trailer with 4,000 LBS of horses all over Montana. I got the '85 for the bigger engine while pulling up hills, but prefer the older one where everything is still manual. The newer on has power everything, and it's all wearing out.
As far as the running gear though, neither truck has had any problems, and they are both pushing 200K. I would rather spend $200 a year in maintenance and KNOW I have a reliable truck that I can fix (and parts are dirt cheap on these old GMs) than spend $300-$1000 per month on payments.
Not to mention old trucks are cheap, so buy two and you'll always have something to drive if something does brake.
As far as the running gear though, neither truck has had any problems, and they are both pushing 200K. I would rather spend $200 a year in maintenance and KNOW I have a reliable truck that I can fix (and parts are dirt cheap on these old GMs) than spend $300-$1000 per month on payments.
Not to mention old trucks are cheap, so buy two and you'll always have something to drive if something does brake.
