2001-2014 imo. I favor the 2007.5-2014

 

IMO, a T1xx body is a nicer truck than the GMT900 style, nicer dash, etc. Up to 2016 is good. 2017+ it gets more involved if you ever want to tune the engine/transmission.

 

The 2016 2500 with 6.0 I had was more than enough I required. Although it was a LTZ with all the electronics, you can find one with just the LT package that may have less electronics than a LTZ.

 

Here's a vore for the GMT800 platform, (roughly 1999-2007), I happen to have a 2003. I like how generally straightforward it is, and I find that it doesn't have the electronics I want so I was able to add them easily and fairly inexpensively. Adding a rear camera, for example, was under $100. Adding carplay, hands free and a bigger screen was about $400.
The only drawback is they are getting pretty old, so you would have to go through, like I did, and basically refresh it so it will solid for the next decade. The motors are very straighforward LS motors, no fancy items on it.
You can also pretty easily upgrade horsepower if that was wanted as well, without big issues.

 

I would say go with 2015-2019 HD Trucks. Some will also say the 1999-2007 as well. 2007.5-2014 had cracked dash issues as the materials were not constructed for hot environments like Texas. My last rig wasn't an HD rig but it was a 2011 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ 4x4 5.3 V8 5.8 bed (top of the line at that time as the High Country was not an available trim level) however the HD's and Light Duty Trucks had the same dash which was prone to cracking. In my case, my dash was cracked. When my A/C started having issues, it was diagnosed as an Evap Core issue and it needed to be replaced. The cost for the part was small but the labor was expensive as they would have to take off the dash (which is a one-piece design) to get to the Evap Core. Since my dash was already cracked, I would've had to purchase a new dash in order to fix the Evap Core as they could not put the already cracked dash back on the truck. Basically, the total amount would've been about $2200 for all of the parts and labor. I had that truck from 2016 at 40,000 miles to 2022 at 125,000 miles. No electronics problems other than what I've mentioned.

Last year in August of 2022, I traded that truck in for my current 2015 GMC Denali HD (2500HD) 4x4 Crew Cab Gas Truck and I'm happy with it. I have the 6.6 standard bed. Much better truck not just because it's an HD but the materials as well as the dash is not prone to cracking and not a one-piece design like the previous generation. The electronics are better. I'm not suggesting to not get the previous generation...it's only to lay out a few things before you do. We all gotta get what our finances say we can get. That's why I didn't buy a new truck. I been through the new vehicle phase and it's more economical for me to get used vehicles especially if it's a CPO with low miles. In my case, it came with some mods the first owner already had installed! Just my two cents!

 

mid 80s/90s dodge with a 12 valve cummins

 

Yeah, agreed, but the bodies are almost all like Swiss cheese by now.

 

What is the realistic max weight you will want to tow? Up 10k and GMT 800 will be solid, very little electronics, just enough to be comfortable I think and very few "nanny" triggers like the newer vehicles.

The newer you go, the stronger the drivetrain becomes, and also the more electronics added, and "nanny" features like traction control, etc.

 

 

Least amount of electronics?
1999-2002
Ive bought them as cheap as 1000$.
Rebuild engine, transmission, and transfer case. New fuel pump, water pump, alternator and hydroboost.
Gets it back going and seems to last forever.
Ive got over 400,000 miles on my 2000 Silverado with a 6.0 and 4l80.
the 2004 2500hd i bought for 2000$ has been pretty solid with 375,000 miles on the engine. And had to rebuild the transmission and transfercase. Also had to put a TPS sensor on the throttle body.
I tow well over triple what the poor thing is rated for. Still got 8mpg towing 40,000#

 

1976 -1979
HEI ignition. Nothing fancy
No computers .NADA

 

1976 -1979
HEI ignition. Nothing fancy
No computers .NADA

Ive had way more trouble out of worn distributor gears i dont want to mess with another one
Its hard to get a quality gear now days.

 

LBZ