This is going to get a bit detailed, but I’m having a moral dilemma and want to hear from those of you who have an L5P, and maybe/hopefully from those of you who came from an LBZ. I’m trying to decide whether or not I should sell my truck and purchase a new L5P.

Details on the current truck:
2006 GMC Sierra 2500HD SLT crew cab, short bed, 4wd. Loaded except for sunroof. Owned for 4 years.
-Paid for…
-340k miles. No rust, but body isn’t perfect. Mainly has flaking paint (roof, driver’s door, driver’s bedside) and a few small dings here and there.

The following work has been done between 300k miles and current mileage:
-New headgaskets and studs
-Replaced turbo with lower mileage oem LBZ turbo
-New injectors
-Replaced power steering/hydroboost lines and replaced trans lines
-Transmission was rebuilt, new Suncoast torque converter, Trans Go installed
-Transfer case was rebuilt w/ pump rub kit
-PSC power steering pump, cooler added
-All new steering (gear box, pitman and idler arms, sway bar links, upper and lower A-arms, sleeved tie rods, CVs)
-New fluid in front & rear diffs
-All new calipers, rotors, pads
-Leveling kit
-All new shocks
-New batteries
-Just installed new 17” Methods and Cooper Discoverer STT Pros

Performance:
-S&B Intake
-MBRP 4” exhaust
-Shimmed FPRV
-PPE ported fuel rail fitting
-Fass Titanium 150 lift pump
-Beans Sump
-EGR delete
-PCV Reroute
-Suncoast TC
-EFI Live (Rob Coddens): modified stock, tow, +140hp, +180hp, +230hp
-Gauges: EGT, Fuel Pressure, Boost, all in a custom 3d printed pod located in the storage pocket where the center console meets the dash
-Fleece tie rod sleeves

I usually keep it in the 3rd tune (+120hp), but that last tune will put your *** in the seat and burn some serious rubber. I use the truck primarily for hauling my Jeeps and miscellaneous stuff on an 18’ flat bed trailer. I use a Tekonsha P3 for controlling trailer brakes.

Truck currently needs:
-Roof repainted, driver’s door touched up, driver’s bedside repainted
-Driver’s side seat cover replaced
-Brake pads
-CVs on both sides
-Getting to the age where it’s going to start to rust whether I like it or not.

I absolutely love the truck, and honestly never planned to sell it. It has never let me down and is an absolute blast to drive and tow with. My main reason for considering a new truck is the fact that our first child is due in September and aside from just flat out not having as much time to work on things anymore, I’m honestly getting tired of working on/fixing/replacing things. I like the idea of having a new, reliable, warrantied vehicle that I don’t have to work on that is also safe for toting my family around in – but something I can still enjoy and have fun with. I just can’t justify having two diesels, and the funds from selling the LBZ would be a great down payment. I just don’t want to regret my decision in a year and wish I’d kept the LBZ.

The only truck I’m considering at this point is a 2017 2500HD LTZ (my truck’s great grandson, haha).

The drawbacks to me are A: having a payment, which isn’t a big deal, but I don’t have one currently; and B: I’m worried that it will feel… boring. I had a 2012 F-150 Ecoboost as a daily driver for a while, and while it had all the bells and whistles in a great interior and was very comfortable to drive, I ended up trading it in because it was flat out boring. Obviously a new Duramax is in a whole different league than the Ecoboost, but I’m still a bit worried that it will feel boring, in a way. I’m also unfamiliar with the emissions on the newer diesels, like DEF and DPF.

Anyway… I’m looking for opinions, regardless of whether you are team LBZ or L5P. Should I keep it, or set my sights on something new?

 

Traded my 06 LBZ 2wdd for the 17 Denali. Absolutely love the new truck. (Still own an LLY) 17 is much quieter, has more power than I need for towing the 4500 lb camper (will spin tires if slightly damp) and all around is a better ride even though 4wd.

You will probably not get much for the LBZ (I got 10.5K with 200k on the clock). LBZ was a nice ride and did me well for the 5.5 years and 113k miles. Do I miss it, yes because it was paid for, do I regret upgrading, NO. There is more room in the front and rear, however the way i sit to drive, most people complain about the room behind the driver seat. Also have GF trained to push her seat back a bit so i can see at intersections.

Dislike the way the rear seat folds up instead of down, but its something I have thus learned to live with.

Its all up to you, with a new addition to the family, its a much quieter ride and definitely safer in the even of an accident.