Frustration... truck delivered..UPDATED PICTURES
 

Has anyone tried shopping for a used vehicle lately. I've walked more than a few lots and most vehicles seem well used and not cared for. I am trying to find an 03 to 07 Silverado or Sierra 4x4 for my son. Everyone says how clean their trucks are so I make the drive to check them out. All have had rust in the rockers and cab corners despite me specifically asking that question on the phone. Is it really this difficult to find a well cared for, clean honest truck? I'm not picky either. I'm open to all cab styles and box size also (except long box ext or crew cab). We are flexible on color and engine, 4.8 or 5.3.

I know we are in the rust belt but I am beyond frustrated. I'm realistic on value and accept I'll have to pay for a clean truck. Everyone wants clean retail values for their beat to death trucks. I'm even open to traveling to get a good one, only downfall is looking it over. With how many times I've been burned locally I'm hesitant to travel only to be disappointed.

Has anyone else been this route? Any tips or advice on finding his 1st vehicle? I'll also consider an Avalanche. Prefer low 100k miles

Used truck
 

Gentry Chevrolet Dequeen Ark ask for Kenny you will not be dissapointed! Great inventory for such a small town dealership.

tough to find that era of GM truck in the north with good rockers or good brake lines

I hear you. I remember about 6 years ago looking for an early 80's El Camino for our son. Found one on line that looked promising. Called the guy and specifically asked two questions::any rust? Did the Check Engine light work properly and was it on? Came across (purposely) as an individual selling his personal vehicle. It was a dealer.

Told me everything was perfect. Drove 50 miles to go see it. Didn't even drive it. Could see clear through the rocker on the driver's side. Had an Edelbrock carb without any kind of TPS, but still had the computer controlled distributor, and the Check Engine light had been removed.
Told the guy he really needed to get out of the business if he didn't know any more about cars than that.

There are lots of good pick ups for sale in that age range here in the OKC metro, and MOST (yes, there are exceptions) do not have serious rust issues. If you find something you might be interested in, and don't mind coming here to pick it up, shoot me a PM. Be glad to go look at it for you, if it isn't too far away, and at least cull the crap for you.

Ask for good pics. With todays phones I can send excellent pics of anything, cab corners, rockers or frame and all it takes a couple of minutes. If they wont send good pics there is a reason.

In a word.....yes. Best of luck to you.

^
This.
I just went through this with another selling some car parts.After 2 weeks,told me to take his word for it,which wasn't helping his cause.
We live in an instant photo society today.If someone won't post pictures today...run.

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One of our lads is into these trucks too also we're in the same rust predicament here in Ontario Canada although blessed w/ General Motors plants being nearby so an abundance of used GM product around.
Is there a reason you don't want the '08 and up trucks as some go as cheap as the earlier ones now also amazing what deals pop up if you're tuned to recognize them and act quickly.
Best look for original non-repaired body trucks someone's rust proofed w/ oil type products also consider the newest high-miler deals you can afford.
Good luck also great how you're doing this w/ your boy!
:beers:
~ Pete


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I will check their inventory, thank you!

We stuck to the 03 to 07 market mainly due to prices and his budget. I have an 08 and love it but like the earlier generation these rust really bad in the box sides around here..

Thank you for the offer. I am completely open to catching a flight, within a days drive back to Omaha, for a good truck. Ive been all over Craigslist in that area. I appreciate the offer!!

If you don't mind flying into Chicago, there's a nice 2003 Silverado going across the block at the Mecum auction this Friday here in Schaumburg IL. Schaumburg is about 20 minutes west of Ohare airport. Here's the link for the truck:

https://www.mecum.com/lots/CH1017-29...verado-pickup/

chevys in that age do have some rocker issues. Acts like they rust from the inside out. Brine they are using on the roads in our area is destroying vehicles.
What is frustrating, some days they apply it and it never does anything weather wise!!
I have a great Chevy dealer I trade with over the phone. They sell about a 1000 new trucks a year and he doesnt have time to jerk people around. They give you good price up front and its almost enjoyable.

Well I pulled the trigger. I found an 04 regular cab short box, 79k on it. It was traded in on a new one. This is the exact truck I hoped to find him.

Truck was owned by a retired gentleman. I get to fly to Wisconsin one of these days to get it. So far I'm thrilled, dealt with the dealer owner and she was wonderful. Got me all the pictures I wanted.

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Looks like a beauty, hope it's all you wanted and more.
Bet your lad is excited too!
:beers:
~ Pete


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He doesn't know. He will get it next weekend. I'm on the hunt for some different wheels, newer take offs most likely. I have a lead on some Texas Edition 20's. A slight crank on the torsion bars and tint the windows will take it up a notch in the appearance department.

Nice, if you give it a little time you will find what you want.

Newer take off's
 

FWIW, I believe the later 20" wheels are a different bolt circle and back spacing, better check before pulling the trigger would be my suggestion. We went through this with a Buddy's Son's truck recently.

Bill

Thanks for the heads up, I will do some research. Do you have more specifics like what year the wheels were and what you were trying to put them on? I've seen this era truck with 20s so I assumed it was interchangeable. You lnow what they say about assuming....

Late model wheels
 

It was a 2006 K-1500 and we were trying to put 2016 K-1500 20" 0n and they would not fit.

Bill

The search for a truck of this vintage may be frustrating, but it also shows how much these trucks hold their value. Even rusty ones! I was looking back in 2013 and ended up buying new because it was about the same price after blowout rebates as buying a used one.

The wheels on my 98 K1500 (pic below) came off an 07 Denali for what it's worth. Congrats on finding something. I was looking for something for my son last year. What a nightmare unless you wanted a $5k Ford Focus that was beat. I ended up having to rebuild a motor in a Mustang for him.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/317/3...2a69199c_z.jpg

Well I think I have it to a point I'm going to call it good. Undercoated the daylights out of it and 10 1/2 hours of buffing and polishing here is where it ends. I pulled the black molding from the doors, tinted the windows and added 2015 Tahoe 20s.

Updated pictures

I want to say THANK YOU to Meghan, the owner of Quinn Motors in Ellsworth WI. The truck was exactly as described. It was a true pleasure to deal with her despite the distance between us. After a 6 hour white knuckled drive thru rain the entire way, sometimes in next to no visibility, we were back out the door in 10 minutes. I would make the trip again to buy from her, small town values, population 3k, in a new car dealership.

hopefully down ... way too many of these end up on their lid

Once I put the wheels on I took a few minutes and evaluated it, over an adult beverage of course. I left it alone, stock height. It just looks right as is.

I ended up picking up a very late model Tahoe from a very small dealer in PA, looked at a lot of them here on LI and they were pretty much all hammered, + the obnoxious hard sell. Last one I looked like smelled like smoke, salesman said it wasn't a smoker, I open the console and there is pack of Kools in there, joke. Absolute pleasure dealing out of state, could not do enough for me and the pricing was better. Don't be afraid to travel a good distance to get the right vehicle, was worth it for me and I will do it again in a heartbeat

Well today was the day Zach got surprised with his truck. He was shocked and surprised to say the least. I will let the pictures tell the story.

'

Awesome stuff!
Congrats Zach and here's to many years of safe driving ahead!
:beers:
~ Pete


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