- Joined
- Feb 24, 2018
- Messages
- 1,044
At 10 am on Tuesday morning, the 6 speed transmission in the 2013 Chevy, long wheel base 3500 service van, decided it had met its expiration date. At 70 mph on Rt 89 in Vermont, just outside of Montpelier, there was a massive shudder, the rpms shot up, with no longer any real positive forward motion. During the shudder, the check engine light came on, which later displayed a series of ominous failure codes. That and the gritty feel and burnt smell of the transmission fluid, total transmission death had become quite apparent.
One of my best friends, runs a transmission shop, depending on conditions of certain hard parts and a new torque converter, the repairs would be in the $3500 to $5000 range. Then the dilemma, as the truck also needs a new set of tires ($1000 to $1200) on top of the transmission repairs, were now rapidly approaching the value of a 2013 service van with mileage north of 150,000 miles.
I looked into a new truck, the vehicles to replace the service van, a new Chevy or GMC van, with the same specs, was in the $38,000 to $40,000 range. Not exactly the kind of expense, I wanted at this time in my life. As the job involves industrial boiler service, in NY, VT, NH, ME, MA and PA, the need for a solid , dependable service van is paramount. After a couple of restless nights, pondering the repair options and the local new truck offering, I broke down and bought a new 2018 GMC, long wheel base, 3500 service van, with a 6L has engine and 8 speed transmission, 9600 GWR and the standard white color.
This was an unexpected hit to the tooling/shop budget, but hopefully this truck with last me until retirement.
My next dilemma is what to do with the older service van, because of the age, mileage and the bad transmission, the dealership was not really interested in the vehicle. The engine is great, there is no rust, the body has a few very minor marks and dings, but a good solid vehicle. A van that has a blue book of roughly $8500, but needs tires and a transmission, is not worth a lot, so now the hulk sets in the driveway.
One of my best friends, runs a transmission shop, depending on conditions of certain hard parts and a new torque converter, the repairs would be in the $3500 to $5000 range. Then the dilemma, as the truck also needs a new set of tires ($1000 to $1200) on top of the transmission repairs, were now rapidly approaching the value of a 2013 service van with mileage north of 150,000 miles.
I looked into a new truck, the vehicles to replace the service van, a new Chevy or GMC van, with the same specs, was in the $38,000 to $40,000 range. Not exactly the kind of expense, I wanted at this time in my life. As the job involves industrial boiler service, in NY, VT, NH, ME, MA and PA, the need for a solid , dependable service van is paramount. After a couple of restless nights, pondering the repair options and the local new truck offering, I broke down and bought a new 2018 GMC, long wheel base, 3500 service van, with a 6L has engine and 8 speed transmission, 9600 GWR and the standard white color.
This was an unexpected hit to the tooling/shop budget, but hopefully this truck with last me until retirement.
My next dilemma is what to do with the older service van, because of the age, mileage and the bad transmission, the dealership was not really interested in the vehicle. The engine is great, there is no rust, the body has a few very minor marks and dings, but a good solid vehicle. A van that has a blue book of roughly $8500, but needs tires and a transmission, is not worth a lot, so now the hulk sets in the driveway.